So, for Albania I decided another photo blog would be the only thing that would really do this month justice. We have done and accomplished so much- it is absolutely astonishing.
This was a debrief month so we started out the month in the capital city of Tirana for 4 days. During this time we talked about relationships, marriage and forgiveness. At this debrief team changes happed and they asked me to step down as team leader for this next season. I loved my time as a team leader, I grew and learned a ton, but I am very relieved to be stepping down into a season of rest.
This is a photo of the table we sat at during the leadership dinner. Albanian hospitality almost rivals southern hospitality. The key word there is “almost.”
During this time we had more team changes. I am now part of a new team, Team Jericho. “So why the name Jericho?” you ask. Well, here on The World Race, we are all about tearing walls down that we’ve built in our lives. And as a team we really want to focus on asking the Lord to show us how to tear down our walls to ignite more personal growth and deeper levels of friendship. The hope is that we can carry this habit on into our lives beyond The Race.
This month, ministry looks like a lot of manual labor. We are at a children’s camp run by Light Force International. It’s not quite summer yet so we are responsible for getting the camp in working order and doing lots of maintenance work to get the place looking awesome for the kids who will spend time here this summer
We cleared and painted fence line
Before
After
I got to help Frok, the grounds keeper, build and paint picnic tables.
Sand and Paint obstacle course
Before
After
Lots of hedge trimming
Before
After
More hedges
Setting up a low ropes course. (My outdoor leadership knowledge finally came in handy for ministry!) Every white post you see in these pictures got sanded and painted before we started setting anything up. Some of the poles were leaning to the side from years of tension and children playing on them so we dug them out, straightened them up, then filled the holes with more concrete to reinforce them a bit.
Hanging an archery net to stop arrows from hitting the chickens and pigs that live right behind the archery range
Matthew, Deborah and I got to assist the vet in neutering and vaccinating piglets
We even rescued and nursed a little puppy that was left in a dumpster outside our ministry site back to health
Again I want to thank all my supporters back home from the bottom of my heart. Without YOU, all this work would not be possible. Thank you again for continued prayer, as I am about to travel into Africa on the 31st. This next season on the race is said to be the hardest- no matter what country you are in. I am far enough into this month to month adventure that the freshness has worn off- this lifestyle feels so normal- and far enough from the end that it seems like an eternity will pass before I arrive back at home. During this season I will be in Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique. I will see poverty, strife, and hardship like I have never seen before. I have been preparing for this since day one. However, I know my heart is still not ready, and will never be ready to see these things and not be shattered. In worship, we often sing and pray Lord break my heart for what breaks yours, but do we really want that? Are we ever really ready for that? I don’t think I will ever be ready. But the Lord has me here for a reason and has already given me so much love and compassion for all the people of this world. I know the brokenness that I feel for all the people we come in contact with on this race will lead to something beautiful. That’s why I am so thankful for all the love, support and prayer that that has been given to me through all this. I want everyone to know that I am also praying for you. That I love you all and I feel so blessed to have you all in my life.
THANK YOU!!!!
Also check out this sweet video my squad mate Jayce put together. It’s a very good summery of our month.
