Monday Morning - June 10

What a treat yesterday - I spent some time with my Sunday School class!  It was so good to share with them, to see their faces, to hear them, to know what they are studying - and to know that they are praying for me.  It makes such a difference to know that there are others who remember what you are doing, who plead with our Abba for your sake.  Their prayers are being answered - so far, my body is holding out OK!!  Pretty good for an old lady! 

I shared with my class the rules that I am forming about Albania.
     RULE 1:  Walk on the shady side of the street.  Can you believe
I had just returned from a "short" amble to Tirana e Re - 45-50 minutes each way.  It was particularly apropos for that outing, and the second was like it:
     RULE 2:  Only cross the street with a group including an old lady (me) and a young child.
I am getting better at crossing streets against the red light or mid-block!  I had a little training in NYC.  Each time I come, the traffic is a little better - this time the pedestrians seem to be a little more contained.  Nonetheless, it is always better to cross, even in crosswalks, with a few others!
     RULE 3:  Be flexible.  OK, this is the hard one for me... and I'm thinking of moving it up to number 1.  My appointments for yesterday all canceled, but I had the opportunity to meet one of my favorite people in the afternoon - oh, that I could speak a little more Albanian!  Today, while madly dashing around to get ready, my two appointments this morning canceled - is it me????  But, they have all rescheduled, just conflicts.  It is all according to His plan, so He will take care of it.  It made getting ready today a little more leisurely and gave me an opportunity to chat with you.

Do you have any candidates for Rule 4 or 5?  Le me know.

Well, my respite is over - may we all walk in the manner to which we have been called - with humility, gentleness, and patience.

Mirupafshim

Friday morning

Well, it has dawned sunny and warm - and humid.  The sunny and warm part I can relate to, the humid part not so much.  Another first for Albania - I have a blister on my foot.  It is somewhat of a miracle that I haven't had one before, but I walked and walked yesterday, and I could feel it forming.  That means different shoes today, and socks - then long pants to cover the socks.  Today should be a warm one for me.

I thought today I would spend a few minutes on why I do this blog.  It takes me an hour or two each day to put together my thoughts and photos, and to find things I think you might find interesting.  The purpose of this blog is multifaceted.  First, for those who have joined me on this journey - for those who pray and who have participated in its execution in so many ways - it is my way of including you on your adventure with God.  It is not "me" that is on this trip (even though I often use the first person singular for clarity), it really is "us".  The "us" includes our Abba who directs everything, but also all of you.  You know who you are - I hope you feel included on this adventure, that I provide a clear window into the experiences, hopes, disappointments, misadventures, and new sights and sounds that are here.

But beyond the "here and now," I want you to meet the people I meet.  They are such an encouragement to me, and hopefully through me to you - they love our Abba so much, they depend on Him daily, they seek His advice about seemingly trivial things, they covet His peace.  They thank Him when things go well.  They depend on Him to find a way when there seems to be a roadblock.  They share their doubts with Him - He is, moment by moment, a part of their lives.  Can we say that?  We live in such a comfortable society, one with so many conveniences and methods to control our environment, that I worry that we forget about the Creator - the one who REALLY controls our environment.  I do - too often.

Now, before my friends here say that I am glorifying them... please know that we are to encourage one another.  While we are to emulate Christ, we are also supposed to watch for examples of Him in our siblings so that we can weave those habits into our own lives to bring us closer to our ultimate goal.  What I see here is a passion - something we may have lost in the West.  As a friend related to me... in the US, we pay our electric bill by writing a check or with a few keystrokes in an electronic transfer.  Here, to pay your electric bill you have to go to the proper office (which is not always obvious), stand in a seemingly unending line without the English penchant for order, argue with the clerk about your address or the way you spell your name or some other triviality and so on until you can finally check off that errand.  By that time, it's lunch.  Then, you have to try to arrange for a telephone - another four hour task.  And, your day is consumed with what would take - generously - 10 minutes at home.  The daily task of living here is more time consuming.  As a result, perhaps, it slows everything down, allowing us to revel in the small ways that God cares for His own.  Perhaps it makes it easier to see - because it is harder to control the environment.  Perhaps it is just the cross-cultural experience that brings things into focus.  Whatever it is, my purpose is to bring before my siblings at home some examples to emulate... not to glorify anyone, but to edify the Body.

