It’s been a whirlwind transition. New team, new country, new temperature, new culture.
It’s freezing cold here in Albania. A big change from our average of 90° in Nicaragua. We all scrambled to get warm clothes from home to Miami where we had a layover on our way here. I also got myself a new tent and a block of Velveeta cheese. Yes, I said cheese. After only finding mozzarella in Central America I was desperate. I also wanted to redeem the family mac and cheese recipe that I butchered for my first team. (Imagine me rolling my eyes as Jose is reading this over my shoulder and telling me how great it was anyway.)
The 7 hour layover in Miami flew by, pardon the pun. We had been split into 3 flights and I was on the one with a quick layover in El Salvador and even with that plane delayed almost an hour, made it ahead of the other two flights to Miami. There we had to wait for 40 minutes for our bags before finally making it out to where our families waited. There were only 6 of us on that first flight; Abby W, Brittany and Taleyah, Aliseya, Jacob, and myself. It was only a couple of minutes after we came out that we were bombarded with parents asking where the rest of us were. I suppose not everyone heard about the 3 different flights. It was only an hour or so before the next flight came in and 30 minutes more for the last one.
We swapped out gear and clothes and had lunch before getting in line to check back in. The line took forever because a flight to Italy had been canceled due to flight attendants protesting in Italy and they all had to get new flights. By the time that was done the Munich flight was getting ready to leave so anyone flying to Munich got to cut to the front of the line. Finally, the line started moving and I could check in for Zurich. I then walked mom down to her check-in on the other side of the airport before rushing back to get through security and get to my own flight.
We were split between two different flights for the next leg. Just under half of us were flying to Zurich for a very quick layover before flying on to Tirana, Albania. The rest were on the flight to Munich for a 10 hour layover before flying on to Tirana.
Our flight was late and our layover in Zurich was non-existent. We ran from our flight to the bus that took us straight to our much smaller plane. Once we boarded the doors closed and we took off. Our bags did not make the flight with us and were sent to Munich to catch the next flight. Yes, the flight with the rest of our squad. So we arrived in Tirana at about 12:30pm local time and the Munich flight was due to land at 11:30pm. We spent the day hanging out at and around the airport looking for places to stay the night.
The next morning we split into our new teams and headed for our ministry locations. My team had a nice drive through the mountains to a small town called Polican (poly-chon) just south of Barat and nestled in a valley between snow capped mountains. What a beautiful place to call home.
There is a reason our co-ed team was requested for this particular location. The culture here Muslim though the people aren’t. The men are pretty much the only ones to go walk around town. Women must be accompanied by a man unless they have earned the right not to. We obviously aren’t going to be here long enough to earn that. We also can’t go out as just one guy and one girl because that makes us look like a couple living together above the church which of course reflects poorly on the church. So in order for us girls to go out we need 2 girls and 1 guy. With only 3 girls on the team it’s not easy. We all have to be very flexible with our plans. Our host is one of the few women that can go around town on her own. Mimoza has a lot of personality and loves to be near us. She is always helping to show us how things are done around here. She took us on a tour of the town one day and the market the next. She is always willing to make time in her schedule to come help us with anything we need.
As for our actual ministry this month, it’s fairly simple. Help with church on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings help with the children’s ministry. The rest of our ministry is to just pour into Mimoza. We’ve been here for a week and it’s a cute small town but there really isn’t much for a girl to do that isn’t cooking and cleaning. We have Joey to cook for us and the meals are fantastic. And we each take turns cleaning. With the small space we occupy it doesn’t leave much to be done.
Pray for our patience and for contentment and peace with our ministry and location this month.
So I was done with this blog but some things happened before I posted so I decided to update you here.
- I made mac n’ cheese for Christmas using the Velveeta and oh how I’ve missed it! I also made potato candy and put Jack in a sugar coma. It’s not my fault he ate so much at once! the recipe calls for 1 mashed potato and 8-10 cups of powdered sugar! Plus I added a swirl of Nutella! Besides that Jacob made mashed potatoes and I made some white sauce to go with it since we didn’t have a way to make gravy. Joey made fried chicken and I’m about to beg him to make it again because it was so good!
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Kosovo is no longer a possibility. They changed their Covid restrictions and we are no longer going. Instead we will be staying here in Albania an extra 2 weeks before heading to Romania!
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Jose went home. He’s not the first or even the second but he was someone I was very close to. Prayers as I mourn the loss of the presence of a good friend and try to readjust to the team without him.
- Abby M. came and stayed with our team for the week of Christmas and we said our goodbyes to her as well because she’s heading back to the States in another week now that the raised up SQLs are in place.
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I found out some news about a friend back home that is very sad. Pray for them to have strength and lean on God in this troubling time.
