So the President of European missions has approved and encouraged all missionaries living in an area where Muslim terrorist groups exist to carry knives. As far as I know it isn't a real danger here in Skopje, it's just a precaution.
Sister Schofield's mom knew somebody who has relatives here in Macedonia so she sent us a personal letter and pictures to deliver to them and try and introduce them to the gospel. We had Zoki translate the letter and then one night got in a taxi and had him take us to the address. The man and his wife were at home "preparing for Christmas" and invited us in and did a really good job of making it not awkward. They were so, so nice and later their son with his wife and daughter came by. They spoke a small amount of English but we understood them just fine in Macedonian. They said they had traveled to Portland many years before to visit family there, but were unaware of the existence of any relatives in Utah. We took pictures with them and made plans to come and see them again later in the month when they're done vacationing for the holidays. What a cool experience.
On Macedonian pre-Christmas Eve, people light a lot of fires and play really loud music and drink. We asked the guy with the relatives in Utah if he knew the reason for the fires, and he was really quiet and thinking for a bit and then said, "There is a reason, I just don't know it." I guess it's kind of like how I don't know why we have Christmas trees. It's also tradition here to hide a 1-denar coin in a big piece of bread, to cut it four ways on Christmas Eve, and whoever gets the coin gets good luck for the rest of the year. We bought one of said bread loaves at a bakery and did that in our apartment, but since there are only three of us none of us ended up with the coin.
We went to the army base in Kosovo again after Zone Training this week. We prepared a lesson about Heavenly Father's balance of justice and mercy. Only two soldiers came, but I think it went well.
One morning when we were leaving the apartment I said a prayer asking the Lord to bless us with at least one new investigator. We went to Lucy's house to go and check on her and while waiting outside a guy named Risto passed who we talked to for a while and then ended up having a lesson at Irish Pub with him. Occurrences like that here are so rare. At one point Sister Hassell told him that her first name was Aspen and he said, "Aspen is the name of the town in Dumb and Dumber."
Sister Hassell is really good about making specific plans for things, which makes us more effective, and for immediately saying prayers of gratitude when we receive blessings. I'm really glad I get the opportunity to work with her.
I don't remember if I mentioned that the Muslim taxi driver Mervan whose family we visited told us that the only reason they had us over was because we were Americans who had helped Kosovo (where they're from) in the war. They said they would do anything to help us but that they weren't interested in our religion.
I am so grateful for the Atonement and that we have a loving Savior who only wants us to do better so that we can return to live with Him and experience happiness to the depth that we are able. I hear so many missionaries express a fear of having not done their best. I feel the same but I know that as we sincerely try and seek our Father in Heaven's help every day in kneeling prayer, that He will help us and guide us. Christ's grace is sufficient for us all. He wants us to use His Atonement. He wants us to repent. He loves us. He loves you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Sister Riddle
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.