Happy New Year 2010 from Tirana, Albania. Its hard to believe that so many rockets can be fired off in so short a time, but again this year Mom and I were not disappointed with the New Year's celebration. From our balcony this 5 minute video will give you a feeling of New Year in Albania.

Mom and I will ride the bus if we have to go a long way or are running late. When we do ride the bus we'll talk to everyone on board. This is very "unAlbanian" to talk to people on buses. Its actually quite fun. We'll hand out pass-along cards or invitations to our English classes. This is photograph of Mom (you can just make her out) talking to about 4-5 Albanian women this past week. It is usually "standing room only" on bus rides.
Christmas Eve we visited the Beleshi family. Their four daughters are members of the Church. One of the Christmas presents given to Bledi, the oldest brother was a "çifteli". Brother Beleshi had not played one in years, but entertained us with some wonderful songs. The çifteli is a 2 metal string instrument which requires a lot of dexterity. I gave it a try, but couldn't get it to sing like Brother Beleshi.
Beleshi Family gathering Christmas Eve. From left to right: Blerina, Brisi, Mom, Mother Beleshi, Father Beleshi, Bledi and Almira. I can't even begin to tell you how much we had to eat. There were stuffed peppers, turkey, byrek (a baked meat pie), pickled vegetables, nuts, frozen vegetables, fruits, meat, breads, and baklava for desert. Albanians expect you to eat everything and are devastated if you don't clean your plate and ask for more.
Mid-day Christmas we had our district of missionaries over for lunch. from left to right: Sister Boyer, Elder Layton, Elder Rispoli, Elder Turley, Mom, Sister Bentley, Elder Scandin, Elder Muglesson, and Elder Seevers. After dinner we played tile-rummy, Mom's favorite game. Photograph is taken in our front room/kitchen.

With Christmas here and the New Year around the corner, many Albanians will be preparing traditional meals. This will include a very fresh turkey. These guys are on the way to the market. It's a long walk, but they only have to go one way.
On Sunday December 20, 2009, mom and I drove to Lushnje, a small city about 1 1/2 hours south of Tirana, to speak at Sacrament meeting.  There were only 6 members present in this little branch. On the way down we had to stop for the only train in Albania. As you can see its pretty old, but better yet the crossing arm is hand operated by this fellow. He watches for the train to come and then lowers the arm. After the train has passed, he'll push the arm back up. Important job, but low pay. 
On December 19th we held the YSA Christmas party. It was a lot of fun. Above photograph shows mom, Alma, Elba and Neti watching Mom's T.V. appearance. Everyone applauded when it was over. They had never seen so much publicity for the Church in Albania.
We played a Christmas trivia game. That's me up front being the MC. I was very surprised that none of the young adults knew the name of Santa's most famous reindeer. There are a lot of Christmas traditions which have not made it to this predominantly muslim country. Also the nearly 50 years of communist rule eliminated all public Christmas celebrations.
We decorated sugar cookies. Something that none of our young adults had done before. Here showing off their creations are, from left to right, Mira, Romena, Bruna, Inva and Sonja.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Mom and I wish you all a Merry Christmas from Tirana, Albania. For the last 2 weeks we've had rain and cold. Today the sun was out, but it was colder. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. We just checked Santa's list, and mom and I made it along with all 9 of our grandchildren. We love you all!

Last Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Mom appeared on Albanian television. One of the young adults, Fatjona Priska, is a reporter for Ora News. Almost every morning she will interview someone on the morning news and Monday evening she asked Mom if she'd like to come and talk about Christmas traditions. We were a bit worried about wearing the missionary badge, however, as you'll see it was perfect. There's more to the interview than just this clip and in the next couple of days I'll see if I can post more. Mom was on for over 15 minutes. We've already been told that some people here in Tirana saw the interview.

Thursday, November 26, 2009 was Thanksgiving. Its not an Albanian holiday, but the missionaries all got together and had a great meal. Sister Neil, the mission president's wife, put the feast together. The missionaries were responsible for the deserts. Above photograph shows a very proud Elder Turley holding his 24 inch "deep dish" apple pie. It was delicious!
The Elders and Sisters lined up holding their deserts. We had everything from pumpkin and apple pies to rich chocolate cake.
The Thanksgiving feast was held in the basement of the mission home. Standing, in white shirt, is Elder Ditmer from Indiana.
Heading into the basement for the Thanksgiving meal, Elders Kushlan, Hagen, Garn and Smedley.
I knew it was getting close to Thanksgiving when I saw this fellow taking his birds home. Actually, towards the end of the year, you start seeing live turkeys on the streets of Tirana for sale. The big Albanian meal when turkeys are served is New Year's. Can the end of 2009 be that close?

