Here on the race we have lots of opportunities; opportunities to serve and love people wherever they are at, opportunities to meet new people and grow in community, opportunities to eat weird foods, smell weird smells (including yourself) and overall opportunities to do things you’ve never done before-including travel.
AIM loves to say yes when we ask to travel outside our current country for off days/weekends. So my team got a trip to Italy approved. We had been talking about doing this since last month. I was completely 110% in. We looked up flights, places to stay, things to do. I was so excited and ready to take advantage of a $200 flight to Rome. Wouldn’t you?
Well, something changed. Two teammates and I went to a Bible study with some local university students we had met in town. I wasn’t expecting much honestly (the race is teaching me to leave expectations behind). When we got there, there were about 20 friendly faces warmly welcoming our presence. We had an amazing night of worship, studying the Word and fellowship. It got me so excited to see people my age in Albania, a Muslim country, praising my same Jesus. We had instantly formed a bond with this group.
On the bus ride home that night, my teammate Victoria said, “You know, I would totally be okay not going to Italy and just staying here and hanging out with people.” In that moment I didn’t even have to hesitate; I knew God wanted me to stay back too. Being at that Bible study stirred something in me. This something had no desire to go to Italy anymore, but to simply be with the people. Rome will always be there, but who knows if I will ever come back to Albania and see these lovely faces again.
During our stay back we have played volleyball with these same university students, enjoyed some good fellowship accompanied by some VERY loud live music at a restaurant, got connected with a local church (International Christian Fellowship) and helped with English clubs, spent time with our new and dearly loved Albanian friend Bri, visited a different church one of our others teams is working with (International Protestant Church), went back to ICF for youth group and spoke in front of some youth, made friends with two Albanian girls at a gelato stand and experienced fellowship and much laughter yet again with the church we are staying at (Southside Community Church).
My heart is so full, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks, but no thanks Italy. It just wasn’t your time to steal my heart. At this point in time Albania is claiming a piece of it.
