Conversations

Conversations can be powerful things. They open us up to new perspectives and
stories.   They can provide encouragement
and hope. They can evoke empathy. They can challenge us and cause us to
think. Conversations give us a glimpse
into the lives of others. In Albania the
Lord has allowed me to be a part of such conversations. I love hearing the heart of people; I love
hearing people’s stories.

A woman named Ella, who works part time for Campus Crusade
is letting the four of us single girls stay in her and her husband’s apartment
while we are here. He is raising money
in the states and she is staying with the other woman staffers, Frieda and Besi. Ella doesn’t speak very much English and we
know little Albanian, but Frieda shared with us how Ella came to know the Lord
through their friendship.

On the day we went to the Economy building to pass out
magazines, we had some free time while the students were in class. Jenna and I sat down and asked Frieda how she
came to be on staff with Campus Crusade. She shared with us how God has worked in her life and praised Him for
his faithfulness. Through her story we
were able to offer her encouragement and she gave us a huge example of someone
who has trusted God and walked in obedience toward Him, even when it was
difficult. 

Albania is 70% Muslim. Savannah, a student at the university, shared how she came to know
Christ. She is traditionally a
Muslim. She explained to us that her
family never went regularly to the mosque, but that her family was more
culturally Muslim. She said it was still
difficult to become a believer and that she prays for the rest of her
family. I was struck by how she wanted
her life to be guided by God and to live for Him in the decisions that she
makes in her life.

One of our wonderful ministry contacts is Besi. She talked to me about how she had been to
Indiana (my home state) to support raise and the difficulty of that at
times.   But she saw it as an opportunity
to share with people what God has been doing in Shkodra, in Campus Crusade, and
in her life.  It’s about sharing our
stories and inviting people to be a part of what God is doing. She has such a spirit of thankfulness about
her.

This week we get to continue these conversations as we sit
down with our contacts and the students and have coffee, hear student’s
stories, share ours, and get to talk about the Good News of Jesus.