We held our annual YSA "Clean the Building" service project this past Saturday. The Institute meets in the same building as the Tirana 2nd and 4th Branches. The building gets a pretty good work out from all the people that use it. It does get cleaned every week, but once a year we try to give it a deep cleaning. Above photograph is of Roan, Neti, Donald and Besmir cleaning chairs in one of the class rooms.
The guys really help clean up the outside. Around the outside of the building in a space that is not seen, people will sometimes throw their junk. Besmir and Amarildo hauling some junk away.
Alma and Elona cleaning the kitchen cabinets. This March Alma will leave on a her mission to Salt Lake City, Utah. For 18 months, she will be one of the sister missionaries on Temple Square.
After spending a couple of hours cleaning, we all sat down and had a pizza and ice cream lunch.

Once a quarter we have "Super Saturday" for all the seminary students in Albania. We had over 55 attend Saturday November 22, 2009. Mom and I were the only chaperones so single handedly we never "controlled" them, we just "contained" them for a couple of hours.
Learning Book of Mormon scripture mastery verses will never be the same. We had 5 bags in which were 5 objects. The bags were passed from table to table and those around each table had to determine which object went to what verse. It was great fun and very interactive.
We also had a Christmas trivia jeopardy game. Boys vs. Girls. The boys were very disappointed when the girls won. When this photograph was taken, "3" was the right answer.
After this baptism of Grei Lika and his brother Kein on November 22, 2009, 3 out of our 4 "ping pong" young friends have joined the Church. This picture is of me, Grei, Roni Kapillani, Kein and Donald. Donald's parents have not yet agreed to his baptism. We're hoping that permission will be given before we go home in 4 months.
On November 18, 2009 I baptized Fioreta Tozaj. She began coming to Church to learn English. The first time she was in Mom's English class, Mom shared her testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fioreta asked to know more and three months later she was baptized.

Mom's talents know no limits. For the first time in our marriage, Mom sang a solo. A mission is a growing experience and this is proof positive. Elder Turley helped Mom pull it off, but it was all Mom. If this keeps up, she may start looking for an agent. The story behind "the solo" is very sweet. Mom taught her English class to sing "I Am a Child of God."One of her students, Fioreta Tozaj was going to be bapized and she asked Mom if she would sing a solo at her baptism. Mom, without hesitation, agreed.

My brother Scott was working on a helicopter deal in Milan, Italy and decided to come to Tirana for a visit. He came right in the middle of our 10 days of straight rain. He was here only Saturday, November 7, 2009 so we had a great breakfast at the Stephan's Center and walked around town. Above photo of Scott and Mom walking the streets of Tirana.
Scott said he didn't like my hats he was seeing on the blog so he brought me this new one. Can you see any difference? I should add that there were many Albanian Saints who did a double take when they saw us together. What do you think Garrick? Scott does look like an older me.
Every now and then Mom and I on our walks will find a "new" building painted in the most random way.
We also found our favorite restaurant at home. In N Out, but I'm afraid that the franchise has not made it to Albania.
We've told you all about our favorite conversion story of Roni and his sister Elba. Remember, Roni is my desperately needed pianist? Well, now we're singing after Institute nights. From left to right: Elba, Kejn, Grej, Donald and Yuli, with Roni at the piano. Kejn, Grej and Donald are some of our investigators.

As the month of October 2009 ended we had visitors from Germany, Salt Lake City and Italy come into Tirana for Seminary and Institute training. From left to right: Franz Fingerly, Mom, Chad Wilkinson, and Felix Lotito.
On Saturday, October 31, 2009 we held the YSA Halloween party at the church. It was a huge crowd of over 90. Above photograph of cowboy Sparti Kashari and his little mouse Izaura Bardhi.
The dancing could have lasted all night.
We sang karaoke. Above photograph is of Megi Pjetri (best female costume winner), Elona Sulollari and Sparti. As I recall they were belting out, "We are the Champions."
Mom with some of her "new" Halloween friends, Megi Pjetri, Almira Beleshi, Brisi Beleshi, Blerina Beleshi and Edi Çuçi.

We were in Durrës on Sunday October 18, 2009 for a baptism. After the baptism we did some member visiting. While walking back to the bus station I took this picture of a socialist realist statue of a partisan. Partisans is the name used for Albanian resistance fighters during WWII.  Every city we've visited in Albanian has a "partisan" statue. The Italians landed at Durrës on April 7, 1939 on their mission to occupy Albania before they attacked Greece. The Albanians were badly outnumbered, but during WWII they continued a guerrilla type war against both the Italians and then the Germans.
Also in Durrës is an archaeological museum.  Durrës has been inhabited for about 3,000 years. Because Durrës has been, more or less, continuously inhabited throughout this 3,000 year period, there has not been a systematic excavation of the city. When developers find something of interest, they just take the piece and throw it into the front yard of the museum. The above and below photographs are part of the front yard of the archaeological museum.

