Card Making

When the Vermont/Texas team came to Albania a few weeks ago, one of the projects that was initiated was teaching several of the young ladies how to make greeting cards. Now the ladies are busy making cards for the Christmas and New Year's season. I believe they are trying to fill orders for over 200 cards. You can see some of their samples in the photos.

Flag Day

There's two things a successful photographer should never do: try to duplicate Iwo Jima and have your subjects turn their backs to the camera. I think in this case we'll be given latitude for both.

I'm helping raise the flag for the Darshen school. This flag is representative of the relationship between the school and America. It is a gift from Jake who lives in Texas, and as the saying goes, "Everything's bigger in Texas." At the school they call him Big Jake, which I think is appropriate because of the big-ness of his heart.

The flag originally was to be hung on a standard within the school but because of its size, it now uniquely adorns the south wall of the upper hallway. Every visitor and every student can't miss it. Many thanks to Jake and Renee` for the tangible representation of this relationship.

P.S. The school principal requested an American flag during Jake's last visit. It was my privilege to deliver it. And, by the way, it did not fly over the Alamo.

Pre-Thanksgiving

By now, most of you have had or will have your big Thanksgiving meal for 2009. Since Albania is several hours ahead of you we have had our quiet Thanksgiving meal in the shadow of highrises on a dark, Tirana night. You probably will be within view of little Pilgrim statues holding their iconic basket of gifts from the fall harvest. The closest proximity to us are candles that we hope we don't have to light because of black out. Notice our 'turkey'. It's a chicken that rests squarely in a tin foil pan, a Kentucky casserole, and dressing made by our African guest are the only three semblences of a traditional feast. I might add there are very few festive moods to our Muslim background, no football games, no parades, no leftovers on Thursday night. Our only revel is in the fact that with little chickens there's little over eating.

From all of us to all of you, Happy Thanksgiving and be mindful of how good the Lord has been to us.

Tiana, David, and Cydil

P.S. It's easy to clean up when you eat the carry-out chicken directly from the pan.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

A lot of you will be going to Grandma's house this week. You'll get to share in all the goodies: Food, tradition, and family. It's a natural thing to want to be included in holiday family tradition. Grandmas make anything special, especially when families get together.

I've wanted to visit Grandma's house this week in the village of Vlashaj. Flora has garnished respect from me over the years because she lives on the high corner of the village and always monitored traffic, separating dogs from donkeys. She is a grandma, one who has made her family stronger in time of trouble, happier in times of sadness, and wiser when her knowledge guided the family through low spots. She will, without knowing it, stand over her family on this Thanksgiving.

Age has taken its toll. Every day from her little chair by the front gate she would wave or shake her walking stick to let you know that we'd better say "hi" and give her a hug or you would fall under the rain of strong Albanian phrases. Sadly, these days she's been reduced to the back kitchen to sit by the cooking stove and stays warm all day to help with her arthritis and diminished legs. I was brought over to her, she was told who was there to visit her and did the proper response that guests in Albania do, I bowed low, and then promptly gave her a hearty hug. The work that she's done in the village, the commission handed her to steer her family and the guidance that came from a much younger frame allows me to give this lady respect.

"Cheese" It

Cydil had the opportunity to bring much kaboom, flash and crackle to the village. It reminded everyone of the big explosion. Planters is so thankful to have Cydil's talent on board for a personal photo shoot for many of the inhabitants of the village. Most dressed up in their finest and we haven't seen that many teeth in a long time. We've got one great picture of model, Mandi, being photographed by Cydil being photographed by Mom. The light explosions were simultaneous and it looked like the fourth of July in the end of November in Vlashaj.

Great Week

Last week Planters hosted a team from Calvary Bible Church from Rutland, Vermont with two members from San Antonio, Texas. What a tremendous week it was. This team had several objectives for their time in Albania. There were special events for the children, women and men, and also several of the ladies spent time training several ladies in the village several crafts to start them on a new cottage business. The team members were Carol and Joyce, Len and Lynne, and Jake and Renee.

Great Time for All

One of the many hightlights of our time spent in Albania was the night for the ladies reception. I just want to let you SEE some of the events that took place. Also, I just want to say many, many thanks to the special ladies from Florida, Diane, Sue and Candice who spent hours of planning and shared lots of love to make the ladies night such a special event.

Summer Events

June 11 -18 marked several remarkable events. One of which being, a series of ladies meetings. The ladies team from The Family Church of Gainesville, FL, planned a study of the book of Ruth to share with the women of Vlashi. Through a drama depicting the relationship of Naomi and Ruth and Boaz the story of redemption was illustrated to the village ladies. The response from the women was awesome. It was met with great enthusiasm.

Easter Celebration in Albania capital city of Tirana

Here are some great pictures of the Easter celebration that was held on Sunday. The evangelical organization sponsored the march with all of the city churches. It is a wonderful display to all of their country to show that Christianity is alive, well, and is here to stay. To put a face or should I say, a thousand faces to the Christian church tells the government that Albania is not only Muslim but Christian as well! Enjoy the story of photos.

It was a village visit day

Mandi and Xhina go to Darshen on Tuesdays. (FYI--a mountain village about an hours drive east of Tirana) Mandi took some great pictures of their home visit. The pictures speak for themselves. These girls do most of the work for the family since their Dad passed away 3 years ago. They are about 19 years old. In the picture of Migena washing clothes notice the pile of sticks behind her. They will be used to warm the pot for her hot water wash cycle. Mandi's wife, Xhina, is the one with the jacket wrapped around her waist.
Don't you just love the picture of the men playing dominos? Notice their glasses are empty.(for now) By the way, the picture was not taken after working hours....try 11:00 a.m.
The picture of the black pot is just what you think it is. They are making the Albanian adult beverage called raki (rocky).
This village is so authentic. The stone house is how they lived many years ago. Not too many things have changed in this village the last hundred years.

Children's Activities

We love to see the ministry center just humming with activity. Arjan sent some pictures of the youth during their special celebration on Friday. The girls and guys discipleship groups combined for a social time playing games and just getting together.

Ladies Night

Friday evening was ladies night in Vlashi. All of the ladies were invited to view the Mary Magdelene movie plus singing and folk dancing. Genti and Shpresa said ladies came for the evening that had never been in the center before. Hearts were encouraged and challenged. May God open these lives that have never understood the message of love for them. Genti and Shpresa were able to also distribute some items from World Vision.

Busy Days

It's been a busy time for us these past two weeks. David was in Albania with Joe Bachman for the first week of February buying cows for the heifer project for the explosion affected farmers in the village of Gerdec. There will be some pictures of this in the near future.
It has been our treat to have Arjan as our guest. This is his first visit to the States. He has been on a whirlwind trip to FL with us in the past 9 days where we were attending a missions conference. Here are some pictures of our work to present our "Albanian home" for the village day at the conference. It was a great day and we lost count of all of the Turkish coffee that Arjan made for our visitors....way over 100 cups!! Shpresa spent most of her time greeting visitors and also demonstrating Albanian folk dancing.

It's a Beauty Shop!!

I love the smile that comes to my mind when things happen that are unexpected! Djusha's beauty shop is one of those events. She just opened a week or so ago. Her shop just happens to be in the old house that we got possession of this fall. Our plans were to simply tear the old house down and start making plans for a new community center. This also happens to be where the kindergarten is meeting. It is wonderful that a greater purpose for something that we considered useless can be of service to others that have need. Djusha knows that it is just a temporary location but wanted to use it to get her business established. Djusha learned hair styling from classes in our girls' training center. We are also thrilled that she has realized her need for a savior. This is what it is all about.