Dressed for work

                                                                Traditional costumes

                                                             Three Wise Men of Tirana

Letters and parcels here please!!

Please post all letters and packages to our local post-office...see above.
Address:  PO Box 2984
                Rruga Quemal Stafa, Vila 1
                Perballe Postes Nr. 22
                Tirana
                Albania
It does arrive safely and gets picked up twice a week by the office staff.

Ola feels very special that Albania has named a flower  after her........

Was walking innocently down the street and saw what we thought  was a rotissereie of chickens!! Sheep's heads are very popular in Albania. Dave says the eyes are left in so they can see you through the week!!!

Dave trying a delicacy known as a suflaque which consists of 'chicken' cut from a huge skewer (like a donor kebab), chips, lettuce, tomato etc. all rolled together in a tortilla wrap and cooked in fat!

Albanian food

There is an abundance of fresh fruit and veg. homegrown and freshly picked, sold mainly in street markets which are found every few yards wherever you go in Tirana.

Albania at last

We left for Albania Friday Dec. 2nd. Had a bit of trouble at the airport where our floght was cancelled and we had to find another one. Eventually we travelled via Vienna wherer we saw snow! Arrived Tirana early afternoon to find only one of our bags had arrived with us. One case had remained in Frankfurt and the other two got as far as Vienna. However by Sunday we were reunited with them all so Ola was able to change her clothes!! This  picture was taken in Skenderbeg square (he's the man on the horse!) in the centre of Tirana. Flag at half mast as the king had died and it was his burial day.

This is where we learnt the tools of our trade with our very patient teachers Elder and Sr Leonard. You can see previous humanitarian projects that have been done in Eastern Europe on back wall.

This was our first night in Frankfurt, we walked around a bit and found this lovely Mexican restaurant.

Frankfurt

Had a great time in Frankfurt with the Leonards learning all about the work we have been called to do as directors  of humanitarian work for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints in Albania. This training was more of a practical nature whereas MTC grounded us spiritually.

As you can see 'all work and no play' did not apply. Here we are at the Christmas market in Frankfurt!

First Month

We spent our first week here where with very intensive study very full days but a great start. There was 1 other couple there besides us, Elder and Sr Grey from Brisbane Australia; 8 girls and 4 young men all from far and wide.....Pakistan, Mongolia, Slovenia, Denmark, Ukraine, USA, Scotland, UK.
As you can see a very mixed bunch. MTC Pesident Walker is a wonderful man, just what everyone would love a grandad to be! He and Sr Walker (eldest daughter of Pres. Hinckley) are a fun-loving couple very devoted to each other and along with President and Sr Williams (Sr Kodak!) looked after us all very well.