So, my writing, hopefully, will give you a window into what it's like for me.  Not that every missions trip is like this, but come along with me on this one.  How I can make this more real for you?  How can I answer those crazy questions that you have?  Do you yearn to know what it is like to confront a Turkish toilet?  Or, what to do when a Roma child looks at you asking for alms?  I've tried to answer a few of these questions here.

Now, more specifically, my friend Migena has pointed out a couple of mistakes I made in my hyperbole.  To correct them would only make things even more amazing - so suffice it to say that I apologize for passing on misinformation. 

To God be the glory - may we do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with Him!!

Mirupashen

Thursday morning

The dawn was sunny this morning with no clouds that I can see.  That means it will heat up today, I think.  For the last week we have had dark clouds dumping buckets of water then moving on, leaving gentle breezes, flitting clouds and a comfortable temperature.  Other than the fact that the clouds seemed to time their downpours with my excursions, it has been quite pleasant.

Recall that I spent Thursday and Monday with Ida teaching three ladies how to make the beaded necklace project I have.  It seems that word has spread, and our attendance at beading class doubled to six on Tuesday - with three children.  (Yesterday, I purchased some coloring books to give those patient children an activity.)  Two ladies brought their finished necklaces in, and we exchanged them for five to do for pay, to be done Monday.  What is a fair wage?  It sees that if they work sewing shoes all day (recall our spring visit where one shoe fetches about 10 to 15 cents), or in a factory, that they can clear about $2 a day.  We have tried to find a fair wage, but one which allows us to price our product reasonably in the US - our potential market for the time being.  Hopefully, we have done so... and the widows say they think it is fair. 


Then back to the Stephen Center to meet Theresa Weaver, a missionary from Florida who has spent quite a bit of time in the north - first Shkroder, then B-Currie (where we went to church last Sunday).  She is helping a young girl with hearing problems, and we lunched together.  We were looking into what skills the ladies in the villages/north have, and are there any that can be translated into products for export.  Well, they basically crochet and knit, according to Theresa.  Ok, then, can we use that?  It seems they can duplicate just about anything we give them - so, perhaps!  Unfortunately, weaving seems to be falling by the wayside.  So, this arena needs more work.

Then a short rest (30 minutes) and back to Bathore for a widows' meeting.  We piled into a taxi (five women and a little boy) and headed out to meet at Chamila's bar (next to Ida's) - another coffee, worship (beautiful viola and women's voices - familiar music and lovely words), then my testimony and a talk by a woman who is a psychologist teaching at the local university speaking on child abuse - physical, emotional and sexual.  The widows were extremely attentive, and it seems that she hit a chord with a few.  Migena and I talked about resources if one (or more) of the widows come forward with a problem... Migena has it covered!!

Migena and Ida - with few resources - obviously have a heart for these women.  While there are many widows in Bathore (Ida said about 150... I wonder if that is a little low), and they cannot serve all of them, they have decided to share their own resources and lives with 40 or so.  Without fanfare, they give these ladies (and their children) friendship, advice, respect, food and dignity.  They truly are the feet and hands of our Abba in action.  Migena started this on her own without a mission covering and without the support (initially) of her pastor or church - just the urging of her Abba.  Ida closed a successful shop to relocate to Bathore - about 45 minutes from her home - to be closer to the women and to befriend them.  They are both listening to the words and promptings they receive from Him, and they are obeying.  Oh, that the whole family would do that... it would be a movement that would amaze the world!  And, be unstoppable.

Finally, home to dinner and a shower.  It had been a busy but exciting day.  Wednesday, I left Ida alone in her shop so she could get a little work done.  Her day is normally punctuated with friendly greetings as people pass by as well as others looking for some work to be done.  So, Ida, even without me, has an unpredictable time - making it hard to get her contracted work done.

