We have been gone for 3 months.
We have spent the last 3 months in community in Albania.
We have shoveled pig poop, white washed many walls, over and over again.
We have worked with many kids and the people of our little town Lushnje.
We have learned some of the Albanian language.
We have consumed obscene amounts of very strong coffee.
We have met people that will have an impact on our lives forever.
And now we have to leave.
I can’t deny that the 3 months we have spent here have been hard. But life is hard, right? I have found out things about myself that I never really took seriously or even knew about. God has begun to change my heart and turn it more towards Him. He has challenged me to be patient, kind, and always servant-hearted. He has told me who I am in Him through the girls on my team and the people that we have been hanging out with. He has shown me how much I love kids. He has shown me that He will give me strength and patience and peace… when I ask for it. He has shown me how the people back home have impacted me, both good and bad. He has shown me how lucky I am to have such an amazing support system back home. He has shown me His power in the huge thunderstorms here. He has shown me that I have taken for granted the mountains of my home, and the power and beauty they hold. He has shown me that people deserve to be told what they mean to you, because even if you think they know, they may not. He has shown me that I can, indeed live in a small apartment with 5 other amazing, silly, fun, real, beautiful girls.
He has shown me that I am enough.
When we first got to Albania, I distinctly remember the feeling of landing. I remember sitting next to my good friend Tyler (bless his soul… guys, he has to sit next to me for basically every plane ride. Including the 11-hour ones… He is a trooper) and being so very excited to be in our new home for the next 3 months. I was “prepared” for what I thought God had for me. I was feeling good. I felt like I was in a pretty solid place.
And then God showed up when I didn’t want Him to, and in a way I didn’t want Him to.
I wanted to get through the Race unscathed, still basically the same as I was when I left. And I would tell people that I wanted to change and be a better person, but really, I was comfortable where I was at. And then stuff started popping up left and right. And not in crazy ways, really. Just ways that made me uncomfortable. I had to begin serving people when I was tired, and sick, and didn’t really want to. I had to choose to love people even when I didn’t want to. I had to be sick and so weak for the first time away from home. I had to show people what my real brokenness looks like. I had to trust basically strangers with my story and my emotions.
I can honestly tell you that nothing has ever been more rewarding.
We have spent a lot of our ministry time in a village called Grabjan. There, we work with the kids (we were originally supposed to help them with homework, but we quickly became more of a distraction than a help.) and really just love on them. We also get to spend some quality time with some guys our own age. These men are some of the most servant-hearted, loving, God-filled people I have ever met. They constantly have blessed my heart, and want to take care of us. They are all so on fire for God and all they want is to see HIs name resounding from the lips of everyone in their little village. And I can see it. I can see these men working to bring the hope and love of God to the hurting people in Grabjan.
Grabjan. A place of hope. A place of light. A place of joy. A place where I can see God lighting a wildfire. And I can’t wait to hopefully return one day and see the amazing work that God has done in the hearts of the people.
Albania. A country you could say is far behind. A country that is filled with tons of different people. A country that I believe is filled with people longing for the truth that God has to offer. A country that I can see turning to God.
My heart is breaking that we have to leave. I have fallen in love with the people, the views, the sweet street dogs, the crazy kiddos that scream our names wherever we go. I am going to miss the byrek, the souflaqe, the weird new flavors of Lay’s and Pringles. I am going to miss the crazy drive to Grabjan. I am going to miss the crazy drivers. I am going to miss our sweet host family, Pastor Koli, his wife Anita, their 3 kids: Sara, Sylvani, and Simeon. I am going to miss the boys in Grabjan: Mirel, Kevin, Tao, Edi, and then our sweet girls Eleni and Hajdi. Oh, and I can’t forget our own personal bodyguard and sweet friend Ani.
Albania has made itself home in my heart, and I will never be the same from what I have seen, heard, and felt in these past 3 months.
In one short week, we will have to leave all of this behind and start new.
Yes, I am a little afraid to start all over and leave the comfort of sweet Albania, but all I can do it trust in God, and His amazing plan.
Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”
