**I just want to clear up some miscommunication from my recent blog!
Month One is coming to an end, and it’s safe to say I’ll definitely be leaving a piece of my heart here in Albania. The people I’ve met and the places I’ve seen will be memories that I will never forget (mostly because I’ve written stuff down and taken lots of pictures… otherwise, I don’t have THAT great of a memory…)
In the #11n11 spirit of the World Race, I would like to share 11 experiences I had in the first month of this journey:
1. Sufllaqe: What’s that you ask? Only the best fast food in Albania. Our ministry host picked us from the airport and ever so kindly showed us the closest, fastest food on the block. French Fries IN the pita?! GENIUS.
2. Ministry: From day one of learning about the World Race, I knew ministry would look different month to month depending on where we are! This month ministry looked a little like this: painting flowers, Jesus, children, birds, caterpillars, bees, trees, fruits, SpongeBob, Thumper, etc., assisting some new friends from the Netherlands to put carpet down (great job, y’all!), moving around furniture, hosting a VBS, and so much more. Because like our amazing SQL, Maddie likes to put it, EVERYTHING IS MINISTRY 😀 We worked this month with the Church of Nazarene in a poorer area outside of Tirana called Kombinat! We shared testimonies at church, held an English service, and loved on the community almost as much as they loved on us. (Little did I know, Southern hospitality has nothing on Albanian hospitality!!)
3. Team Time: I have grown to love my Radiant Rubies more than I thought I would in the first week being here. We struggled at first to really set aside time to get to know each other and dig deeper into how we work together, but quality time and personality tests have made us closer. We are able to share vulnerable information with no fear of rejection or judgement. How beautiful is that?!
4. Adventure Days: If you have read my other blogs, you already know for my first “adventure day” I stayed back for some much needed rest. However, by the second one, I was ready to venture out into Albania!! Our team took the bus all the way to the end of the line to see Mt. Dajti! We got on a cable car and faced our fear of heights as we ascended up the mountain! Our last adventure day we headed into Tirana to check out Bunk’Art 2! It was interesting to read and “interact” with some Albanian history!
5. Albanian Nights: It may be hot during the day here in Albania, but once the sun starts to go down, it feels AMAZING. In fact, so amazing that my team and I decided to have a slumber party movie night on the roof of the kindergarten building we have been working on! It was so beautiful!!
6. Ice Cream, Crepes, and Coffee: Well…I think I probably over did it a little with the ice cream, crepes, and coffee, but it was just so good. Don’t worry, I have called in some accountability for next month 🙂
7. Vulnerability: Let’s be real. Vulnerability is hard. God has been pushing me to not just speak of past issues, but to try and see the root of feeling the way I do…which can be extremely challenging when your mind likes to fight against the fact that your past can influence the present.
8. Religion: My team has formed a couple of close relationships with people of Islamic religion. One is a very devout Muslim who could spend all day talking about how much AlLeah has done for him. The other is a 16 year old girl who says she is a Muslim, but also admits that her and her family do not “practice” the religion. **Muslims believe that Allah is God and that Jesus was a prophet, but belief in God alone does not save us. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” If we miss Jesus, we miss the point. Also, I couldn’t help but relate the girl’s words of how they claim to be Muslim, but they don’t practice, to us as Christians sometimes. We throw the label around like it’s nothing. But what about when your heart doesn’t line up? I think we, as Christians, need to evaluate if we are just claiming to be Christians, but not “practicing,” or if we are truly followers of Christ, having faith in what God has given us and giving that to others.
9. Community: For the past few weeks I have lived with 10 other girls in constant community. It was definitely harder than I thought it would be, but it’s also been so great! The community of Albania has been absolutely beautiful. Our team was very welcomed by the local children and teenagers! The Church of the Nazarene welcomed us with open arms and made us feel right at home!
10. Relationships: We have made such great relationships here, and it just makes it even harder to leave. I thought I had taken my “easily attached and longing to be everyone’s friend” mentality into account when signing up for the Race. Thankfully we are in a time of worldwide connection to some extent, but it just doesn’t equate to good ole face to face quality time, ya know. The Director of the World Race, Bill Swan, talked during one session about how we can’t stay connected to people all the time, because that takes away from connecting to people that are right in front of you. Let me tell you, that was a hard one for me to hear. Why get close to people just for them to be in your life for a minute, day, month, etc. That just doesn’t make any logical sense. I left family and friends behind for a year (give and take a few FaceTime calls) to focus on what’s in front of me, but I’m still praying for that same boldness to pursue meaningful relationships in the present. There is a good balance somewhere… I’ll let you know when I find it.
11. Time: They told us this year would go by fast…and I believed them. Time always seems to do that. I convinced myself that a month was a long time to be in each country though. It gave me enough time to get to know the area, build relationships with locals, and experience the culture. While I did all of that, I didn’t realize that I would fall in love in the process. After church some of the members go out for coffee, and during that time I told one of the ladies that it felt like home here. She asked what part of it reminded me of my home. I laughed and said that none of it reminded me of home, but it felt like home. I wish the time here wasn’t up, but I know God has so much in store, and this is just the beginning.
Albania,
Thanks for putting up with us silly Americans for a month. You have been so beautiful and kind and brought so much into my life that I never thought I would find in a different country. I hope to see you real soon.
Love, Emily
