Pioneers of the Church in Albania

January of 2006, as part of the Fier Albania Branch, missionaries were sent to Vlorë to proselytize.   In February 2006 the first baptisms were realized and they became part of the Fier Branch.  At the time the Fier Branch had over 200 members and Sacrament meetings were at times over 100 in attendance.  Since then there has been an apostasy and today there attendance is not much more than 15 with the former Albanian Branch President totally inactive.  That is enough about Fier which is the city just 40 kilometers North of Vlorë.   

Vlore became a Branch in January 2007 with Elder Tyler Soelburg as the Branch President.   When we arrived in Vlorë Albania and Elder Smith was sustained as the Branch President the Vlorë Branch was only three years old and now it is four years old.  The members of the Vlorë Branch are truly pioneers of Albania. 

The apartment we currently live in is where the first sacrament meetings were held in Vlorë.  Later the three story building just one block north of our apartment is where we rent a building for our Church services and the Young Single Adults Center.

Tyler Soelberg

Tyler Cevering Soelberg 1986 ~ 2011 Farr West 25, passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2011 due to injuries sustained in a bicycling accident. He was born in Ogden, Utah on February 12, 1986 to W. David Soelberg and Pamela Cevering. Tyler had a passion for life and learning and enjoyed being with family and friends. He attended Weber County schools, graduating as the valedictorian of the class of 2004 from Fremont High School. Tyler served an honorable LDS mission in Albania where he adored the people and considered the country his second home, returning several times to visit.

Tyler visited the Vlorë Branch where we meet him for the first time last August, 2010.  Tyler was the first Branch President of the Vlorë Branch and served in that position for 6 months.  The saints of the Vlorë Branch love him very much because he was such a good missionary and kept track of all the members after his mission.  Tyler was scheduled to visit Vlorë in August this year and was going to baptize one of our investigators.  I am sure that our Heavenly Father had a greater need for him than he was needed here on earth. 

 This is a picture of Tyler and Enea Rrokaj at the Stalt Lake City airport just two days before his death.  Tyler was helping Enea get on a plane to come back to Albania after finishing a semester at BYU Idaho.

After talking to many of the members of the Vlorë Branch and seeing how much Tyler was going to be missed President Smith decided to have a special fireside.  Those who were brought into the gospel of Jesus Christ by being taught by Elder Soelberg were especially affected.  The meeting, 1 Aug 2011 at 7 PM, was to give everyone an opportunity to say how they felt about Tyler and help them go through the grieving process.  We were pretty sure that ten people would show but not many more but we were surprised to have 27 (some didn't stay for the photo) people attend.


The meeting went well with President Smith talking first, after a hymn and prayer, about death and the way Latter-day Saints see death.  Then everyone took turns, then President Smith ending with what he felt Tyler would what them to do; not be sad for him, to live the gospel to the fullest and build up the kingdom in Vlorë Albania.

Every meeting the Vlore branch has there are investigators in attendance.   This fireside held on a Monday evening talking about death and a former missionary had four investigators attending.  Our Sacrament meetings average six investigators every week with up to 20 attending on one Sunday.

Smith Family Visit

The Start, Let the visit begin!  July 2nd thru 8th.

 The Smiths arrive at the Tirana International Airport.  Kaley, Isaac, Spencer, Amy and Brian.

 We had a good visit at Krujë just north of the Tirana Airport just after they arrived.

 Kaley fit in with the Vlore YM and the Motra's.

 After Church on Sunday we went to our Shpi (house) to eat.  Mike was telling a story to the children about when Brian was a baby and almost died.

 We went to a computer store so Amy could buy a SD memory card for her camera.  This was the clerk who helped.

Kaley, Isaac and Spencer having fun in the tea cup.

 The Smith family at the 1912 war memorial, the break down of communism started in Vlorë Albania.

 A visit to the Treg to do some shopping.

 We visited the orphanage several times during the Smith visit.  This time we took them outside to get some sun.

 At Mikes favorite plazh (beach).

 Kaley lying next to a dead seal.

 A jelly fish washed up on shore.

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 The boys getting worm on the sand after a swim.

 Brian talks to the Vlorë young single adults about life.

Spencer and Isaac having fun in front of the Kishë (Church).

Instant friends, Spencer, Geri, Isaac and Sonni in the Vlorë Kishë.

Kaley's Concert

Brain and Amy called before they came to Albania and said that Kaley could give a 30 minute concert on the piano if we wanted.  The Branch Presidency thought it would be a great idea and we set it up.  We made flyers and passed them out to many in the branch and even on the street to non-members.  We ended up with over 40 people attending and 10 investigators who came.  It was a wonderful concert and Kaley did fantastic.  There were many who commented on how well she preformed, she is a wonderful example of what a young women later-day saint should be.

A couple of pictures showing some of those who came.

Everyone wanted to get into the picture with Kaley.  Motra Rrokaj, Motra Hodaj and Motra Gjikaj purchased a gift and flowers that they presented to Kaley and the family.

Some of the young women who came, Marjana Musta, Freskida Gjikaj, Denisa Malaj, Kaley, Adelajda Gjikaj, Samantha Sadiku, Oriola (Ola) Dalipaj and Sariah.

Spencer's Baptism

When Brian, Amy, Kaley, Isaac and Spencer came to Albania for a visit we went to the Adriatic Sea to perform his baptism.

It was a beautiful day at the secluded plazh for this wonderful ordinance.

Walking from the makinë (Car) to the baptism site.

Down the hill we go.

Getting set for the baptism, what a bukur (beautiful) location for a baptism.

Spencer wanted to have all the missionaries at the baptism. We needed to have one of them to stand in as one of the witness, President Smith was the other. Elder Roberts, Motra Osmëni, Motra Read, Elder Griffith, Elder Buys, Kaley Smith, President Smith, Brian Smith, Elder Castro-Guzman, Spencer Smith, Isaac Smith.

Speed Rope

Many places on the roads in Albania they have ropes stretched across the road to keep cars from speeding. This is in place of speed bumps and it works well until the ropes get worn out.

New Primary President

           

                                Motra Kokaj was called as the Primary President.

Aaronic Priesthood Edison Hodaj

Edison Hodaj was ordained a Deacon by his father on Sunday the 3rd of July.

Vlorë Young Women

We (Motra Smith and President Smith) have been working with the young women of the Vlore Branch to get them to wear modest Sunday clothes to church. Most of the time they wear jeans, and a tank top but mostly immodest clothing. This is a picture we are proud to be able to show and they were just as excited as we were.

From the front left to right, Alsedes Kamberi, Denisa Malaj, Motra Hodaj, Motra Osmëni, Adelajad Gjikaj, Maruaba Musta, Samanta Sadiku, Freskida Gjikaj and Kaley Smith.

Teuta Buza Baptism

Today we had the baptism of Teuta Buza in the Adriatic Sea.  Teuta is the sister of Klara who is serving another mini mission with Motra Read.  It was a wonderful baptism and the 18th baptism since arriving in Vlorë, Albania May 2010.

 This is a picture of Teuta her two adorable little children and her sister Klara.

Elder Roberts and Teuta at the beautiful baptism site.

There were 30 people at Teuta's baptism and this is a picture of some of them on a rock.

Vlorë Mini Mission

Motra Osmëni, from Tirana, is now serving with Morta Read here in Vlorë.  Motra Osmëni's mother went to the Frankfurt Temple with us in May and she has a sister serving a mission at Temple Square in Salt Lake City Utah.

Vlorë YSA Graduate

Emanuela Bitaj graduated from the Young Single Adults on 21 May 2011 and was married in the Boise Idaho Temple.  Gëzuar (Congratulations).