Dear family,

The area in Lushnje is the one that closed. We had then moved to Fier. However, I think some time ago (before I got here in Albania) there was quite a big apostasy where a lot of people left the church in Fier. It's kind of sad. I have met the wife and kids of the one-armed member there, but he is no longer branch president, and I'm not sure if he's active. I do know that the few active members from Lushnje attend church in Fier and the branch president is now a missionary. That's about the update with Lushnje and Fier. I do remember hearing that both those areas were really successful at some point.

At the moment, I am starting Mormon in the Book of Mormon in Albanian, and starting 3 Nephi in English.  I should be able to finish at least one of them before transfers.  Today, we also took our district trip down to this place called Gjirokaster.  It had a pretty sweet castle there that we got to see.  A lot of it was still intact. 

 We came across a couple chained up dogs that seemed unhappy as well as a ton of bats hanging out in the ceilings.  I got quite a few pictures there.  We also came across an old army tank and an American "spy plane" which had a slightly less than exciting story.  Apparently this pilot went off course, landed in Albania, and he got sent back to America while they stole the airplane and put it in museums.  The plane was in pretty rough shape as well.

Less than a week until our baptisms.  I think a couple of our investigators were pretty worried about the interviews, but they found out there was nothing to worry about.  In branch council, we found out that a lot of the members don't seem to like some of these investigators.  It's really a shame.  I think they were being too judgmental though.  We were simply asking for somebody to come to there house with us so they could help their mother come to church as well.  The members just ended up being really difficult, and it was kind of annoying.  Eris, one of the YM's presidency, said he would come with us.  We were wanting a lady from the RS to join us because obviously they could relate better with the mother, but Eris should still be good.  The main reason the members have been judging them is because they are noisy and don't quite understand some things such as the importance of church.  That all comes from time, and we can teach them that.  Plus, they are youth.

This next Saturday, we are getting transfer calls, but they will be slightly less exciting because I know there's a pretty good chance I'll be staying here in Vlore.  Mostly because this transfer is right in between the middle of a ton of work starting up with new baptisms, new investigators, and new programs.  Since my companion is going home, I will be the only one here in Vlore at the moment that knows what's going on with these things as well as where they all live.  So unless things go way weird, I'm probably staying here in Vlore for at least another transfer.

Well, I think that's about it for the week.  So next week I will update you about transfers and whatnot.

Love,

Elder Wallentine