This is the "before"

The ministry center

And the "after" - a classroom

Wednesday, I was invited to give a craft at a girl's club with missionaries for the Roma.  Perhaps you remember Krystal, Marcella and Julie - three families who are missionaries to the two tribes of Roma that live near the "river".  We spent some time at Marcella's house last visit, and this time we thought we'd teach the girls how to crochet during girl's club at Krystal's house.  So, there was some prep to be done - with loads of "liquid sunshine" to compliment it, and in the afternoon we  left for Krystal's.  It was nice to have a somewhat lazy morning after all the activity.

A second, larger classroom

The "factory"

The "factory"

You would not believe what this team of missionaries has done!  Right now, Krystal and Don live on the first floor of a house on a rather large piece of property which once housed a factory for making road tiles (?) during Communist times and perhaps served as an armory somewhere it in its past.  There are mountains of gravel, and several abandoned cement buildings, with all the equipment they contained pilfered.  One of the outbuildings has been outfitted for ministry by Don (primarily) as he taught the local young men how to do carpentry, plastering and so on.  You would be amazed at the result!  And, an attempt to begin a business making fire pits for patio use.  Kyle is hoping to help in efforts to train the locals and begin a self-sustaining business whose primary purpose is training - and sharing the Gospel not just in word, but also in deed.

Krystal, Julie and Marcelle visit women, have kids' clubs (originally one club, now THREE!!), try to develop relationships and garner trust.  Here, the older girls meet for a time of art (coloring), Gospel stories, treats, craft and games.  There were about 10 or 12 yesterday, Albanians and some from both tribes.  These groups rarely intermix - except at Krystal's house and the ministry.  And, here I found Fatiana - the Roma girl we spent time with on our last visit!  And, she remembered me!

Girls here marry at around 12 to 15 - by 16 (in one tribe) they are old maids!  The young wives must stay at home for a time as they serve their mother-in-law and their husband's whole family (including the other daughters-in-law).   So, we discussed the possibility of teaching two of these young marrieds how to make purses out of plastic bags - thanks Liz and Jennifer!  We'll see what comes of that.  Krystal, Julie and I discussed ways we could support their ministry... they asked for prayer!  They need faithful prayer warriors - the enemy is so busy over here! 

Right now, Krystal and Don have been recalled early to gather financial support.  Please pray for these faithful servants - that God would make their fundraising successful beyond their wildest dreams (so they can fund the ministry center above, for one), that they would be encouraged by the their siblings in the US, that others would catch the vision, and that their efforts would be blessed in Tirane... to God's glory!

Oh, and the greatest news of their ministry!  They have been working to plant a church - which is beginning to take root - and while I am here, they are having not only their FIRST BAPTISM (of five) but it will be PUBLIC - what an idea.  Praise our wonderful Abba!  Hopefully, I will be there.

Well, enough for now - please do uphold these two teams of selfless brothers and sisters in their ministries - that the enemy would be held back, that the worldly resources would pour in, that the Word of our Abba would continue to shine in these neighborhoods!  These siblings of ours surely work with "the least of these"- the forgotten, the disposable.

Mirupashen!

Tuesday morning

There is so much to tell you, and I have much to do this morning before I leave.  For the first time, I didn't sleep past 3:30 am - but kept trying, anyway.  That means that the time I spent tossing and turning could have been better spent sharing with you the sights and sounds of this wonderful trip.

It's 5:30 in the morning here - the minarets have finished their call.  It's fun (though sad) to think of an old, wizened man climbing all those stairs to sing out a call to prayer from the top of one of those spires, but I know that doesn't happen here anymore... it is all automated.

Lake at Fierze

Tropoje was beautiful - the air was clear, the alpine mountains green with cultivated plots horizontal on the hills.  One could imagine the AERO teams hiking the mountain trails to an area where you could just see a few specks designating a village.  The gorges were steep, with rivers bursting with water.  Albania has had an overabundance of water this year and is selling electricity to its neighbors.

