Ride the Wave

You Should Go To Macedonia

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Kate

If I’m being honest, I never would have chosen to visit any country in eastern Europe if I hadn’t been assigned to Peace Corps Albania. Like most Americans, when I used to think of eastern Europe my mind conjured up black-and-white images of communist soldiers marching with eerie precision, graffiti scribbled on the walls of crumbling buildings, and–as a friend put it–“poverty and tears.” Never would I ever have expected to find so much BEAUTY in this part of the world, from the nature to the history to the culture. So now that I’m here, I’ve made it a goal to visit as many of the Balkan countries as I can: Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, as well as Greece, because there truly is some amazing stuff to be seen.

I’ve been to Kosovo only once, on a hitch-hiking journey with a friend up to the Tropojë region of…

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City life

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Aaron

I am two weeks into my new area, with a new companion. Elder Rodas was born in Guatemala, but moved to Honduras when he was 12. He is a great teacher, and is extremely obedient… thank goodness. We are good pals already! We get along really well. He’s hilarious.

He told me that the first week that I was there in Central, we worked harder in that one week than he had the whole month of March. This area is awesome! Rich, food giving members who give references! Its pretty awesome!

The hardest part is telling people that I will end my mission here. That being the case, I am the best missionary I have ever been. More obedient than ever, more hard working… and I have such short time to do so. 2 changes left. That’s nothing!! I’ve gotta get to work!We catch a lot of attention because we are in the same group. Especially since our missions are coming to a close. We officially have 22 months. Ridiculous… The good thing is that we have found some new families who want to be baptized, so our goal is leaving this area having baptized a family. We can do it! We are excited!

Thank you for everything. Have a great week!

So here is the funny story of the week about htis area. We had lunch with a member this week, and once we got there he said that he had to go, and couldn't prepare us lunch, so he just gave Elder Rodas and I a Q100 bill, and said just buy whatever you want. Q100!!! That was crazy go nuts! So we went to McDonalds and got ourselves an American lunch. I couldn't believe what happened, but it was pretty cool.

So here is the funny story of the week about this area. We had lunch with a member this week, and once we got there he said that he had to go, and couldn’t prepare us lunch, so he just gave Elder Rodas and I a Q100 bill, and said just buy whatever you want. Q100!!! That was crazy go nuts! So we went to McDonalds and got ourselves an American lunch. I couldn’t believe what happened, but it was pretty cool.

Another good thing about being in Xela centro is that we are fairly close to the Temple. We brought about 10 investigators there last week at night-time, and I took this pic. Its super tight… I heart the temple.

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It’s The Little Things

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Kate

WildKat Formation

The most exciting–and sometimes intimidating–thing about my life in Albania is the fact that I wake up every morning not knowing what each day will bring. I can’t ever be sure of when I’ll come home, how I’ll feel, or what I will have accomplished (or not accomplished) from the time I leave the door. Most of the time, each day passes easily on to the next, but with little heartwarming or devastating or strange stories sprinkled throughout. It’s the little things, really, that make my life what it is here.

My first walk to school.

I have at least one ritual that I can rely on: the walk to school in the morning. I take the same route every day, pass the same buildings, see the same people, and dodge the same cars. It’s oddly comforting when everything else is so uncertain. So I’d like to share this, because…

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Last week in Momos

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Aaron

I went on Divisions to a place called Pancà, where the largest waterfall is in Momos and I took pics there with Elder Hurtado from Peru, and Jackson, the dog that followed us along the whole way, and protected us from the other meaner dogs.

To get back to Momos we had to get in the back of a pick-up at 5am, and drive for about an hour or so back to Momos. It was a successful division though. We found 3 new investigators.

I almost forgot about the baptism that we had… Remember how we went to Nimsitùj for that training and we found that lady that was not a member? Well, she got baptized on Saturday. I have never met a more sincere woman. And despite the fact that she can’t read, and cannot speak Spanish, she still had great desires, was completely sincere, and understood the language of the Spirit. She is actually quite faithful. Smarter than I thought! She understood the lessons perfectly well.
Oh my goodness, that sounded awful… I cannot express myself in English anymore. All you need to know is that she is really awesome/pilas.

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George Washington

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Aaron

We are in Xela writing this week because Momos has no power! That is why we are writing so early. So we are recharging phones and showering and buying food here today in Xela. here is a pic of me writing you gys a letter in candlelight! =) It should be there next week. It was fun! I felt like George Washington.

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Sabbath lessons

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Aaron

An inactive man we met this week invited us to pizza on Saturday which was nice. His problem is that he can’t come to church because he is a commercialist (I think that’s correct in English) and works Sunday. A really nice guy, he knows the church is true, but dug himself too deep in the hole. I have learned a lot about the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day, and the blessings it brings. It is sad to learn that through the bad example of another, but at least I was able to receive that knowledge. The church is true. Even though the people are not perfect, the church is. It is such a blessing to be able to go to church in order to renew our covenants. That is why we go. Sometimes we don’t realize that blessing every week, but it truly is a blessing. May we all continue strong and active, so the Lord will bless us forever!

Here I am an the Riscos. Apparently they are world famous. Until now I haven’t had the time to take a picture here.

Here is a pic of Momos at night. Just a tiny little village really.

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My new companion

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Aaron

His name is Elder Glass! A gringo! Another gringo! I met him in Huehue over a year ago! A great guy. Really energetic, and animated. he has 17 months in the mission. He is from North Carolina, and has a huge family. He is a good missionary. Surprised that he is a zone leader now, but i am showing him the ropes etc, and he is doing a good job.
Here we are in an aldea called Santa Isabel right after a visit. Here he is with an Orange. haha!

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Running…For Exercise?!!

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Kate

WildKat Formation

I’ve mentioned this before, but Albanians in my community find it SO strange that I run around outside and get really tired for fun. People–my neighbors, the shop owners I frequent, my students, small children whom I’ve never met before–get pretty worked up about my exercise routines. “I saw you running yesterday! WHY WERE YOU RUNNING?” “You’re going to run?! But it just rained, there are puddles everywhere!” “Where are you going? I have a car, I can take you, you don’t need to run.”

Exercise is widely embraced in America because we’re all a) fat and b) taught to admire athleticism. But in Albania, if you are fat, you either stay that way or adopt what I call the “Albanian Woman Diet” which is coffee, cigarettes, coffee, coffee, and no dinner. That really does not sound appealing to me, so to help myself stay fit–and sane–coupled with the…

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Changes coming

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Aaron

Here I am with Elder Hendrickson, Obourn, and McGrath. Easily some of my best buddies in the mission. Obourn and Hendrickson are zoneleaders in a place called Totonicapán. They brought matching ties to the last Zone Leader Meeting, as well as McGrath and I. It was ultra cute. =)

Changes are tomorrow, so we as a zone ate Chinese food together! It was a lot of fun.

Fun story about this old woman. She was baptized 45 years ago. Barely speaks Spanish. Is endowed, and sealed to her family, attends every Sunday, her son died a few years ago, and her recompense was Q70,000. She paid Q7,000 for her tithing of course, and when she handed it to the bishop at that time, he told her that it would be better for her to keep it since she is now widowed, and without children, and that it would help her live. She then responded, ”Don’t rob me of my blessings from God.” And gave him the money. I have never met a more faithful woman here. She is 80 something years old, and this week I recorded her testimony in Ki’ché, and took this picture. Just a little cultural snidbit of Momos.

I think I just found out who my companion is going to be. Until I know for sure, I’ll tell you next week =)