Leaving my home and the Shadow of a Giant.

DRUUUUUUUM ROOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL. Well first i'll tell you that it was exciting to get the call this time because president called us a day early and we were in the process of sleeping so it was quite a shock anyways.......................... I'm going to Tirana 1st ward and serving with Elder Osler (you pronounce it like the osh in slosh osh ler. He is from Croatia and is two groups above me. Elder Ostergaard is staying here in Shkodër and training/dying. He has been an amazing companion. I have learned so much from him. He's such an amazing person and missionary and we got along very well. I've enjoyed learning and growing this transfer and and hopeful for what the future will bring me. I hope I've expressed in my letters how amazing he is and how much i've learned from him.   Family on the map you got of Albania all of Tirana was still branches if I remember right. They are all wards now. I hope it's accurate on where they are as well. I have been here for 6 months. Does it feel like it NOPE. I love this place and wish I could stay but it had to happen at some point and the only places I wanted to go were Kosovo and Tirana. I plan on staying in Tirana the rest of my mission we'll see what the Lord has to say about that. It is actually possible to stay in Tirana for along time because of the different wards and it's a fairly big city. 1 million people live in Tirana and 3 million in the whole country. I'm excited for the change as always there is a little worry and anxiousness but i'm happy about it and know it'll be good. Going to baptize a ton of people next transfer. Get your ponchos and umbrellas ready. Does anyone know the cure for hypothermia? I'll leave tomorrow in the morning and for once won't have to travel to get to my area. Everything happens in Tirana so it'll be nice to not have to travel so much. 

    Other than that the new initiative from the church dropped this week in anticipation of Easter. It is called Sepse Ai Jeton or because he lives. I most of you speak albanian and didn't need that translation. Everyone is speaking Albanian these days. We have some activities planned here in Shkodër but I will not be here to see them through so I don't know what we'll be doing in Tirana. On another note Elder Ostergaard and me were a little worried we were going to leave this area with no work after our four baptisms but with two of them still in progress and another baptismal date right now his son is coming into a good area so that was a blessing for us. We tracted into a family this week. The first time we did it was A middle aged couple her sister and her two kids who are 21 and 14. The sister and kids live in another house and were visiting. We had a great first lesson with them and they said we could come back so we did..... typical missionary thing to do. When we came back the husband Bashkim had read the Joseph smith Pamflet and told us he tried to find a Book of mormon online but was like why I don't just get a free one when they come back over. So that was a pretty good sign. We taught them again and found out that we might be able to get a service opportunity for our humanitarian couple through her work which is a house for disabled people. Her name is Mirela. She works a lot and isn't as into it as Bashkim but they are both great and love having over. We came back for a third time and a couple minutes being over there the sister and her two kids came over for a visit so we were able to teach all of them again. We showed them the video and the sister really understood that we are different and what we were telling them. She asked us if we were telling her that her baptism was wrong and that she needed to do it again so it was good. We invited them all to church and Bashkim came. His wife was working so hopefully another week. But it was so great that he came! He came a little late and he looked good! He was wearing a suit and prada sunglasses. FRESH. We are very hopeful for them and hope as we continue to bring the spirit into their lives they will understand the need for the chruch. They have a lot of faith but are catholic. I guess i'll never know what happens unless they get baptized. Another cool thing is they have two kids who are in Canada and Bashkim wanted them to hear the missionaries and Elder Ostergaard has a buddy serving there right now so he gave them their info. 

    General Conference is soon! We don't get it the day it happens because it takes them a week or two to figure out the translating. So we'll be watching that very soon. Oh man I hope you guys realize what an opportunity it is to hear A LIVING PROFET!!!! He's alive not dead for 4000 years! He's alive and we receive council from him. You basically get to hear God speak for 8 hours and it's freaking amazing. Do not take it for granted and don't let it end when conference ends. Treasure those words for the next 6 months and live your life according to them. It's council for our day right now. It's more important than the scriptures! LISTEN TO IT AND LOVE IT!!!! It's such an incredible blessing we have as members of this church and something I did not understand until I got here. Please heed my council and listen with an open heart and don't just throw it under the bed again when that last amen is said. Those words are like liquid gold raining down from heaven. Get your buckets and get as much as you can! I testify to you that those words will bless your life. We have a living profet on the earth and his name is Tomas S Monson. Our church is established as it was in the time of Christ and we have a living profet 12 apostles and 70. Open your eyes your ears and your hearts and feast on the word of God. Jesus Christ lives and directs his church. He sacrificed for us all so we could live again and take advantage of the life we have right now. Don't waste anytime becoming better. I love you all. Keep on the straight and narrow and remember no sacrifice is too big for the Kingdom of God. Everyday become better. Mentally Physically and Spiritually. Set goals and GO FORTH. 

