The Savior Looked Upon Them and Wept .... week 58

Hello Hello!!! :) 

"Happy Birthday"  beb (she wanted PJ)

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PARKER!!! hehe, I know I already put that in last week's email, but he turned 17 yesterday. That's sorta a big deal. haha, I totally was super super excited for him all day yesterday. I hope that you had a great birthday brother. I love you! 

Elder Guyman trying out Motra Zollinger's fan

This past week was quite an eventful week. First off, the heat here. It is my biggest weakness. I am already starting to sweat in places that I didn't even know i could before. Not to mention that I sweat like a pig trying to pass a peach pit like all the time now. haha, it is a big struggle I tell ya. haha. So, We bought Nene fans. I was actually super super excited to get this fan and boy have I sure am using it as well (haha, I had Elder Guyman try it out for me at lunch) Oh, and we got our air conditioners fixed! #score. haha, so our house isn't so hot anymore. So pretty much we are already winning over the heat here. or we'll see how long we are ahead. 

Motra Zollinger and Motra Foller

Futbol this week went well. It may or may not have looked like I had taken out a little kid. BUT I DIDN'T!!! HE TRIPPED OVER THE SOCCER BALL. Honestly, I promise he did trip over the ball. I do not lie. But it did look pretty bad... but I didn't do it! haha, but some of the people did tease me for that one. 

So. Sweating. I sweated super bad at futbol and we had to go straight from futbol to choir practice with the missionaries. Well, I didn't realize that I had a huge SWEAT MARK down my back. I mean none of the elders had those, that is disgusting. haha. So, I was sitting in the front row too. Let's just say that not only did I look awful but i probably smelled awful because of all the sweat. Fast forward to later that day. We were at institute. Elder Smith (a senoir couple missionary), he sat behind me at choir practice. His greeting to me, infront of members who spoke english was, "Sister Zollinger. You look different. Oh, wait. You don't have a sweat mark." haha. Thanks a lot Elder Smith. It was so true though. I laughed super hard when he told me that. 

I felt like I had a big list of funny things that I wanted to share, but I suffer from brain fart syndrome sometimes...and I am going blank in my mind right now. Let's see. haha. Today for p-day we got together with the Durres Zone and we played basketball. let's just say, that it is a lot different playing with people that actually know how to play basketball. haha, i was awful at it. haha. 

American Food in Albania- Yea!

So there is this delicious heavenly chocolate spread. It is called Nucreme. It is so much better than Nutella. some people would think that it isn't possible to just spoon Nucreme in one's mouth, but I have proven that it is totally possible to do that. 

haha, the elders just left their shoes at the internet cafe. haha. #elderachesonandgreener hehe. the person who is over the internet cafe is just laughing at them. 

Motra Zollinger and Motra Johansen

Yesterday we were at a member's house and we got on the topic of sleep talking and just weird stuff that we do in our sleep. I told her that I talk in my sleep, and walk in my sleep, and that I sleep sitting up. I thought that she would laugh. haha, she didn't at all. She looked at me with pure fear and concern in her eyes and she just looked at me and said "sister Zollinger, that is not normal. You should take some pills or something before you sleep." My response was "i know that I'm not normal, so it is just fitting for who I am. It's okay. haha, i sleep fine just that I do weird stuff in my sleep." but she was still super concerned. haha. it was priceless. :) 

So, this week I have learned a lot. This past month I have been learning a lot...people always talk about how amazing missions are-which they are! But they never really mention how hard they are. This past month has been a difficult month for me, but that happens. But if there is something that I have learned this past month it is HOW BIG OF A STINKIN' FATHEAD SATAN IS. Honestly, it is ridiculous. He is such a punk. But, I have also learned how much more power God and Christ have. and how I can have such glorious and celestial help because of the power that Heavenly Father and Christ have. The other day I was reading a quote that had such an impact on me. Joseph Smith recorded, "I saw the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, who are now upon the earth, who hold the keys of this last ministry, in foreign lands, standing together in a circle, much fatigued, with their clothes tattered and feet swollen, with their eyes cast downward, and Jesus standing in their midst, and they did not behold Him. The Savoir looked upon them and wept." This quote hit me. How many times during the past month did I have my head down? When instead I could have kept my head up and could have seen such miraculous things. How often do we do this? Sometimes you got to fake it til you make it, or like my adopted Grandpa Jack would sing to me, "Smile even though your heart is breaking." But, that's the thing. Satan ain't no dummie. He knows that great things are going to be happening and that is when he just does a furious waltz around us, meaning that he tries to make it so hard for us right before it gets super good. But it we get down on ourselves, and we put our heads down-Satan has won! Because when we could have had our heads up and seen Christ and His hand in our lives, we didn't-because we were too busy looking at our feet. This quote really hit me hard. When the Savoir is looking upon me, is He weeping, because my head is down and I am not looking for him? Or when He looks upon me, is He rejoicing, because my head was up and I could see Him? The glorious thing is that we can choose whether we can see and recognize Him or not. I know that Christ lives and that He is our Savoir and our Redeemer. We can over come anything, we can and will triumph over Satan because not only do we have a body (which he doesn't) but we had a loving Heavenly Father and Christ on our side. We are not alone. Legions of Angels follow us, they are on our team. I know that this is true, because I have felt it. 

