GEZUAR !!

Heyy!
This week was full of lots of good things and one bad thing! So gonna start with the bad, my companion has LICE!!! so, for those of you who don't know I am with my companion 24/7, and that is not dramatic, we actually are never apart. So I am bound to get it, if I don't already have it. So PLEASE send tips and help!!

Luckily there was so much good this week so we can look over the minor setback of lice. One is we got to work with helping hands to give out a months worth of food to tons of families who are struggling financially from the earthquake. It was really cool to be apart of and see their faces light up.

Another is we got to go to this developmental center with kids from ages 9-20 that have disabilities and we brought them gifts and sang with them and got to hangout with them. It was definitely the best part of my week. They are all so happy with the small things that they have and they are so grateful for everything. It really reminded me of what Christmas is about! And it makes me realize I need to be so much more grateful for everything I have.

On Christmas we made tons of cookies and delivered them to members and that was really fun! Overall it was a really good week, so cool to be here for Christmas, definitely a different Christmas, but it was so amazing!!

I love you all keep serving in any way you can! Have an amazing New Years !

2 days til CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 🎄 I can't believe Christmas is in 2 days! It came so so fast. I got a new companion, she is from American Fork and she is really nice. She loves Christmas just as much as me, so that is a blessing.

Helped move a family out of their apartment because the apartment building got wrecked from the earthquake. They live on the 11th floor and there wasn't an elevator so it was a ton of flights over and over, but it was really fun.

Getting into that Christmas spirit, we put up tons of lights around the church and decorated the trees, just imagine temple square and that's exactly what it looks like.

Christmas is seriously the best time of year. How amazing that we can just think about Christ and others, aw it is such a good time of year. I hope all of you know how much Christ loves each and everyone of us. He came to earth to atone for each of us. I don't think we can ever comprehend the love he has for us. But wow I am so grateful. Seriously with Christ we can do anything, just believe that and trust in him, and keep sharing your light! I love Jesus Christ, and this time of year, and all of you so much! Have the best Christmas!

Love, motra Butters

9 days til CHRISTMAS

Hey guys! This week we got to do a really amazing service for a lot of people who lost their homes because of the earthquake. We took over 100 boxes full of food and necessities and we gave them to a ton of families and also a pair of boots. We got to talk to them and it was so humbling and such an unreal experience to see how they are handling such a hard trial. They are all so loving and were so grateful. It was truly such a blessing and it really is true we will find the most joy and happiness when we are serving and helping others. It is so cool how much the church helps and assist in times like these. So amazing to be apart of it, I am so grateful.

Also went to this city called shkoder, it's so pretty, so yellow. It was really fun to see and we walked around and it is really catholic, so it has a lot of big catholic churches it is really cool. Then got to do an exchange in Tirana, which was way fun. I was with my companion from the MTC. They are having a carnival there and it's all set up for Christmas and it is so cute, I love Christmas so much! So grateful for this time of year and that we can try to be more like Christ. I am so grateful for all of your Christlike examples to me. I love youu!! 9 days til Christmas.

good stuff

Just a little update from the week. We are still homeless, but should be able to move back into our house by the end of this week when they fix all the walls from the earthquakes.

The members have made dinner every night for the people staying at the church because they lost their homes from the earthquakes. It's so cute, the members here are so willing to give whatever they can, whether it's their time, or food, or service, they are there and willing to help and do what they can. I am grateful for their examples of serving others, they are all going through their own difficulties and struggles from the earthquake, but they set that aside and do what they can to help.

This week for Family home evening as a ward, we all watched the christ child video and I have seen it a lot, just a plus of being a missionary around Christmas time, but holy cow it is so good, and every time it gets better. I am so excited for Christmas!! I hope all of you have the best week, and keep lighting the world!!!

7 months!

Happy Thanksgiving!! Hope it was incredible! Sooo grateful for this week!!! We had a conference on Thanksgiving and talked about happiness, and how it is directly linked with gratitude. I 100% believe that, and I have seen it in the examples of all those around me.

So there was a big earthquake in Albania this week. The city I live in was the epicenter and it was a 6.4. It woke us up at 4 in the morning and everything was shaking like crazy, so referring back to my elementary drill days, I got up with my companion and we ran to the nearest table to take cover. The power was out so on the way we ran into a few walls, but we made it. After the shaking stopped we sprinted outside and I have never seen so many people outside everyone was just getting in their cars and leaving. Had a few aftershocks, but nothing too big. It has been a blessing to be able to see that so many people are still so happy through all the hardship because really they are focusing on the blessings that they have, instead of all the things that they lost.

We did a lot of service this week, because the earthquake ruined a lot of people's homes. It's so sad, but they are so strong and it has been really cool to see the whole community and country and surrounding countries come together. A lot of members are staying in the church. We set up tons of beds in a school gym for all the people to stay that lost their home. It's been a very humbling experience, I cant believe how strong these people are and how much faith they have. A member who lost his house said in his testimony yesterday, "with or without a house, it doesn't matter, I will still testify of Christ." That hit me so hard, no matter what are circumstances are or the trials that come, will we still have faith in Christ? Will we still trust in him? I know that no matter what, if we trust in Christ it will all be okay, he will never leave our sides, through it all he will be there, lifting us up. So grateful for Jesus and this season that we can celebrate him and focus completely on him and all he has done for us. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Happy December!!