Catching up

A patient mule parked along the street

View to left from KidzClub

View to right from KidzClub

View across the street from KidzClub

Leaving Rome, I looked down at a patchwork of verdant farms in the countryside surrounding Fiumicino Airport.  It was a visual treat.  After about 24 hours “on the road,” it was impossible to stay awake for the rest of the 1½ hours over the Adriatic, but an awakening as we approached Tirana, I was saddened to see thick air pollution hovering over the entire landscape from the sea to Tirana… worse than I remember seeing here before.  It seems like to me that air pollution in Tirana hits a peak in the summer… but there had been recent rains and I was surprised to see the smog’s extent.  I pondered what I have been told… the most efficient way to clean the air and environment is to enable countries to prosper… when people can focus on something other than their daily survival, then they desire a cleaner environment.  It grieved me to see so much smog, a reminder of the smog in LA when I was a child.  I prayed for the Albanian economy… improved employment, a vigorous work ethic, a just and stable government.  Peace, stability and justice are all so important for economic development... should we pray these very same things for all the countries of the world, including the US?  I think I should remember to do so more often than I do.

The moment I stepped off the plane, however, I felt at home.  We off-loaded from the plane onto a small tram, were taken a short distance, off-loaded from the tram to immigration, baggage claim and customs.  Albanian people are so hospitable, helpful, and generous with visitors.  I immediately felt at home. 

It was so good to see Alban and Daniel... they were so patient to wait as I worked with customs about my luggage.  On the ride into Tirana, I reveled at familiar sites, personal landmarks (like the building with a log cabin on its roof), palm trees still holding on along the Rruga Durresit.  Once again, Skanderbeg Square is being torn up… I think this is the third time it has been undergoing an overhaul since my first trip.  Finally I arrived at the Qendra Stefan and my home for the next two weeks.  Alban and Amarildo struggled to take all my luggage to the second floor, I bid them good-bye and cleaned up, ate dinner, and fell into bed.

For the third time, I think, Skanderbeg square is being torn up.  Skanderbeg is the national hero who was the first to unite the city-states of Albania - it happened during the conquest of this area by the
Ottomans.  His statue is in the “center” of the city and is surrounded by the Opera, the Museu, and Et’ham  Bey (an historic mosque which survived Enver Hoxha).  The square started out as a traffic circle with the statue in the middle, then there was a plan to put a cistern under the square to handle flooding, this plan was modified to scrap the cistern and put a large grassy area surrounding the statue and diverting traffic around the periphery, and now it is being turned into a large pedestrian mall.  There is, however, nothing to aid the traffic which courses through the center of town at all hours and is now tied up even more!  The route around this new construction changes by the day, and sometimes by the hour.  So, we were tied up in traffic to get around Skanderbeg Square and on to Qendra Stefan. 

As usual, this trip has been so different from my previous trips.  Also as usual, many of the plans penciled in initially, have changed.  Happily, I have spent much of my time with Krystal at the KidzClub, located on a relatively major street in Babrru, a poorer village on the outskirts of Tirana.  You can see what is to the left and right in the two photos above, and the graffiti across from the front gate.  (Please forgive my inability to manipulate these photos into a more interesting montage, but I have been working for well over 2 and 1/2 hours and am ready to throw my computer out the window!  In addition, this is the second time I have written this post, the previous one is frozen.) 

Today we had a health screening - thus, the flags

While at KidzClub, we have had the opportunity to work with English Club, KidzClubs held for various neighborhoods, a health screening for local women and so on.  We’ve done crafts, supervised play, worked on sewing/quilting, enjoyed the company of good friends, and have generally been humbled by the hard work and witness of those on the mission field.

OK, it's 11 pm, and I am frustrated with this blog post.  I will try to post something tomorrow, but right now, I'm going to catch some zzzz's.  Sorry I have not been more successful with this work; perhaps it is my fried brain trying to figure out again how this works, or perhaps it is truly more difficult than it has been in the past.

So, naten e mir (good night)!!!  Mirupafshim!

Who among you knows what a Discovery Bible Study is?  It is a simple way to allow the Holy Spirit to teach not-yet-believers and young believers alike the truths of the Gospel and the truth of His word.  Missionaries that we support (like Dana Ostby, Jim Yost and others) have been using this method of transmitting Biblical truth for awhile now where they are working. 