Hydro electric plant

The rocks are a little slippery

We stayed in Fierze, a small Catholic town close to the largest hydroelectric plant in Albania, and despite the drizzle went to visit high above the plant.  We had a feast of local dishes, enjoyed meeting family, and visited over coffee.  I awoke to a cacophony of chirping birds, the lowing of a cow, and the tinkle of a herd of goats which couldn't decide where to graze - they kept going to and fro across their path just above my window!  You can just see them in this picture.  I can only imagine getting up each morning, stepping out the door of my flat to a vista of the lake, the sounds of the livestock, and the crisp mountain air.  This was the childhood of my friend!

Can you just see the goats?

Church on Sunday was so appropriate - the sermon was on the family of God... how we are siblings, we are to help each other in our family because by doing so we show the world how we are different.  I came away amazed that we all have siblings, albeit only a few at times, in even the most remote corners of the world.

The town of B-Currie from afar

Cutting fli

Baked from above in layers

Church was in B-Currie - a town named after a patriot who worked for independence in 1912.  It was good to see the town and understand how it is different from the city.  There is a traditional food called Fli (pronounced like the pesky insect) which is only made in Tropoje and Kosovo.  Despite a ridge that is the tail of the Alps between them, Kosovo and Tropoje share many traditions, foods, a dialect and an identity.  While it may have been expedient to draw an international border along a ridge of mountains, it apparently separated a people.  We looked into the shops looking for local goods - there is lots of crocheting, and perhaps we can turn that into a product that will sell well. There were many renditions of the local traditional dress, absolutely beautiful, which features beaded embellishment.  I didn't take any pictures though I should have.  I did not see much in the way of hand loomed wool or other traditional products.  Today I'll see a pastor from the north who works in Tropoje and see if she has some ideas or experience with local products.  Hopefully, later I will be able to visit Kruje - the home of Skanderbeg - where, I am told, there are many examples of traditional arts.

Then home again - passing through Kosovo en route.  I hope I can find a road map here - I'd like to see how things go together.  There is so much more to tell, but that will have to wait.  It was a wonderful, amazing trip with incredible friends which I will not soon forget!

Yesterday was Monday - and I spent it at Ida's.  We had three women who came to learn how to bead - they were excited to be able to earn some money.  Our agreement is that I will give them their first kit so they can learn how to do the pattern.  Then, if they do well, I will pay them to make several kits that I will bring home to see if I can market them.  With money in hand from the kits that they have beaded for pay, they can buy a few kits to make and market themselves.  These necklaces are different here, and although will not fetch nearly the price I hope to get in the US, I think they will sell for these ladies.  Perhaps you recognize the lovely face of Vera - and her younger girl Sylvie.  Vera picked up the pattern immediately, and will help her neighbor Negi (a young woman living alone with her five children).

Ida with her new necklace

Chamila and her necklace

We finished Ida's necklace - she was an incredible help with the ladies - and our neighbor Chamila also finished hers.  There is a lot of interest in the design - hopefully enough to elicit some funds for these widows.

Ida spent the rest of the afternoon greeting so many of the neighborhood women who just happened by.  There were some other widows that had been invited to come and learn to bead earlier in the day but who could not make it.  They will come today to learn.  We should have six ladies (and their children) this morning.  Pray that I keep everything straight!!  Especially as we introduce a new design - and I choose which women will do it.

One of the widow's daughters makes a braided (or knotted) necklace/bracelet that may go well with the beaded beads.  So, we'll investigate that.  So far, so good.  Please pray that I remember that this is Albania - with Albanian time - not the US.  The day is punctuated by many coffees, greetings, introductions, explanations, and I nearly itch to get my objective done.  I keep pinching myself to remember that I am not here to complete MY objective, but HIS.  We will meet Chamila, an ethnic Muslim, at church on Sunday... perhaps that is why I am here.

