Mulan

In Albania they like to play this card game called Mulan! It is like the American "Scum" but with some other fun rules! It's a lot of fun! People here also really like dominoes and chess!

I gave a talk in church! It was good! first time in 16 weeks!

Persian guy is doing great I love his accent! "VestOn (a mix of Vest of Stone.) How are yoouuu? Good Tanks" what a champ! He is going to get the Priesthood next week! I am super excited! Also Baj* is going to get the Priesthood!

Had zone conference, at the end there was a ton of rice and chicken left so we grabbed a "plate" (A tray, it was free game) And have been eating that for the last 3 days! #blessed!  Speaking of food, you know how I do the fitness game right? yeah well I lost 10 lbs. Good? I don't know? anyways!

For P day we played soccer and frisbee! Then went to a shopping place! Bought some pants and stuff! It was fun!

Spiritual thought: In my talk, I talked a little about the Atonement. I have always loved this scripture in Isaiah 53:5
"But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."
I am so grateful for my Savior and though his stripes we can receive forgiveness and be healed and be cleansed of our sins!

Have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Michael Ueston

Easter / Baptism

Last Monday Elder Lords (my old companion) and Elder Divkovic (my dad) came and stayed at our house for a night, while they were traveling. While they were at our house they said that I look super good. Maybe all that healthy eating has really helped! #Goals I know spinach doesn't taste good but just eat it! :)

Ba* got baptized this week!
On Tuesday he had his interview. Turns out he had an operation on his teeth, so when he came for the interview he had a bloody cloth in his mouth with about 3 teeth left. #PlotTwist
Then he got baptized on Thursday, right before I went to baptize him I showed him how I would be baptizing him. Then when I told him I would dunk him backwards he said "I will do it." I was kinda confusing and was like "..okay let's go" I said the prayer, then after, like he said, he fell back basically baptizing himself while he was holding my hands like you do. Right after that I pulled him back up! It was awesome!  His testimony was awesome too! TBH I don't know what I was expecting when he was about to give his testimony, but turns out he is an amazing story teller! He said that at first he came to the church just for english course. After we had some lessons. When the missionaries asked me to be baptized I told them that baptism will come like a fruit on a tree, it has to grow first, basically quoting Alma 32.

Then I was telling him how important it is to come to church and he promised me that he would come to church. He said he would come to church even if the dentist ended up cutting off his head. He did come to church with a head no worries!

Last week we baptized the Persian guy and he doesn't speak that good of Albanian, and this week we baptized Ba*. Ba* and Persian Guy are best friends! I don't know how they are such good friends or how they even speak to each other but they are. Ba* saw the Persian Guy's watch and said "I am going to give you a new watch." "why?" "just for fun! I have 3 of them" #BFF

BTW: In Albania they often name they children after people or things. For example Gezim which means Joy. Ba* is sacred Islamic religious celebration where they fast for a month. In one of our lessons Ba* told us that he has never participated in the celebration of Ba*.
I thought that this was super ironic that his name is Ba* but has never participated in Ba*. #Goals

This Saturday we had a ward party for Easter. We hid eggs and had some kids and Motra Hanci found them.

Easter: Church, we ate dinner at the Masefield and learned about Passover, Choir, and a devotional type thing at the mission couples house!


Spiritual Thought:
2 Nephi 2:26 " the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever"
I am so grateful for my savior and that this week we had an opportunity to remember his Eternal sacrifice so that we can "become free forever"
Read the Book of Mormon!!!


Love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Michael Ueston

Puppies

In Albanian the word "Përdorë" (to use) if you directly translate it, it means "For" and "Hand" or "to do something with a hand." Albanian is cool. Përballë (in front of) if you directly translate it, it means "For" and "Forehead" or "to do something with your forehead" Albanian is cool!

The best part of this week was when we were walking down the road when we saw a pet store with puppies inside and of course we played with them! They were so cute!

This week we sang in the road with a lot of other missionaries for the activities we will have for Easter! 

We found a store that sells 20 cookies for 50 cents! #Goals! but I have been eating healthy this week except for that! Made home made pizza. 

Spiritual Thought: 

Easter is coming in less than a week and I would like to share my gratitude for my Savior and all that he has done for me! I know that Jesus is The Christ, he died for us and he overcame the sting of death.

I love this scripture in Isiah 1:18

"...though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

I am so grateful that though The Savior and His Atonement we may have our sins turn to white like wool.

Have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Michael Ueston