On a mission: Mormon couple from Norwell is headed to Albania

When Norwell residents Bob and Joan Chatfield signed up to do missionary work, they had no idea where they'd end up, but they predicted their destination would likely be somewhere in the United States.

When a letter arrived a few days before Thanksgiving, though, the Chatfield's learned they would be spending the next 18 months of their lives in a country they had to pull out a world map to locate - Albania.

"The church has missions all over the world," said Joan, 67, of her church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. "We just put that we'd go anywhere. We thought we'd probably be in the United States so we were kind of surprised."

Albania is across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, and borders the nations of Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. Joan said Albania is about the size of Maryland. The Chatfield's have packed six suitcases and they're scheduled to leave for their mission on Jan. 6. When they arrive, they will be greeted by other members of the Mormon faith who are also there doing mission work. They will help Bob and Joan adjust to life in Albania and learn the languages - Albanian and Greek.