OK, please keep me in prayers for protection from illness (I am not able to control food and water as well as I have in the past and I came home last time with an unwelcome pathogen).  Please pray also that I recognize His opportunities and respond as He would have me.  Today the food aid for 34 widows will be delivered to Ida's - all done on $250 monthly.  Remember Ida in your prayers, as well... she helps support herself and her family with the things she makes out of her shop... I don't know when she has a chance to do any sewing.  Of course, I am there which complicates things, but even if I sit in the corner like a church mouse, she hardly has a chance to touch her sewing machine.  Last week, she showed me a stack of orders that must be done, and I know that I am an impediment by my very presence.  Pray also for Migena who has taken on extra work just to cover the expenses for the food aid... each month the goal is met by God's grace.  And, last but not least, please pray for these widows whose plight is so different than it would be in the US.  We are to care for widows - let this endeavor make a little difference and glorify Him!  (Please also remember that poor little guy with the heart condition...)

Mirupashem! 

Monday morning

I must admit to a certain naivete when it comes to the internet.  I set my computer to Tirana time, but when I posted the blogpost, it did not follow the time in my computer, but rather the time in the US somehow.  It took me a bit of pondering this am - using up valuable time - figuring out where Friday had gone!  My last post dates it as Thursday, but actually I posted it Friday morning... before the internet went out here.  So, my last blog tells you about Thursday.

On Friday, I was to meet with Dava and work with her on making bracelets.  But, things are gearing up at Radio 7 for a conference this week on families, and so Migena was not available to translate.  So, my activities were shrunk - in actual fact, Friday was a day of rest for me.  After completing the blogpost and communicating with Migena, I laid down for a few minutes and woke up three hours later!!  Guess I was tired.  Because I had no internet, I could not do some of the networking I had planned for "off time", and as my eyes got blurry, I laid down again for a few minutes, only to awaken after 9 at night!!  Despite my sleep-filled day, though, I also slept Friday night, so I REALLY must have been tired.  I am not waking up at 3 am as I have in the past, and so the time change, despite my day of rest, has been less of a problem for me this time.

Friday, Ida was at a youth camp for her church with her son.  She is in youth ministry, and the theme was to make them soldiers for Christ... they had lots of physical challenges planned for them.  Daniel had his surgery scheduled, and fared well, but now the twins have chicken pox!  Oh, how I remember how it was with little kids, and how chicken pox entered out family.  Marion was away as a cast member in a school play - Bill was with her.  She had some funny blisters on her neck, and after a phone call or two, I urged them to see a physician closer to them who could actually look at the blisters.  The diagnosis?  Of course, chicken pox.  The whole school was exposed in one fell swoop!  Corbin, of course, followed with his own version.  At any rate.

We left for Tropoja Saturday morning - I was up and out early.  Because we were leaving at a more civilized hour, I had the opportunity to see the area around the Stefan Center awaken once again.  The fellow who has cigarette lighters, batteries and a few miscellaneous things had just arrived to his usual location on the sidewalk in front of the casino... his wares are still bagged up in pink bags.  You could buy dinner - the poor chickens are hobbled or something, and wait patiently and silently for their fate. 

Well, time is getting away from me, and I have to finish breakfast and be ready for my ride to Bathore.  Until later.....

Friday morning - yesterday was a busy day

Now, you will have the REAL time and date... before, my computer was putting Pacific Daylight Savings Time as these blogs were posted, but I finally figured out how to change the date and time to Tirana. One small step at a time for this technically challenged blogger. The days of expecting things to work the same way each time you use them are over! And, until there is voice recognition software that can recognize my frustration, I'll have to figure out the small changes manually.

I fell asleep last night to the roar of thunder and piercing flashes of lightening. The storm was so powerful that occasionally the building shook. Despite my sleepy desire to just ignore the pandemonium, I finally decided to check the weather website to see if there was anything I should know. That being unfruitful, I decided that God's nature is mighty, but He is mightier and would care for me one way or another. That decided, I blissfully succumbed to my overwhelming desire to sleep!

It was a full day yesterday - my time here rarely starts with a whimper. Having spent time with Migena on Wednesday reviewing plans for the widows and strategizing, I was scheduled to meet Ida yesterday. But, Barry was in the Stefan Center restaurant while I was having breakfast, so I made an appointment with him, then the staff of the Stefan Center came in and we had a wonderful time catching up - briefly. Finally, I headed for Taiwan.

