Our Orientation Day-October 17, 2012



Pres. & Sister Smith

We had breakfast at home, and soon the Smith's were at the door-ready to show us around town.  Vlore is a city of about 100,000 people, which seemed so big to us then.  President Smith had prepared a list of things to show us and to teach us so that we could function here on our own.  We were so grateful.  When they arrived at the beginning of their mission, their predecessors had already returned home, so this was a great blessing for us to have their help.

We learned how to find the electric bill (it's left in a little box beside the elevator on the first floor).  There would be two with the landlord's name on them, and we were to open them both and determine which matched the account number in our little book marked 'elektrik'.  Then, you would take both the little book and the bill and go down to the small post office on the main boulevard and wait there to pay.  Everything in Albania is done in cash-no checks or debit cards-so often this would require a withdrawal at the bank.

'Waiting' at the Post Office does not mean 'waiting in line' as we do it in America.  Our first experiences were a little disturbing as we waited 'in line' and watched the natives brush by us and go right to the front.  I'll have to admit that sometimes they 'push' past you to get waited on first.  We were a bit offended at first, but after talking with other missionaries we began to understand that this is just the Albanian way.  They don't mean to be rude.

The next lesson was about the water bill-'Uje' (pronounced oo-ee) as it is called here.  It also has a little book, which much be stamped at the office each time you pay.  The water bill is not in the little box downstairs.  It will arrive magically about the middle of the month under your door!  To pay this bill, you also must take the bill and the book through the small treg to the 'hole in the wall'.  During open hours, a small overhead door is rolled up to reveal a window where a worker waits to take your money and stamp your book.

A shepherd watching over his flock

A calf by the beach road

Our favorite part of the day came at the end.  The Smith's had told us about their favorite beach, and we really wanted to know how to find it.  We did find enough time at the end of the day.  The drive out was about 3 or 4 miles long, through an area of old abandoned pallati's and then through a grove of trees.  Eventually the road became very rough and we kept going.  President Smith pointed out places where he had baptized people during the warmer months.  It was just beautiful.  When we finally arrived, we had to take pictures.  This would be a place we would visit again and again.  It reminded us of home and of Lake Michigan.  It felt good.



Our first visit to a favorite place

On to Vlore-Our New Home!

On our first Sunday in Albania, we attended church with President and Sister Ford at the "1-3" building.  You guessed it-the 1st and 3rd branches meet here and it is on the first and second floors of the Mission Home/Office building.  President Ford asked us to bear our testimonies, as it was our first Sacrament Meeting here.  We agreed, and I decided to share mine in Albanian.  We had been practicing this in our language lessons, and I decided there was no time like the present.  I had to read it, of course, but I did face my fears about the language and push through it. Clark shared his testimony with the help of an interpretor, and I am sure it made much more sense to them than mine did.  Anyway-that was our first Sacrament Meeting.  Afterward, one of the Elders came up to me and said "Do I know you?  You seem awfully familiar to me."  I admitted that I did not know him, but since I am writing this in March, I can tell you later more about this story.  It will come up again.

After church we had dinner with the Ford's and then began the  journey down to Vlore.  It is not such a long journey, if you look at it on the map.  But, when you see the roads you'll travel to get there, it takes about 3 hours.  We were not just amazed-I think we were 'flabbergasted' if that is a word anywhere beyond my country home in Michigan!  At times, it was a super highway, almost.  Then, suddenly, it would all end-pavement gone, gigantic ruts and holes in the stoney roadway-it was downright dangerous!  I thought of my Mother, and decided she would never survive a ride down that road from Durres to Vlore.  Too bumpy-too rough.  We were tired, and suffering from jet lag-we were grateful that President was driving and all we had to do was look out the windows in amazement at this strange new country called Albania.  The sights were so new to us-we were trying to drink it all in.  As quickly as one new scene would pass, another would come into view.

