As I look back on my month in Albania it has been such a blessing to me. So many familiar feelings to The States but so distant at the same time.
This month the idea of community has been something that The Lord has been teaching me. The community that I am immersed in every month with a new culture, language, ministry, and people. And secondly, The Race community, my brothers and sisters that I do life with 24/7.
Albania is a beautiful country filled with beautiful people. This month my team and I worked at a church in Kombinat, Albania. The poorest neighborhood on the outskirts of Tirana, the capital city. Albania is filled with parks with old men playing dominoes for hours and a coffee shop every 15 feet. It is very much a relational country. Over and over again this community I have lived in for a month has shown us love and what it truly means to be the church. As cliche as it is.. It’s the truth, the church isn’t a building but it’s the people following Christ that make the church. From letting us do our laundry at the pastors house, inviting us over for an authentic Albanian dinner, or helping us with directions when we were completely turned around. Albanians truly are sweet people no matter how hard their outer shell may look.
Second the community that I get to do life with everyday. Living with three other girls and four guys is always an adventure. There are seven other peoples voices that need to contribute to decision making, seven other people to serve and love more than myself, seven more people to share things with, and seven other people to build blanket forts with. Community can be messy but it’s so worth it. It’s so beautiful and worth all of the time and emotions put into it.
Being an introvert and really independent person, living in constant community was the biggest adjustment for me coming on The Race but four months into it and community is easily one of my favorite parts. And now I have 40 brothers and sisters who I couldn’t imagine my life without.
Having relationships with people and investing in them is one of the greatest blessings in life I feel like. Everyone has something to offer no matter what gender they are, age, religion, or language they speak. They are made in the image of God.
So my challenge to you is to find the good in people. Find things that you appreciate about people and encourage them in it. Because life isn’t meant to be done alone. We need others. We need people to pour into our lives and we need to pour into others. You have much more to offer people than you realize. Community is a wonderful gift if it’s embraced.
