Until Next Time

Until Next Time...Treasured Memories

Landi, Juli, Ermal, Nertila, Ermal
overlooking Gorre's valley, where it all began

With just a few days left, we are wrapping up our third Albanian mission.  It is with mixed emotions that we approach the homeward flight after our recent five month stint here in Tirana.  It goes without saying, we are absolutely delighted to think of wrapping our arms around our treasured grandchildren again.  Of course, we are also looking forward to seeing our immediate and extended family and friends.  For sure we are anxious to reconnect with our awesome church family at Webster First Baptist.

However, it also goes without saying that a huge part of our hearts will be left behind.  We have been blessed with so many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ; their lives have touched ours and they are truly a part of our eternal family.  We will miss life in Albania but are thankful we've had such  precious and meaningful experiences.

In this, our last blog, we're simply including a collage of special people, places, and events that have been part of our total Albania experience.  We pray and trust that all our time spent in this country will ultimately bring glory to God, to Whom we give all credit for our very lives and for revealing to us salvation through Jesus Christ.  Our lives have been spiritually enriched, and we hope and trust that we have been used to further His kingdom...all glory belongs to Him. 

So, following is a smattering of photos that help encapsulate a bit of our treasured Albanian mission time.  (We apologize for the random-ness of the arrangement, but have not learned how to move pics around the blog page.)

 In reaction to the drab, ubiquitous gray of communism,
 Tirana's buildings now earn its name: The City of Color.

Oh, that the streets at home could offer produce so delicious.

Grade 8 dream team, displaying models of a leaf
cross-section.  It was truly a delight to be their teacher.

Beiler family: missionaries in Albania for about 15 years.
They lovingly and faithfully shepherded us through our first trip.

With Nertila, trying to learn the Albanian language,
with Jack Frost nipping at our noses. 

She appears to be cheerful in spite of her Roma/gypsy
squatter's life style.  She received a blanket from GDQ School's
blanket drive just in time for this year's cold snap.  But how
much more she needs.

Another hungry Roma child.  We were aghast as we
witnessed the extreme poverty and squallor, but this
is more common throughout the world than our
middle/upper class lifestyle.

We have been able to support and encourage Toni and Ida,
and in turn they have greatly inspired and encouraged us.  They
are pioneering new territory as they prepare journey to outside of Albania
as some of the first Albanians to go to other nations as church workers.

Church of the Nazarene in Gorre, our first church.
Pastor Landi was preacher, worship leader, Sunday
School teacher, custodian, and bus driver for his little flock.
It is now led by our friend, Pastor Ermal.

Clowning around with Suela (former student) at her
birthday party...the beauty and 2 old beasts.

Typical meat market...not long before this was taken
these were wooly critters tethered to the shop door.

Two grade 7 mad scientists under the tutelage of
another mad scientist in the GDQ science lab.

a view from the back of our current church, Kisha
 Bibla Flet

Stephen Center, an oasis of warmth and good coffee...
a great blessing to us.

women of Kombinat church, so poor in earthly wealth,
but so rich in Spirit


Thank you for the prayers and encouragement you have shared as we've journeyed to Albania.  Zoti ju bekofte!

"...whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom  they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall the hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things."     Romans 10:13-15