Last Post from Tirana

This will be my last post from Tirana for awhile. I will be going home in order to celebrate Christmas with family. Lindsey and I will leave on the early morning flights and so will probably not go to bed tonight.
It has been a great time these past days that have been filled full of many activities. We have been so blessed to have the workers that we do and at this time of year we are so grateful for this wonderful blessing from God to know that things are going well and that the ministry goes forth on a daily and weekly basis from village to village. Please keep these devoted workers in your prayers. They face a spiritual battle continually.
Bye for now.

A Little Bit of Everything

I was not able to get anything posted yesterday because the internet server was acting up and it was not available. So I am going to include some photos of last night's service in the village and also a picture of a home visit that we made to one of the girls from the training center who is getting married tomorrow. Some of our guests that were here last March may remember Viktoria, the young lady who had 24 hours to make a decision whether or not to marry the guy that her parents had picked out for her. After saying yes, he has been in Italy for several years and at our visit, last March with her, she was having grave doubts about their relationship and future. Well, yesterday I heard she indeed was marrying this weekend and would now have the wedding ceremony and then he would be off again to Italy and she will be now living with her new in-laws. What does one say to all of this? In the picture she is showing us her gifts to her new family. I really enjoy learning all about such different customs when it comes to marriage.

This morning was the annual Christmas program with the children. It was vintage with the drama, puppet show, special music and reception time. I included a picture of the team. Some of you will notice some new faces. One girl in the middle is Arjan's wife and she is a professional musician and was helping out today and the girl on the right is new and is taking the place of Klara for several months while she is taking some time off.

Kasalle visit

We had a great time in Kasalle this afternoon. The children were very excited knowing that Christmas celebrating was in the air. We had a drama illustrating the story of the "Three Trees" and a recitation by three little ones. There also were refreshments and gifts! The last picture is of one of the latest constructed homes in the village.

Mountain Events

"Off to the mountain we will go...." was our motto for the day. It included spending time with a special visitor, Marinela who is in town comg back from her new home in South Africa, doing the children's meeting in the village and having a great home visit with some special ladies. As planned, we also, passed out the gifts bags to the children. The children enjoyed making a treat by decorating a graham cracker and loading it with candies. I didn't know that Marinela was going to come to the village with us and so when she joined us, we spent all the trip up the mountain catching up on her latest events including her new status as "Mommy to be". She worked with us for several years and now is teaching flute to students and also playing professional flute for symphony performances. Lindsey had quite a day seeing all the sights and experiencing village life in the mountains. She told me that she took 104 pictures today. (I apologize for these thoughts sounding so random.)

It's the time of giving

This is the last week of children's meetings and so we spent well over 4 hours packaging bags of goodies to give the children. Lindsey, our guest from Tennessee, brought 3 suitcases of gifts to give to the village children. Tomorrow we are going to the mountain village of Darshen and are looking forward to having a great Christmas party.

I think we counted around 120 bags.

Conversation and Crafts

We were in the village from Sunday to last evening. It was about as close to camping without sleeping outdoors. We were without water, lights for six hours and limited gas for cooking. We made it but was glad to see Tirana again and to get cleaned up and fed. These inconvienences are minor compared to the great time we had visiting with the women and young ladies in the village. We went to five homes to visit and we had a "craft party" with the girls. It was so much fun learning more about the village ways and having the opportunity to share the love of Christ that we have in our hearts for these people. Tomorrow is the mountain village day and I hope to have many pictures for you.

Can You Believe It....Snow in Tirana???

Can you believe it was snowing tonight in Tirana. We went to Saturday night church and stopped to eat a bowl of soup and coming out of the restaurant....there as big as you please, the snowflakes were falling. It was another case of never go out the door without your camera. I was so glad I had my camera. Vera said that it has been 10 years since there has been snow in Tirana. I know it is suppose to be snowing today in Illinois and this is nothing in comparison to six inches, but it was extra special to be walking down the street with the snowflakes falling all around. It made home seem not so far away.

Friday evening in the village

Yes, the baton was handed off and so now David is on the farm in Illinois and I am here in Albania. I arrived yesterday and thought I had landed in another world. I had left an ice storm and came here to nearly 50 degree weather and sunshine. This is going to be a real quick time in order to get back to join the family for Christmas. There is a host of activities to accomplish before then and so I will try to track all of it and share with you the latest events of the ministry. At noon today Mandi and I went back to the airport to pick up our visitor, Lindsey from Tennesee. This is her first trip to Albania and so it is fun to hear her comments and perspective of this unique country. Then latter we went to Vlashi to check out the Friday classes and activities. The ministry was busy with many English students. We were so grateful to have the electricity come on just as the sun was setting and didn't have to hold classes by candle light.

Travelers

Yesterday David and Vera checked in their bags and headed back to Albania. It has been fun to have our good friend, Vera, here visiting us for two weeks. David will be spending his time visiting the villages and meeting with Planters staff workers. There is no big project on tap for this trip but plans for upcoming projects will be discussed. It has been eight months since David has been in Albania and so he is anxious to see everyone again and to see the new activities that are going on.

Big Event

Friday, October 12, was the first official service for the village of Vlashi. Invitations had been distributed throughout the village but still it was a muslim holiday that day and it wasn't a slam dunk for success. Many prayers were said and the Lord blessed abundantly. Afterward, there was a time of refreshments for all. Please continue to remember Friday's in prayer for this service that will be held each week.

