Only 16 days left in Albania now, the time seems to have flown by!
Last Wednesday was the last day of school and we had a great time with the children entertaining the parents and teachers with their 'Spring Fling'. We had songs and dancing from the lower school and different little plays from the middle school students. It was a fantastic time and we all had a good laugh!
On Thursday I finished getting a few bits and pieces to take home and then on Friday I said goodbye to Sylvia and the children as my last few weeks in Albania are being spent in Berat, Vlore and Gjirokaster instead on Tirana. I traveled down to Berat on Saturday and spent several days with Esther and her family again. I had an amazing time! I even got to help bag their wheat after it had been harvested, which was great. I'm soo grateful that I was able to go and visit them again before I leave.
I traveled on to Vlore on Wednesday, and it was soooo hot I felt like I was melting!! Albania really is a beautiful country, but a tad too hot.
On Friday we had a Bible Study at the church with a visiting speaker from Italy. It was rather strange having the Italian translated into Albanian and then that being translated into English for me! It was a great meeting all about how as Christians we are in a constant battle and so therefore we must always be ready and have on the full 'armor of God'. It was particularly relevant, after the year my family and I have had, for which I was very grateful.
Yesterday we were at the beach with people from the church and had a fantastic time! I was actually able to swim in the sea and not have to get out after 5 minutes because I was frozen, which made a nice change! In the evening we went to a church plant further along to coast and I was asked to share me testimony.
'Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.' ~ Ephesians ch 6 v 10-17
Sunday 23 June 2013
Tuesday 11 June 2013
Albania ~ Day 62
I can hardly believe there's less than a month left before I fly home!
The last ten days have been very fun, as school is coming to a close with the last day tomorrow. I've really enjoyed every minute at GDQ and with speaking to people there and helping with the children, it has really reaffirmed several things to me about where God is leading my life. I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity and to the friends I have made along the way.
Last week I went to tea with another family from the church. They have 3 children who are lovely and I had such a wonderful evening with them all. I also when out for tea on Thursday and lunch on Sunday with 2 of the teachers from the school which was another fantastic time getting to know the people who work here. Maureen and I also did some shopping last week, as I needed to get some presents to take home : ) (with the Albanian flag on obviously!)
On Thursday we had a taekwondo demonstration by some of the students from the school as well as one of the teachers and students from other schools in Tirana. Wow!!
Today was Water Day at school! Well... to say I got a little damp would be the understatement of the year!! Despite getting absolutely soaked, mainly by the teachers, it was a great day and I even met some new people! Thank you SOOO much to the staff and students at GDQ. What you do is amazing and I'm so grateful that I have met you all. God bless!
'We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.' ~ Colossians ch 1 v 9-14 (NIV)
The last ten days have been very fun, as school is coming to a close with the last day tomorrow. I've really enjoyed every minute at GDQ and with speaking to people there and helping with the children, it has really reaffirmed several things to me about where God is leading my life. I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity and to the friends I have made along the way.
Last week I went to tea with another family from the church. They have 3 children who are lovely and I had such a wonderful evening with them all. I also when out for tea on Thursday and lunch on Sunday with 2 of the teachers from the school which was another fantastic time getting to know the people who work here. Maureen and I also did some shopping last week, as I needed to get some presents to take home : ) (with the Albanian flag on obviously!)
On Thursday we had a taekwondo demonstration by some of the students from the school as well as one of the teachers and students from other schools in Tirana. Wow!!
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| Can't quite believe this photo!!! |
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| The before shot... |
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| ...and, well... |
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| ...amazing!!! |
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| Such clear blue sky |
On Friday I went on another trip with the school to Durres, to the beach! I think that was the first time EVER that I have been in the sea and it's not been freezing!!
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| In the sea, and I can still feel my toes! |
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| Isn't God's creation wonderful!! |
Today was Water Day at school! Well... to say I got a little damp would be the understatement of the year!! Despite getting absolutely soaked, mainly by the teachers, it was a great day and I even met some new people! Thank you SOOO much to the staff and students at GDQ. What you do is amazing and I'm so grateful that I have met you all. God bless!
'We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.' ~ Colossians ch 1 v 9-14 (NIV)
Sunday 2 June 2013
Albania ~ Day 53
I can hardly believe where the time has gone, over half way through my time in Albania now!
Last weekend was the National Sisters Conference in Shkodra (in the north of Albania) which went real well! There were a group of 10 of us who went from our church and it was great to meet women from different churches all over Albania. The theme of the weekend was encouragement, and each church had 5 minutes to read a poem/sing a song/read Bible verses etc that were about encouragement. On Saturday evening we played some games and they had us all looking incredibly silly with 'Just Dance'!
On Monday morning I went bowling with Grade 5 as a treat, because their teacher was leaving later in the week. We all had a great time and it was nice getting to meet some of the students I'd not worked with. The place where we went even opened an hour early just for us!
On Wednesday I was sent on a school trip with Grade 2 to Kruja. We went and looked round an old house there that showed us different tools people used to use and some traditional Albanian clothes. It was fascinating and the house was 249 years old!
School continues to be amazing. I'm learning a lot about myself and about school life from the other side. It's such a fantastic experience and I can't wait to start university in September and put some of the things I've learnt into practice.
Yesterday I really pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I took the children's meeting (the talk part of it) and ended up giving my testimony and telling the parable of the lost sheep to 30 people! It was also the last one before the summer so I wanted to be able to send them away with something they would remember, hopefully I did. I never thought that I would be able to do that. But... once I got up there, I actually really enjoyed it! God has definitely given me more confidence since I started doing FirstServe and I can hardly believe all of the things I've done.
Please pray for some of the boys who had been coming to the children's meeting. They are now hanging out with some Muslims who are persuading them not to come to the meeting. It's a great shame, please pray that they will come back after the summer.
'I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?' ~ Psalm ch 71 v 16-19 (NIV)
Last weekend was the National Sisters Conference in Shkodra (in the north of Albania) which went real well! There were a group of 10 of us who went from our church and it was great to meet women from different churches all over Albania. The theme of the weekend was encouragement, and each church had 5 minutes to read a poem/sing a song/read Bible verses etc that were about encouragement. On Saturday evening we played some games and they had us all looking incredibly silly with 'Just Dance'!
On Monday morning I went bowling with Grade 5 as a treat, because their teacher was leaving later in the week. We all had a great time and it was nice getting to meet some of the students I'd not worked with. The place where we went even opened an hour early just for us!
On Wednesday I was sent on a school trip with Grade 2 to Kruja. We went and looked round an old house there that showed us different tools people used to use and some traditional Albanian clothes. It was fascinating and the house was 249 years old!
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| A view of Kruja |
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| Mount Kruja |
School continues to be amazing. I'm learning a lot about myself and about school life from the other side. It's such a fantastic experience and I can't wait to start university in September and put some of the things I've learnt into practice.
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| My helper for the children's meeting! |
Please pray for some of the boys who had been coming to the children's meeting. They are now hanging out with some Muslims who are persuading them not to come to the meeting. It's a great shame, please pray that they will come back after the summer.
'I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things. Who is like you, God?' ~ Psalm ch 71 v 16-19 (NIV)
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