Have a wonderful wonderful week! Smile lots serve lots and treasure trials!! :) 

Love,

Motra Zallenxher

An Apostle of the Lord ..... week 57

This is the missionaries guide in Kruje

Hello hello!!! 

This past week was a good week! It was a busy and an eventful week as well! 

Elders Kek, Sabo, Eddings, and Acheson. 

First off. Parker. So I realized yesterday that he is going to be turning seventeen years old on Sunday. Um, hold up. I don't think that that is allowed. Because when I left on my mission he was only 15 years old and now he is going to be 17 years old, plus he can grow facial hair now and he has such a deep voice? Um, not cool robert frost. But, i guess it will be okay, i guess you can turn 17 brother. ;) so... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! :D Honestly though, have a wonderful birthday. Love you brother! 

Highlights from this week. I hate a language brain fart. So a member asked me why she was so tired. I asked her if she was eating all of her fruits and vegetables. Atleast that is what I meant to ask her, but that is not what came out. Somehow i mixed up the world for "visions" with vegetables. So I asked this member if she was eating all of her "fruits and visions." She just looked at me and started laughing and said "what?" haha. yeah, so that happened. haha. 

Motra Johansen and Motra Zollinger

Me and Sister J signed up for a chess tournament at the institute building. I had to play Monday night. haha, that was my first mistake. I tried to distract my opponent by talking about whatever, but it obviously didn't work. I didn't even last 5 minutes. haha. My next game is going to be against a senior couple missionary, so hopefully I can win that game. ;) hehe. 

Motra White, Motra Chesher and Motra Zollinger

For english class this week, we taught our class direction vocabulary, like "right, left, turn, stop,etc." it somehow turned into a trust excercise. There are 3 stories in the church building, and our class is in the middle floor. So, what we did is we paired them up and had one partner close their eyes and the other person had to direct them to the bottom level of the church and back up again. I was terrified that one would die and everything. At one point a man was at the top of the stairs and his partner didn't tell him that he was at the stairs and he was about to take a step, so I just grabbed his shirt and told him "no." haha. long story short, no fatalities aroused from that english course and all of them lived to tell the tale. Even the teachers. #shyqer

During district lunch, I sorta had a spaz attack. Like hard core. I was done eating and I was just playing with my plastic water bottle on the top. I was pushing it against the table and then would let go, and just kept doing it. But then one time when I pushed down gravity decided to pull a fast one on me and water bottle totally had a spaz attack and sorta spurted out of my hands towards a bowl that had some oil... and I was sitting by Elders and some interns (Aaron). At the water bottle was spurting everything went in slow mo and they all made funny faces...but then oil ended up on Elder Achesons' sleeve and a spot on Aaron's shirt. I felt so bad. Then the entire resteraunt got so quiet and all the other missionaries just looked at me and i was just like "....i am so sorry! i don't know what happened..." fact:spaz attack, that's what happened. I felt awkward, so i decided to play with the bowl of oil that was infront of me with a spoon...but then Aaron saw what I was playing with and he just looked at me and said "i don't think that that is a good idea sister" and then he moved it from me... haha. that was an eventful lunch. 

i totally had a laugh attack during our group language study. I laughed for maybe 20 to 30 minutes. It was bad. It was all because of something that Sister Chesher did that I thought was hilarious, and then she just said "i am fine. I don't know what is wrong with sister Zollinger...i am the normal one." haha. then she just started laughing. It was probably the hardest laugh attack that I have ever had. haha. :) 

We had another free shower oppurtnity this week. Meaning, rain shower. We had group finding on Wednesday and it was hilarious! Because it rained the entire time and none of us had umbrellas or anything. So we got more weird looks than usual and it was a lot of fun. albanians hate the rain. Really bad. So no one was outside so we ended up doing group tracting. It was a lot of fun still. :) I love finding and tracting. It is so much fun!! :) 