Taiwan

You might think that Taiwan is located somewhere in the South China Sea, but I know better. It is snuggled cozily on a corner of "The Block" in Tirana - it houses a restaurant, coffee shop and casino. "The Block" is the upscale area with wide, tree-lined streets once populated by the powerful or connected under Hoxha. Yesterday was a beautiful day to meet for a coffee; it was quiet (with very few scurrying around) and warm but with a gentle breeze. I was to meet Ida there.

Ida's shop

Ida works in Bathore at her seamstress shop. Perhaps you remember Kathy from "Come and Sew Ministries" (CASMI). Kathy has helped Ida establish and maintain a seamstress shop in Bathore, where Ida takes in sewing work to support herself and her family (her husband only recently got a job), but she also has classes for some of the local widows to teach them how to be a seamstress. CASMI supplied her with five sewing machines as well as most of the tools she needs to teach the ladies and continues to support her with small grants for rent and so on. Ida works with Migena as they, together, try to minister to the large widowed population in this poor suburb of Tirana.

Ida's shop

Having an errant American in the shop caused a bit of a sensation, perhaps, because it wasn't long before a widow passed by and stopped to say hello... then the landlord and the neighboring gynecologist's assistant, along with a few potential customers also happened in. 

Ida and Lazima

The widow, Lazima, is about 42 and has been widowed for about 7 years. She moved to Tirana about 20 years ago with her husband, and here they have raised their children. Her husband died of cancer, a process which somehow "ate up" his arm; she nursed him for about four years before he died. Her oldest is a son who is currently 20 and unemployed, unskilled and unschooled. Her daughter, 19, is married with a 1 year old son who has a heart problem requiring surgery, apparently unavailable here and so expensive elsewhere there seems no way to pay for it. Her youngest, 14, is named Melissa (the same name as my sister) and is still in school. Lazima is illiterate and unskilled; she doesn't read or write and has never learned to sew. She is not making much progress with sewing, but comes anyway - something for which Ida is thankful because it gives her an opportunity to witness to her. The family survives by taking in work from the local shoe factory, sewing the tops of shoes to the soles for about 20 Leke per pair (10 cents per shoe). Ida and I noted that one of the things which seems to be endemic here, besides illiteracy and the lack of marketable skills, is the paucity - indeed the absence - of hope. What a great opportunity for God to work a miracle - or for His family to provide one. I committed my Sunday school class to pray for Lazima and her family.

Plums from Chavila's garden

No sooner had Lazima continued on her way when Chavila stopped in. She is the landlady for the four unit building in which Ida's shop is located; she and her husband occupy one of the units with their coffee shop. She offered us a coffee - so, all three of us sat outside in front of the coffee shop enjoying another coffee and chatting. The weather was cooperating with a refreshing breeze and no rain. Chavila has two sons, both of whom are in their late teens or early twenties. She was curious about me, and we shared information about our families and then the reason I was there. She talked about personal industry and the "people around here don't work hard" - something she and her husband do daily as they work at their business, cultivate their gardens, and so on - and she sounded somewhat like an American voicing the same opinion. Our chatter provided Ida with an opportunity to share the reason I had come so far - that these people were created by our Abba and He loves them, and I am hoping to provide some hope by teaching a marketable skill. Then, I had an opportunity to ask her if she had ever gone to church. She is, by tradition, a Muslim but has accepted invitations to join Migena and Ida at their Baptist church on occasion. She says it is a nice place and she would like to go again, so I asked if I would see her there. She said she would go if I were there - so, not this Sunday, but next Sunday I will be looking for Chavila at Migena's church.

