September 30, 2011

Yesterday was a special day for me, a day to celebrate in fact. You see, as of yesterday, I have been living in Albania for six months. Wow! Time flies. So, I bet you'd like to hear a little about what I have been up to during this time. Well, here you go:

Honestly, I can say that things did not happen exactly the way I had planned them out. I came here in hopes of starting a youth group in a church where there were no youth interested in that kind of thing. Moving on from that experience and finding new ministry opportunities that God had in mind for me, I started to realize that He was using this experience to reach out to me in a unique way, just as much as He was using me here in Albania to reach others. Over the past six months I can truly say that God has shaken my world up, and turned my life up-side-down. That may sound like a tragic thing, and at times I can tell you it felt that way, but in the end He has shown me so much more of Who He is. I see Him in a whole new light now and I can say that my relationship with Him has reached new peaks. 

Now, with all that said, let me tell you a little bit about what I am doing here. First of all, I am still involved in the church I came to start a youth group in. I work there Monday through Friday helping to make lunch for the kids in a preschool that they run. I even support one of the little girls, financially, because her mom couldn't afford to send her. I have to admit, as much as I have always shied away from kids ministry, I am loving every minute of what I do at this preschool. The kids smiling faces warm my heart every single day, no matter what else is going on. It is such an honor to be involved in forming the life of a future Christian at such a young age. I know these kids love God now and I pray as we use Christian preschooling to shape them through formative years, that they will have the strength it takes to continue down the straight and narrow path that is a TRUE relationship with God and to live the lifestyle that goes along with it.

On another similar note, I have sort of fallen into what seems to be a street kids ministry. I am still waiting to see where God takes me on this particular adventure, but I know He has a plan. You see, there are many children sent out to the streets to beg in Elbasan, and they can get very pushy and have even been known for theft. Somehow, my roomate Kerri and I have ended up befriending a large number of them. We have been able to pray for them, buy them food and speak Jesus into their lives. Recently two or three of them have been showing up to church. However, it has been a rough transition, since without proper clothing or shoes, they seem to be feeling a little embarrassed by their appearance. However, I am very happy to say that as of last week, we have been able to get them a bag full of clothes and shoes to keep at the church for them to wear. Hopefully, they will no longer feel embarrassed. We have also found out that one of the younger ones is going to a preschool. We have secure a few small school supplies and a bag for him and are just waiting till we see him again and can give them to him.

Aside from that, I have been playing drums in church on Sunday and, of course, designing media and helping where I can. Right now I am transferring an entire song database into a new digital system for a church in town so that they can be more up to date and use their digital projector with the proper, video-enabled software. I have also made a support video for this same church that is, at this moment, circling the globe to all of their contacts. 

Needless to say, I have been busy, that's for sure. God is so good to me in enabling me to live out my calling. As I said before, He has done just as much work INSIDE of me as He has done through me. I have come to the amazing conclusion that He would have sent e all the way to Albania even if it was just to catch one more soul for His glory. And He would have done that even if the one soul was my own.

Know that God loves you more than you can imagine. Begin to ask Him to show Himself in bigger and better ways in your life, and don't be surprised when He does. 

Thanks for reading,

Julie