This morning when we woke up at Alketa's, the electricity was out. Though Ermelinda was able to go to work, Alketa and I both had to delay our plans, Alketa went in late to work and I met Ana after her meeting at school rather than walking there with her and having some quiet time at the lake. I am reminded of how dependent on technology and other circumstances we are and how unstable life is as I think on the past week...
Obviously, the most recent example of this was the electricity going out. Before leaving for Albania, those who would be traveling were warned that electricity may go out at any time and we would have no idea about when it would come back on. Thankfully this has been my first experience with this. We were also told that the water would only be on for a few hours in a day, so we had to make sure to take showers when we could...there have also been no problems with this, again, thankfully.
The second incident I think about is the FBC team's delayed traveling because of bad weather. They finally arrived this afternoon, exhausted of course, after travelling for three days. As great as it is that we can fly airplanes and travel the world much more quickly than a hundred years ago, we still haven't figured out how to control the weather...and I don't think we ever will. We can't fully count on everything working out perfectly...in fact, I think it's a blessing if it does all work out.
The third experience with this is my attempts to Skype while I have been here. Up until this past week, the only voice to voice (and when the internet worked well enough, video to video) contact from home I had was with Cory. How blessed I am to not only have the opportunity to talk to someone from back home, but someone who cares about me in a very special way and who has encouraged me in this endeavor. If anyone would protest my leaving Ohio other than my parents, I would guess it would be my boyfriend; but he not only was fine with my leaving, he encouraged it because he knew it was a desire that God placed on my heart, and he knew it would be a great opportunity for me to fall more in love with God and seek what His will for my life is. He has continued to encourage me in our conversations to delight in the Lord and trust in Him. As much as I feel at home here in Tirana, I cannot wait to go home to Ohio and to see Cory and my family. So the third experience was not only my broken connections while talking to Cory, but when I tried to talk to my mom on Thursday (not having spoken to her for 3 1/2 weeks), we couldn't hear each other at all. We only had video and chatting. The following day, after my mom tried practicing with the neighbor girl and said everything was fixed, I could hear my parents and Susan, but they couldn't hear me. And no matter what I tried, I couldn't fix my microphone, which was weird since I recently had spoken with Cory and we had no problems with audio. So midway through the call, Cory called me, so I put my family on hold, and lo and behold, Cory could hear me. So telling him I would call him back after, I went back to my parents who decided to fiddle with the volume, and they discovered they had my voice turned off and were now able to hear me. Ha!
All these incidents remind me of how unstable life is, no matter how much we try to control it. We must depend on the sovereign, unchanging One if we are to find any stability in life. No, everything will not work out perfectly while we are on earth, but we can always rely on our Perfect Father. I can't control the electricity, the weather, my mom's technology, the internet, or every part of my relationships with other people, but I can seek Christ, being near to the One of/through/to whom all things have been created, and doing my best to glorify Him.
Psalm 73:25-26, 28: Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is nothing upon earth I desire that I desire beside thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Concluding Week 4
I know I seem to say this with each post, but I cannot believe how fast time has flown and that tomorrow marks the end of week 4 here! As I say this, I think of what this next upcoming week entails in all the excitement of the kids camp that is FINALLY HERE!! WOOHOO! :)
Speaking of the kids camp, my fellow Americans from FBC (First Baptist Church) were supposed to arrive today...but didn't. Sad, sad day, especially for them. Weather was bad in Newark, and so now instead of arriving today, they will be here tomorrow around noon, Lord willing (and I hoping). We've got the week packed with training tomorrow evening and Tuesday, and then CAMP Thursday through Saturday. I am pumped. Ana and I have already started getting our mind set that our team, Team Blue of the amazing 8-9 year olds, will be the champions (though I don't know how much of a competition this will be). Thus we call ourselves the blue champions...and I am hoping we aren't blue because of lack of oxygen...
**Please PRAY for camp! There will be 42 kids, 6-12 years old, attending. Pray for kids to be saved, to grow in their relationship with God, and for their safety. Also pray for energy for the adults and that we would be able to connect well with the kids...especially for us Americans who can't speak/understand Albanian. Also for the lessons we Americans will be teaching. Most importantly pray for God to be glorified.
Beyond being excited for camp, I was able to volunteer at the GDQ International School this past Thursday through Friday. How cool it is to see kids of so many nationalities going to one school, and to hear so many different English accents from the teachers. I loved the environment of this Christian school. Last week was the last week of school, kind of like a celebration of all the hard work of the last year and last week bonding time for students/teachers. Thursday was a pretty miscellaneous day. On Friday was Water Day, so I helped set up and got wet with the kids in their water relays and final free-for-all water fight. Got a good burn that day. :P Friday was the kids' final day and they had like a performance/recognition ceremony where the parents came. It's funny that I feel the bittersweetness for the teachers/students when I wasn't really a part of this community. From a teacher's perspective, I think of how it can be sad if you had a really great class that you were close to. On the other hand, if the class wasn't that great, you're free from them ;) But I have a feeling all of those classes were great ones.