                                                       E l d e r   S z a b o 

True Happiness. Satan's Counterfeit. No Sacrifice is too big.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of Albania. I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have to get doors shut in my face to get told no in the street and to spend every waking moment trying to share this gospel. Why? Because there is no better work you could be doing. Our purpose here on earth is to 1. Have joy and 2. Return to our Heavenly Father. What else matters? Nothing. Satan is doing a very good job in the world today by distracting those two purposes with cheap substitutes that don't last and promise us things that will never satisfy. Will you choose today to follow a Loving Heavenly Father who only wants your eternal happiness and success or The Father of Lies who's first plan was to take away your agency and everything he does today is to take away that agency. Choose this day to serve your Father in Heaven and take a stand in the war of souls. Choose this day which side you stand on. There is no middle ground in this battle. There is no retreat once you've chosen the right side. There is no backing down from your covenants. Choose this day to do a little more to be a little better! Everyday you wake up you should be have a determination to become a little better physically, mentally, and spiritually. Constant growth and improvement. Put off everything that doesn't matter and devote your life to serve God, his church, and his children. Set your goals and go forth. GO FORTH SERVING GOD. 

    Alright now that my highlander speech is over and you've all been inspired i'll tell you about my week. Not much to report this week. The big thing was that our two people who were set to get baptized are not going to be able to. Adriatik had some family problems come up and will be back at home for the majority of this week and so he won't be able to receive all the lessons. He is totally ready to get baptized and will be a great member but unfortunately these problems have arose and we are praying very hard for him and we'll see what happens. Leo the other guy who was going to get baptized has not been meeting with us and he has something wrong with his phone so we can't get in touch with him and he has to call us back when we do. So the ball is in his court and he is not showing very much desire right now. We have been praying very hard that something will happen so that he has a change of heart. Keep them in your prayers. We also had a lesson with one of the other guys that was on a baptismal date and we basically just had a you need to gain a testimony for yourself this is for you not us lesson. We told him to read everyday and decide a date. We will see what happens. Transfers are also next week and I've been here for 6 months so despite my desires I believe I will be moving to another city so keep a drum roll going until next week. I really do not want to leave but i'm sure it will happen. I love you all. Keep up the good work. Elder Szabo 

Question of the week: Why are you a member of the church?

BANG! POW! SHAZAM! 2/100

My long lost relatives and friends. I have a couple things to write about this week. 2 BAPTISMS! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YA. We have been so blessed here. We had the wonderful opportunity to go down to Tirana for two baptisms. It was great and so great to be a tool in the Lord's hand in that process. We have seen so much success this transfer and I don't know what we've done to deserve it. A little travel log because it's interesting how travel is here and that we have to go 2 hours away for a baptism. We went down to Tirana by bus got there a little early everyone got suited up had the service which didn't go at all as planned and Elder Wilcox had to direct it because our Branch Pres didn't come down and the other Bishop didn't show up. Oh we had two baptisms and their was a Old nëna in First ward so we combined. Had the services and then walked back to the buses and it had filled up so it left already so we had to walk back to the frigons and get two of those because we had 13 people with us. I think I've explained a frigon but basically a guy buys a big van and people pay him money to take them to another city and that's usually how we travel. They don't run on schedules or anything you just show up to where the frigons are and once they is enough people they leave. It's 4 bucks one way to Tirana. It's very interesting but it's super normal here. It's just how people travel. Taxis, frigons, and buses. So anyways we found some frigons and headed back to Shkodër. It was such a great experience and I'm so great I could have the opportunity to take a small part in it. They were confirmed yesterday in sacrament meeting. Speaking of which we had 19 people which is good but we can do better. But the great thing is that with the two confirmees we had 8 members in church. 8. That is double the amount from the first time I walked into the chapel my first  Sunday here. Pak nga pak. We will be a ward in no time. That was my big news for this week. Oh and just to let you know Transfers happen in 2 and half weeks and they is almost a guaranteed chance I will be leaving Shkodër. I was born and raised here and am not excited to leave. This place is my home and my baby and great things are happening here. I hope I can stay here for another 6-15 months..... Guess we'll see what the Lord has in store for me. 