Leaving

Days fly by when you're having fun...so they say. Well, anyway, we kept Mandi pretty busy and he learned a lot about the farm. I'm not exactly sure what was his favorite job but I can tell you that he didn't wash the windows on the combine even though David begged him. His new food that he tried was fried chicken. He didn't think it bad at all. It was great having Mandi here for the visit and having him speak to three diffferent church groups.

"In America"

What does an Albanian do when he come to America? We are privileged to have Mandi spending some time with us. During the last 10 days he has been helping on the farm and also speaking for some church groups. Sorry that our pictures are only farm pictures. We must work on getting some church pictures.

Final Wrap Up

(The three young girls attend the Girl's Training Center. The other two ladies are their Moms.)

(visiting Fatmira and her mother-in-law)

(arriving at O'Hare in Chicago. Vera also came to the US to visit her relatives in Detroit. We're hoping she can make it to Green Valley sometime soon)

The last few days of my stay in Albania got rather hectic and I'm sorry there was not better news coming from my way. But I will just share some of the last days photos and I think I saved the best activity to the last--that is home visits. Also, I don't know if many of you had heard that Mandi was able to get a visa and came back with me to Illinois. He has several churches to share what his responsibilites are in Albania and in between times, David is going to set him in a tractor seat and see if Mandi can drive as good as he does in Tirana. Pictures of that will be forth coming.

Saturday in Vlashi

(notice the green trees to the left and then the brown burnt trees on the upper right)

Saturday isn't Saturday in Vlashi without the children meeting at the ministry center. So, I've included some pictures of today's meeting. Each week in this village there are about 35 children that attend. Today I really cut it close. I had just enough candy for everyone. Not one piece left over. Yesterday afternoon is the regular time for the older children's discipleship meeting. I've included the picture of them with Klara and Arjan, the leaders. This is a small representation of the usual group. This was the first week back after summer vacation time and several forgot to come. Also, I got a picture of the nearby hill where they had a fire that could have become dangerous to several of the homes of children that come to our meetings. It is very similar to the situation in Greece. The temperature has been hot for many weeks and there has been no rain for two months. Any kind of spark can get out of hand within minutes. Since I came on Tuesday, we've had two nights of rains and cool temperatures. We've brought out the sweaters. I guess my sleeveless shirts will go home clean and still folded.

Bits and Tidbits

I always like it when special and unusual things happen when we come to Albania. Two days again at approximately 7:35 a.m. there was an earthquake with a magnatitude of about 6...significant anyway. And low and behold the center of the quake was in Mimenas, Albania (one half mile from Vlashi). I was in Vlashi this afternoon for meetings and took a picture of the ceiling in the health clinic. The cracks were very noticeable. Shpresa said she was just waking and said the bed was really shaking and the glass picture on the wall fell and broke. Others in Tirana said they felt movement. I'd have to say that I was still suffering from jet lag and didn't notice much unusual.

Next item or tidbit is about the main activity of the day-children's meeting in Kasalle. Here is a picture of the team preparing to leave. Each meeting the equipment is loaded in the jeep and they travel about one hour to the village to teach the children. On the way home and near the village we saw this bride getting in the car. Mandi stopped the jeep, got out and asked if we could take her picture. This is copy of what brides years ago would have worn.

Lastly, I couldn't resist taking a picture of this cow chewing her cud (which is a sign of great contentment) and proudly showing off her hair ribbon and bow! (should I say a sign of great love and affection of her owner)

Visit to Darshen

It was drizzling when we left the city this morning but when we climbed higher up the mountain the fog and rain started to set in. This picture isn't the best (sorry Cydil) but I hope you can tell that we are traveling on a one lane road that weaves itself around the mountain. Here we are pulled over in a wide part waiting for the oncoming car to pass.

This is today's group of children. The girls don't come in the summer because they must stay home and work. Generally, there will be about 25 children each week when they come after school. This building is a vacated house that is located near the school. We rent it per week.

Darshen's homes date back several generations and look like something out of a "Robin Hood" movie. They are so cool. The roofs are made of slate and the walls are of stone. If you ever had the urge to live in something ethnically Albanian, here is where you should go. We visited two homes of several children that attend our meetings.

(David, this picture is for you. You know what I think of all your "lady and her cow " pictures. But anyway, the great thing is I gave this lady a choice of where she would like her picture taken -in front of her pretty flowers or with her cow. Of course, you know her answer!) Why do you always have to be sooo right all of the time, David?)

(I need to make a correction for yesterday's entry. Those were not shocks of wheat. It was shocks of corn. What was I thinking? It's not time for wheat harvest! So much for the country girl. In all fairness, it has been awhile since I've seen corn in "shocks". After all, this is my first time to be in Albania in September.)

I've been told there has been no rain for nearly two months and so what happens all night and then this morning as we head to the mountain village for the children's meeting....it rains. Taking pictures is right up there on my "to do list" and rain doesn't mix with photography. We didn't let the rain dampen our spirits and we had a great time anyway. I'm just going to caption the photos for brevity.

Arrived

Coming down late this morning from the Albanian sky, out of my window I saw all of these polka dots in the fields. After thinking about it for a moment, I realized that it was shocks of wheat standing in the fields. I will try to get a close up picture of them for you later in the week. What contrast it reminds me of life there and of life here. The fields of harvest are so great. Talking and discussing those spiritual fields was what I did later this afternoon in a coffee bar with Genti and Shpresa. I caught up on all the latest happenings in the village and we made plans for the upcoming days. I love their contagious smiles! It demonstrates their contagious christianity as well.