Priceless Experience.

Hey!

It's been such a long day and I'm pretty tired but I want to share with you something that happened tonight that I'm sure I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

I went to have my English lesson with the Roma today. We usually meet on Saturdays but they have a wedding this weekend so we chose to meet today instead. They were supposed to take a test today but I walked in and saw how tired they were. They've been doing a lot of work to get ready for the winter -- chopping wood, building a chicken house, etc. So, I postponed the test for next week. I had prepared our next lesson and brought it with them, which came in handy. Part of our lesson was listening to a song and then talking about it (what they liked, what they thought it meant, etc.). The song was "Stand in the Rain" by Superchick. Great song! One said that she thinks the girl in the song "wants a new life and to forget the past." I asked them if they ever wish they had a new life and if so, what they wish that life looked like. In those several minutes of talking about what we dream a new life would look like, I felt so close to them as they opened up to me. For those few minutes they were able to dream. One sister, who's 23, said, "I too old to dream...my time over." I encouraged her to never stop dreaming. She's so young! I think maybe others are telling her that. The mom talked about how her new life would have a new home for her family. Her daughters talked about having their own rooms. Their family of six lives in a two bedroom house. One room is a storage room and the other is the living room, which is also all of their bedrooms. They all sleep in the same room, on the floor and on the two couches. The house is their uncle's, who is staying in Germany right now. Apparently he is coming back to Kosova and has plans to tear down the house in the next year. They have no idea where they will live after that. The entire family is unemployed and doesn't have very many options. Going to the university for one semester is 50 Euros. That may not sound like a lot to us but to the average Albanian it's a lot! One daughter in particular loves to learn and dreams of going to college one day but has little hope in actually going because of finances.  I felt like I was able to see their hearts in a new way today.

After our lesson, I started to get my things together to get ready to leave when they asked me to stay for dinner. They had asked me before but I wasn't able to. I had a little time to stay so I said yes. I wasn't sure where we were going to eat since they don't have a kitchen. I went to go wash my hands and when I came back to the living room they had pulled out a little wooden table that came about 8 inches off the ground and placed the bowls of pasul around it with some speca and chopped cucumbers. Something about it warmed my heart and made me feel at home. It wasn't until just now that I realized that that was the first time in about four months that I had eaten with a family. We all sat on the floor around the wooden table and eat together. The pasul (bean soup) was wonderful! I cannot tell you how honored I felt. They had invited into their home, to have dinner with their family. I cannot put into words how precious that was to me. I haven't been with my family in five months. To have a family accept me as one of their own was an irreplaceable gift. It was by far the most beautiful, cultural experience I have had since I've been here. It was priceless. I looked around the table and saw a new beauty in that family. I was so honored. I almost started to cry. I prayed for each of them and begged God to help open their eyes to His love.  There is something about them that is so real and authentic. They wear no masks. They are so grateful and appreciative. They have huge servants hearts and a genuine love for one another. It is going to be the biggest challenge to leave them.

 

Their beautiful, simple wooden dinner table. Love it.

Sunday School.

 

 

 

Guess who busted out the flannel board today for Sunday school???

 

Our kids made their own version of Joseph's colorful coat

Great Two Days.

It's been a great past two days! They've been really busy and also really rewarding!

 

Yesterday I was feeling really tired, probably from all the traveling we did the day before. We had our team meeting and afterwards all I wanted to do was sleep. But I had promised the Roma that I would come visit them. I kept telling myself that I don't have much time left with them and I need to use the most of every opportunity. So, I pulled myself out of my apartment and got on the bus to head to the north part of the city. I brought some chocolate to pass around and I burned the teenage girls a CD of "good" music -- music that carries a good message.  (I really hope they like it.) We sat in their living room (the only room with heat), drinking tea and laughing. I made a comment about a clock on the wall being pretty because it was covered in glitter and had "calligraphy" on it. I was pretty sure it was a Muslim decoration of some kind. And, lone and behold, it was. It was supposed to look like a page of the Koran I guess. This one comment lead us into an hour discussion about God, Islam, prayer, death, and heaven. One of the girls even walked me through a step-by-step process of the prayers they are supposed to do five times each day. There are different postures and sayings that follow a certain order.  Because of their lack of English fluency and my lack of Albanian, they had a hard time translating a lot of it. The same daughter who showed me how a correct prayer is done also told me how one gets to heaven, or at least things that will give someone a higher chance of getting to heaven. I haven't met one Muslim yet that has told me there is complete assurance in heaven for anyone. While she talked, and others in the family, I prayed. I told myself I wouldn't share unless they gave me an invitation. And they did. After the daughter shared what Muslims believe about heaven and hell, she said, "Christians think the same thing, right Joy?" It was then I was able to walk them through The Story -- the story that can change their lives. The whole family was there, except the teenage son. At certain points the daughter and her aunt jumped in to assure me that certain facts were not true. I still continued and affirmed that I believe without a shadow of a doubt that they are true. Some where along the way, someone has told them that The Book is not valid because it has changed throughout the years but the Koran has not. This is the first time I've heard someone  use this as their defense. Interesting. I continued to pray in head as I listened and spoke. The mom got upset at her daughter that she said that only Muslims will enter heaven. She believes that a "good heart" gets a person into paradise. Please, please join me in prayer. It was very much worth the trip. After that I went straight into Coffee House at the community center, which went well. It's been growing lately!