Recall that we have worked with two wonderful women, Ida and Migena, to reach a group of widows here in Tirana.  Their church has planted a church in that area and so has "adopted" this wonderful group of ladies and also seeks to reach youth and others.  They have weekly services there along with food and clothing distribution to those in need and so on. 

First DBS - about Mary Magdalene

While working with Ida and Migena, we have discussed the spiritual maturity of those who profess to be Christ-followers among the widows.  Rarely have they had a dialogue about spiritual truths, and so the idea of a Bible study, one that would be simple, replicate-able and that would allow the opportunity to develop leaders, sounded interesting.  So, we decided to try it out!

Pray we can "open" the center!

Last Tuesday we had our first DBS!  Ida was impressed by the willingness of the ladies to actually discuss the Biblical passage that they read (John 7:53-8:11).  It was really exciting to me... they read the passage out of the Bible twice, then we tried to tell the same story in their own words, then talked about what it told us about God, about humanity and about what we should do in response.  When asked if they would like to meet again, all of them said, "Yes!"  We are meeting again next Tuesday. l Please keep us in prayer as you go about your day on Monday and Tuesday (or Sunday and Monday... due to the time difference)... we have a larger meeting on Monday and then a repeat DBS on Tuesday.

In addition, we just had news this am that the papers have come through for the KidzClub... so perhaps we will be able to have the kids together next week, too!  It is always an adventure to come to Albania... it never goes as planned!

Bekime (blessings)!

 Golly, I’ve been here a week, and haven’t published a blog post yet.  I have written and written, but am fighting with the format, photos.  So, here goes another attempt….

Waiting!

Friday, 22 April
 27 hours and I finally arrived.  I must admit that after the third security pat down, I was done.  I could no longer find anything that I had carefully packed in my carry-on luggage… what had been on the bottom was floating on the top, and what I needed during the trip was utterly buried and inaccessible.  Well, so much for air travel in the 21st century!

 Preparing for this trip has involved so many!!!  How can I thank you to all.. and that includes my patient family! All that happens here has so little to do with me and so much to do with everyone who is praying, supporting this work in so many ways… cutting, packing, lugging, creating…  THANK YOU!!

Pam, cutting squares

The largest classroom

Saturday, 23 April-Tuesday, 26 April
Well, a quick turn to pick something up on Saturday and my back was history.  Sitting in a chair?  Really painful.  Walking… well, it wasn’t as painful as a chair.  So, I spent the next 3+ days taking pain meds and staying pretty much in bed.  With stretches, exercises and walks, the symptoms have begun to retreat… by Tuesday, I got to spend some time quilting with friends!

The pizza was so big - this is Don

You may already know that Krystal is opening her KidzClub for neighborhood kids (primarily Roma/gypsy) - transforming a former ground floor apartment/coffeehouse into a cheerful group of rooms destined for classes, homework help, Bible clubs, and crafts.  There is a large kitchen with good lighting, a sewing room with tons of storage, a large and cheerful classroom, a bathroom (an improvement over the last facility) and a multipurpose room.  Approval from court was relatively expedient (a praise!), and now we are waiting for the actual papers to be stamped and signed so the club can be registered for taxes (who would ever want to hinder that process), then a get together with parents and “Shazammmm!” it’s a ClubHouse.  Please pray that all of this will be complete so that Linda may open the center on Monday with her presentations!

Sewing Room... cute tree

Until it is open for the kids, though, the center is available for other types of gatherings… like a quilting club.  Bee, our Roma (gypsy) friend absolutely loved the quilt that Krystal hung on one of the walls in the center (it is one of the ones I brought over originally), and so Krystal asked if we could do a quilt with her.  So, we put together fabric (thank you for those who have donated fabric), found a relatively easy quilt pattern, and last Tuesday we started.

Multpurpose room with Pam

First, Bee thought she could choose just one of the fabrics… they are different from what is available here.  But, she got five different coordinated fabrics...the whole packet.  We showed them the quilt top I had put together before we left (so that we can sandwich/quilt/bind while I am here), and then began to cut out the pieces that will become the design.  My experience is that most of the time, Albanian women (and perhaps men, I don’t know) will stay at an activity for about 1½ to 2 hours

Bee and me

before they feel a need to go.  Our friend was there for, I think, 4 hours interspersed with running home to take care of her son’s meal, or whatever.  Krystal tells me that they have since spent some time learning how the sewing machine works… I don’t believe that she has ever worked with a sewing machine before.

