summer in albania

I was anticipating a non-stop summer and since I have returned from the USA and that is exactly how it has been. In just over one month we have already had 4 different missions teams visit Albania.

Take a look...

MEDICAL/DENTAL TEAM- FRESNO, USA

The first of those teams was a medical/dental team from Valley Christian Center in Fresno, California. This team came to minister primarily to the handicap community here in Tirane. For approximately a week the dental team worked on teeth and the medical team helped to better equip a local handicapped center with equipment as well as consulted with families and individuals in better assisting handicapped persons in daily living. The medical team also fitted many people with new wheelchairs and other aid. For a couple of days towards the end of their time in Albania, the dental team, lead by Dr. K.O. Crosby, served the people of our church in Sarande. For many years K.O. has been bringing dental teams to work in Sarande. Both teams brought many smiles and much joy to the people they worked with.

YOUTH TEAM- FRESNO, USA

As the medical/dental team was departing, a team of 20 youth from the same church arrived to join our Tirane church youth for a 10 day summer camp. The 20 youth each shared testimonies and/or messages during the various daily meetings as well as helped to lead the times of worship. All the youth enjoyed a great time of fun and frienship.

Today's youth all over the world have so many things vying for their attention, time and energy, not to mention they are living amongst a generation in which it is not popular to be a Christian. We have seen these summer camps to be a time of great encouragement for both the Albananian youth as well as the foreign youth teams that come to join them. It is a time when they are encouraged to press on in their faith and a time when they realize they are all together facing similar temptations and challenges.

In this particular camp alone 15 youth accepted Jesus and 12 of them were baptised.

RADIO SPECIALISTS- N. CALIFORNIA, USA
Almost at the same time that the youth team arrived, a team of radio professionals also arrived to work in our Christian Radio station in the city of Korce. Over a period of 3 weeks this team increased the radio's transmitting strength and built a larger antenna tower which in turn expanded our radio coverage extensively. In addition to these major equipment upgrades, many in-studio upgrades took place as well as various additional training for the radio station staff. The staff of the radio is very eager to learn more as well as see the radio station grow and increase in effectiveness. Times like these when extremely gifted professionals come to invest time, money and their expertise is invaluable to us and the radio.

YOUTH TEAM- GORICHEM, HOLLAND

Just a few days ago another youth team, this time from Holland just finished their 10 day missions trip where they worked with our church in Sarande, the local orphanage there and our gypsy church in Cuka (a village near Sarande). Magdalena (the former missionary/pastor of the Sarande church) and I helped drive and lead this team during their time in the Sarande area. They were involved in helping one particularly poor gypsy family with home repair and the painting of their house as well as money to pay for the memorial of their son who was just murdered. This act of love brought great joy to the family in during this hard time. The team also painted the church building in Cuka, held children's activities and programs and lead the weekly church service there as well. The team lead the church services at the Sarande church as well. They also spent a day at the local orphanage playing games with the children, performing various dramas and puppet shows and singing songs with the children. Probably the most amazing impact the team had was on the gypsy people in Cuka. To have foreigners come from abroad just to spend time with them, play games with their children and help them out where possible, speaks much louder than mere words. Seeing the smiles on the people's faces and seeing how they responded to the team proves the importance of what the team did.


So that is how our summer has been thus far. We have 2 more teams scheduled to come and 1 individual whom will be coming to serve with us for 3 months. In the midst of the various teams, our Albanian churches having different summer activities, mainly summer camps, which are a major way the church reach the youth of their communities.

PRAY
Please continue to PRAY for the upcoming summer activities. PRAY for the strength of those people leading and organizing the various teams and activies. PRAY also for the teams that they would not only be blessed themselves but that God would work through them in a powerful way to bless the Albanian people. PRAY also for all the Albanians who will be involved in these activities or in contact with the teams. PRAY for the existing Christians to have a greater passion and strength to persevere during difficult times spiritually. PRAY also for non-Christians that they will encounter and be open to the life-changing love of Jesus through these various summer activities!

a visit to the USA without seeing the family.... not possible

me, my brother jay with his daughter Anna, and my brother Miles

Prior to convention in Chicago I made a short detour to Oregon to visit the family and friends there. After all, how could I return to the States and not visit the family? Unfortunately time did not allow for me to see all my family (those in California as well as my sister Corrine who was away) but the time I did spend with my family in Oregon was splendid. I had the opportunity to see my niece, Anna, who for whatever reason will not stop growing while I am away. While I was visiting, she began taking her first few steps on her own! I also was blessed to be able to spend a couple days with my brother Miles. Because he is in the military, we thought he would be deployed back to Iraq before I got into Oregon, but thankfully they delayed his departure date and he was able to visit us! It was the first time I had seen him in about 4 or so years, so we most definitely had a great time together.

an unexpected visit to the homeland

During the end of May and first part of June I was blessed to be able to return to the USA. The primary purpose of my trip to the USA was to attend the International Foursquare Convention in the "windy city" otherwise known as Chicago. Foursquare Missions International blessed me and many of the other missionaries from around the globe by paying our way to attend.

The few days prior to the start of Convention, the Foursquare missionaries had meetings together. This was a time for the missionaries to get to know one another as well as to help strategize for the future. It was a pleasure for me to meet many of the missionaries I have never met before and to make new friendships. I was blessed to see several young people like myself joining the mission-field.

Convention was an amazing time of refreshment for me personally. I value the times I can worship in the English language! I also had the privelege of listening to many great speakers and attend valuable worshops. To be quite honest, most the time, from my experience, conventions of the sort are more for visiting the city in which they are held then for the convention itself. That is not the case with this convention. I personally and what appeared to be the vast majority of the attendees had an amazing time of encouragement and worship in the presence of God!

Besides a great convention, rest and visiting the great city of the Chicago, one of the best parts for me was my reunion with old friends. I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with many friends whom I have not seen since I graduated from LIFE Bible College in 2000. It is truly amazing to see the many places in the US and around the world God has taken myself and those friends I went to college with.

I am so thankful I was given this opportunity!