HEYO! Guess what? It’s 1:20am here in Kosovo but I’m working on following through with my promises. So without further ado, here is my second consecutive week of
FIVE FANTASTIC FACTS ON THIS FINE FRIDAY (or Saturday)
If you’re stateside, grab an afternoon cup of coffee, some left over Thanksgiving dessert, and settle in for this week’s edition. Cheers!
1. Last Friday we went to a village outside of Pristina. We went to visit a Christian family who lives in extreme poverty. They don’t have a way to get to church on Sundays and are currently without a Christian community. They welcomed us into their one roomed living area and made us traditional tea and cookies all while making us feel right at home. We were all so thrilled to sit in a room with other believers. We were able to hear where they were at in their walk with the Lord and encourage them. My musically talented teammates even got to sing them a song. It was a BEAUTIFUL night. My heart was most touched by the joy of the mother, so ready to serve us and just host a team of Americans in her home. She was so joyful and had the most beautiful smile all night. One of my favorite parts of the night was her crouching over in the entryway of their one roomed house helping us ladies into our boots. Tying them and laughing while we wiggled our feet into our boots. It was a night accompanied by faces and memories I will never forget. Will you join me in prayer for this family? For work for the father to provide a steady income for his wife and three kids, for transportation for the family to be able to attend church, and last but certainly not least for a COMMUNITY of believers to encourage and love on this family who also live close by.
2. I CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN. ‘NOUGH SAID. When we arrived in Kosovo, we talked with our hosts and jokingly said that we dreamed of seeing snow and climbing a mountain. Well, our host shared that there was a group of hikers that go out on Sundays and hike around the mountains! He said that we could use it for outreach and BOY DID WE! I’m proud of myself and the girls that joined from my sweet team. We all conversed with the locals and shared why we were here. People were open! Check it out the link below!
I CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN AND MADE A VIDEO TO PROVE IT
3. I visited an Ashkali Village! Since I was ill the beginning of the month I had to sit out a lot of ministry days. One of them being visiting the traditionally Muslim and impoverished village known as Ashkali. Here multigenerational families live together. Our hosts have been doing relationship building visits and outreach in these villages for years and have never come across a believer. Well, this month we witnessed the always humbling and exciting harvest!! While a few of my teammates were doing house visits they came across a newly married and brand-new mom who shared that she loved Jesus! ALSO while we were here a teenager from the same village that has had relationship with our hosts for years expressed her desire to commit her life to the Lord! After much talking she did just that! Will you please join us in prayer for these women?! That they would have the courage and endurance to continue their relationship with The Lord! Would you also pray for favor for them with the patriarch of their families? These women need to ask permission for leaving their front yard, they currently live in the same village not even a 10 minutes walk from each others house. If they could meet and encourage one another in their walk, oh man, I would hope it would be encouraging for them, that they aren’t alone in this!
4. I celebrated Thanksgiving with 16 of my fellow squad mates! It was a dream of mine and Emma’s to HOST and SERVE a real Thanksgiving meal since we found out we would be stationed in the same city as a few of our other teams! It was so fun to cook with a real live chef! (Emma is a wonder woman you guys, she has taught me so much in the kitchen!) What was on our menu you ask? Well, let me tell ya!
- Airline cut chicken, stuffed with goat cheese and lemon. (You should read that sentence again because Im not pulling your leg on any of that.)
- Mashed potatoes
- Sautéed mushrooms and onions
- Roasted red bell peppers and sweet potatoes
- Stuffing
- Cornbread
- Sweet bread rolls
- Pumpkin Crunch
- Apple Crunch
- Apple Cider (from scratch, like everything else on this list.)
- Hot Chocolate (also from complete scratch… aka bars of chocolate, WHAT)
- Buckeyes (thanks to our American hosts who understands the BEAUTY that is peanut butter-anything dipped in chocolate. Thanks Kelsi!)
5. This is my last week as a HinemaTOV! This upcoming Tuesday we, as a squad, will be reshuffling and receiving new teams. I will miss this team greatly! It has been real treasure walking through these past 4 months with these beautiful women. Stay tuned for next week. I’ll Introduce you to my next team!!
** Next Friday we will be headed to AFRICA — wanna pray for that one too?! **
