Monday, July 30, 2007

july/august newsletter

It is great to be back in Albania after my visit in the States. I just wish I had been able to visit with those of you that I wasn’t able to. My time in the States is always somewhat bitter sweet if not borderline strange. Allow me to attempt to explain. On one hand I long to be with my family and you and on the other hand I love being here in Albania. Being in Albania almost six years, it has definitely become a home for me. And with Albania becoming a home for me, I have in many ways adapted to a different way of life and culture and trying to switch between the two cultures is not always easy. Now that I am back in Albania it has taken a bit to get make into the “mode” of things. Now that I have been back for almost two months, things seem to be more or less back to normal. As normal as normal can be that is!

As most of you should remember, towards the beginning of the year, I was placed as the interim pastor of the church here in Korce. Initially I thought that in order to fully focus on leading the church I would stop my involvement in leading the Family Care project. Upon my return I found out that they had not yet hired another director to fill the position, thus I am still working with the project until they can find a replacement. This has meant that I have been quite busy catching up on reports and office work and have not been able to devote as much time as I would have liked to the church.

Pastoring has definitely been a huge challenge. I am realizing more and that we are all filled with problems and issues in life that we are dealing with, thus where any of “us” are there is usually challenges and for lack of a better word there is often drama! But that is part of life and part of leading people! I often do not feel adept for such a task, or am unsure how to go about things but I am confident that for however long I will be involved in leading this church God will give me the grace and wisdom needed. I truly have found a deep passion and love for the people and we have grown considerably close. I have seen great potential as well, and desiring to be purposeful in training new leaders within the church, I hope to give as many as possible, opportunity to serve and get involved. After all they are the ones who will be most effective in leading the church and reaching the community. I desire as well to see people worship and love Jesus in the most genuine and purest of intent as possible. I desire that we as the church become people who don’t just paint a nice “Christian” picture of our lives, but who live in a way that shows we are real people with real problems, hurts and pains while at the same time are passionate about loving Jesus and knowing Him more and loving others. I believe the world more than ever before needs to see Christians who are real and genuine people that they can relate to.

During the first couple weeks I was blessed to see several new faces come and join us for our Sunday worship service. The majority of these faces were ladies who are part of a new project associated with the church that reaches out to single mothers or mothers who have given their children up to social services. These ladies, most of who are very young, have been joining us on a regular basis and it has truly been amazing to see their desire for God grow. Last Sunday we didn’t have the usual transportation service that help many who live far away get to church. Two of these new ladies, walked over an hour just to come to service!

Please pray for the church. Pray that people would take responsibility and desire to get involved. Pray that leaders will be raised up. Pray for those of us who are currently leading will have God’s wisdom in doing so.

Please know that your support, prayers and belief in what I am involved in here in Albania is humbling and a huge blessing!

Much Love.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

february newsletter

Several months have passed since my last newsletter and so much has been changing!

In December, I was assigned as the interim pastor of our church in Korce, Emanuel Mission. Although I had been speaking in the church and helping lead on a regular basis, there was an increasing awareness among all of us leading, that someone needed to take the role as lead-pastor. Our continual hope and prayer is that an Albanian will eventually be placed as pastor of the church. In the meantime we are confident that this new season for the church is God’s plan. For me personally it is definitely a new season which I at look at humbly, fully realizing my need for God’s wisdom and direction. Please pray for us during this season!

Come March I will have fulfilled my one-year commitment directing the Family Care project. I have certainly loved working with the needy people throughout the Southeastern region and have learned a great deal during this past year. Since my responsibilities with the church have obviously risen significantly, I have decided to step down from directing the project. I plan to volunteer when I have time but feel I need to be free to focus more clearly on leading Emanuel Mission, as well as assisting with the needs of our other churches throughout Albania. Please pray that the Lord will send the right person to lead the project!

After spending a year in Albania I usually try to make it back to the States for a month or so to visit. It’s that time again! The decision to return to the States at this time was not an easy one, due to the fact that I am so fresh into leading the church in Korce. However, knowing that summer is fast approaching when we enter our busy season, I believe that March is the right time to visit family and friends who support me and the work here in Albania. I look forward to seeing you and sharing more about this past year!

Much Love!