Here we are, finally in Albania. Allow me to give you a quick rundown of our travels these past few days.
Saturday: Depart from Brasov
3 hour train ride to Bucharest
10 hour layover
13 hour train ride to Belgrade, Serbia
10 hour layover
11 hour train ride to Skopje, Macedonia
9 hour layover
6 hour bus ride to Tirana, Albania
Tuesday: Arrive at final destination
Our intense travel schedule has been full of ups and downs. The layovers have actually been quite nice. We’ve had the chance to see the cities and relax for a while. The train rides have been overnight, and the first was pleasant. The second was miserable. I’m pretty sure the bus ride should have taken us 9 hours. Our driver was a speed demon. The bus was scheduled to arrive at 4:00 am, but we rolled into the city at 1:00. We unloaded our gear and found a park nearby. We stacked our packs between two trees and formed a circle around the perimeter with our mats. The plan was to sleep for 4-5 hours, so the guys took shifts staying awake and keeping guard. Rest assured that we have incredible men of God looking out for us this year. We awoke to a beautiful Albanian morning. Three people went to scout the city in search of lodging. The problem isn’t finding a place to stay, it’s finding a place to stay within our budget. Even the backpackers’ hostel was more than double our available funds. The rest of us had a quaint little worship service in the park. I’m pretty sure the locals thought we were famous or something because they kept getting their friends to take their picture with us. It was amusing.
I’ve been astounded at the ways God is moving already. When we arrived Tuesday morning, we had no place to stay, no ministry contact, no food, and no money (our ATM card hasn’t worked since Serbia). I’m now sitting in the national headquarters for Campus Crusade here in Albania. Ken worked with Crusade in California, and Chelsea was involved in the Toledo campus, so they both have a network. They both e-mailed the director here last week, completely unaware that the other was doing the same. We never heard back from the director, but the scouting group found the office. The director shared with them that he woke up at 1:00 am Tuesday morning (ironically enough) and couldn’t sleep because he was thinking about us. He didn’t know when we were arriving in Albania – his wife had just told him about the e-mails and he hadn’t had the chance to respond. He said he prayed that he would be able to help us, and here we are. We’ve been offered full use of this building. We even had the chance to shower! That makes real shower number seven, by the way. They bought us an amazing lunch, complete with Coke and peach tea. And they’re setting us up with ministry opportunities. Josh Macdowell will be here in a little less than a month for a big youth event that we’ll be helping out with.They even offered us free lodging.
We’re living with the director’s neighbors, Petrit and Meredith, who also work with Crusade. This family is great. Petrit is Albanian and Meredith is American – from close to Gainseville, Georgia! She even knew where West Point was, which is 5 minutes from my house. Such a small world. They have three beautiful children – 6, 2, and a few months old. This house is incredible. It’s pretty much designed to house people like us for ministry. We were blown away when we saw that we all had our own beds. We were ridiculously giddy. They aren’t just beds. They are COMFY beds. With real pillows. And we have a shower! Our very own shower for the first time. We have access to a full kitchen and a washing machine. We’ve been so blessed. There has been such a turn around in such a shortperiod of time. From being homeless to living in the lap of luxury. Please keep us in your continued prayers as we explore this new country. We’re working with Team Triumph this month, so feel free to visit their blogs as well. Below is a first-hand look at our day. God bless!