First set of blocks done!  Wahoo!

I’d like to introduce you to Pam, an absolutely wonderful person from Georgia, who has partnered with Krystal in getting the KidzClub up and going.  Pam is into COLOR - it does my heart good!  According to Krystal, Pam has helped paint the walls, camouflage the pipes, and find interesting posters and stuffed animals.  Altogether, the KidzClub is an inviting and visually stimulating environment.  Knowing Pam and Krystal, it will be utilized for many activities to reach not only the kids in their neighborhood, but also their families.  I am so excited to see how God will use this facility and these women in His story.

Well, there's the call to prayer… that means it is 4:30 am.  I’m going to try to get a little more shuteye before the day begins.

Bekime (blessings)!

9 November - The least of these!

Katie H. took this photo
which says it all.

Have I told you about Krystal?  She is an amazing lady with whom Debbie and I have spent a lot of time. Remember Don?  Well, Krystal is his wife. So, while Don wiles away his days building stoves, modeling a work ethic and building relationships with men (targeting the Roma), Krystal is demonstrating God's infinite love for the Roma children and their families who live close-by.  She has help from some other full-time missionaries... Pam, Marcella, Julee and others... who fill in when they can, and she hosts itinerant teams like those GBC stragglers from the English Camp last summer.  

Visiting

Have you ever thought about when someone is most receptive to the Gospel?  I would have to say that, in my experience, it is in childhood and young adulthood.  How many of my friends have told me that they came to know Christ when they were young?  With many of my Albanian friends, they were the first in their families to believe, and, in many instances, have led their families to salvation.

Hearing the story of Creation in
Krystal's living room

Homework help at the
kitchen table

There are so many ways to introduce Jesus.  We can stand on a street corner, proclaim the Gospel at "events," develop friendships with those outside the church.... you've heard the many ways. Krystal just strives to love these children... among the most un-lovable, according to the world.  And is she ever creative!  She hosts English clubs, Bible clubs, homework help, whatever she can!  I've helped her with a sewing club before... and one of those children has professed faith.  Unfortunately, she recently lost her "ministry center" which was perfectly located in the Roma neighborhood.... she didn't have to pay rent because it was left-over space from Don's factory before he lost the lease and had to move.  Don's move and the loss of his "extra space" has greatly diminished Krystal's ability to reach children.  She is now limited to hosting these clubs and groups at her kitchen table.

Inviting entrance and
large wooden porch

Large inside area that could
be divided for different activities

Down the street, right on the pedestrian route from local schools, and on a corner that their parents must also pass to get to town, there is a coffee bar for rent that would be just perfect (in my opinion).  It would provide room for the sewing club she started but has had to suspend, for cooking and health lessons for the young girls (or boys), for homework help, and a myriad of other things, including just plain fun times.  There is even a little play area for toddlers, so it would be a good location for gathering moms together, too.  All she needs is $500 each month for rent, and right now she doesn't have funding for it.  I will shamelessly tell you that investing in her ministry would be an incredible way to reach these children.  Please know that there are kids who have already professed faith in our Savior (I hate counting so I won't give numbers, but believe me it is a fruitful ministry). While Krystal and her friends are carefully mentoring these new believers, she yearns for the opportunity to reach more.  Would you consider joining me in a commitment to her ministry?  Can you visualize what Krystal could do with this place?  I can!  If God leads you in this direction, I will put you in touch with her sending ministry.

An area for the little ones

Krystal is such an ambassador for our Lord... she loves these little kids in all their poverty!   She remembers birthdays, finds ways to help girls yearning to learn, but whose family situation keeps them from going to school.  I know that heaven will be populated by some of these Roma children... and I pray that there will be so many more!

So, this is my last day at the Qendra Stefan... I am so sad to leave. The last 24 hours have been such a blur... making sure everything gets to the right place (including some sewing machines I've "found" for Krystal), making sure that Debbie is winging her way west, saying my good-byes to such good friends that I have here, and finally packing... I can't imagine how difficult it must be for full-time missionaries who have spent years here, have even more friends who must pack up and go home for a furlough or for good.  Albania has become home to them.  There are some who will not be here when I return... please pray with me that God would show them His limitless mercy, give them His bottomless peace, and that He is, even today, saying, "Well done, my good and faithful servant!!!"

See you soon!  Bekime!