Chamila and Ida beading

Ida took it all in stride. We had already discussed the projects, and were ready to begin. So, we returned to Ida's shop and pulled out the beaded jewelry I had brought. Of course, Chavila was curious and had followed us into the shop. She studied the items and repeatedly said she had "no words" to describe how beautiful they were. She was hooked. I showed Ida how to bead the Twisted Herringbone necklace designed by Amy Loh-Kupser (she was at GBC last fall to teach us), and Chavila was so enthralled, I gave her a kit, too. For the next hour or two everything was quiet as the two tried to master the beading. Ida picked it right up and will be a good helper for the women she chooses to do this; Chavila was having a little trouble, but got it. We enjoyed a bite from her garden - plums which usually ripen to a golden color, but which Chavila prefers to eat before they ripen.

I left Ida at her shop to travel back into Tirana to meet with Alban and Dori at the Istituti (Cru) so we could have an early dinner - they had a conference at 6:30. I dropped off my things at my room, looked up through the window and the entire sky seemed to be falling in huge, pregnant rain drops bouncing off the roof next door. I hurriedly called Dori, thinking the rain was here to stay, and canceled dinner. In no time flat, though, the rain stopped, so we rearranged things, and I bustled over to the Instituti, picking up an umbrella along the way. We had New York bagel sandwiches - they were good!

Dava

Happy end to a busy day

On the way back to my room, Migena texted that Dava is in town. I met Dava on the last trip - perhaps you remember her. At any rate, she has taken a job outside of Tirana in order to make ends meet, and was visiting her son who is in university here and was not feeling well. We met at Gordon's - about a block and a half from the Pashos and about 2.5 miles from where I was. So, down to Gordon's and a coffee with Dava and Migena. Dava has been busy with knitted jewelry and brought some to show me - you will have a chance to see some of it when I get home. While waiting for Dava and Migena, I watched a little Roma girl, probably about 6 or 7, through the window as she darted in and out of traffic in an attempt to garner some alms - she would sometimes dash into the bushes where I could just see her mother hiding. After a while, her younger sister joined her. Despite her assignment, she had all the carefree playfulness of a young girl, and I wondered that she had not been hit by someone before!

I agreed to meet Dava (and Migena) today to teach her how to make one of the projects - although she is working, she is still having a tough time.  I think she will do well with this skill.
Thank you for your prayers, and thanks to our wonderful Abba for this opportunity to represent you here in Albania with His love, and hopefully His hope.

Wednesday morning

Well, I haven't figure out this blog thing, yet.  I wrote last night (or was it the night before?), but can't find it.  As my husband says, one of the things that is worrisome about computers is what can be done with just one key stroke - like deleting a vast amount of information.  Not that my thoughts were vast... I had just arrived after a rather lengthy test of endurance!!  But, I had put together some thoughts and they sounded rather informative - at least they did when I wrote them.  Enough!!

What is it about Tirana?  I step out of the Stefan Center and there is an excitement, an energy - perhaps it's an anticipation.  The traffic seems a little better in control today, the people are just as busy going to and fro, and the snippets of language are so enticing.  Gosh, I wish I could speak Schip. 

The trip was really long.  I think that Turkish Air might be able to charge less because they shave a little of the leg room off each row.  I couldn't get out to take a brief walk without making my row-mates get up and out... there was literally not room to place my feet if they remained seated.  The seating configuration is 3-3-3... the "usual" is 2-5-2.  So, one advantage to being in the center of the center section (not where I was) is that you only have to crawl over one person, not two. 

Other than the lack of personal space, Turkish Air was quite nice.  My UAL flight arrived on time to LA (the one after mine was delayed - go figure!), the trek from the farthest arrival gate at United to the Bradley International Concourse was uneventful, except, of course, for all the people who didn't know that they were getting in my way and delaying my progress!  Really!  The audacity!  

