Smith's Meeting Place: Frankfurt Temple Trip

This is the Hodaj Family who we have worked with since we have been in Albania and were privileged to accompany to the temple for their sealing. Artion, Edison, Irida, Motra Smith and Mehmet Hodaj.

We started our trip to the Temple from Vlorë at 1 AM 17 May 2011! We had gotten just out of the city when the Hodaj's realized that they had forgotten their family group sheets. We turned around and went back so we ended up leaving Vlorë at 0145 AM.

Loading the Furgon.

Our wonderful and friendly Furgon driver Lazar.

Artion and Irida climbing back in the Furgon after having to turn around for the paperwork.

After driving for about 2 hours from Vlorë, thru Fier and Lushnjë then we stopped in Durrës and picked up Arjona Koҫillari. Arjona was going through the temple for her first time.

This is Redian and Kesiana ҫelaj, two our our former Young Single Adults who went to the temple to be sealed. When Redian was serving his mission in Albania he tracked into the Hodaj family and was the one who baptized them. Not a coincidence that they went to the temple at the same time to be sealed. They also were the couple who were not able to go to the temple with us last year due to Visa problems. "The Lord works in mysterious ways."

This is the full group at the Tirana, Albania airport just before we left on the temple trip.

(Back Row) Mehmet Hodaj—Vlorë, Artjon Hodaj—Vlorë, Irida Hodaj—Vlorë, Besmir Gjoni—Tirana 4^th,Redian Çelaj—Vlorë, Kesiana Bitaj (Çelaj)—Vlorë, Manushqe Osmëni Trana 1^st, Çlirimtare Deda—Tirana 1^st, Agim Deda—Tirana 1^st, Ajvi Deda—Tirana 1^st, Ansa Deda—Tirana 1^st, Sparti Kashari—Tirana 2^nd, Artan Dervishi—Tirana 1^st, Zef Sokoli—Shkodër, Lozjana Dervishi—Tirana 1^st, Hanze Topalli—Tirana 4^th, President & Motra Smith

(Front Row) Edison Hodaj—Vlorë, Arjona Koçillari—Durrës, Eriseld Dervishi—Tirana 1^st, Ruzhena Dervishi—Tirana 1^st and Izaura Bardhi—Tirana 1^st

Sixteen of the twenty three who went to the temple had never been on an airplane or even been out of Albania.

^{They were so excited and wanted to see and point out everything. They were acting like excited little children, we loved it.}

^{We then took a bus from the airport to the temple. I arranged for the bus because taking the trains would have taken much more time and a lot of aggravation and almost as much money. This way we were picked up at the terminal and dropped off at the temple. If we would have taken the train we would have had to walk and carry our luggage many blocks and up hill to get to the temple.}

After the first temple ordinances and the session which was in Albanian we decided to take some pictures.

The Çelaj's with President and Motra Smith.

The Hodaj's. Last year Mehmet Hodaj was not able to attend church due to his employment. He worked every Sunday, and every other day also, with no days off except for when he was sick. We fasted and prayed several times for there to be some way he could get of and come to church so he could become an Elder and take his family to the temple. The prayers were answered but not in a way any were expecting, Mehmet lost his job due to a slow down in business. That is not what we wanted but it has been a blessing to the family. Mehmet was true to his word and never missed a Sunday, and fulfilled his calling as the Institute teacher for the Young Single Adults. He was made an Elder and we were able to witness their and their family's sealing.

The Deda's.

The happy group from Vlorë.

Last September Redian and Kesiana Çelaj were supposed to be married and sealed during the Albanian temple trip the Smith's also lead. Due to visa problems they were not able to go. So this was their big day and this is some of the pictures.

We wish we could express in words the true joy it was for us to be with these two families in the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity. If this was all we did was to take these families to the temple our mission would have been worth everything.

They are a beautiful and spiritual couple and we were delighted to be able to share this wonderful experience with them.

Motra Muller and Motra Smith decided to buy and prepare a meal for all of the Albanians (23). Brother's Muller and Smith were there to do the heavy lifting, pealing potatoes and carrots, slicing them and onions.

This is one of the three pots of soup that was made.

When we started seating down and serving the food.

You can see that we also had desert and many more that the Albanians came to eat.

This is Sister Wood and her husband Michael. Sister Wood is Albanian and a temple worker so she was a great help for the Albanians. Her husband works for the US military in Stuttgart and drove up to Frankfurt after work on Thursday night and arrived in time to eat.

After the temple work had been completed many of the Albanian saints wanted to take the train downtown Frankfurt. This is the Deda's with President and Motra Smith.

Zef Sokoli was just fun to be around and it is not easy finding someone older than the Senior Missionaries.

We went on top of one of the buildings to see the city and we had some Germans take this picture.

They had all heard about McDonald's from the missionaries and when we seen one they all just had to go. They were like little children having the best treat in the world.