A Curious Cow

The highway is, for the most part, divided.  There is a concrete barrier between the northbound and the southbound lanes.  This is to keep accidents from happening, you would think.  The people, however, have different ideas about these barriers.  We have seen everything imaginable crossing over those barriers, including two men with a wheelbarrow!  Along the roadway, there are flocks of sheep, goats, turkeys and many carts drawn by horses and donkeys.  Life is old here-and young at the same time.  More on that later.

The view from our apartment

Our first view of the apartment

We arrived in Vlore and were driven directly to the couples apartment.  The Ford's took us to the door, introduced us, and then had to rush off to their next appointment.  We were in the care of the Smith's, whom we were replacing, for the next 24 hours.  They would introduce us to our new city, our new branch and our new life.

So This is Albania-October 15, 2011

I'll admit I don't remember much about the ride from the airport to the Mission Home.  I do remember thinking that I would never be able to drive here.  The traffic is unbelievable, and there are few rules that govern the operation of a vehicle here.  It was my first introduction to the many things that are different here.

Mission Home Gate from inside

The Ford's put us up in the apartment just above their home.  They had kindly purchased bread, ham and cheese for a sandwich and some juice and treats-so that we could have a snack and take a nap.  After 23 hours of traveling, we were ready for a nap!  They gave us the option of joining them for the Institute class at 6pm, and we were anxious to go.  The Center for Young Adults is the assignment that we'd been given, and we were curious to see how it was done.  We couldn't have guessed what a great 'first night' in Albania we would have.

Elder Johnson made us feel right at home

Our first views of Tirana

We drove to the "2-4" building in Tirana, where the 2nd and 4th branches meet.  The Young Adult Center is on the 2nd floor, and the room was packed with young single adults (ages 18-30).  We had a translator with us on the back row to help us understand what the teacher was sharing.  It was fun to hear the language spoken by the natives, and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying on my own.  We had a long way to go on language! 

C.D. with the Ford's and the Volz's

After the meeting, President asked if we would mind waiting for a bit.  There was a young man that he needed to talk to, and it should only take a short while.  The young man was C.D. and he was trying to make a decision about baptism.  The short while became a long while, so Sister Ford took us out to find some dinner.  She said, with her lovely English accent, "Follow me-I know a short-cut."  I decided I had come to Albania to follow her, and follow her I did!  She disappeared into a narrow space between the buildings.  It was dark outside by then, and super dark in the narrow passageway that she was leading me through.  She was laughing, and we laughed too.  Fearless, she is.  We came out on the main street in just a minute, and we caught up to the other couple missionaries who were out getting a bite to eat also.  We were introduced to the crepe-a basic food group in Albania.  My favorite is white chocolate with bananas and cookie crumbs, but we'll talk about that later.  We struck up a conversation with an Albanian man while we waited for the crepes to cook.  We were amazed that we could talk with him at all, but here we were, speaking and understanding (in very elementary terms) our new language.  It was great!

Once we were back at the building, the questions had been answered and C.D. had announced that he wanted to be baptized right away!  So the font was being filled and we held a baptismal service at 9:30PM on our first night in Albania.  Now if that isn't a great welcome for new missionaries, I don't know what is!  We absolutely loved the Spirit that we felt in that room, and we will always have a special feeling for C.D.  It was a great first night.

The Journey to our Mission Assignment-October 14, 2011

The Willder's-Left to Right: Liam, Ethan,
Mark, Erin, Quinn, Alexa
with Oma and Grampa Volz on the right

We had a wonderful family gathering at Mark and Erin's home in Provo on the night before our departure.  Amanda and Austin came with their family, and also Jordan and Michelle.  There were several other friends who stopped in to say good-bye and we thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  After everyone had gone, we gathered our things and said our last good-byes.  Erin dropped us off at the MTC gate, and we both cried and held each other for a long time.  We knew there would be skype and phone calls and email, but leaving for two years is a big thing for any parent, and it was difficult.  Tears do not mean regret, or a change of heart-Erin is completely supportive of this mission and I am totally committed.  These tears meant love and a sacrifice of our time together while Clark and I go to serve the Lord.  We survived.