     Another note is we have been trying to have Branch Presidency meeting since Elder Wilcoxs and I are councilors because we need to get home teaching started here. We got a challenge from the stake that it needs to be instituted and we need to get all of our members callings so we've been trying to have that but our branch president is elusive. It's interesting how much you realize how important something is when you're trying to implement it for the first time and see it in it's baby stages. People in established wards do not treat home teaching like they should and it generally gets shrugged off and ITS DUMB. People need that spiritual touch in their homes and they need to know they have two worthy priesthood holders they can count on if they need something. It strengthens the home teachers the family and the ward. DO YOUR HOME TEACHING!!! I could go on one of my tirades but I will save it for when I get home. Oh and never thought your son would be in a branch presidency when he was 18 did you! haha. It's so interesting seeing the church at this stage and being so in charge of things when you're only 20 years old because we've grown up in the church and these people have been members for a couple years at max usually. Be grateful for your time and experience in the church and never take any calling or responsibility as a burden. Love serving the Lord and his church and don't complain. Be grateful for what you have! I love you all. If you're not reading your scriptures everyday and praying multiple times a day you're doing it wrong so fix it. 

     I gave a challenge last week that I think got over looked so I'm giving it again and I want feedback from people. EVERY ONE READING THIS I want you to set a date that you can have someone accept lessons from the missionaries. Pray about it. Set it with the Lord and go out and do everything you can to find that person or family. My companion did the math this week and if everyone starting from 1 person brought one person into the church every month we could baptize the entire city of 200,000 people in 17.1 months. Think about that for a little and remember that as a member you are a full time finder the missionaries are the full time teachers. GO FORTH and do member missionary work it's the best way to do it. I hope to receive a lot of emails over the next year hearing about peoples missionary experiences. Challenge accepted. Fulfill your responsibility people. It's the most important thing you can do with you life     

              Elder Szabo   

Greatness is got by those who work for it.

FAMILY FRIENDS AND  that one third cousin i've never met but reads my blog because you enjoy my humor.... 

     Don't have much time this week but two high lights are that we had Stake Conference this weekend. An entire country! Exciting. Way more exciting than a tenth of AF. haha but we had the Adult Session saturday night and it was broadcast to all the buildings. It was held in Tirana and broadcast to all the other cities. It was a blessing because we thought we were going to have to go down for it. It was good. Dad I hope you're sitting down for this and call the ambulance because of the coming heart attack.... I wished I would have taken more opportunities to go to meetings and firesides and the like. Feeling the spirit in abundance like that is the best thing you could be doing with your time and I did not realize that before my mission. (Mom if you're still conscious remember it's 30 compressions to 2 breaths) It's amazing how when you're trying to get people to come to things it makes you appreciate them more. I love the gospel, I love the spirit, and I love being a missionary. So that happened and we had a good amount of people come then Sunday was the adult session. They had two separate ones because it's a large group of people and renting a building is expensive so they split them and had them in two of the actual church building buildings... Ours was with the whole south and us in Durrës. We had to leave at 11 and got there at about 1. Started at 2 went until 4. But the exciting part is that we took 18 people down and two of our members are in Italy! EIGHTEEN PEOPLE! Stand up on your chair and scream because Shkodër brought 18 people to stake conference ladies and gentlemen. We had all of them in shirts and ties! BOOM. MIracles are happening in Shkodër and i'm never leaving. They can't make me! It was great. We had 6 missionaries 4  members and 8 investigators 4 of which were ours! Our area is so blessed right now but i'll talk about that in a little. Stake Conference was great! We have such great leadership here. A bishop spoke the patriarch spoke ( ya we have a patriarch!) the stake presidents wife and the whole stake presidency. It was a great meeting and so good to see so many members there. It was our first real stake conference. We were made a stake a very short time ago and the first one was establishing the stake so this was the first real one and it was great! Oh and don't forget the whole thing is in Albania.  I understood most of it and it was a great meeting. Just a great thing to see the work that's being done here and that we have so many members. The church is at such a different place here but I love this building stage even though it's difficult sometimes. 