Family Home Evenings are a lot of fun at our apartment.  Mom and I usually give the lesson together and then we have some wonderful dessert.

Everyone gets involved during family home evening. We had over 35 in our small apartment on October 19, 2009.
Mom and I attended Tirana 2nd Branch on Sunday, October 18th.  At that meeting I confirmed Ermal LLaha a member of the Church. We then caught a bus down to Durres to attend the baptism of Zef Pjetri. Mom gave the opening prayer entirely in Albanian for the baptismal service. The above photograph is of Zef Pjetri.
Well, October 14th was my birthday. After Institute class on Wednesday Megi, Alma, Juli and Eja helped me celebrate.
After I had finished teaching my advanced English class, I went down to see how the Institute class was doing. Before they would let me in, the lights were turned off, the door was opened and everyone started singing in Albanian "Happy Birthday".
At least they got the age right! Well, maybe they just got the numbers right. 

The above photograph was taken just before the baptism of Afërdita Brahos. For nearly a year she has been a student in Mom's English class. Her daughter has moved to America and is living in Utah. The daughter wrote Afërdita and told her about the Church. I'm not sure the daughter has joined the Church yet, but on October 10, 2009, I baptized Motra Brahos. I was able to do the baptism in Albanian and yes I was a little nervous. 
On October 11, 2009 the Church in Albania held its District Conference meeting. We all met in the Academy of Art conference center.  It was a great meeting and we saw many Saints who live outside of Tirana.
On Sunday evening, October 11, 2009 Ermal Llaha was baptized. I will confirm Ermal a member of the Church this coming Sunday. He too is a member of our English classes. Elder Scadin a missionary from North Carolina baptized Ermal.
Monday, October 12th we visited the Elders in Shkoder which is a 2 hour furgon drive north west of Tirana. There was a little rain in the morning, but it looked like it was going to clear up. While in Shkoder, which is now Mom's favorite city in Albania, we got drenched. I can't even begin to tell you how wet we both got. We were on our way to visit one of the Shkoder Branch members. I'm standing with Mom under an umbrella and that's Elder Kushlan, the Shkoder Branch President, in the background.
Before the rains came, we all had lunch at a wonderful little cafe in the center of town. From left to right, Elder Kushlan, Elder Griffeth, Elder Hamilton, Mom and Elder Mogleston.

On, Monday, October 5, Elba and her brother, Roan, were baptized.  Elba had investigated the Church a couple of years ago but got busy and quit taking the missionary lessons.  A few months ago, Roan asked if he could come in and play ping pong with some of the other neighborhood boys.  Our first reaction was maybe that was not such a good idea because the "Outreach Center" is meant to be a gathering place for Young Adults.  Susan and I both saw something in his eyes and told him they were all welcome, so he and his buddies starting coming regularly.  One afternoon, Susan found Elba waiting outside for her brother and invited her to come in.  To say she was thrilled is an understatement.  After a few months, their parents agreed to their baptism.  We have never seen two happier new members of the Church. I might add that about 2 months ago as I was sitting in church, I had the thought that our branch really needed a pianist.  I did not know that 12 year old Roan is a gifted pianist. He attends a special arts school here in Tirana under scholarship because he has such a wonderful talent.  The Sunday the day before his baptism, the Branch President had him playing all the hymns for our Sacrament Meeting. 4th Branch now has a very good pianist. I confirmed Elba a member of the Church right after her baptism.
It's not all hard work. That's a picture of me and our oldest granddaughter, Emsley, who on Saturday, October 3rd flew in from Shanghai, China with her parents and younger sister for a 5 day visit with us.
Picture of Emsley and Alyssa Shupe Allgaier walking the streets of Tirana, Albania
Besides having the China Allgaier family with us for 5 days, 2 more "Shupe" girls flew in from California. Sarah Shupe Porter and Meiken Shupe Alexander joined their older sister in Albania just to make sure that I'm being well taken care of. This is photograph of our visitors with Mom in front of the 2/4 building in Tirana. From left to right: Emsley Allgaier, David Allgaier, Alyssa Allgaier, Chelsea Allgaier, Mom, Sarah Porter and Meiken Alexander.

Looking like movie stars they walked the streets of Tirana, Albania. The Allgaiers brought everyone new sunglasses from China.