Marty and I went to the Opera Theater Saturday evening for a "gala concert" given by the Albanian Folk Ensemble. It featured traditional (historic) songs and dances from various regions of Albania. The traditional costumes were spectacular and the dancing excellent. The singing was unusual to me but very interesting. There was an excellent band which included 2 clarinets, 3 guitar-like instruments, 1 oboe, 2 violins, a large hand-held tamborine-like drum, and the man who played the accordian was the director. The band stood and played without a break for the entire 1 1/2 hour performance.
I took some short videos with my iPhone (no one objected--I'd never try it in the states). Monday evening we visited with the Beleshi family who showed us a cifteli they had, and I showed Mr. Beleshi my videos. He immediately knew where the songs and dances originated. He said his uncle and cousin were singers and sang in such ensembles.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Our Little Corner
The fruit and vegetable treg at the corner of our street is an interesting visual as we enter the neighborhood. Amazing the roof doesn't collapse. (Double click on the picture to enlarge it and get the full effect.) We have a street marker now, and we live on the Rruga Kujtim Laro, but even though more street signs are going up around Tirana, new addresses have not yet been assigned. Our address still reflects that we live in the Villa #1, near the Qemal Stafa street, across from the Post Office #22. Mail and packages come just fine. Kujtim Laro was a composer of Albanian film and popular music.
Our Last "BIG" Transfer
We have missionaries arrive from the MTC four times a year in January, April, July, and October. The Fords arrive to replace us June 28, so we will not see the July missionaries arrive. On July 13, after being in Albania less than two weeks, the Fords will face the task of saying goodbye to 13 missionaries they've barely met, with interviews, open house, dinner, and next day early morning trip to the airport. The same day, eight missionaries will arrive from the MTC needing interviews, dinner, next-day training and companion assignments. It can be a crazy, busy week.
We just had our last "big" transfer this week, saying goodbye to three missionaries, and welcoming nine new ones. Motra Hall came in for the departing festivities, but will stay on for one more transfer to help the mission, because one of our sisters at the MTC was reassigned to a mission in the states for health reasons.
Four we will miss: Sisters Katherine Yourstone, Kelsey Hall, Stephanie Peatross, and Elder Erik Swenson.
Arriving: Elders Justin Roberts, Spencer Knaras, John Marett, Nick Ireland, Ryan McBride, Ryan Olsen; and Sisters Amy Read and Shannon Reynolds.
Elder McCullam stayed at the MTC an extra day to have some medical tests (pulled muscle) and arrived after the training, but in time for the companionship announcements. 
Marty announced the new companionships. Here are Sisters Halabuk andReynolds in Tirana 4th District. 
Roger Ian and Susan Matthews arrived with the nine new missionaries. Because they arrived a week later than originally planned, and we were busy with the new missionaries, we had to put them up for two nights in the International Tirana Hotel. Two of our couples, the Wilsons and Prestons, kindly took the Matthews into their care and helped them with meals and some CES training. The Matthews took off for Pristina, Kosovo this morning (Friday), where they'll be pioneers, along with the Junkers who are already there. They will help the little branch group that is meeting in Pristina, and our hope is that soon some young missionaries will be assigned there. Currently, Kosovo is not part of the Albania Tirana mission, but we hope it will be some day, as 80% of the citizens there are ethnic Albanians.
We just had our last "big" transfer this week, saying goodbye to three missionaries, and welcoming nine new ones. Motra Hall came in for the departing festivities, but will stay on for one more transfer to help the mission, because one of our sisters at the MTC was reassigned to a mission in the states for health reasons.
Four we will miss: Sisters Katherine Yourstone, Kelsey Hall, Stephanie Peatross, and Elder Erik Swenson. 
Arriving: Elders Justin Roberts, Spencer Knaras, John Marett, Nick Ireland, Ryan McBride, Ryan Olsen; and Sisters Amy Read and Shannon Reynolds.
Elder McCullam stayed at the MTC an extra day to have some medical tests (pulled muscle) and arrived after the training, but in time for the companionship announcements. 
Marty announced the new companionships. Here are Sisters Halabuk andReynolds in Tirana 4th District. 
Roger Ian and Susan Matthews arrived with the nine new missionaries. Because they arrived a week later than originally planned, and we were busy with the new missionaries, we had to put them up for two nights in the International Tirana Hotel. Two of our couples, the Wilsons and Prestons, kindly took the Matthews into their care and helped them with meals and some CES training. The Matthews took off for Pristina, Kosovo this morning (Friday), where they'll be pioneers, along with the Junkers who are already there. They will help the little branch group that is meeting in Pristina, and our hope is that soon some young missionaries will be assigned there. Currently, Kosovo is not part of the Albania Tirana mission, but we hope it will be some day, as 80% of the citizens there are ethnic Albanians.
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