I cried today for a cat.

I cried today for a cat. Michello. We went to Luljeta's house today to deliver 50 lbs of flour for bread for the month and 25 lbs. of corn feed for the chickens. We do this often for those who live out in the village so they do not have to pay $5 for a delivery van that brings it only 1/2 way up the mountain. They then have to get it home in a wheelbarrow up and down the rugged mountain 'road'. Not an easy task.
We delivered the flour and corn and walked around the yard talking to the kids. Since we had been in America for furlough many things were new. Aulona showed me the trees she planted with her dad and we admired the extended fence that her mom finished. We even check to see if the chickens had laid any eggs - there were 5! As I looked around I did not see Aulona's furry best friend, Michello. In the past, there was always a 'story' about Michello and his cunning tricks. When I asked, I noticed Aulona got very quiet and let her hair cover her face. She spoke quietly and said that Michello has been gone 2 months and she thinks he is dead. Then, she rushed off to the outhouse to regain her composure. I followed, crying. I found her and wrapped my arms around her and we cried together. I don't even like cats, but I love Aulona. I meet her when she was a little girl of 7, now she is a teenager of 14. 'Precious' is the best word to describe her. On our prayer requests cards that all the ladies and girls fill out this is what she wrote - when she was 12!
" I want to ask God to make me a girl after His Own heart. I pray that I am an even better student as God wants me to be. I pray for all the believers, that they fulfill the desires of God and walk in the right road always."
As I watched her in church this morning singing with all her heart, I thought, this is why I am here. I am here for Alona, for Lujeta, for Lule and Julie, and Ilda ... I am here to love them, encourage them, teach them and to cry with them. God gave them to me and I love them so!

Christian Friends

I am so thankful for Christian friendships! I have a precious friend in San Francisco, Sofia, who has helped me so much with our ladies new project of selling crochet and knitted items. We are working on finding some things that they can make well and that will sell! Presently the ladies are working on hats and small purses and, of course, many doilies! I am trying to help them with design and colors.
Another dear friend I have here in Albania, Teuta. She has been helping me find jobs for some of the ladies who need to work. This week she went out of her way to find jobs for 2 ladies! It is so special when others make my burden their burden! Gal 6:2

A Baby is Crying

A baby is crying. No, you can't hear her because she does not yet have a voice. Her mother said she can not go though another pregnancy nor can she feed another child. All I can hear is the baby crying. My face is wet with her tears. I understand that this happens everyday in every country. I just did not want to see it happen to my friend, the mother of my little English students.
I was just starting our first ladies Bible study and in she walked. I was so thrilled that she would attend for the very first time. We kissed cheek to cheek in the traditional way, and her face was clouded with pain. 'I'm pregnant', she uttered. I'm going to have it 'removed', I can't take another pregnancy, another child!' I begged and pleaded offering to take the child myself. In the end the choice is up to her.

A mother is crying. I watched from a distance today as two of my dear friends were in deep conversation. It was obvious that they were discussing a burden the size of a semi-truck. Later, I heard the story. “Please, please could you help me find work. I will do anything. Just enough to buy bread for the kids and I.” I looked at this lady on Sunday and I was surprised at how thin she had gotten over the summer. I understand a little more now. Her husband is gone. He may come back he may not. She is alone. The washer is broke. The kids need food, clothes...

A missionary is crying. Today was suppose to be a celebration. We had our first ladies Bible study! 10 ladies attend, 2 of which are yet unsaved. We ate peanut butter cookies and drank American coffee. The lesson went great, I was able to express my heart in Albanian. The ladies listened and made many comments, good comments. Still, my heart is so heavy. So many broke pieces, so many broken dreams, broken people.
Please pray with me that the Great Physician will hold this dear little baby who does not have a change for life, please pray that He will help this mother crying for help and food, and that He will comfort a heartbroken missionary who can not carry it all alone.

Being in two places at one time

Being in two places at one time

When my husband and I first surrendered to missions I did not understand that we have responsibilities both in the foreign field and also stateside. On our first furlough, I came back to the states disorientated and confused at to what was required of me. I felt so torn being away from the new baby Christians in Albania, and I also had this feeling that I no longer 'fit' in the states. I had fears too: Would I forget the language? Will the people continue to attend church while we are away? Will the stateside churches want to see us again?

As we started that first furlough and we began sharing what the Lord had been doing in our lives and in the lives of the Albanians. We began meeting people who truly had a heart for missions. I meet ladies who have become precious friends to me. People started asking questions, getting interested in missions, new churches began supporting us, some even wanting to visit. Upon our return to the field, we began receiving encouraging emails, birthday cards, and packages for ministry and even personal packages! We have had a few visitors and a young lady recently did her summer internship with us.

What have I learned? I've been given a privilege from the Lord and our supporting churches to live and work as a missionary in Albania. I also have a privilege to share the blessings along with the trials that we experience with our churches. I personally have been blessed by the friendships I have made on furlough. Just yesterday I received an e-mail from one of our supporting pastor's wife. She did not know that I was having an extremely difficult day. She just wrote. My heart was so encouraged!

So, you see, I am in two places at one time. My heart is here in Albania being a support to Norm, homeschooling Nathan and Bethany, and teaching the women and children. My virtual heart is in the emails, thank you cards to supporters, blogs, pictures, updates, and prayer letters. We continue to cry out “Come over into Macedonia (olden day Albania!) and help us!”

You too were in two places at once! When you wrote that missionary! Or sent that email – (not a forward!) Prayed for a missionary kid who might be struggling. Your love was felt in the life of the person you reach out to touch. You just don't know what a short two-line email could do for a missionary. THANK YOU!

A missionary is like a deep sea diver

A missionary is like a deep sea diver. He dives down deep into the ocean to find the treasure, but without his oxygen tank he will die. Without someone watching from above for signs of danger, he will be injured. He can collect artifacts on his dive, but who can he pass them to? Who does he hand his treasure to if there is no one in the boat?
Some of you in the boat are tired and weary. Please know that we need you and are so thankful for you. We need more people to come in the boat. We need more people to fill our air tanks and pray for our treasures. We need you. We need you to be a active member of the boat crew. You are so important. We know that without a strong support team each diver or missionary will sink. There will also be times when a boat crew member will dive down and help the diver during an interesting situation. On the mission field that is a mission trip or a short-term assignment. These are wonderful opportunities to see the work and be a part of the catch! Please, find a boat, be an active crew member, and jump in!

Goodbye Albania

Empty boxes fill the room. A home once full of children's voices and scampering feet now is a quiet room full of reminders. Birthday parties for orphans who have never had a party just for them, movie night, good strong Illy coffee, laughter and spilled kool-aid, girls night out, Bible lessons, and hope.
Missionaries come and go in every country, but they also leave an impact each time. As I pack up the pieces of their lives I realize that each book, each plate tells a story. They came to stay forever. They sold their house in the states, the kids beds, the bikes, even their dog to come to Albania to serve. Now, their dreams are put on hold as the Lord has allowed circumstances beyond their control to take them stateside.
It is a chapter closing in their lives and even in ours. It is a difficult to see our dear missionary friends leave the country. It is sad to see the people left behind who are affected by their leaving. I know their hearts are still in Albania, but for a missionary there is so much more needed to continue a ministry.
As missionaries in a foreign land, we are family to each other. We laugh together, cry together and eat burnt or raw or fatty or grisly or delicious suflaqas together. When one of our members is gone, we notice. We miss them. We LOVE you guys!