He lives!

 "I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead.  He lives my ever living Head.  He lives to bless me with his love.  He lives to plead for me above.  He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need.  

     He lives to grant me rich supply.  He lives to guide me with his eye.  He lives to comfort me when faint.  He lives to hear my soul's complaint.  He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears.  He lives to calm my troubled heart.  He lives all blessings to impart.

     He lives, my kind, wise Heavenly friend.  He lives and loves me to the end.  He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.  He lives my Prophet, Priest, and King.  He lives and grants me daily breath.  He lives, and I shall conquer death.  He lives my mansion to prepare.  He lives to bring me safely there.

    He lives!  All glory to his name!  He lives, my Savior, still the same.  Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer lives!"  He lives! All Glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same.  Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer lives!" 

     

    Somebody on the street asked me if I think that Jesus Christ lives.  I replied without hesitation that I KNOW that he does.  Like the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns (above) Says: "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: "I know that my Redeemer lives!" I debated on sharing the whole song, but I just couldn't pick my favorite verse. haha  Because when I read or sing the words, I can feel the truth of every. single. word.  The Spirit testifies to me that my Savior really is my friend who not only died for all my sins, weaknesses, and sadness, but LIVES so that I can overcome them.

    One member, with tear filled eyes said to me "I am just so grateful that because of Him, I can have the chance to live with my family forever."  I believe that is what it is all about.  No endings, but lots and lots of new beginnings.  I like to say that I am the luckiest person in the world because I get to see so many of these new beginnings.  

    As you know, the majority of Kosovo is Muslim.   It's been quite interesting serving here as a representative of Jesus Christ in a place that doesn't seem to have a huge knowledge of the Savior.  There was one lady that we met with this week that I think was kind of confused as to why we were there because she was in a hurry on the street when we got her number and when we explained again that we were there to talk about Jesus Christ, she said she wasn't interested. She said what we are doing is great but "It's not for me. I know enough and I don't need this." I think Sister Henderson and I silently agreed along with the Spirit that we weren't going to give up that easily. We told her that it was especially for her and everyone else. Not just a certain age and  not just a certain gender but this blessing is for everyone everywhere.  Finally she said "okay, what separates your church from all the other Christian Churches then?" We referred back to the Restoration, the Book of Mormon and modern day prophets.  It peeked her interest and she just kept on asking question after question.  By the end of the lesson we had taught about temples, part of the plan of Salvation, sacrament, Prophets, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. After we explained the Book of Mormon she said "Can I please have one?"  Our lesson had flipped a 180.  The woman turned from someone who had no desire to learn of her Savior to someone who had just felt the Spirit testify to her of the truth of our message and begged for a Book of Mormon. The Spirit had testified to her and she felt it.  

     Our greatest emphasis in all the lessons we teach has and should be centered on Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter who believes in him or accepts him.  The emphasis shouldn't change.  Our message is that he lives. #Hallelujah 

"It matters very little what people think of us, but it matters very much what we think of Him.  It matters very little, too, who others say we are, what matters is who we say Jesus is."  - Elder Maxwell.

  

NdiqeniAtë.mormon.org

^^^PS. watch this new Easter video the church just put out. Its in English but has Shqip subtitles if you want to try and learn Albanian;)
 PSS. I love you all. Thank you for your support and love and everything. I'm so grateful for you.

"Prishtina FUTBOL activity!  The Dream Team.;)"

"Back seat with my girl Elea.  She is the sweetest thing ever!"

"Sister Fuller came to Prishtina for her last exchange...She finishes her mission
here in about 10 days...going to miss this crazy Sister♥"

"Leaving my mark here in Prishtina ♥♥"

Simple Things...

 God answers our prayers in mysterious ways. I'm amazed by the love and the direction God has in every single one of our lives. I know that the direction He gives us is completely and surely out of love for all of us as his children.

     One example of this happened later in the week when we met with a friend we are teaching. She opened up to us this week and told us/ explained that she wasn't really "looking for the Mormons" She said she actually was lacking spirituality in her life.  She had some friends which are Protestant so she went to the church one day looking for Protestants.  Before she knew it, Mormons pulled her in, taught her the Restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon. She said she was too shy to shut them down and tell them the truth so she took the book.  She has now been meeting with us for a couple of weeks.  We all found the story quite hilarious, but when we stopped laughing she said "It was a complete coincidence and accident that I found you..."  and then she continues "or maybe it was Gods plan all along."  We smiled at each other, knowing that we all knew the answer.  I think some times in life we go searching for the things we think we need.  In the end we find something different believing that we never actually found what we were looking for, but in the end God is going to show us the right way. We don't have to worry and we don't have to stress when things don't turn out the exact way we imagined them in our minds. I'm thankful for the promise that Heavenly Father has given us that he will always show us the way and lead us down the right path. Of course we have to keep the commandments and do the right things, but I know that Heavenly Father wants (even more than we do) for us to be happy. We just have to trust in his plan for us and ask for his help.

