HOPE is upon us. As is GRACE, eventually.

I will offer you some gifts I've received here in the form of a list. There is so much to be said as events and stories unfold!!!

1. Enjoyed the beautiful town of Dardha this past weekend. A glorious village of 100 elderly folks where fresh tea and herbs grow out of the green mountainside. We enjoyed some Lakrore (Lak-roar) that was made at campfire from a past WEI student's family. They were the face of Jesus with their hospitality. One of the Albanian students here (Bruna) and I had some fantastic bonding time as well.2. Every other morning I rise at 5am to meet my friend Artemis, her mother, grandmother, and grandfather for a hour walk/jog in the hills. It's a gift to have opportunities to simply love. Deeper conversations of spirituality are coming with her, but for now I am more than content that God is blessing us with fresh air in the morning and opportunities to consider the lilies. Her family is outstanding.




3. The teen class has about 10 in attendance (we started it last week), which is successful for our little church in Korce. Pray these youth stay in enthused, and that we can be contagiously enthusiastic. They are preparing for a bible bowl, which I am creating some study materials to encourage visual and kenistetic learners that can hopefully be reused in the future. Basically, I doodle out the stories of Luke chapter by chapter. This might just be a future profession for me. Seriously!

4. I met with Malvina this morning (my sharp 13 year old daily student) and we spoke about the resurrection, and the amazing symbol this gives us to rise as new creations. She is really sincere in her desire to be with God, and wants to be apart of His loving Kingdom! We are starting conversations about baptism, and she has expressed that she would love to be baptised. Please pray for her desire to commit to be authentic and passionate! Pray only the Holy Spirit speaks to her in our conversations, so she hears and is stirred by truth to follow Him.

5. I am experiencing grace in all its slow, eventual, but punctual process. He has giving me enough bread for the day, so to speak and for that I am forever grateful. I want to be dancing over quail and manna, so lets pray for growth, but also contentment.

You are all so loved.

We are creatures of habit.

I must tell you all that I'm struggling. A few times a day (especially while I'm teaching, but usually in informal meetings) I get a real sense for why I love embedding myself in other cultures. But sincerely, most of the time it is trying for me to see a Jubilee around the corner for this little church in Korce. We need prayers for creativity, for a revival, for hearts that can hope and long for a better world and more of His glorious kingdom. I pray it is not ridiculous for me to be dreaming of a community that has depth and pours out truth; that a rabble rousing church full of struggle and pain, that is simultaneously (or at least eventually) able to cling to a God that allows grace and freedom is fully possible. Are glimmers of heaven really not possible on this earth? I simply cannot believe we are here to stare at the sun; to convince ourselves He is up in the heavens somewhere, while we stay here, our eyes steady on our watches, waiting for the next activity in the schedule of our predictable lives. And worst of all: I know I am apart of the problem, that I get caught up in meaningless tasks and forget what worth there is in the truth, love and hope we are privileged to with Him. Can we help each other get there? Lord knows, I need it. Please talk to Him on my behalf.
Also, there is good news too. I do not want to leave this note in a state of depression. I have 6 wonderful students, most of which are girls younger than me, and they are adorable. Discussions with them are moments of sheer beauty...I love hearing them as they see Jesus as he is. Pray that they are nothing but honest with me, and I with them. I would hate for them to feel any sort of pressure as we discuss His glorious character...I want them only to sense invitation in my excitement of who He is. I am planning some outside activities too for all the students in WEI, so let us hope they are well received. I love you all so much! More to come...especially once I see you face to face. I'm never very good at retelling stories through a computer screen. Let us go forth in hope...creating more moments of eternity on earth.

FINALLY IN KORCE.

Merdita (good day) all!
Korce is a less fortunate, rubbled Greece...with people constantly in the streets. You can sense the craving for modernization as new trucks drive side by side with carriages. They are a family-oriented society, where weddings take a week and providing for each other comes before all else. Greek Orthodox and Muslim are the religions of choice (or force during the early 1900s...many folks have Muslim names because of the previous rulers. Albanian history is craaazy...), though few people are devout. It is of cooler temperature than Tirana...as it is about a 3 hours and 30min drive through the mountains southbound. A GORGEOUS drive yesterday, which I enjoyed in extended lengths thanks to the flat tire on our 1982 bright green van. I drove with an Albanian minister and his family, including cousins from Italy. It was jammed pack with people foreign to each other...but we laughed a lot. By cooler than Tirana I mean more like 90 than 110 degrees.
I live with this beautiful lady named Dana. She is in her 60s, way laid back, and full of life. I warned her right away that I am a wanderer, and told her not to be worried when I go on long walks. She just nodded, glanced at both of our bare feet and said, "we are one in the same." The church has less than 10 people, but they are eager and all using WEI as a tool throughout the week. The full time missionary couple are in their late 20s...the sort of folks that are never afraid to share what they know and are very to-the-point, but kind.
I met 3 smiley teenaged girls at church today, and they have been coming for weeks and still searching. Im really hoping for many coffee dates and friendship with them, so please be in prayer for them and the students I have yet to meet. Most of the students are younger here, which excites me since I'm the only teacher (other than the 2 full timers) that is under 60. The church dynamic is extremely traditional...and I'm not sure what to think of it. I know there are more believers than 10 in this city, but our strict, unquestioned doctrine keeps them merely at our doorstep...and that is rough to see. Pocradets is another town the missionaries have worked with, but most of them are women there, so they are told they cant go much further because male leaders are scarce. I can't convince myself that this is how it is supposed to be. I pray for this church to learn how to seek and ask questions together. I know a YHWH that can handle any of my questions...and I pray for a church that can be safe enough to seek Him together. More to come...the sunshine is beckoning me. I love you all. Please read Hosea 2: 14-23...I feel Him alluring me and cannot help but sing.

A New Beginning...

"Oh, for a faith that will not shrink when pressed by thug or foe, that will not tremble at the bring of poverty or woe. That will not murmur nor complain beneath the chastening rod, but in hour of grief or pain, can lean upon its God."

The unknown is a frightening adventure. I'm not sure what town I will be heading to as the trip approaches this Friday. But I am excited to again be a part of the newness God continually regenerates in each of us. "He has made everything beautiful in its time"...and I am but a piece of this universal, timeless conversation.

Still over $1000 behind, I realize I too am learning the joy in sacrifice.