After going through security again, I searched for the gate... it was the absolute farthest one, off by itself beyond the other gates.  As I began to approach, the languages began to change, the lines became less organized, and the dress less Western... my first hint I would be entering a different world.  My row-mates were from Turkey and Iran - neither spoke English, and you must know that my Persian and Turkish are a little rusty.  The announcements, even before boarding, were in Turkish, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do, but I was encouraged by others to just push ahead in line and not to worry - and I did so (I didn't have any other option, it turns out, since there were so many behind me I was moved forward without choosing to do so).  At any rate, no questions were asked of me and so I was one of the first on the plane.  I folded by frame into the space allotted and took out my phone (because my son called).  This apparently was upsetting to the stewardess, so that conversation was short-lived.  Then, I began to knit - a seemingly universal invitation to converse with other women the world over (or at least as "all over the world" as I've been!).  So, everyone admired my simple project, we discovered that we could converse by pointing and smiling, and so began a somewhat solitary flight.... 13 hours!!!

The up side to the long flight is that I think that it afforded me more time to sleep.  So, I arrived more rested than I have in the past.  The food was good, the service was efficient and polite, it was fun to try to silently converse with my row-mates, and I slept (as did they, I think).  I lost my ear buds early in the confusion, so I didn't have the unparalleled opportunity of listening to Turkish Rock.  There was no space to bead, work on my computer or even write.  So, sleep was a very good alternative.

Arriving in Istanbul was different than I anticipated.  It is a quite modern airport - complete with traffic, crowds, and hijabs.  There were gentlemen in Saudi dress - you know the white gowns, women in Saris, and plenty of women with head coverings.  Seeing a woman all in black with only a slit for the eyes elicits a strong feeling in me - it's as if they didn't really exist, they are an illusion, a negative image, a vapor.  Praise our wonderful Abba that they are not a vapor to Him - that He loves them and wishes them to come to know Him.  So, I prayed for them.

I endured my third security checkpoint of the trip (why did I even get dressed? I always worry I'll forget something as I replace my shoes and gather my ticket and jacket), bought water, and madly tried to find my gate.  The time stamped on my ticket was boarding time - no wonder I couldn't find my flight on the departure board which listed departure times!  But, it created a little adrenalin rush - no, a BIG adrenalin rush - as I imagined the flight leaving without me.  We took a bus to the airplane - far out on the tarmac without a convenient causeway as you see in the picture.  Why is it that flights to Albania always take off from the farthest corner of the airport?  And, they are all boarded up one of those portable stairways?  I'm waiting for the "big leagues" with causeways to amble down.  It's always such a hassle to lift everything (especially yourself after 20 hours or so) onto the bus, hold on to the pole so as not to fall over, then slowly carry yourself and all your belongings up the stairway.  It would be so much easier to just roll that little carry-on along one of those lovely tunnels - I'd feel so much more put together! 

Leaving Istanbul by air (my only glimpse of the city) revealed a modern looking city complete with traffic jams (it was 5 pm when we left).  There were lines of huge cargo ships lined up along the Mediterranean to get into the port, very tall apartment buildings, parks, freeways, soccer fields.  Except for the minarets scattered about every 1-2 blocks, it could have been anywhere.  The Mediterranean was beautiful, and it looked like the beaches were beautiful as well.

Finally to my destination... Tirana.  The sky was overcast when I landed, as it was when I left SLO, so I missed the beautiful hills at both places.  I tried to take a picture of the sheep grazing along the runway, but I'm not sure you'll be able to see them.  I was the last through customs - I'm short, and was not really up to the hassle of getting to the front of the line - and watched those entering before me.  Interesting, I saw groups of bearded men - probably on the same quest as I am but for a different abba. 

A funny thing happened at Customs - I usually am the recipient of a great deal of suspicion since I bring the Action Packers which look very official!  This time, however, the customs agents asked where I was traveling from and when I said the US, they waved me through - Action Packers and all.  Behind the sliding door were the wonderful faces of my good friends - Dori and Sindi, with Ruben, Daniel and Alban waiting outside where young boys are unhindered.  It was good to be home!  Then to the Stefan Center (a picture of which will not download, along with some others), a night in the "overflow" next door, and up and at 'em yesterday and today.   

Well, my antics of yesterday have to wait until later.  Hope this reaches you all in good health - that you will pray for the projects I will present today, and that God will use me and my friends here for His greater glory!  That others would come to be in His family with us!  Mirupashen.