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We spent a weekend in Tirana to get a change of scene and played around at the fair, went ice skating, went to a movie, and ate out at some wonderful restaurants! We head back to Polican in the morning and I can’t wait to get back to our gorgeous views and beautiful stars!
P.S. Can someone please define the word “vibe” as it’s used in modern speech. I’ve heard it used about the atmosphere at restaurants, people’s clothing choices, a washing machine, and several other situations and I’m admitting defeat. I truly don’t understand this word. HELP!
P.P.S. I won’t lie to ya’ll, I’ve been pretty sad for the last week. My new team has probably seen me cry more this last week than I’ve cried in the last couple of years. I was close with Jose and having him leave was a very hard blow. Then I found out about my friend and my heart just broke all over again. At the beginning of this trip I got a key with the words “hold strong” carved into it. I’ve been wearing it and digging for what it could mean besides the obvious definition. In this moment though, when I want to go home because my closest friend isn’t here anymore and another is struggling back home, I truly believe it means exactly what it says and therefore I am to stay right where I am, so I will. God called me on this trip and here I’ll stay even when it’s hard.
II Cor. 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion AND the God of ALL comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive form God.
HUGS!!
It was awesome to see you in Miami and to video chat with you through our Christmas. We miss you (and not just because of the holidays lol). You know we are always praying for you and love you so very much. We are proud to see how much you are growing. God has got you, just lean into Him!
We will keep your friend in prayer. Let us know if we can be hands here for them.
VIBE s a feeling that you pick up from people. It can be positive or negative. It is like how sometimes joy/worry/sourness/etc. radiates off a person and you know it’s there without being told, perhaps you might notice it even as a stranger passes by. Owners/managers often try to create certain atmosphere with music, lightning, odors, etc at their business that is sometimes called a vibe. I don’t think things give vibes lol, that’s just someone’s opinion. A clunky dryer needs repaired, clothes can tell you about a person or what they want you to think lol.
You are a strong person love you pray for you every day your blog is great.
I have been praying for you and your team every day. Keep your chin up and God will take care of you. Love the reports and the pictures are great!
Allie,
I’m sorry that you are having to go through all these changes all at one time. I’m not always sure why God moves us through these situations, but I remember that what He does is always for our good and His glory. I will continue to lift you up in prayer…and that winter over there will be shorter than usual!
I preached on the Great Commission this AM. Funny, it was a message that God needed me to hear once again! I would encourage you to read Matthew 28:16-20 once again. Here were the 3 takeaways I needed…perhaps it will encourage you, too.
1. When some doubted (probably if they were up to the task that Jesus was calling them to), Jesus didn’t chastise them. Instead, He drew near to them. Remember, God draws near to you in your struggles, disappointment, frustration, sadness, etc. He loves you and has called you for such a time as this!
2. He challenged them to take their eyes off themselves and their ability/inabilities and trust in His sovereign power.
3. He reminded them that His divine presence goes with them always. He’s got this…and you!
We love you, are proud of you, and lifting you up in prayer!
In Christ,
Brian
Love you. Miss you. Proud of you. Praying for you.
Philippians 3:7-14
“7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Keeping your friend and you in prayer. Glad to hear you are doing okay and having fun!
You’re so loved friend! Thank you for sharing, for caring, and for digging in…especially when it’s hard (aka now). Know that you’re not alone. You’ve been placed on a team that is evidently ready to dig in and move forward together. The struggle is real, but so is the faithfulness of Lord! So beautiful to see this experience through your eyes and words! “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4 I don’t have to tell you that a blessed life doesn’t mean an easy one, but it does mean learning how the Lord comforts and protects us. Love you sister!
It’s nice to see that the trips have been going fairly well. You guys will like Romania the people there are supper nice and it was a good experience when I went there with the army. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. Feel free to reach out any time.
1. I don’t usually like velveeta, but it sounds like you’re going to have to make it for me one day. And I’ve always heard of potato candy and wanted to try it.
2. I’m sorry you no longer have the presence of a very close friend. That makes things harder.
3. You all look like you had a blast and you are absolutely radiant.
4. Although emotions are good, I’m sorry you had a lot of heavy and hard emotions that caused you to cry so much. You clearly have so much empathy for people.
Allie. I have read your blog and understand how the changes you have experienced can get you down. But please reassure yourself by the fact you are never alone – God is always with you. Philippians 4:11-13 says it best: “…content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Call on Him and He will give you the staying power to get through the hardships and disappointments. You are a strong person driven to serve Him and those who don’t know Him,
Miss you, Allie. Thanks for persisting when you could have easily tapped out. You probably don’t even know how much you’re growing!
Thanks for loving your team so well. (Nothing says “unconditional love” quite like Velveeta.)
So much. Your blog made me smile, cry a little, and pray like crazy for you. I’m so proud of your courage and your commitment to hold fast. The Lord will reward your faithfulness. Love you much!