It broke my heart when I found out about Elder Perry this weekend. I didn't even know that he had cancer until Saturday night at institute and then Sunday morning I found out that he had died. I felt like I was so blessed to have been able to see him in person. One day I walked by him at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City. The feeling of peace and happiness that I got as I was walking by him was absolutely incredible! He literally glowed. Then when he came to the MTC, was an absolutely incredible experience. The second he walked in the room I knew for a fact that He was a Man of God. That he truly represented the Savoir and that he was an Apostle of the Lord. I feel like we are so blessed to have a living day Prophet and 12 apostles that lead and guide us. I know that Elder L. Tom Perry was an Apostle of the Lord. I know it, because I felt the power that was with him in the MTC and I know that the words that he said in the last general conference (and in every talk that he has given ) is true. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He Lives and loves us. 

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!! :) Smile lots serve lots and treasure trials!! :) 

Love,

Motra Zallenxher

Christ in Everything! ..... week 56

Hello hello!!!! :) 

A very drenched Motra Zollinger

I hope that everyone had an amazing week!! First off, Happy Memorial day to everyone! I just love the videos that were on mormontabernaclechoir.org for memorial day. "Who are the Brave" is my favorite. Angels sing that song. 

This past week was a good week. Looking back on the week, it seems like it was a long time ago. But a lot of stuff has happened! 

Tuesday we had our half-way training. It was super super good and super spiritual! Our mission president and the Assistants to the Presidents are just amazing and they are such spiritual giants, it is inspiring! But the training went really well! It was really fun to see some of the other missionaries as well!! 

Wednesday we were out at lunch my companion just said "spider!" and then I looked up and there was spider evilly climbing down from it vein web. I didn't scream, because we were at a resteraunt. So I tried to stay calm. I just stared at the spider and I stared at the other sisters that we were at lunch with and I am pretty sure that there was just pure terror on my face. I tried to scoot my chair back but then the spider scooted over too. Evilness. That's what it was. I started to shake, haha, but I didn't scream, nor did I cry. haha #score! But one of the sisters went over and just clapped the live right out of that evil sucker. Then it was all better. But I was quite proud of myself that I didn't start to cry or anything. I am making progress family, making progress. 

Only part not wet

Motra Zollinger and Motra Kelli

I went to Shkoder this week for an exchange. Shkoder was super pretty especially because the weather was really wet. It was a lot wet actually. We had just got done at a lesson with a member (who had such an adorable dog by the way. I just played and petted the dog the entire lesson. I miss Bentley). So after that we were meeting with the elders so they could show us where some people live that they had tracted into the other day. As soon as we met them it started to sprinkle with rain a little, but then it started to actually rain. But then BAM! it was a down pour like a lot. They just looked at us and said "ya ready? Let's go!" So we ran to the people's house. In the down pour. It was the funnest thing in the entire world!! We were absolutely soaking wet, I was just super glad that I decided to not wear a white shirt that day. It was really wet, but it felt so good and it was so much fun!! The people ended up not being at the place, so we went home to do language studies. It was still a down pour, like bad. But, we were already wet so we just walked back to the apartment, we got a lot of weird looks, but it was awesome and so much fun!! :) 

Yesterday we went to Durres for a Leadership training meeting. It was super super cool. Brother and Sister Gibbons came. They are amazing scriptorians and my mind was blown over and over again. It was amazing and so cool!! 

So, my english is lacking hard core. today I said "wrotten" instead of written. yeah.... that happened. haha, english is hard. haha. 

I just wanted to bare my testimony about Christ. Christ is my Savoir and my Redeemer. I know that He has suffered what I have felt, what I do feel and what I am going to feel; and He has also felt the excitement and the joy that I have felt, feel, and will feel. Christ is the key to happiness. His Atonement is amazing and so deep but it is so live changing! I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves us and knows enough that He knew that it would be hard, our purpose on life is to go through trials so that we can learn to trust in God and Christ more; and that is why we have Christ. So that no one will be alone or hopeless. Because of the Atonement hope and love will exist eternally. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. I know that He sends angels to help us on our journey, seen and unseen. But they are there. I know that God loves us. I know that Christ lives and that He is the Christ. 

Have an amazing week!! Smile lots serve lots and treasure trials!! :D I love you all!! 

Love,

Motra Zollinger

Character of Christ .............. week 55

hehe me and good ol' Elder Clawson. love this elder! :)
(And an ill Sister Z)

 Hello Hello!!

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DADDIO on WEDNESDAY. :) I hope that you have an awesome and an amazing day! I love you Daddio!! :) 

So this week was a little tougher of a week because I was sick. Not cool Robert Frost!! Ain't nobody got time to be sick, especially as a missionary, I don't got time for that. But I am on the mend, thank goodness. 