A set of teeth and a new bicycle - 2 November

So, if someone asked you the question, “What is evanglism?”...  how would you respond?  Is it a large crowd, lots of lights and music, the laying on of hands?  Or, alternatively, is it true that evanglism isn’t an event, but a lifestyle?  Krystal and Don moved from South Carolina to Tirana some years ago with a desire to share Christ with people who have had little chance to hear of Him.  They work with Albanian Roma... some of the hardest people groups to reach.  

Roma are... well, how to describe?  Although most Roma would probably say that they are “Muslim by tradition,” I have been told that most actually live under the oppressive weight of animism and a cultural brokenness that seems impossible “to fix.”   Not only do their traditions and cultural “habits” work “against” them (they don’t send their children to school, for instance), their approach to life is very “in the moment” with little regard for what might be needed tomorrow or, even less important to them, next winter or eternity.  How does one reach these people?  There are many ways... 

New teeth will also
help him eat better

One way to reach them might be to provide a platform to befriend, train and enrich their lives through a commercial venture... to teach them the value of responsibility such as showing up for work every day... and then helping them to reap the rewards!  When a man can provide for his family it sets an example for others.  When a person is at work every day, there is a platform for friendship and, guess what, evangelism and then mentoring.  This is exactly what Don has worked to do... and it is finally becoming a reality.  And don't forget the "business park" neighbors, landlord, vendors, clients and others that will interact with Don during the work day.

Don inspects the new bike...
braking will make the commute safer
for his employee

Starting a business in Albania is no a small thing.  There are reams of papers... permits, taxes, insurance, etc... that need to be completed.  Interesting here is that the biggest onus that a new business faces is what happens if it fails... to close a business is even more difficult, prolonged, and quite expensive.  With the help of a new mission organization, Don has been able to navigate all of this in such a way that he is able to actually develop, produce and sell a product... wood stoves... for a reasonable price that the poor are better able to afford.  He currently has three employees... one came to work today with a new set of teeth (hallelujah!), another’s wife went to the ABC clinic today which she is able to access because of his private health insurance, and a third bought a new bike that actually has brakes!  Making a difference?  I think so... and providing an example.  Today I was lucky enough to see the factory.

(NOTE:  Please forgive the long pause in posting blogposts.  I haven't been in Albania long enough to become adept at working around internet/computer problems that occur due to be located in Albania. Thankfully, Krystal is quite adept at solving problems.)

31 October - the air is feeling like fall!

It was a crisp walk home last night as the full moon was waning and the streetlights hadn’t yet been lit.  As we sat down for dinner, we both noticed the boy at the next table who had two Halloween balloons on sticks... the first Halloween decorations I think either of us has seen here.  It reminded us of the preparations at GBC for the “big bash” last night and we prayed for a dynamite outreach!  How did it go?

Yesterday was an early morning, we had to be the first to order breakfast in order to wend our way to Zoguze (“Black Bird”) by 8... no, it’s not the circle that actually has the black bird (double headed eagle) in the center, that is Dogana.  I’m sure I have been told why this particular circle is called “Black Bird” but for the life of me I can’t remember right now.  We found a mini-van idling shortly after 8 slated to head north to Shkodra.  Ahhhh, sweet success... we were on schedule!  But, it didn’t leave for 45 minutes until every last seat was filled.  Well, that made us late...

We were meeting our friends at a church in Shkodra to spend some time with the ladies there and then the children in their new children’s center.  There were the yummiest looking cream puffs on serving plates tempting us as we sat down.  Debbie gave a brief account to the women about what she would be doing with the children later including the creation story, then we talked briefly about why God made Eden.  Have you ever thought about it?  A perfect place, made by God for the purpose of visiting the only creatures He made in His image and which were, as yet, perfect.  Picture that for a moment... speaking with your Creator, the Holy and Just God of the Universe, easily and casually about the day’s events or even just about random thoughts.  In the field over there are many others of His creatures, creatures over which you have been given dominion, enjoying the afternoon sun as it begins to slip towards the horizon.  Savor that.  No predators, no sex shops, no pollution... idyllic.

Our hostess, Voska, and her children

Why did God make the garden perfect?  Why were the people who lived there perfect?  Because God is Holy, He cannot tolerate imperfection... sin.  Well, we surely deserve to enjoy the garden, don’t we?  Why, aren’t we perfect?  That is I was perfect until this morning when I... there was discussion around the table, then laughter as the point was made.  OK, now we have a problem.  God desires to spend time with us in the Garden, but how to become perfect again in Creator’s eyes?  If God is Holy and also Just, then what should happen to imperfection?  It must be banished - "the wages of sin is death...", but there is a solution "... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."  After discussing our loving God's solution to this conundrum... that is our perfect Savior who sacrificed Himself for each of us... we made Christmas tree ornaments designed to reiterate this truth through colors.  It just so happens the colors work well with Christmas!

