This month I’m at Lightforce International in Lezhe, Albania. Most of our ministry this month will be spent at the farm. We’ve already fed some baby goats and seen two little lambs born. Some of us even had the opportunity to castrate some young male pigs. (Not me. Not ever.) But this week we got to be the host of a children’s summer camp. Which I have to say, is more awesome than any camp I ever got to go to.. We’ve got bounce castles, rock climbing, archery, the world’s coolest jungle gym, and an in-ground pool. I’m jealous of these kids. Luckily, I get to play with all the fun things with them!
With this camp I’ve gotten to know quite a few of the kids who are here, and they’ve shown me a little about myself in the process.
The first is Melissa. Prettiest little girl I’ve ever seen. Her smile is like gold and I feel like a million bucks when she smiles at me. But when she sees herself smile in a picture, she hates it. She’ll look at her picture and immediately express her disgust for the way it looks. It doesn’t reach her expectation of how she thinks she should look and how she wants others to perceive her. And that made me so angry! Society’s standard of beauty has reached its dirty claws all the way to this sweet, innocent girl on the coast of Albania. So every time she turns her nose up at herself, I remind her of how beautiful she is. What really caught my attention though, is when she called me out on the same thing. I was on my way to deleting a picture that had been taken of me when I wasn’t paying attention when she pointed her finger at me and said “very beautiful girl!” I was caught off guard. This little girl heard and understood what I was speaking over her, and then she turned it back on me when I wasn’t living out my own words.
The second is Gary. Gary has so much joy; true, genuine joy. His family has very little, so his joy doesn’t come from possessions or circumstance; it comes from a decision to choose joy and happiness over everything else. Sometimes it’s easy for me to get caught up in the harshness of life. Anger and unrest can stem from the smallest of circumstances. Yet really, I have the ultimate reason to ALWAYS find joy, and that’s Jesus. Gary has reminded me this week to find happiness everywhere.
Unfortunately this month we cannot openly talk about Jesus Christ. About 70% of the country in Muslim and Lightforce is a newer ministry that is still working towards developing a good relationship with the community. But we know that the Holy Spirit can minister to these children in ways we cannot. We know that he can speak through a smile, a laugh, a hug or a simple “hello”. I’m thankful that where we are limited He is greater. Please pray for the country of Albania. I believe that they will one day be a nation for God!
Fundraising update!
I currently have raised $7,815! My next deadline is October 1 and will need to have $11,000. Please pray and consider donating to help keep me on the race! I just started and AM NOT ready to come home. I know God has so much for me this year and even so much more for the nations I’m going to!
Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers!
Love you!