I have decided that I should just get used to sweating like a pig trying to pass a peach pit..because Albania is a huge sauna (i think that is how you spell it. like those really really hot sweaty rooms...yeah, that's albania). and it isn't even summer yet! Yep, I am going to die. and my little Camelenoma has struck already, meaning that I have already gotten my sun burn for the season...sorry dad...i will try not to live up to the nick name that you gave me this summer. :) 

Futbol this week was super fun... except I accidentally kicked one of the elders investigators in the knee. But then the investigator would actually defend me as we played and stuff and I had to do all I could to control my inner competitiveness to not come out. haha. but, it didn't come out. so it was all good. Futbol went really well. But it was super hot. 

lunch. a sufflaqe with yummy dhalle. :) 

So Saturday night we went to a park to go and meet with one of our returning members. She had had a really hard day and she was at the park going for a run. So we went and just talked to her and to help her as best as we could. She was doing better at the end of our convesation. At the park that we went to there were atleast 3 soccer games going on, one by an Albanian club team they were practicing and a ton of kids nearby. The member's cousin was playing with soccer as well. Well this little kid didn't believe that I could play soccer. For some reason this little kid perfectly pushed my competetive buttons. So I told him to give me the soccer ball and I just juggled the soccer ball. He just stared at me (mind you this kid is like 8 years old. a sassy 8 year old that is). He said "okay, let's see if you can kick the ball." so I shot on goal, I was wearing my toms... hehe. the kid came up to me and said "no, no. you do it wrong." are you serious? haha. so i got advice from an 8 year old and then I shot again. But then he gave me a pity look and said "yeah, that's better." and so I took the ball and I went and did a corner kick... well as well as i could in a skirt without flashy anyone. haha. but the kids were getting a kick out of it and i could just see eyes watching me because a) I am a girl 2) I am in a skirt and c) I am playing soccer. hehe. I thought it was funny! The member and my companion were just laughing at me. hehe. :) hehe

We were at our recent converts house this week. While we were saying goodbye to them all. The daughter who is about 16 years old, she just walks up to me, and sorta pets my arm and just says "wow. you are so white." haha. in my defense i am not white, i am freckilie. I am getting more freckles because it is getting hotter. hehe, but i didn't think i was that white. haha, i guess not. :) hehe. 

Church went well yesterday. I played Called to Serve in sacrament meeting. They had it translated but the chorister was trying to sing it slowly, but that song shouldn't be sung slow... but I wasn't really watching her conducting because I was trying to not ruin the song by playing it...so i played it how we do in english, aka fast. it was hard. it felt like a finger work out. haha, but it went well. :) hehe. 

 Elder Guymon (left) &  Verushi (right). hehe, they are awesome!! 

Today was museum day! which means that meseums that are usually closed on monday was open! We went to a mueseum in the center of Tirana! It was AMAZING!!! It was so cool! We were in there for 2 hours and we didn't even go to half of the museum. It was sad though, because there was a part of the museum that was called "the terror of communism" level. There were clothes that had blood stains on them and the bullet holes in them still. It was heart wrenching. But on the other levels we went to, they had a lot of historical facts and photos and everything in there!! It was so cool! Skenderbeu is an awesome man. I am going to name on of my boys skenderbeu and call him bayou for short. ;) hehe, not really. but Skenderbeu was such an incredible person and he did such amazing things! It was really the most culturally uplifting (i can't think of the right english words on how to say this)...i felt like i learned a lot about the culture. 

In the MTC there is an amazing talk by Elder Bednar called the Character of Christ. It powerful and life changing. Today I watched the new mormon message about service and there is something that one of the men in that video says that reminded me of the talk-and it is so true! That it is as we turn outward, as we help others around us that we in turn not only find who we are but we are healed. I thought it was so powerful how this man says it, so I have included the link, it is so powerful. http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/lift-the-power-of-service I want to testify that I know that it is true. I know that all of our hearts can be healed, that holes we didn't even know were there will be filled in ways that we have not even imagined as we serve those around us. That is the secret to true happiness. Forgetting about ourselves and focusing on others because it is when we do that that we find who we are and that we are healed. If you want to be happier, serve someone. If you want to be more calm, serve someone. If you think you have it worse, serve someone. Service is the secret to a successful day. 

I love you all! Have a wonderful week! Smile lots serve lots and treasure trials!! :) 

Love,

Motra Zollinger

ps i don't know if any of you watch the series on Mormon channel about the Two Brothers Sam and Luke. But it is super good and I highly recommend it. :)