Are aliens people like us to?

Yes a crazy man walked past me while I was contacting and asked me that. Yes I told him that God created many worlds and that yes in fact they are people like us. Never a dull moment... Unless you're standing on the street at 4 in the afternoon and there are literally 5 people outside in the entire city. We had 58 people in church Sumday!!! which is about 20 more than we've been pulling in and it's slowly been going down since I got here so it was good to have so many... Funny how the first letter I ever sent here I could count the number of people with both hands. I will forever be grateful I had an opportunity to serve in Shkodër. It was probably the hardest start in the mission and It made me so i could be grateful for whatever I have in this mission and after. We have a beautiful building here and I LOVE IT. People are so ungrateful for it even here and complain how far away it is and I just love that we have a building that we can gather together. Amazing what a mission will do to your perspective. I honestly don't know if I can handle going back to my home ward. It'll feel like stake conference! I could go on a rant about gratitude but I'll refrain. Honestly nothing too crazy happened this week. I'm getting to that point where I look back and it was a blur and I can't really remember what we did. OH! Remembered something. Went on an exchange this week to Durrës with one of the zone leaders and it was funny because I served with him my first 6 weeks here and it was funny to see how much we've both changed and to just be around a missionary after a year. It was good. He's a good kid he just does somethings that bug me and we have a little different styles of how we do things. If you would like to hear my honestly opinion I hate exchanges. I know they are asked of us but too often they are kotë and are just done because it's a rule and don't accomplish anything they just take people out of their areas and kind of wastes time but I've had a couple that have really changed my mission so goods and bads. They just need to used as training opportunities and not doing it because it's asked. All in All it was good. I found something out on the exchange though... I have been eating very healthy for the last 4 months and have touched white flour very rarely but on the exchange we went to get pasta and It was a big plate and as I was eating it I could just tell my body was telling me know and getting mad at me. It's crazy how when you haven't had something for so long your body doesn't react to it well. Guess I'll stick to eating healthy and stay away from unhealthy pasta with cream sauce on it. We also got to play soccer on the exchange which I've only got to do twice before that because my areas either didn't have people in them to play or we just didn't do it. It was a ton of fun. I forget how much I loved soccer and sports in general. I played goalie the whole time and am proud to say my skills have not left me! I think I'm changing my life plans and going in the professional soccer world. I know it seems a little rush but the heart gets what the heart wants... haha Actually speaking of my future I had an interesting experience while praying the other night. I have been thinking lately just about what I want to do with my life and what i want to accomplish but I was praying and not even thinking about it at all all the sudden all these ideas just clicked in my head and I realized a really good plan for what I could do after my mission. Interesting how some revelation just comes when you're not thinking about it but when you've studied it out in your mind before. The Lord works in mysterious ways. I apologize for the lack of stories in this letter but it really feels like we did nothing this week. If you ever worry about how weird I am you can add something to add to the list. Sitting all day is terrible for your back and if you have a desk job it isn't good for you so I decided to change things up a little and make myself a standing desk. It also helps because it is hard to fall asleep when you're standing up. We'll see how it works out but so far I'm enjoying it. I will start writing more stories even if they are from past transfers because it seems that was enjoyed. I love you all and hope you have the best week ever. Elder Szabo 

The Man I'm Meant to Be. The Journey I'm Supposed to be on.

