The Way Prepared

This evening, in a period of about fifteen minutes, we experienced intense emotions at both ends of the spectrum. Marty received an email from a secretary in the Provo MTC that one of our Albanian young men, Enea Rrokaj, who had been called to the Italy Rome Mission, had not appeared at the MTC as scheduled and was now classified as a "No Show!" Enea came with his parents (who are members) on Sunday to be set apart by Marty, and then went to the airport very early Monday morning to depart for the States. It is a long trip to Utah, involving at least two plane changes, and we were nervous that Enea would have difficulty navigating the airports. Then we learned later in the morning that he was still at the Tirana airport as all flights out were cancelled due to fog. Elder Newhouse picked him up, and he stayed with the Assistants Mon. night and spent all the next day in the mission office while we dealt with transfers and departing missionaries. He spent Tuesday night with some other elders and worked with them all day Wednesday, and was finally able to get out of Albania Thursday afternoon. We learned just today that he had called his parents and branch president (Elder Chatfield, couple missionary) and told them that this time with our missionaries was very good for him and made him more excited for his mission. Then we received the email tonight. We were panicked and worried. Had Enea missed a connection? Did he get cold feet and bolt? Was the MTC not notified of the flight delays and had they left him alone in the SLC Airport? Marty called the woman who sent the email, but she was not at her desk. He left an urgent message. We scoured all our resources and found a number for the Information Desk at the MTC, and the phone was picked up by a Brother Clayton Cook. Marty quickly told him of the situation, and Brother Cook said, "Oh, I checked Elder Rrokaj in early this morning at 1:30 a.m.!" We were so thrilled. But here's the best part: Brother Cook told us that his own brother, Kevin Cook, had served a mission in Albania, had opened the city of Vlorë where Elder Rrokaj is from, AND had taught the Rrokaj family the gospel! We were speechless with emotion, and amazed at the wonderful blessing for Elder Rrokaj, traveling alone to a strange place, to have such a tender and warm welcome to the MTC!