The Cole family-left to right: Austin, Dylan,
Amanda, London, Caleb, Oma, Grandpa
and baby Reagan

Jordan and Michelle with her parents

We were up late shuffling bags, then fell into bed for a long nap before the alarm went off.  The shuttle was right on time and we enjoyed our conversation with the young brother who drove us to the airport in Salt Lake City.  Our flight was on time-no problems.  Once on board, I began to take a mental inventory of all that I was leaving behind to go and serve the Lord in a country that I knew little about.  I made this entry in my little journal:

10/14/2011-"According to the moving map on our plane we are flying over the middle of Lake Michigan now.  In the next few minutes we'll pass over our loved ones below and fly on to New York.  Farewell for now--How we love you!!  How we love our home in Michigan!.  We passed over South Haven at 1:17pm (approx), a little north of Kalamazoo about 1:21pm, Battle Creek at 1:23pm, Marshall at 1:24PM and Detroit at 1:34PM.  We have traveled 1518 miles so far, and are traveling at 544 mph with a 67 mp tailwind".

At JFK we tried to get something to eat on the plane, and that put us behind in a very long line for the security check on international flights.  I was so worried that we would miss this important flight.  We were in one of those mazes, and we couldn't see anyway that we would get through on time.  Then as we rounded one end the airport person directed us right up the middle row--it was like the red sea parting, sort of!  We couldn't believe that we were back on schedule that quickly.  Praying in airports works just as well as praying anywhere else!

The flight across the Atlantic was a bit bumpy at first but it soon settled down.  We had the great good fortune to have the entire center section to ourselves, so we could stretch out and relax on the long flight to Vienna.  Well, I should be honest and say that I was able to stretch out and sleep-Clark takes such good care of me and he was worried that I would get sick if I didn't get some sleep.  He's wonderful and so kind to me.  We were in Vienna only about an hour and then we were off to Tirana and our mission 'home' for the next 23 months.  I was so nervous!  What would it be like there?

We made our way through the confusion at the Tirana airport without too much trouble, collected our bags and made our way into the sunshine outside.  Pres. and Sister Ford were right there to meet and greet us, thank goodness!  Sr. Ford shook my hand and then pulled me close so that she could 'smooch' beside my right ear, then switched to the other side and said quietly to me 'this is how it's done here'.  I smiled and thought 'I'm learning already!'.  Clark had our huge pile of luggage on one of those carts, which Pres. Ford insisted on pulling to the car.  Thanks to the pavement and sidewalks in Albania, the cart fell over two or three times on the way to the car.  It was like a Laurel and Hardy scene for sure, but we finally made it.  I'll write more about our first impressions on the next entry.

Preparing to Fly to Albania!

Welcome to our 

Mission Blog!

We've had a great 3 weeks in Utah and are now ready to leave for our Mission in Albania.  We hope you'll enjoy seeing a few pictures and hearing a few stories along the way. 

After saying good-bye to the dear friends in our District, we went back to our room in 2M to begin the packing-at about 9pm last night.  Packing goes quickly at first, and then comes the ugly part--when odds and ends have to find a place.  We have a handy little gizmo to weigh our bags as we go, which really helps.  Do you have any idea how much vitamins weigh?  We kept switching them from one bag to another until the magic 50 lb limit was met.  We crashed about midnight, leaving quite a bit of organizing to be done today.

It's been great to have Erin and Mark just up the hill from us.  They've been so helpful, and have picked us up or loaned us a car when we've had errands to run.  So it is today.  Erin is making dinner and Clark is picking up pictures, etc. for the final packup tonight.

Tomorrow the shuttle leaves at 5am, or so we've been told.  I am much like my Mom.  When I know that I have to get up really early, I just can't fall asleep because I worry that I'll miss my flight.  So, I don't expect to sleep much tonight.  I can do that tomorrow while we are flying accross the Atlantic.

Leaving home behind must be hard for everyone.  For us it brings sweet feelings of love for our family and friends, a soft spot in our heart for our home and for Michigan, and a deep appreciation for our great country. We have loved our life here-and we look forward to our life in Albania.  We know that God has called us to serve there.  We know that He will help us to accomplish the work that is there for us to do.