God truly is great. It's so neat to see His work in that school, in this church in Tirana and the church in Durres, His work at home, and His work in me. I am amazed at how mighty of a God we serve that He works in us both individually and collectively. Everyday I am thankful for the opportunity I have had to be here, to get to know and grow with new people. I am also very thankful for the people at home that I love and miss greatly. How I appreciate even more when separated from you how God works in you and uses you in my life. Thank you for caring, for your prayers, and your encouragement.
I am beginning to see that the main theme of what God is teaching me is that all that matters is God and His glory. Life, which is very brief, is not about me, it's about Him. I think so often we, as humans, are selfish, even when we approach God, at least I sure am. It's so easy to get stuck on our overwhelming sinfulness and need to change that we focus on the list of changes rather than on the God who wants to be near to us. God is showing me that I can try to change or conform myself, but my attempts are temporary and ineffective...like trying to treat the symptoms rather than the disease. To have true, lasting, God-glorifying change, we must let go of ourselves and our expectations and seek God and to be close to Him. As we draw near to God, He begins to work the true, lasting changes in us as He transforms us to be like Christ. As we fear and rely on Him, He teaches us what it is to be humble, wise, and useful for His purposes. This is when we can begin to experience freedom in Christ.
Speaking of the kids camp, my fellow Americans from FBC (First Baptist Church) were supposed to arrive today...but didn't. Sad, sad day, especially for them. Weather was bad in Newark, and so now instead of arriving today, they will be here tomorrow around noon, Lord willing (and I hoping). We've got the week packed with training tomorrow evening and Tuesday, and then CAMP Thursday through Saturday. I am pumped. Ana and I have already started getting our mind set that our team, Team Blue of the amazing 8-9 year olds, will be the champions (though I don't know how much of a competition this will be). Thus we call ourselves the blue champions...and I am hoping we aren't blue because of lack of oxygen...
**Please PRAY for camp! There will be 42 kids, 6-12 years old, attending. Pray for kids to be saved, to grow in their relationship with God, and for their safety. Also pray for energy for the adults and that we would be able to connect well with the kids...especially for us Americans who can't speak/understand Albanian. Also for the lessons we Americans will be teaching. Most importantly pray for God to be glorified.
Beyond being excited for camp, I was able to volunteer at the GDQ International School this past Thursday through Friday. How cool it is to see kids of so many nationalities going to one school, and to hear so many different English accents from the teachers. I loved the environment of this Christian school. Last week was the last week of school, kind of like a celebration of all the hard work of the last year and last week bonding time for students/teachers. Thursday was a pretty miscellaneous day. On Friday was Water Day, so I helped set up and got wet with the kids in their water relays and final free-for-all water fight. Got a good burn that day. :P Friday was the kids' final day and they had like a performance/recognition ceremony where the parents came. It's funny that I feel the bittersweetness for the teachers/students when I wasn't really a part of this community. From a teacher's perspective, I think of how it can be sad if you had a really great class that you were close to. On the other hand, if the class wasn't that great, you're free from them ;) But I have a feeling all of those classes were great ones.
God truly is great. It's so neat to see His work in that school, in this church in Tirana and the church in Durres, His work at home, and His work in me. I am amazed at how mighty of a God we serve that He works in us both individually and collectively. Everyday I am thankful for the opportunity I have had to be here, to get to know and grow with new people. I am also very thankful for the people at home that I love and miss greatly. How I appreciate even more when separated from you how God works in you and uses you in my life. Thank you for caring, for your prayers, and your encouragement.
I am beginning to see that the main theme of what God is teaching me is that all that matters is God and His glory. Life, which is very brief, is not about me, it's about Him. I think so often we, as humans, are selfish, even when we approach God, at least I sure am. It's so easy to get stuck on our overwhelming sinfulness and need to change that we focus on the list of changes rather than on the God who wants to be near to us. God is showing me that I can try to change or conform myself, but my attempts are temporary and ineffective...like trying to treat the symptoms rather than the disease. To have true, lasting, God-glorifying change, we must let go of ourselves and our expectations and seek God and to be close to Him. As we draw near to God, He begins to work the true, lasting changes in us as He transforms us to be like Christ. As we fear and rely on Him, He teaches us what it is to be humble, wise, and useful for His purposes. This is when we can begin to experience freedom in Christ.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Halftime...
I can't believe it's already the halfway point in this trip. I have learned so much and yet I think God probably has more lessons coming... He is so faithful, so good. I am glad that He is my perfect Father!
Yesterday I got to experience an Albanian wedding as well as all the preparations behind a wedding the days previous. Wow. What a great reminder of how we are to prepare for Christ's coming as part of His bride.