Family! Every week I feel like I have less and less to say and I miss you guys more and more. Interesting how that happens. Killing a missionary is fun and weird at the same time because you realize he will be going home at the end of this but you won't be. I'm not trunky but it's just a weird feeling. Especially because everyday I have is my last. Being over my hump day is weird. I feel like I just got to the MTC but it feels like years away. Time just gets messed up when you're out here. Kind of hard to remember what I need to tell you for two weeks but I will tell you about our less active finding in fshats (villages) So we are going through all our records we have of members and a member list and calling all of them and trying to find them if they have maps and the such so we called a family and they told us they live in Tregan... We don't know where that is so we get a taxi because there was no frigons or buses we were aware of that went out there so we knew it'd be expensive but not this expensive. So we tell the guy where it is and he drives us out there about 20 minutes out of town and then he gets to where we think we should be and he talks to the family on the phone and tells him it's about 10 more minutes so we keep driving and finally get to them(i have some pictures and a video of where we were but we are literally in the mountains in the middle of no where to find this family) We ask him if he'll wait and he says he will so we walk up a very steep hill to their house and have a lesson. Parents and a 19 year old daughter. We start teaching and these people do not seem to be very knowledgable in the gospel at all. We asked if they were all members and they said yes so we just keep getting simpler and simpler in our teaching (we were teaching enduring to the end through scripture study) and finally ask again if they are members and they say No just our daughters are. *could of had a v8 face palm!* So this whole time we've been teaching them thinking they are members and they are not. So we feel dumb and wrap up the lesson commit them to read... For the first time. Finish up and call our taxi guy he comes and takes us back to town so about a 30 minute drive. Ask how much it is and he says..... 30 dollars. You guys don't really understand taxis here but he was ripping us off but I knew he wouldn't argue the price so we paid him and got out 30 bucks lighter and 2 and a half hours later. Huuuuuh is about how we felt. Next day turns out that there is a bus that goes directly to their house and it is just a little cheaper.... We have visited them one other time. They live a long way away but we are hoping to bring some youth out there so the girl will have a connection. Story two of less active hunting. So another day we set a lesson with another family out in a fshat... Not as far this time... but we go to a place and ask a taxi driver if there are frigons out there and he tells us no but we didn't really want to pay a lot of for a taxi or waste time walking to the frigon place. So we prayed about it and felt good. He says he'll do it for 8 bucks which was reasonable. So we get out there and after the taxi guy talking with the family a couple times we finally find their house... Only about a 10 minute drive this time.... and his daughter answers the gate and tells us to come in so we sit down and she tells us that her dad can't make it who we set the lesson up with and so we get a little worried we just came out here for nothing because we can't just teach her so we ask if anyone else if here and she says ya my brother is here and he walks in and luckily was over 18! HAZAH! So we had a lesson with the kids who were 21 and 23 and it was really good. They are both in school and super busy but it was a really good lesson. So we get back to town and pay the guy the 8 bucks but the family told us we can hitch a ride with a frigon on the way out there and just stop one on the way back. So we learn from our mistakes and spend a lot of time and money doing it. We have been out to that family and the other family that's really far another time as well and to an investigator who lives out in a fshat. So all in all over the last two weeks we've spent about 50 bucks in less active finding. We are trying to live off of 40 dollars this week because we are kind of out of money... We had to buy English fliers as well last week so we are running on a little low on money but we'll live and the stories are always worth it. We have been doing a lot of less active finding lately which isn't yielding much fruit because we either find them and they are old and can't come or they don't have desire or are out of the country but it's been really interesting because we are going off of maps made by missionaries two years ago so it makes for some interesting times trying to find roads and houses. 

    Next up on the agenda....  IT IS HOT HERE!!!! AND HUMID. It's been getting over 100 some days and it is also humid here. Let me explain something. I am from a place called Utah you might have heart of it. It is often referred to as a desert. Which means it is dry heat and humidity isn't in my vocab and then I come here and it's 100 degrees and my body doesn't really know what to do with itself. It is delightful :) We sweat all day. I'm not kidding about that we literally sweat all day. It's kind of disgusting. The worst is when we go inside because your body starts to cool down and I sweat a ton. Oh and it's just going to get hotter. August is the hottest month. *in the wicked witch of the west voice* I'M MEEEEELTTTTINNNNGGG. Its not really the heat that bothers me its just the constant sweating. It's alright though. How can you enjoy the cool weather when you haven't been out in the hot for 8 hours a day for 3 months? Builds character. 

    We have a goal here in Elbasan to get 100 people in church which would mean doubling our attendance but every week so far the numbers keep getting smaller and smaller. Fun story with that. Every night before nightly planning we read a random scripture from the book of mormon and one bears their testimony about the hand of the Lord that day. So after a hot long day we pray then flip open the scripture and my companion reads a scripture that said basically says that the people tried three times to get released from bondage and are beat back all three times.... It was really encouraging since it was right after I yelled answer to our prayer! haha We had a good laugh and figured the Lord was telling us to keep trying and it's going to be real hard for a while and he's not taking our burdens but we'll be blessed in his time. It was funny but a good reminder to keep working hard and it will all work out. 

    It's interesting in the mission when you haven't served around them and all you know is what you hear from other missionaries. That's what happened with my current companion and I came into this transfer not too excited to serve with him. Learned a good lesson about judging others without knowing them. When we first started we got a long but he really got on my nerves but as time has gone on I have really come to love the kid and it's turning into one of my favorite transfers. Yes he's a werido and he randomly tickles me and says things that make me shake my head but we are doing really good. We have had some good talks and are getting along really well. In my opinion for a transfer to be really good I need a companion that is consecrated and is pushing me to be better and we have really good talks gospel related and not. It's just been really cool to see how the progression has come over the last couple weeks and how I've come to love him. He's also trying to lose weight before he goes home so we wake up every morning at 6 and go out to a field and run. He runs and I work out then do some sprints. I'm all about weight loss so i'm excited to see him want to and we're eating healthy. Well he just decided to join me :) 

      One more story then I'll wrap up. I hope this makes up for last week. So we found a less active man and his wife who's not a member. He is very sick and can't really get out much but we had a good lesson and they told us no one had been there for a while and they wanted the senior couple to come and wanted to feed us so we set it up and went out there with them. So we go and sit down and she starts bringing food out. (It's the picture with about 6 plates of food. watermelon, cake and byrek.) They brought out a ton of food! a ton and the senior couple had just eaten so they barely touched any of it (plus they're a senior couple so not really helpful in the food eating competition) I eat my plate half of another one, half of the water melon and probably 75% of the cake. I was stuffed and it was not healthy food so my body wasn't very happy with me but it was a good meal and it's the second time I've been fed on my mission so I wasn't complaining. It was just funny she brought out so much food and told us we had to eat it all because they don't eat that stuff because they are old and sick.We definitely got our fill and am glad for my eating abilities because a lesser man probably would of thrown up. haha. This letter was story filled but I hope you enjoyed it. I love you all and miss you like crazy. It hits me everyday that i have less than a year and everyday is my last but I love it here and wouldn't be anywhere else. I love you all. make it the best week ever. Elder Szabo 

WHERE AM I?????????