    Ok onto the best part. We had a baptismal interview before the baptism and he passed. Eternal Salvation here we come! He is awesome and is going to be a great member and we have another interview scheduled for tomorrow so we will have two baptisms this saturday and then if things go to plan we will have 3 on the 28th. We planned on having 4 this week but some stuff happened and we weren't able to meet with two of them for a week so they wouldn't have been prepared but we came up with a good plan. So there is Franc and Mariglen getting baptized this week and Franc has two friends that are on baptism dates and Mariglen has one. So we are going to baptize them this week and then they will get the priesthood and be able to baptize their friends! How awesome will that be!? I know. So if everything goes to plan over the next month we will have 5 baptisms and 3 of them are friends and 2 others are friends. We are so blessed! I don't know what we've done to deserve this but it's happening and Miracles are happening here and i'm not sure if I'm ready to leave in a couple weeks. (transfers are in a couple weeks) I'll have been in Shkodër for 6 months at the end of this transfer and I really hope I get three more which probably won't happen but a guy can wish. This work is the best work you can be a part of. Imagine if every member of the church brought in just 1 other person in their life time. We don't just invite people to listen to the missionaries because we need more baptisms and want to grow our membership but because we're sharing the happiness and purpose we've found in your life.  I have a challenge for all of you. It comes from an apostle and I heard it in a talk but I want all of you to set a date that by that date God will have put someone in your path you can share the gospel with and then go out and do everything you can to share the gospel and find that person and let me know what happens. This is the best work you can be engaged in and you will be blessed if you strive to be a member missionary. Some of us have special badges on our chest for a couple years but you all have Christ written on your heart and it's your responsibility to share his message. That true happiness is our there. That life has purpose. Go forth and find that person and let me know how it goes. I love you all. Strive to do more in your families, in the church, and in life. Go forth and achieve greatness in all you do. Elder Szabo 

Does Happiness grow on Trees?

The tired missionary opened his eyes to a dark sky and quiet night. He leaned over and hit the light on the alarm clock....2:30..... Yet another night of bad sleep. He drifted in and out of sleep for the next 2 hours and hit the alarm clock again. 5:00. Hmm 30 minutes till the alarm went off. a usual thing to up before the alarm clock. He got up went and got a drink of water and laid in bed for a little longer. Decided he'd start his prayer a little early so he rolled out of bed and hit his knees. The long nights were a usual thing and a constant companion for the last 4 years. Tired and wondering why sleep avoided him like the plague but as soon as his knees hit the ground all he could feel was gratitude for the God that he was silently speaking to. He had complained many times and wondered in anger about this but this morning all he could feel was an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. He thanked his Father and asked him for a couple things and the alarm went off and the next day had started. "all of these things will work for your good" Life has it's ups and downs but one thing you can always have is a heart full of gratitude. Some days it's harder than others but it's always possible. When life seems hard and the mountain seems a little too big today remember a couple things. 1 follow the commandments because they bring true happiness and 2 if you're doing what God asks you to do you can be assured that no matter how hard it gets it will all work out for your good. 

 

Ladies and Gentleman. Another week. Another month. The time flies by out here. Why do 18 and 19 year olds sacrifice two years of their lives and go to crazy countries and sacrifice so much for this mission thing? Because we know this happiness and that others need it in there lives. I will forever be grateful for this experience and what I'm gaining from it. Alright this week. 

        We had an exchange and I was with Elder Wally from my mtc group. I learned a couple good things. I realized I need to become an amazing missionary and teacher for myself. My trainer and my companion right now have been safety blankets for me. I can always turn to them and be ok if I can't do something but co-senioring made me see that at some point I'm not going to be able to do that I'm going to have to be my own safety blanket. I need to be capable to handle things on my own and be that senior companion. The other was that I need to be me all the time. Shouldn't matter who I'm with or what situation and that the obedience level I want will set with my companions. Not that he was extremely obedient it was just that it wasn't as good as it was with Elder Ostergaard and It will definitely be a thing I want with every companion I have. That lesson in general has been learned over my mission that I should be the same and act the same with everyone no matter who I am. 

       This week has been English fliers! It's been exciting. You literally just walk around and go up to everyone and say the same thing over and over again and it takes away all your turp. English Course starts Thursday so hopefully we can get a lot of people again. I need to transfer my English flier excitement to contacting. It is such an interesting thing that we stand in the street and try to talk to strangers and get them to meet with us. 

      Church this week wasn't great we only had 14 people which tied our lowest but we had 3 out of 4 baptismal dates there so that was a success. It's weird that having so few people is my normal now. Hopefully the next couple weeks will be bigger. We need to get more people and get our members paying tithing if we want a building and as of right now none of them pay tithing so we need to get them started on that. 

     We played soccer this week because we finally found a place here but we only had a couple people come so we are hoping that next week will be a better success. We are going to do an activity on Mondays that will be a mutualish kind of thing and then on Wednesdays we have FHE and then on Saturdays we play soccer and we hope to find a frisbee soon and some flags for flag football and English course is starting again so we have a lot of activities going right now and I hope they bring success. 

Not to much happened this week but we have stake conference next week so I will let you know how that is. They are doing a split sc so half of Albania will be in one city in the morning and the other will be in another city in the afternoon. It's exciting that we are having stake conference though. The stake was organized only a bit ago and it's exciting to see the growth we are having here. I love you all and miss you like crazy. Keep This crazy place in your prayers. If you pray hard enough maybe we'll have a a temple in a couple years.... Your probably favorite missionary Elder Szabo