Wingapo friends!
This month, team prism is living on the coast in Durres, Albania. (I know we are really suffering for Jesus.) This month we are working with a church leading bible studies, devotional times, joining prayer meetings, and (this past week) assisting with kids’ camp.
Most of our days were sent doing silly dances and games and showing what the love of God looks like (despite) the language barrier. We learned traditional Albanian folk dances, they learned the very traditional “The Moose” song. Everyone had a good time.
Because the teaching was done by Albanians in Albanians (it really makes sense that way) we were free to just love on the campers. Tickle monsters were abound, sponges were thrown everywhere, dances were a new level of silly, and all without verbal communication in a shared language.
We honestly have only the vaguest idea of what the kids learned about, but we saw God show up in a huge way in how determined these kids were to communicate with us. Not just in small ways, but in full conversations. Here, more than any other place yet, people do not treat language as a barrier. That we don’t understand does not stop anyone from rattling off rapid Albanian, and when we don’t understand, they just laugh and act it out. Until everyone around is pooling their limited English to creatively explain whatever it is that needs explaining.
All around the world, we have experienced connection that transcends language. Here in Albania, it has been taken to a new level. Blessings abound here in Albania, and luckily we have one more week here before we journey to Spain.