Ok I have two minutes to write you and I apologize. We had no time today because we went to Korce and had to do some errands after but don't worry next week I will have lots of time so I will write about everything that is going on. I have some pretty good stories and things to come. Just know I am doing Amazing and happy as usual. I love this mission and it is truly the best thing i've ever done. I love you all forgive the absence of letter this week. Keep strong and keep climbing the mountain. God wants you back in his arms just do what he says. It's that simple. Just try him out and see if he will bless you. I love you all. Elder Szabo 

Farmers Tan

People of AMERICA!!!! This week flew by as usual but I feel like I haven't written in weeks. I apologize now the z and y are switched on this keyboard and the ´ is in a weird spot so it might be a little messy. ELBASAN! It is extremely hot here and the humidity is absolutely lovely this time of year! They say this is the hottest city in the mission and Its earning its reputation. It is a lot smaller than Tirana which the big city boy in me will miss but its a good city the only problem is no one is outside from the hours of 2-5 so its hard to go talk to people when no one is outside. People are weird here and nap in the middle of the day and then hide inside until it cools down. The branch has kind of been dying lately and church attendance has really dropped due to summer and people kind of falling away. We have had about 50 the last couple weeks and we have a goal to double that and get 100 by the end of the transfer so yet again we are really going hard on less actives this transfer which means a lot of walking around trying to find people and bring them back. We have our own building here which is really cool but the problem is it is about 15 minutes walking outside the city which makes it an easy excuse more people to not come especially with the heat. We had 53 in church which is about what I was getting in 1st WARD. Another big thing we want this transfer is to make this branch a ward which is completely based off of Active full tithe paying melkezidek (wow Albanian messes with you) priesthood holders. I really think we can do it but its going to take some hard work. Which brings me to my new comp. Honestly he bugs the crap out me sometimes (a lot) but we get along pretty well and wont have any problems. I'm currently sharpening the knife as he is in his dying transfer and he is still working pretty hard so as long as he keeps that up we wont have any problems. and let me tell you no one is dying hard on Elder Szabos watch. Ironically I'm going to complain about the big thing that bugs me about him is he complains all the time. About the heat, about walking etc. Just little constant comments and it really bothers me. We get along great though and I'm having a good time making dying jokes with him. He got his call today asking what airport he wants to fly home to. Off topic but I think I am going to be here for a good 4-6 months. I am going to kill him here and I don't think they will white wash my area so I will be here for a while and i think i am going to train next transfer.  It'll be interesting to see how the next year plays out. I'm excited and ready to do some work in this area. A quick experience from this week we were teaching a little mission prep to some youth and I asked them when they knew the book of mormon was true and when the three of them were done one girl said what about you? Hit me really hard because honestly I didn't gain a true testimony until i came out here. I grew up in the church for 18 years and when i got out here and got a real testimony I realized that I hadn't reallz had one all that time. Crazy how it took me coming out here and preaching it everyday to really know. I mean I knew before sure It was around me for all that time and I went to church and seminary and all that jazz but it had no meaning for me. I didn't have a WHY behind my attendance. It was i know its right and i should more than a personal testimony of it. Since being out here I believe I have truly become converted to Jesus Christ and his gospel and pray everyday i wont fall away because I know what it means and that we need to sacrifice everything for this. There is a quote by Joseph Smith that says a religion that doesn´t ask the sacrifice of all things will never have the power to produce the faith in order for salvation. We must find out its true for ourselves and after that we have to give everything we have to get back to God through his son. There is nothing more important in this world then getting back to God. That's why we are here and that's the reason behind every breath we take every word we say every decision leads us on our path and it should be leading us straight back to him. Once we know we cant look back but have to run until we hit the finish line and look up at God and say i gave it my all I served with all my might mind heart and strength. I made mistakes but I gave it all to you Father. I testify to you that the purpose of this life is to become better people and have joy while we do it so that we can have all the Father has in the end. Put away all the distractions and remember whats important people. Remember your eternal destiny and GO FORTH achieving greatness along the way. God expects all of you and you must give it to him. Every day is a new day to learn more to become more to be more to do more but we must take advantage of it. GO FORTH and climb the mountain back to your YOUR Eternal Father in Heaven with the help of his Son. Jesus is the Christ. You have a Father in Heaven and they are on your side. Keep his commandments and use the atonement when you don't quite make it. Remember the important things in life and be willing to sacrifice what isn't. I love you all. Have an incredible week. Maybe the best one of your life. Its in your hands. 

Elder Szabo