 

Today I had my ballet classes. This was the first time we tried a new time and the turn out was great! The girls have been learning their very first dance! I am going to host a little recital for the parents so that they can see what their daughters have learned this semester. I'm really excited. After that, I went to visit the family with thirteen kids. I brought coloring books and crayons for me and the kids to do together. I was really surprised that the boys got more into it than the girls! I also helped one of the boys with his English homework and then played with the baby, who has been sick for a while now. It's just been a really good two days! I feel very blessed lately. 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel and I on our way home from Macedonia

 

The trees were so beautiful!

 

I set a timer on my camera. One time I hit the button and ran and the wind was blowing so hard I was trying to fix my scarf before the camera went off. Fail. (lol)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beauty of Ohrid (part 2)

It was so hard coming home today!

 

 I really needed this trip. I got to sit along side the water yesterday and today and pray and journal for a while. It was the first time in a while that my soul felt some peace. There's something about the water that gives my heart rest. I was in awe this weekend of God's beauty and creativity. Just walking around the city and taking our time was relaxing. We had such a good time! We laughed so much! I kept thanking the Lord for providing this trip. It came at such a good time. We got back safely of course and ready for another full week. 

 

 

 

 

I wanted to get a picture that showed how clear the water was

 

St. John's Church

 

The archaeological site that surrounded St. Pantelejmon's Church -- a.k.a. the one I fell in!

 

St. Pantelejmon's Church (side view)

 

"The Castle"

 

Me and "The Castle!"

 

View of Lake Ohrid (opposite side from one before)

 

The Macedonian flag

 

Inside the city

 

Rachel and I at the old theatre

 

St. Sophia's Church

 

It was such a perfect, beautiful day!

The city had several large statues of former saints

 



 

St. Clement holding the city in his arms

 

The pier, as the sun is setting

After the sun set. So pretty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Beauty of Ohrid (part 1)

 

Macedonia has been wonderful! I'm so glad we came! The weather has been perfect! Next week it's supposed to be colder and rainy. We came in yesterday and walked around for a little bit and had dinner on the water. We got up early this morning for a day of adventure! We tried to find a church to visit this morning but had no luck. So we read some of the scriptures together in our room. I really wanted to see some of the historical churches in the area. Ohrid once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year. It has been known as the "Jerusalem of the Balkans." We had made a list of the churches we wanted to visit but had no idea how we were going to find them! We walked out to the water and saw an elderly man in a "taxi boat" and asked him if he knew and, sure enough, we gives tours out on the water and then drops them off at a trail that leads to several of the churches and a castle. Or at least that's what we figured out through non-verbal communication and eventurally him dropping us off on the side of mountain. (lol) He didn't know hardly any English. So, 10 Euros later we were out of the water looking at the beautiful city of Ohrid! The city is truly gorgeous. These pictures don't give it near enough justice. More info and pictures to come! 

 

 

 

 

 

A cross greeted us soon after we crossed the Macedonian boarder

 

Welcome to Ohrid, Macedonia!

 

View from the taxi boat

 

 

It kind of reminds me of Greece or Italy

 

 

Me and my roomie, Rachel

 

 

Cloud-covered mountains in the distance. Beautiful.

 

 

St. John's Church up ahead!

 

St. John's Church, one of the many historical churches and monasteries in the city

 

Me and Lake Ohrid :)

 

So beautiful!!!

 

Closer shot of the city

 

Me and Lake Ohrid...again!

 

St. Pantelejmon's Church, made in the 9th century by St. Clement (back view)

 

One of the towers (love this angle!)

 

St. Pantelejmon's Church (front view), surrounded by a beautiful archaeological sight covered in a strategically placed fence, of which I broke and feel into getting this very photo! (lol) I didn't do it on purpose of course. I just so happened to take a step in the wrong direction and fell into a deep hole. I was dangling on the edge hanging onto the fence for dear life! My roommate came running over to help me. Everything ended up being OK, expect for my banged up foot and....possibly the fence. (Haha)

 

 

 

My foot, before all the bruises come tomorrow. Note-to-self: Don't fall into the next archaeological sight you visit! (lol)

 

 

 

 

 

Macedonia.

 



We decided to go to Macedonia this weekend! I don't know if I'll have internet access where we're going. Pray for safe travels. And while you're here, enjoy some pictures of Prishtina! :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible Weekend Plans.

Rachel and I might be taking a trip to Macedonia this weekend. It's still up in the air though. I'm hoping we do. For one, this is one of the last times I'll probably be able to leave the country. My time is unfortunately running out and the weather is going to continue to get colder and colder. Also, we are hosting the team's Thanksgiving in our apartment and there are food supplies we don't have here in Kosovo that we can find in Macedonia. Another reason is sometimes it's just good to get away. There's something really refreshing about getting out of the country. There's a possibility that we might not go though. We might postpone it to next weekend.

The weather feels like it's dropped a lot, especially at night. It has felt so cold! Then I looked at the weather in Huntington and at least 10 degrees colder. Guess I can't complain! (lol) Our landlord finally turned our heat on. Almost all the homes and apartments here are heated by wood. My roommate is from Florida and she's really excited about snow coming. Ugh. Gross! I am definitely not a fan of snow! Hopefully the snow won't come for another month. We do a lot of walking and there's lots of hills all over the city. Snow and ice would make it that much more difficult to get around.