Albania #2

I can't believe that we have been in Albania for a week. In some ways it feels like we just got here. I can't believe a week has gone by and I haven't had time to even get on the internet! In other ways, it feels like we've been here for years. At first, it was uncomfortable getting used to being in another country. But now we love it here, even though our Albanian is abysmal!
This week has been busy, full of exploring, Bible studies with English students, VBS, church services & activities galore. And lots of cappuccino! :)
Tuesday we went exploring around Tirana by ourselves. We didn't take a local with us, so we of course got lost. We went in search of the lake and ended up walking to the big mountain right out of town...whew! We hiked up to where there was a cable car and took the cable car up to the top of Mount Didte (sp?!). It was very beautiful, though of course I was terrified of the cable car breaking and me falling to my glorious death in Albania. But of course, I lived to tell the tale and show you the beautiful view...


We have had several students coming in for the World English Classes. We each have had five per day and most of them are students at the University. It is very interesting talking with these 20-somethings that claim to be either Muslim or Christian, but really have no idea what that label means. We have spent most of our time talking about how believing in something requires knowing what you stand for and having that foundation makes it easier to make the right decision when the time comes. We really enjoy each of our students and really have tried to set the right example of faith for them.
Eriselda & me (one of my readers that I adore!)

During the gospel meeting this week, Brian and I have held a children's class that I put together before we came. The stories have been centered around Jesus's life. We also taught them some silly songs in English that they loved. But what they really seemed to love were the crafts. They made sheep, crowns with jewels and tambourines to celebrate the joy of the Lord.


Brian is here helping little Sonja that I think didn't say a word the entire time. Our ages ranged from 5 years old to 11. We were so blessed to have Sadete and Irisa translate for us and they were excited to make the crafts as well!

Little Daniel, 6 years old, his parents are hugely involved in the church leadership. They won a visa lottery to go to the States and will be moving to Tennessee next month. It will be a blessing for this family, but will be a loss for this church.


Yesterday was Brian's birthday and the last night of the Gospel meeting. Some of the youth took us out after the meeting was over and we sang Happy Birthday to Brian (29! Sheesh!). We went to a Bar/Kafe for drinks and talked. Then we went to a music club and listened to a live cover band that sang mostly American music. They did sing some songs that were popular in the 90s after the Revolution and the Dictator was thrown out. It was super fun, though we had no voice this morning after yelling most of the night over the cover band. The people at this church are so amazing. We are really growing to love them and have so much fun with them.
Me, Vjola, Ridi, Carla last night

This morning we went with the church to the park for a grill out. It was awesome! We ate ALL day, grilled veal chops, sausage, grilled vegetables with olive oil and salt. YUMMMM!!!
After we ate and talked for a while we played volleyball (which I of course rocked at...Ha, not really). And we played some silly relay games. We also sang some songs, I love hearing them sing some of my favorite songs in Albanian, it's such a pretty language. We also played an Albanian form of Charades, which was full of abstract thoughts and random concepts, like AMBUSH, that were practically impossible to act out. But it was still a lot of fun.
Good Gracious Grillmaster Arion

Flori napping on a Futbol

Brian trying to act out "impression", they really got a kick out of that!

Tomorrow Brian is teaching Bible class, then church and then we are going to Durres, a beach town 30 minutes away with some of the youth. We are looking forward to getting out of the city and seeing some of the countryside of Albania, what we've seen so far is beautiful. Thanks for checking up on us. I love the emails, texts and blog comments. They have encouraged me and encouraged Brian so much.