… In Albainia anyway
You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to share the gospel here in Albania! Really, being American opens all kinds of doors to conversations. All I have to do is ask someone if they speak English! They will, more often then not, excitedly say yes and start asking me the questions!
I’ll give you a example:
Kaitlyn and I walked up to three girls on a park bench “Hi do you speak English”. The girls said “yes” and then hopped up and offered us their seats on the bench and would not take no as an answer. They proceeded to ask us numerous questions including what we were doing in Albania. Of course, since we’re here on a mission’s trip, we invited them to the Thursday night evangelistic meeting. Without a seconds hesitation they all said they would love to come and asked where it was! We also asked if they would like to get together for coffee some time. Again over-joyed for the chance to talk to talk to us again, they gave us their numbers and are supper excited about meeting again.
I also had a coffee date with two girls I met the other day, and even though I was the one who had invited them, and after having shared the gospel with them, they insisted on buying my drink. I just can’t get over how open Albania is to the gospel.
As a whole, people here are very open and honest. Religion and politics are two of their favorite conversation topics! Political correctness and avoiding personal questions are unnecessary, I think their culture is awesome and I feel like I fit right in! People here are all about relationships, rushing and modern convenience (drive through, take out…) are seen as inconveniences.
As I’ve said, we’re now in Albania! We are located in the capital city, Tirana. Our ministry this month is with Campus Crusade for Christ. On Thursday nights we are involved in their collage group evangelistic meeting! It was so exciting to see the people we met on the campus and invited to the meeting actually show up! This past meeting us girls, with the help of our tall Canadian friend Jon and Artin a CRU staff, did the Lighthouse “Everything” drama! The three girls from the earlier example came to the meeting and said it was the first time they had heard about the whole Christian thing and that they will continue attending!
I’m so excited for the rest of this month and I’m believing for much fruit! I want to see many sisters and brothers added into my family! I love that so many people speak English and can understand me when I share the amazing gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!!
Our mornings are spent selling Student Life Magazines (with the gospel in the middle) on the different campus’s. We sell the magazine for 100 lek ($1) and have the buyers fill out a contact form for future follow up, and so they can enter a drawling to win a free black berry!! Selling the magazines is draining and honestly not my favorite (even though I must have a natural sales woman talent because I do sell quite a few) but CRU has done this for a while and seen great results. My favorite is the afternoons though, when we get to go out and just make friends and share the gospel through the relationships that we make!!
