Community.
If you’re a World Racer, you’ve probably adopted this word as part of your most frequently used vocabulary. It comes up almost daily, usually as a reminder to yourself or a teammate to opt in and serve one another, a reminder that this is part of the beautiful journey you signed up for.
The World Race community you build is really only part of the community you could be a part of as you walk through these eleven months, but more so, through life. Because community is everywhere, all around us. People are more hungry for community than they even realize, I think. It’s the reason why we often feel a small surge of excitement when we see that little red number at the top of our Facebook page signifying we have a new message. It’s the reason we feel loved and pursued when a friend initiates a meeting time with us. Humans like to feel connected. You can’t deny it. I won’t deny it. I love seeing that little red number. It makes me feel connected.
The lovely thing about community is the facet of connectedness that is so a part of its very essence. You can’t have community without connectedness. Humans crave connectedness and therefore crave community perhaps more than they think they do.
And while I love the World Race community-my team, my squad, my contacts-I sometimes forget that community stretches far beyond this.
Albania reminded me of this, reminded me of how hungry I am to be a part of community, to feel connected to the place that I am living. I crave it. Albania was my home for one month, and it certainly felt as such.
My team embarked on the journey and ministry of Unsung Heroes in Albania. We spent the month in the capital city, Tirana, searching for ministries, organizations or even just a person who was doing something who may want to partner with future World Race teams as a host.
It can be intimidating to walk into a country with no leads, no idea who is doing what, no idea where you will stay. It’s often only intimidating though until you are welcomed for that first time by a stranger with open arms, ready to receive you, pour into you and love you well with no obligation to do so.
Throughout the month, we were received with open arms more times than I could count. I didn’t expect it. Sometimes, on the World Race, you get this idea in your head that it’s your job to do the serving, your responsibility to love people well. And by all means, it certainly is. But the Lord has blessings, and sometimes he shows off through others around the world who he has taught how to love and how to receive people well. Going into a strange country and being welcomed with no reservation taught me a huge lesson not only in hospitality but my approach to strangers. I want to get in the habit of loving people when I don't have any obvious obligation to do so. One of our blessings this month reminded us of the verse in Hebrews-to be quick to open your home to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels. I want to entertain an angel!
By others opening up their community to welcome us in, we were able to feel at home in Albania. We served with some ministries, had many meals with people we have now come to love, made friends with locals, expats and fellow travelers, and simply immersed ourselves in the city. Never have I felt more connected in a place. Consequently, Albania felt like home.
And once again, I leave with an expanded understanding of community and a challenge to myself to continue walking in that. I also leave with a challenge to each person who reads this to seek the beauty in your own communities. The beauty is waiting and endless. Chances are, you've been craving it.
You don't have to look far to find the community. Here is a friend who was staying at our hostel for a few days. Consequently, a slightly awkward family photo ensued.
This was a rock climbing gym run by two guys from Colorado. They have kids climbing club every weeknight which we were able to help out at a few times. Here's the link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RockTirana
On one of our off days, we visited a nearby city. We certainly saw some beautiful sights, but we also saw some of the gypsy kids and couldn't resist playing with them. Erika bought them cotton candy and taught them a lesson in sharing.
We were invited to come to a swing dancing lesson at one of the local youth groups. They teach Albanian youth swing dancing from a deeper perspective of learning to trust people. This was a blast!
