Wow. Can I just say WOW? We are not in Asia anymore!
What a strange concept. All we had known so far on the Race was Asia.
Asia was hard for me, in that it was uncomfortable. So insanely hot. And just so far from even being close to what home looks like. I loved Asia. I truly did. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been there for as long as we were. But toward the end of it, the homesick stings were starting to happen, as well as just being ready for a change. My spiritual walk with the Lord was ROCKED in Asia. And I wouldn’t trade those months for the world. But I was really ready to have a change in scenery and a change of pace. A different culture, and just different people to walk hand in hand with.
We made it into Albania the evening of June 3rd. Immediately walking out of the airport the air was crisp, and fresh and I had the nostalgia of home in the fall. My heart was so happy. As I looked out into the landscape, I was blown away by the mountains, and the beautiful little houses that sat on top of them. We took a bus to the town where our ministry site is, and I cannot even begin to tell you how blown away I was by what I saw as we entered the town. We are in the small city of Pogradec. It is on a HUGE lake, and as you look out at the lake, the background of the lake is the Balkan mountains, and Macedonia is literally right on the other side of the lake. It still blows me away when I walk outside and see how beautiful and green and just insane it looks outside.
When we arrived we were welcomed by our host, and brought to the Bible school building where we are staying. Guys, I cannot tell you how incredible the Lord is. He honestly knew exactly what we needed. We walked into the building, and we have BEDS, hot water for showers, and we have host prepared meals every day. I have absolutely loved sleeping on my sleeping pad, and I actually really like my sleeping pad. But when you haven’t slept in a bed in awhile, you can’t even imagine how Heavenly it is. We are in rooms like pretty apartment bedrooms with bunk beds. So blessed. Our host’s name is Claus and he is German American, and his wife’s name is Marie and she is from America! It has been so nice to just be able to have the communication that we have. It makes things so much easier.
We have been working in a Bible School called Christ for the Nations, which actually has a school out of Dallas, TX! During the school year they have students, but since we were here during the summer, we have been spending our time with the Interns that work at the school. It has been such a blessing getting to know the interns and do life with them every day. They have honestly become our family.
Our days have consisted of Anna Beth, Abby, Maggie, Leah B and Leah S doing odd jobs around the school. Whether that’s cleaning, gardening, washing windows, weeding, working in the kitchen, etc. Then Joanna, who has a degree in education teaching English to the interns in the mornings. And then I have been able to use my schooling in doing Physical Therapy with some of the interns and people within the community. Michelle from my last team spent the month with us this month, and she has a biology degree and is planning on furthering her education in Physical Therapy. So it’s been really cool for her to learn some things and work with me. It has been so cool to use what I have learned to help bless those around me. My host mom Marie always tells me how much of an answer to prayer we are for being able to help her with a back issue she has. There is such a need for Physical Therapy here. So it’s been so cool to use what I know to help people. It has definitely filled my heart.
After lunch every day we split-up into two groups of four and some of us go to prayer meetings, youth meetings, or women meetings here in Pogradec and then the other group goes to a village called Piskupat and they have youth and women’s meetings there as well. We would just switch on and off every week.
It’s literally been the most incredible month. Piskupat is BEAUTIFUL and the people we’re surrounded by love Jesus so much. It has been a month of recharging and being poured into, while we pour out. We have been discussing how the Lord literally could have sent us anywhere in Albania, but He put us here. And we have just been blown away at how much of a blessing it has been.
While being here, we have also had a lot of ability for adventure!
Our first weekend here, we hiked a mountain to a monument to pray over the city of Pogredec! It was amazing!
We biked to Macedonia.
Then the next weekend we went to our friend Daniel’s village and stayed with his family for the weekend! We picked cherries on his property and saw his vineyard, and apple trees and plum trees and all of the beautiful land they own.
Then we literally CLIMBED a mountain. We didn’t hike. We CLIMBED! haha. It took us about 3 hours to climb and then on the way down it poured rain and we got stuck in mud and it was crazy. But honestly one of my favorite memories of all time!
Daniel’s family cooked for us and washed our muddy shoes and gave us warm socks and just really loved us so well. It was an unforgettable weekend.
This past Thursday it was one of the interns birthdays, and so we got to decorate and make Pazookies (Pizza shaped cookies) for every one on staff! Then we danced and went out to have a couple drinks and fellowship together. The boardwalk by the lake at night is ALIVE! They have bumper cars, and like, small carnival rides for kids, and cotton candy and ice cream and mini donuts and it just feels like you’re at a carnival.
So last night we got some gyros and sat by the lake and ate. After that we went and got some mini donuts and went home and popped some popcorn and watched a movie.
It has been just an incredible blessing being here this month. It is the closest to home that I have felt on the Race. The people, the city, the FOOD. Seriously. Thank you Jesus. What a blessing.