     Another experience in relation to answered prayers and direction was told to us by one of our awesome members. We hadn't talked to her for a couple of days because she was out of town for work and a simple thought popped into my head to send her a scripture.  We did that unknowingly, but it turns out that she had been having a rough time and had went to a forest alone to kneel in prayer for guidance and strength from God. When she finished her prayers and saw our text she was filled with Gods love and support.  It was a little thing. All we did was listen to a small prompting and it gave her all that she needed in the moment.  Its service in the little things that allow us to fulfill our full potential.

     “I have learned that it is by serving that we learn how to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves. … So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds! … God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom” (“Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, Dec. 1974, pp. 2, 5).

     I love being a missionary. I love serving others and being able to make someones day. There is nothing that brings more happiness than being a servant of the Lord and the good news is that we can do that all of our lives.  I love the Albanians with all of my heart and I'm so happy I get to serve them. 

"Book of Mormon challenge round 3??
Bring it on! ♥"

"My gifts for Nation Women's Appreciation day. ♥
We need to have one of those in America! ;)"

"Happy smiles right after I got my flower :)"

"WHO ARE YOU?"

"As the Heavens are higher than the earth, Gods work in your life is bigger than the story you'd like that life to tell"

     This week was eventful in the life of Sister Cheshire. My companion/best friend Sister Lakaj received her visa and tomorrow will be flying to Salt Lake City. Then she is off to the MTC for three weeks and after that she is back in the field. For anyone living in the Layton, Farmington, Kaysville, Bountiful, Centerville, or Salt Lake City area, look for a Sister Lakaj. She is cute, blonde, short, and Albanian. If you find her, take good care of her please because I love her with all my heart. 

     Yes, you probably guessed it. I have a new companion now.  Her name is Sister Henderson. She is FANTASTIC and I am so excited to be working with her in Prishtina for a little while. The people are going to love her! 

     Along with the crazy transfer, we had a zone training in Macedonia this week. During the training given by the Sister Training Leaders, they wrote a question on the board similar to the question the Cheshire Cat asks Alice in Alice in Wonderland. "WHO ARE YOU?"   It seems like an easy question, but it took me a bit to think of my answer.  That question was followed by another question. "WHO DO YOU WANT TO BE?" Now that one was easy to answer.  I had a whole list of things. I soon realized that I am not there yet, but like I recently heard in a talk given by Jack R. Christianson called "The Mortal Christ" he explains that you cant force anything spiritual and you aren't going to be where you want to be in an instant, but you just have to let it happen by doing the right things and doing your best.

     There are a lot of things that hold us back from being who we want to be, but with the Atonement, it is never too late to be that person.   The sooner we start trying, the happier we will be.  God shows us our weaknesses so that we can be made humble and turn to him so that He can work miracles within us and mold us into the divine sons and daughters of god that we were destined to be.

     My friend here in Prishtina is beginning to realize and understand the love God has for her and the power he has to help her overcome her trials.  As she realizes the blessings in her life and how far she has come (and not how far she has to go) she has been able to overcome some of the greatest trials in her life. She told Sister Lakaj and I that in the beginning, she never would have thought it was possible, but now she is seeing with her own eyes, that everything is possible with his help.

     The real answer to the question that the Sisters asked us is found in 3 Nephi 5:13 in the Book of Mormon.

"Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of Him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life"

There is nobody else I would rather be. "When we know who we are, we can help others learn their divine purpose"

"Our cute Teli family...saying goodbye to Sister Lakaj :("

"President Teli and his cute kids that I ADORE!"

"A new Mexican restaurant opened here in Kosovo so we went with my
awesome district.  At least Sister Lakaj and Elder Ingrem are happy to
be there haha"

"Beautiful scenery on the way to Macedonia ♥ heavenly.."

"My girl and I on the way to conference..
and the church in Macedonia. (featuring the Elders)"

"My companion got her Visa and is off to the US.  Mixed emotions.
Happy for her, sad for me...GOING TO MISS THIS GIRL..te dua ♥"

"Elders...the picture says it all haha"

"Photo bombing Elders"

"Black and white best friend pics with Sister Fuller hahaha"

"The sun never sets on the cool"

"Old xhaxhi shepherd tending to his goats."

"Gramije park ♥"

"My awesome friend Fatime ♥ BFFs"

"She's cute"

"My buddy Diartiii!"

"We had a yelling contest hahaha...He won"

"These kids are FULL of energy, but oh how I love em"

"Awkward phot cuz we didnt want to say goodbye... Sisters forever."

"Stake conference was in Durres so we let the members take a quick walk on the beach
before the long ride back to Kosovo."

"My new companion Motra Henderson ♥"

"Heaven on Earth"

"Just a couple more...I promised you more pictures this week so careful
what you wish for ;)"

"I got to see my cute Sister Bennett"