Since we have been on our Mission here in Vlorë we have had Eris Mustafaraj in most of our meetings, church and Young Single Adults. He is a wonderful young man and has talked of going on a mission the full time we have known him. He received his mission call while Motra Smith and I were in Germany leading the Albanian saints on another temple trip. President Smith called Eris from the Frankfurt airport when we were on our way back to Albania and he was excited about his call to Albania and was telling everyone.
The next day was Sunday and when President Smith talked with Eris after church he said that he would not be able to serve his mission in Albania. Eris likes to joke around and so President Smith thought he was joking around but after talking for a few more minutes it was apparent that it was not a joke.
President Smith met with Eris several times before he found out that it was not him who would not serve a mission but that his father (not a member of the church) would not let him serve in Albania. His father said that he could serve anywhere else but not Albania because he was afraid that someone would try and hurt or kill his son. It did not make since so both President Neil and President Smith tried to get an appointment to talk with Eris’s father but to no avail, the father just said his decision was final.
President Smith asked Eris to write an email stating the problem which he then forwarded to President Neil the Albania Tirana Mission President. President Neil then sent Eris’s email and added his recommendation (that Eris be reassigned to another mission) and sent them to the Area Presidency. In two weeks Eris received a reassignment/mission call to serve in the Italy Milan Mission. His father is OK with Eris serving in Italy.
We have found out that Eris is helping with one of the political parties here in Albania and his party in not currently in power. The party that is in power does some under the table things and has even had Eris hauled into the police station, at gun point, with the purpose of convincing him to change political parties.
We are so pleased with this outcome and know that Eris will be a great missionary.
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