Second Week in Vlore

Monday May 10, 2010

We have now been here over two weeks and we are beginning to really like Vlore. Maybe that is because we now know our way around pretty well. We are within walking distance of three or four grocery stores and a number of fruit and veg. stands. So we are surviving quite well. Friday at lunch we had eight missionaries and ourselves. I made chicken/biscuit casserole and apple crisp. We are a couple of blocks from a mosque and often hear the calls to prayer.

Friday evening we went with the young elders to visit a family about 30 minutes out of the city. On the way we passed fields of grapes and lots of olive trees on the hill sides. This was our first experience in an Albanian home. We went to the home of Brother and Sister Rocaj and their two sons. We were greeted very warmly. Their home was simple and very clean. Their yard was filled with fruit trees, grape vines, flowers and a vegetable garden. The women always greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks. Their custom is to always serve visitors a drink and something to eat. They served us an apple drink along with chocolates and cookies. The missionaries had taken a cake so we all had our fill. Oh, I wish we could speak the language. At least we could say hello, thank you and good bye. When we left they gave us a bag of new potatoes from their garden.