Christmas Greetings from Albania

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS from ALBANIA

 As the world continues to co-opt Christmas to fit its celebration of ____?_____, we are excited that we are still free to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  Praise God.

Having said that, our personal celebration will bring mixed emotions.  A lump in our throats, and perhaps a tear drop or two will accompany our worship.  Our hearts will sense the distance between us and our loved ones back home (especially those precious grandchildren).

Though separated by thousands of miles, we do send our prayers along with our desire that your Christmas celebration will be filled with blessings.  We pray that you will truly sense the Peace that passes all understanding.  We trust that you will feel the Joy that comes from above.  We hope that you, along with your loved ones, feel the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit indwelling your lives.

On Christmas day we will join friends and deliver warm blankets to 12 needy Roma families.  The blankets were purchased from our GDQ car wash funds and other contributions.  What a joy it will be to know that at least 12 families will be warmer on Christmas night with these blankets, and we pray their hearts will sense the warmth of Jesus' love.

We will be worshiping, singing and praying with our little Albanian church family; as we do, we will remember our family and friends.  We wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

GDQ Director Roger Pearce and wife, Nikki

"Silent Night" by ukelele at GDQ Christmas program

our church family getting ready to sing carols at the city center tree

Roma blanket car wash at GDQ

                                                                     

 

                                                                                                                                          

Mini-Post: A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.  Ecc. 3:1

The season of cold and rain is finally upon us.  The sidewalks on our street are always crowded, but when the umbrellas come out, it's as if we're part of a desperate dance: who will tip left, who will tip right, who will dip down, who will raise it high, all in order to keep from poking someone in the eye. Here are a few pics, although if we photographed in the worst of it, we might not live to tell about it.

Our spirits aren't dampened in the least.  We are warm in our apartment, and added heaters at school do a pretty good job of warming up the rooms of our work area.  Other teachers aren't so blessed, but we're quite comfortable.

The bulk of our (Bob's) teaching is over.  End of unit tests are corrected, and Christmas celebrating has begun...program practice, Secret Santa, staff party, games in the classroom, a car wash by students to raise money blankets for Roma (gypsy) people , who have barely a leaky roof over their heads, much less a blanket on their bed.
Attached are a couple of pics to "illustrate".

After all that, our school responsibility is over. All that is left is to meet Cameron, the replacement teacher, and help him and his wife acclimate to the school.  They will take over our apartment on the 29th, so we'll move to another flat in a different part of the city for the month of January.  We'll have time for visiting, a bit of travel to parts of Albania we haven't seen, and whatever ministry might come our way.

We'll be home soon.  Until then, we thank you for your prayers that have sustained us here.  May God bless you and your families as you proceed through Advent toward Christmas.

Judy and Bob