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!!

DRIVING IN ALBANIA

This week was definitely an adventure, all the stories I have this week revolve around driving. So side note, driving here is crazy, there are no rules whatsoever, basically just don't hit each other. And there are so many things besides cars on the road, there are cows, people on horses, old men biking and so many other random things. One more thing, no one knows how to use round abouts and they become a 10 lane round about so that doesn't help.
FIRST, I hit an old man biking. So realistically I didn't hit him, he ran into my car. He was really wobbly and crashed straight into the side of our car, I felt so bad, but he was fine and just continued biking.
THEN we were driving home from exchanges headed into one of those 10 lane round abouts, so we were stopped and I pulled out my phone to take a video, and a man, in a truck next to us was holding a gun, soooo sketchy, but don't worry he was laughing, so we are safe here in Albania. Haha let me know if you want the video.
LAST luckily, (read with caution, if you like animals) yesterday Sister Boyce was driving on the freeway and out of nowhere comes a dog and let's just say it didn't make it to the other side of the road.

Albanian tip: car is a bad word here

Thanksgiving is sooo soon! So thought for this week is be grateful! It's easy to not realize all the blessings that we have, but we are seriously so blessed! I love all of you and know that when we look for the blessings we will see how blessed we are, love you all!! (numero bekimet)

Love, sister Butters 

fake it, til you make it

Heyy everyone!!
This week was really good, yesterday some Americans who were visiting came to church and they each wanted their own translator so It was me (not good at Albanian), Sister Boyce (perfect at Albanian), then Elder Baines (really good at english). Haha so I had to do what any good translator would do when they don't understand... fill in the gaps. Then elder Baines just listened to what I said and copied that, so let's hope they didn't talk to much after church because they all definitely heard different talks. Gotta do what you gotta do though.

Something really cool this week is we started teaching this mom and her son. They are soo amazing and they want to get baptized so that is so exciting. The son is 9, and he is so smart he knows all about Christ and he is so ready to learn more.

We went to a members house for dinner and she is the one from America. So that was really fun, we had the lesson in English which is actually weird, but sooo good. Aw she is so amazing, seriously such a good example of putting God first in your life. It's so cool that literally we can turn to God for anything and rely on him through everything. That is definitely something that I have learned from being here, he literally just is waiting to help us and guide us and comfort us we just have to turn to him and ask for help! Awww so grateful for our Heavenly Father! Don't forget he loves you so much and I love youu!!

Durrës

Hii everyone, I got transferred this week to a city called Durrës and it's really pretty a little more city life and you can see the ocean we ran to it the first morning and it is so pretty. My companion is really cute, her name is Sister Boyce, she is from Montana and we are already best friends so that is a plus! On Wednesday we had zone conference which was good I had to give a training which was so intimidating, haha but it went good.

They have a ward here so that is new because where I was before it was just a branch. But the relief society president is from America, but she has lived here for 8 years and she is so cute. It's nice cause she speaks English!! We had a game night with some of the members and that was fun. The members are really nice here.

Had this amazing lesson with this one girl, the spirit was so strong and she started talking about how the book of mormon made her feel and it was so cool. The book of mormon really is so powerful, seriously so grateful for that book. It is so unreal, when someone we are teaching gains the love for the book of mormon themselves, because it really is amazing!! I love the book of mormon, don't forget to read it!! It will make your day sooo much better! Love all of you.

Love, sister Butters

 

SHAKING things up this week

I am getting transferred to a city called Durrës, I was so surprised when I got the call, I thought I would stay here longer, but I am really excited, it will be warmer than here in the winter (no snow!!) so that is a blessing. I leave tomorrow, so I had to say bye to everyone here which was sad, all the members here are amazing and I have learned so much from them!! Way more then I could have taught them, they are all so converted to the gospel and giving, really make me want to be a better person. Aw all the people here are amazing.

We had a Halloween party this week and it was so fun. A lot of people came and everyone was so impressed with the little things that we did. No one really celebrates Halloween here, so a few groups of people saw us dressed up in the street and asked us if they could take pictures with us. Haha it was really funny. It was a different Halloween here for sure, but still was really good.

There was another earthquake here and it was even bigger!! It was scary, it was longer and bigger. We woke up and within like 2 minutes of waking up, it started and I was still like half a sleep, haha it really shook me awake. It was long enough, that I was literally ready to get under a table, haha, but then luckily it ended.

One of the girls we are teaching wants to be baptized!! Aw so happy for her. So cool to be able to be apart of this process! So grateful for this experience! Lots of love for all of you!!