Tirana, Albania. Where I spent my last month, and a place that taught me so much. More than anything though, it’s a place that I saw God working in big ways.
My team and I were given prison ministry, which I was excited about from the beginning. As many of you know, I’ve wanted to work in prisons for years now so it was amazing that God gave me the opportunity to do so month one of the race. It wasn’t at all what I expected though. I assumed that we would be going every day and that we would get to know each prisoner pretty well and build a relationship that way. We didn’t though. All we got was some brief time with them, but that was more than enough.
I’ve always assumed that if I did correctional counseling or prison ministry that I would work in a men’s prison. I’m not exactly sure why, but that’s where I’ve always felt called. When I heard that we would be also be going to a juvenile prison though, in all honesty I didn’t jump for joy. It’s not that I didn’t care about those boys too, but I was just more excited for the men’s prison. God definitely changed that in me though. We took a bus about an hour outside of Tirana to the Correctional Centre of Juvenile Offenders in Kavajë. The second that we walked in there, you could feel the weight of darkness in that place, and I mean heavy.
We went into the first room and there were about 15 boys in there. They all rearranged the benches quickly so that we could sit across from them. We introduced ourselves (with a translator) then went straight into worship. We sang a couple of songs then were asked to share one or two of our testimonies. At this point, the room was painfully quiet and there was such a separation between us and the boys. I’m not talking about a physical separation, but an emotional and spiritual. I felt like we were singing AT them and talking AT them. It absolutely broke my heart. All I wanted to do was listen to each and every one of their stories and find out where they were in their lives. I knew we couldn’t though and I hated it. God told me to share my testimony since I had struggled with some of the same things as these boys. I obviously left out some details, but I was amazed at the reaction that I got once I did start sharing. They actually started looking up and listening to what I had to say. They looked at us more like we were real people, and not just 5 American girls who came there to feel better about ourselves. I’m not going to say that I related to every single boy in those rooms, but I know that I did to some and it was amazing to be able to use the things from my past to connect with someone who I didn’t even speak the same language as.
We went to three other rooms and they all had about 15 boys in them. Our time there was so brief and we honestly left feeling so defeated. We felt like we didn’t make a difference at all. Some of us were just plain angry that we didn’t get to know more about these boys, because we thought that that was the only way to connect. Honestly, we put God in a box. We forgot how huge He is and that He can do work in those boys whether we’re there or not. All He needs is for us do what what we’re called to and He takes care of the rest. For me, it was worshiping Him and sharing my testimony.
My team and I prayed for a week straight about these boys. We prayed that they would feel the love that they so deserve, and that they would know how much we honestly cared about them. We prayed that the Holy Spirit would fill that prison in such a big way that no one could deny His presence. We prayed and prayed and prayed, and our prayers were answered.
On the bus ride there the next week, we were told that two of the boys has decided to give their lives to God the day before. TWO OF THEM! and the second that we stepped into the building, you could FEEL God. There was no denying that He was there. We were immediately filled with joy and couldn’t wait to go meet the boys again.
As soon as we walked into the rooms, we were met with genuine smiles and contagious laughter. We ended up just pretty much having a giant jam session with all the boys and they loved it! We would sing a song, then they would sing us an Albanian song and you could tell that they were so proud. These were not the same boys that we met the week before. They were talking about their futures and “When I get out”. I can’t tell you the joy that we were filled with that day.
When we saw the two boys who had become believers, they looked completely different. The smiled a different smile and radiated a new hope. THIS is why I’m doing this. This is why I left everything behind and went on a crazy adventure for Jesus. The restored hope in those two boys is worth it all.
I think that what our host, Erion, told us is one of the wisest things we’ll hear all year. We don’t have to relate to every single person that we meet or connect with them, we just need to show them the other side of life. I know that I related with some of the boys in that prison and didn’t with others. I have no idea what the story is of the boys who were saved, but I do know that my team and I went into that prison and showed the other side of life. We showed the light of God, and planted some seeds in the process.
I ask that you just continue to pray for the boys in that prison. Pray that chains are broken for them and that they can find freedom. I pray that they know they are so much more than the labels that they have been given. Pray that the seeds that were planted there will continue to be watered and that God continues to shower those boys with love.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to take pictures inside of the prisons, but I will remember the faces of those boys forever. They are the face of hope for me.
On another note, my squad and I are now in Dragane?ti-Olt, Romania where we will be doing ministry for the mont!. We have, however, been given the opportunity by our host to go to Greece for a week and do ministry!! We’re leaving later tonight on our 12 hour bus ride down there. I can’t even tell you how excited and incredibly blessed I am to have this opportunity. I’m not sure what we’ll be doing there yet, (or here for that matter), but I can’t wait to see what God has in store! Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayer. I couldn’t do this without you!
Another note–I sprained my ankle 6 days after getting to Albania and the healing isn’t going very well. Any prayers for healing would be greatly appreciated!
