New Relationships in Albania

Përshëndetje (hello), from Albania!

            As we wrap up our time in this beautiful country, I really wanted to give you all an update about what has happened over the past 2 weeks! We are currently doing ATL (Ask the Lord) month in Përmet Albania, which in a basic explanation means this, we pray as a team on where in the country the Lord wants us. Then without a host we travel to that city, find a place to stay and meet the people in the city or surrounding areas! It has been a crazy experience to say the least, going to a different country where people barely speak your language, and you barely speak theirs and create bonds with them in the coolest ways!

            While here during our first week, we hiked up this mountain which is basically in our backyard, for the purpose of going to a village and meeting the people there. We hiked up for about an hour and a half when we finally reached the village, only to be disappointed to see that there wasn’t anyone there at the time. We took a few minutes to pray and figure out what the Lord would like us to do, hike to a separate village, or keep ascending the mountain. As a collective we decided to keep climbing. As we climbed, we reached this amazing lookout with this giant cross next to it, where we could see the whole valley below.

As we sat there in amazement of this view, we saw this family of 6 coming up the same trail we just arrived from, the men carrying these large metal fences on their backs, a child riding on the back of the donkey, with a woman guiding the donkey up this trail. We had the opportunity to meet them and ask if they needed help with the fences, in which they said no. Instead, they offered for us to climb the remainder of the mountain to this church, in which we agreed. As we put our hiking packs back on our backs, they quickly grabbed them from us and put them on the backs of the donkeys. The donkeys carried our packs almost halfway, then at that halfway point they put their packs onto their backs carrying it the rest of the way and refusing to let us carry anything. We did eventually reach their church, we also found out that a few of them make this hike daily to clean the church as well as pray. We had the opportunity to pray for them and with them at their church as well as sharing a meal with them on the way down the mountain. Not only this but they picked a TON of fresh figs and berries for us to eat! (I made a video about this day and here is the link!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnJqXmsi3zg

            It was an amazing experience and really a reminder that God has everything under control, there is never a reason to worry. When we could have become frustrated about not meeting the family in the village and just left. We took that moment to pray and see what God had in store, which led us to meet that same family just a mile up the trail….

            We have met so many other people as well during this time from owners of restaurants in the city, students that we have been able to play soccer with and even tourist from other countries on our adventure days. We are so excited for these last couple days and for what God has for us in Kosovo.

Mirupafshim!