June 8-16, 2013--A Week with the Westwoods

Saturday night, June 8th, our replacements, Russ & Marge Westwood arrived in Podgorica.  We have had a busy week:

 

Elder Brown, Elder Westwood, Director, Sister Westwood, Sister Brown

Rada (translator) is sitting.

Tuesday we visited the Women's Safe House to close a project for one house and to open a project for a second house.

 

Sister Westwood is looking at a wardrobe that L.D.S. Charities donated.

 

The men are discussing, "Can we fix this shelf?"

 

L.D.S. Charities also donated the shoe rack to the right with the mirror door.  The director, Sister Westwood, and Rada talked about a time when they can begin purchasing items for the second house.

 

Leo (teacher), the Browns, principal, the Westwoods, Nik

Wednesday we visited Nik's village to talk about the water project.

 

Elder Brown is showing the Westwoods the layout of the cistern and the drain fields.

 

After a very good meeting, we looked at the art in the school.  The lady in the top center is wearing a traditional Albanian costume.

 

This is Skenderbej who defeated the Turks in the 1400's.  He is the #1 national hero of Albania.  This school is named after Skenderbej.  (Although the village is in Montenegro, the residents are ethnic Albanian.)

 

. . . an amazing picture of Mother Teresa . . .

 

. . . saying "good-by" to Kristina and 11 year old Vera . . .

 

On this visit Nik and Kristina have two new piglets.

 

. . . a view of Podgorica from Nik & Krisitina's house . . .

 

Spring flowers are everywhere on the mountain.

 

Wednesday afternoon I took Marge Westwood to an International Women's Club of Montenegro luncheon.  I was so busy talking to everyone that I forgot to take a picture until the end.  At the bottom of the picture is the ophthamalogist Natasa whom Marge was able to meet as the Westwoods will continue with the Vision Project.

 

   Friday we took the Westwoods to Tirana, Albania for a mission conference.  Here they are with a dear friend of the family that just arrived in Albania for her mission.  They will be in the same zone which means that they will see her often. . . fun!

 

My traditional picture of the Serbian speaking missionaries. . .

 

They are all making the sign for "Serbia" except Elder Compton in the lower left corner who is making a sign for "Croatia."  Elder Gibson and Elder Barber (upper right) are serving in Macedonia.  Elder Blackburn and Elder Compton (both on the left) are serving in Montenegro.  Elder Adams (front and center) is serving in Kosovo.

 

. . . saying "good-by" to some of the senior missionaries . . .

(We can't seem to all get together at the same time.)

 

. . .and the rest of the mission. . .