Unsung
adjective
not celebrated in song or verse; not praised or acclaimed: the unsung heroes of the war.
Hero
noun
a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
Unsung Heroes. That is the task my team has been assigned this month – to find those who are helping those less fortunate and are making a difference in their communities. Those that though they are a hero to many most have never heard their story. We seek to connect these people with each other and those that can come alongside them and encourage them. We tell their stories, so the world will know how they are changing it.
My team is in search of these “unsung heroes” this month. We have not been assigned one specific contact, but rather are working to network prospective contacts with the hopes of sending future teams there. We get to visit multiple people and places and see how they are ministering to the specific needs of those around them. Much of our work this month consists of researching ministries, churches, and organizations. We then set up meetings with the directors to see if they would be a good fit for the World Race. We also get the opportunity to travel around the country in order to see more in the area of Albanian ministries.
After making contact with local pastors and ministry directors, we set up meetings with them and see firsthand their work. We discuss the potential of hosting future WR teams and use the opportunity to network people in the area. As we hear their stories, we tell them. (Be sure to follow my teammates’ blogs for all the stories of those we meet this month.)
Our first stop this month is the city of Tirana. 
It is Albania’s capital and largest city. While in Tirana, we were led to a church – the International Protestant Fellowship. This church is a unique melting pot of people from all over the world who have come together to reach the lost of Albania. They run a coffee shop ministry called The Hub where they serve free coffee to local students in order to build relationships with them. We have gotten the opportunity to spend time with many of our new friends from this church. One day, we went to lunch with several of our new friends and spent hours talking about Albanian culture and gleaning from their more mature experiences. We also spent time with some of the younger people in the church playing games and drinking coffee. One girl even took us to visit her school, the local school of the arts. I had so much fun touring this place and seeing what a music education is like in Albania.
Many of our contacts are brought about by preexisting relationships and networking. It is truly amazing to see what opportunities present themselves when we open ourselves to whatever God may have for us. We have gone to meetings where we have walked away with not one, but five new contacts. I even met someone who knows some of my friends from college! It is indeed a small world.