I got to see the place where the kid's camp is going to be held next week. It's super nice. I am getting pumped to have the other American group come and have this camp...minus the fact that it means that the trip will be almost over and thus my experience of amazing food, new friends, awesome chocolate, walking around the city, (and did I say the good food? ;) ) will be over. I am planning, however, to learn how to cook this great food...Alketa keeps promising me that she will teach me...now the only problem is packing all my new friends into my suitcase...I think this is not as do-able as learning to cook their food...
Anywho, the visit to the camp. While there we got to hear a little from the owner, George, about his story, and it made a big impression on me. He is an engineer by trade, but God called him to be a pastor. He said that when he felt this call that he asked God that He make the work as fruitful or more so than if he had just been a businessman. God was/is faithful to George as He used him to plant about 13 churches, and out of their last church, start a missions organization that has camps in 2 places in Albania, one in Uganda, and one that is starting up in India. I LOVE hearing about how God uses ordinary people in their ordinary occupation to do amazing things that only can be done by God. It makes me feel alive to hear how God uses people who are humble and open to His working. I want that same faith.
I talked with Ana about this and she mentioned how this reminds her of Moses. God insisted that Moses surrender his rod to the Lord, and then had him pick it up and use it, by God's power, to guide the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was able to use his experience caring for sheep to shepherd the people. Similarly, I can see how George's business background is being used by God in how he is planning to have the camps be self-sustaining...something that, when lacking, makes mission work more difficult (i.e., the need to raise support can make missions even more difficult).
I also talked with Alketa about this, and she reminded me that in order for Christians to have successful ministry abroad, they must start at home. I am reminded of the mission field that is within my own home and at school. Christ calls us to be faithful in the responsibilities first given to us before we can be given more.
God is continuing to teach me to rely only on Him and see Him as enough. I am seeking for this to be more than just something I know, but something to be lived. He is continually reminding me to delight in, trust in, and commit to follow hard after Him as I wait on Him. Such basic things, yet so necessary.
I've had the opportunity to get to know even more girls here, and I am encouraged by their testimonies. It's so cool to see how God uses people in our lives to share the gospel, to help us to grow, and to encourage us to continue in the walk. It's a great pattern to see how one person shares the gospel with another who the accepts Christ, and then that person eventually shares the gospel with two or three others, who eventually share with others still...it's a great to see how the fruit of the first person is grown exponentially...and it is obvious that all this only happened by God's hand. How good and faithful He is to us!
Psalm 63:1-2, 8- O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Yesterday I got to experience an Albanian wedding as well as all the preparations behind a wedding the days previous. Wow. What a great reminder of how we are to prepare for Christ's coming as part of His bride.
I got to see the place where the kid's camp is going to be held next week. It's super nice. I am getting pumped to have the other American group come and have this camp...minus the fact that it means that the trip will be almost over and thus my experience of amazing food, new friends, awesome chocolate, walking around the city, (and did I say the good food? ;) ) will be over. I am planning, however, to learn how to cook this great food...Alketa keeps promising me that she will teach me...now the only problem is packing all my new friends into my suitcase...I think this is not as do-able as learning to cook their food...
Anywho, the visit to the camp. While there we got to hear a little from the owner, George, about his story, and it made a big impression on me. He is an engineer by trade, but God called him to be a pastor. He said that when he felt this call that he asked God that He make the work as fruitful or more so than if he had just been a businessman. God was/is faithful to George as He used him to plant about 13 churches, and out of their last church, start a missions organization that has camps in 2 places in Albania, one in Uganda, and one that is starting up in India. I LOVE hearing about how God uses ordinary people in their ordinary occupation to do amazing things that only can be done by God. It makes me feel alive to hear how God uses people who are humble and open to His working. I want that same faith.
I talked with Ana about this and she mentioned how this reminds her of Moses. God insisted that Moses surrender his rod to the Lord, and then had him pick it up and use it, by God's power, to guide the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was able to use his experience caring for sheep to shepherd the people. Similarly, I can see how George's business background is being used by God in how he is planning to have the camps be self-sustaining...something that, when lacking, makes mission work more difficult (i.e., the need to raise support can make missions even more difficult).
I also talked with Alketa about this, and she reminded me that in order for Christians to have successful ministry abroad, they must start at home. I am reminded of the mission field that is within my own home and at school. Christ calls us to be faithful in the responsibilities first given to us before we can be given more.
God is continuing to teach me to rely only on Him and see Him as enough. I am seeking for this to be more than just something I know, but something to be lived. He is continually reminding me to delight in, trust in, and commit to follow hard after Him as I wait on Him. Such basic things, yet so necessary.
I've had the opportunity to get to know even more girls here, and I am encouraged by their testimonies. It's so cool to see how God uses people in our lives to share the gospel, to help us to grow, and to encourage us to continue in the walk. It's a great pattern to see how one person shares the gospel with another who the accepts Christ, and then that person eventually shares the gospel with two or three others, who eventually share with others still...it's a great to see how the fruit of the first person is grown exponentially...and it is obvious that all this only happened by God's hand. How good and faithful He is to us!
Psalm 63:1-2, 8- O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
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