Greetings from Albania!! I cannot believe I am writing this from Eastern Europe… we were just in Southeast Asia! I am so humbled every time I remember that we are on the World Race. Continuously traveling to far off places, and living out of a backpack has become ‘so normal,’ and I sometimes forget just how truly blessed I am to have this opportunity. There are some days where I just crave stability and miss being in the same room as a loved one, but for the most part I am very happy. I’ve never felt so fulfilled and I know that’s because I’ve found out how to tap into the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:9, ‘My strength is sufficient for you: for my power is made perfect in weakness.’
He fills me up, plain and simple.
This month my team is living at, International Protestant Assembly, in Tirana, Albania. This is a fairly wealthy part of the country, which has been a HUGE culture shock coming from where we served in Cambodia. It’s really been heavy on my heart, and stirred a lot in my mind. Yes having fancy coffee shops, and nice shopping malls are both entities that bring me joy, but could the purely simplistic lifestyle bring even more? I pray for provision and a healthy balance in the future.
The pastor who runs the church is from Ohio, as well as a young missionary family who we spend a lot of time with. It’s been nice to relate on some midwest traits, even if they are from Ohio… 😉
We are creating relationships with several students, and young adults at schools, and on the streets. We are then bringing them back to a coffee bar we run in the church. And guess who has been fulfilling the barista duties??? So cool how those skills I learned at Lucky Bean are helping to bring kingdom in Albania! Gods plan is truly amazing. The ultimate goal is to evangelize, as the country is less than 1% Christian. We are learning how to do that in a loving and gentle way, truly from the Lord.
I miss y’all more than you know, and will see you before we know it! That’s both exciting and frightening. I am loving life on the field and determined to soak it all up, while I can. Thank you all for helping my dream come true. xo
