My time in Albania was a whirlwind of activity. My team and I saw so much in the three and a half weeks we were there. Due to our ministry assignment of Unsung Heroes, we were able to travel to several cities. Our first stop was Tirana the capital and largest city in Albania. We then went to Vlora – a coastal city on the Adriatic Sea. There we met up with Z squad’s coaches who happen to be missionaries in the Balkans! Matt and Cindy made us feel so welcomed and loved, and it was quite refreshing to chat with people who understood the Race. My team feels a little spoiled because now we feel like we have two sets of coaches instead of one! We also met with a couple from Ohio who pastor a church in the town. They were very welcoming as well, and we had a great time worshipping with their congregation. This couple, Daryl and Debbie, will hopefully be able to bless more racers in the near future.
Our next stop was Pogradec located on the shores of Lake Ohrid. Never have I been to a town as beautiful as this one! The lake separates Albania from Macedonia and is surrounded by snow capped peaks arising from both countries. While there, we met with two organizations that focus on students with special needs giving them educational opportunities in a variety of areas. One also ran a coffee shop where they employ some of their students and sell the crafts that they make. They also had a physical therapy and a prosthetic clinic for those in need.
Another ministry we visited while there was the Nehemiah Foundation. This organization works to meet the needs of the people of Albania through quality but affordable methods. They have two elementary schools, one which is specifically geared toward the Roma children, and a high school. They even have a small university where students can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business. Medical clinics, as well as other community outreach programs, are offered to those who are in need in the community.
Since Pogradec lies on the Macedonian border, a few of us took time to get some additional stamps in our passports on our off day. We hopped in a taxi and drove for about 30 minutes to a beautiful Orthodox monastery overlooking the lake. As we walked up the cobblestone path, we came across quite a surprise – peacocks! These beautiful birds call the grounds of St. Naum their home and are everywhere you look on the property. In addition to the beauty of these creatures, the church itself is breathtaking. It was built in the 13th century, and the walls are filled with beautiful art work that depict this era. On our drive home, our taxi driver who spoke zero English took us on a detour to show us swans and an older neighborhood of our town. This day will definitely go down as one of my favorites of the Race!
Our final weekend of the month we took advantage of the opportunity to travel across borders yet again. This time we packed up and headed to Kosovo. Our bus took us through Macedonia and allowed us to spend a short time in the nation’s capitol of Skopje. We then made our way to Kosovo’s capital, Pristina, and finally to our final destination of Gjilan. Here we were able to connect with some American missionaries who allowed us to stay in their homes. Our only full day there was spent meeting with contacts in a few different cities (see my blog on the ministries in Kosovo be clicking here) and ended it with having dinner with another U squad team who had been working there the whole month.
Our last three days of the month were spent back in Tirana. But though we were staying there, we still had one more day trip we wanted to take. Three of my teammates and I decided we could not leave Albania without visiting the city of Durres. This city is also located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea and home to many ancient ruins. Our primary stop there was the Durres Amphitheater. This outdoor assembly area was originally built to host gladiator fights and to feed prisoners to lions during the Roman Empire. Orthodox tradition even teaches that this was where Titus of the New Testament epistle was martyred. The Apostle Paul is also believed to have started a church in this city. Visiting Durres was definitely a perfect way to wrap up our month!
Our time in Albania took us to many places and nations. Though it was busy, we were able to see so much of what God is doing all over the Balkans. I cannot wait to see and learn more about Eastern Europe as we head into ministry in Bulgaria!
