Visit from Greg and John!

We had wonderful visits this last week from our two sons and their wives: Greg and Judy; and John, Hayley, and Grace. John's trip was originally planned for last month, but the Icelandic volcano ash caused a last-minute change of plans. Fortunately, the ash plume cooperated this time, and all arrived safely.

As you read through the blog, you may click on any picture to view it full size, and click on any underlined word if you wish to explore more about that topic.

John and Hayley brought two-year-old Grace with them and we had a great week with her. She walked miles this week because she's TWO and doesn't want to be carried.

We visited the lovely, ancient city and castle of Berat and spent several hours there. The city is thought to have been founded in 600 B.C. At one time there were 46 churches inside the castle walls and the museum workers showed us through the Museum Onufri, even though we arrived at closing time. This museum is in the Church of the Virgin Mary and showcases several ancient icons and ornately carved wooden walls and altars. This is the view of the old town from the castle, but the castle town looks like this also. It's called the town of a thousand windows and people still live in houses within the old fortress.

John, Hayley, Grace, and the view from the Berat castle walls. Their residence is Logan, Utah.

John works in mortgages at Wasatch Mortgage, and Hayley is a designer and stay-at-home mom.

Greg and Judy arrived on Friday, May 14, and John and Hayley came the next day. Sadly, none of the luggage arrived with either couple. Greg and Judy had to wait until Sunday evening to get theirs, but John and Hayley's luggage came the day after they arrived. Greg and Judy left Thursday the 20th, and John, Hayley, and Grace left this morning (the 23rd).

We have a quiet and empty apt. again. It was pretty tough to say goodbye!

We enjoyed the break from the mission routine, and we also enjoyed the vacation from skirts (me) and white shirts (Marty) for a few days. Marty has worn a colored shirt on only four or five days since we started our mission two years ago. I work around the apartment in jeans, but dress up to be with the missionaries or to go out.

May is a wonderful time of year for wildflowers in Albania. These red poppies were blooming everywhere--even in crevices on the castle walls. Greg took the photos in Berat.

We took John and Hayley to the Big Treg, a flea-market kind of place with hundreds of small shops. Hayley is purchasing a package of little girl hair clips. We found a Rrobaqepësi shop (dressmaking, tailor), that had an amazing array of trims, beads, threads, and notions. There are hundreds of tailoring shops in Tirana, and it's fairly inexpensive to have clothing made and mended.

During the visit, we also traveled to Krujë; Durrës to see the Amphitheater and to go to one of our favorite ice cream parlors

by the Adriatic Sea; and Apollonia, with a side trip to Fier just to have Pica Roma (Pizza Roma) for lunch. I posted some pictures of Apollonia in my Dec. 27 post when we visited with the Shupes.

Greg is working for Novatek Inc. in Provo, working on the New Vista project, and Judy works as a designer for an architectural firm in Salt Lake, where they live.

Another flat tire! This is our sixth in two years. This time we had run over a large screw. Marty had the tire fixed for only $2.00 from the repair shop down the street. Happily, this breakdown was right outside my favorite Italian fabric shop, and I purchased two lovely pieces of fabric while I was waiting for the men to change the tire.

April Showers us with Blessings!

We had our two zone conferences at the end of April, and the subject was "Becoming Exceptional Missionaries." They were two of the most spiritual zone conferences we have experienced. The missionaries were brimming over with success stories in finding and teaching, and the testimony meetings were non-stop wonderful. I gave two presentations--one about some practical pointers that I've been thinking would help the missionaries (do they ever listen?), and one on becoming self-directed and disciplined. Marty gave some tips that he found from an article by Wendy Ulrich on what it means to be an adult ("That They May Grow Up in Thee, Feb 2010 Ensign), and also spoke about this world as our proving ground. We hold one zone conference in Tirana, and one in Durrës for missionaries in all the outer cities. It's always a treat to be with the missionaries in large groups. As I had the flu for a week with a lingering bronchial cough, I baked only cinnamon rolls as a snack for both zone conferences, and cookies and chocolate sauce to go with Rudi's ice cream for dessert. They'll live, but I heard from several elders that they really missed my cooking.

We are thrilled to welcome Ruth and Robert Wilson as our new Humanitarian Aid couple. They replace the Snow's who left last week. (As I was ill, Marty took the Snow's to the airport and forgot to get a picture.) For a month, the Wilson's will be in Vlorë, until another couple, the Smith's arrive, and then the Wilsons will join us here in Tirana and live in the apt. above us in our mission building. We're also excited that two other missionary couples will be coming in the next few months. I refuse to call them "senior" couples, as they are as energetic and enthusiastic for the work as the young missionaries!

Also in April, we sent Elder Taylor Allen home with a medical release, to seek treatment for severe headaches. We hope he returns to good health soon, and possibly come back to us, or be re-assigned.