Opening the center

In honor of the pastor murdered in blood feud

A leisurely walk around Shkoder followed, lunch on the walking street, then to the brand new children’s center for its inaugural event.  We felt privileged.  The children’s center is intended to enrich the lives of children, particularly those caught up in the whole “blood feud” mess.  Many of these children live in homes where stress is an understatement, where their fathers are furtively looking through the window curtains just waiting for the horrible moment when the bullet might find its target. 

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands"

Combine this with some somewhat oppressive traditions, particularly for girls, and the center becomes a welcome relief.  The children of two families finally arrived... transportation is a problem.  After songs, Debbie masterfully presented the creation story, supervised a torn paper craft, then treats and finally a reinforcement of the creation story through a second craft.  Even the oldest seemed to enjoy the festivity.

Creation

Paper craft making things created

 Oops!  We must hurriedly find a van before it is too late.  We did, it was leaving almost as we stepped in.  Back to Tirana, a slow walk home in the crisp air and thoughts of home.  Please know that you guys are in our thoughts and prayers while we are here, despite our activities and the excitement of new places, people, and challenges. 

Bekime (“Blessings”)

25 October - Tirana, the city of 9000 steps!

Sunday, 25 October

Hummm... a city of 9,000 steps!  While most days I approach 10,000 steps, yesterday I was close to 13,500 steps (~ 5.5 miles, 13 flights of stairs, and over 2000 calories).  One glitch is that my step counter is on Pacific Summer time and my little interpreter that communicates between it and my computer is still in Arroyo Grande.  So, Charlotte B., I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to match your record!!  As far as my step counter is concerned, my “day” starts at 12 midnight PDT, which is about when I get up here.  These monumental hardships (the inability to communicate with my computer) make for good memories... (add smiling emoticon here)  Since I rarely realize when I make 10,000 steps in 24 hours, I have decided to add a moniker to Tirana that is, at least, accurate... Tirana, the city of 9000 steps!

Although we had planned a trip to Bajram-Curri last Saturday and had everything set out to pack, we unexpectedly spent the weekend in Tirana... leading to no fewer adventures.  It was particularly disappointing to miss a trip north as we had looked forward to finally going again to Bajram-Curri for months before our trip.  I learned it was also difficult for Theresa and Migena who had changed so many things to schedule this outreach and plan our visit.  We know that God had His hand on this change of plans - disappointed as we are.

Amarildo (Donna's son) Deb and Donna

 Donna works “upstairs” at the Qendra Stefan, and we have become close friends over the years, despite my poor language skills.  She has invited me to her church repeatedly and, because we stayed in Tirana this week end, we finally got to go!  This is a church begun through the efforts of Nashua, a Brazilian missionary of my vintage (she is 70) who first came here in 1992. 

Nashua met Donna’s sister at the International Hotel, eventually lived with Donna and her sister for some months, and then transitioned to her own place.  When living with Donna and her sister, the three of them started Sunday meetings, inviting whomever would come.  This home church grew slowly until now they are the only evangelical church in Kamez with a congregation that on Sunday morning numbered about 60-70 people - a large church.  People work various jobs which require them to work on Sunday, so I am told the entire congregation is much larger.  Unusual in my experience here is that the congregation was comprised of all ages from small children to grandfathers and grandmothers.  Unusual also... Nashua preached!  And, it was obvious that God spoke through her preaching... I glanced around and every face was riveted on her.  Her very presence is powerful!

This church has prayed for years for a building.  It is very common here for a church to rent a space... sometimes on the very top floor of a walk-up.  This coming summer, however, their church building should be completed through the efforts and alms of the congregation and the anonymous gifts of others.  In it, they plan a food bank, small coffee bar for the poor (with reduced prices), vocational and language classes, homework help... you name it.  I can’t wait to be able to walk inside this monumental work and marvel at the strength and glory of our Lord.

Please remember us as you go about your day... we could really use your prayers.  I know that the Republican debates are coming up soon, perhaps you could pray during the commercial breaks...

In the meantime, mirupafshem!