Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
A New Kind of Christmas
Posted on December 12, 2009 by Robert
Since we moved to Albania, we’ve downsized our consumption in so many ways and the deconstruction of our consumeristic mindset was a difficult transition to make. (actually, i’m not sure we’re 100% there yet, but we’ve found a happy medium.) Being content with what you have is such a daily battle. As Albania modernizes, we find that it’s becoming easier to get distracted with the new “stuff” that’s available here. Big box retailers are finally finding their way to Albania. There are mutliple super-stores that have opened or are opening in the next few months. Advertisements have popped up everywhere in and are Tirana, when just 3 short years ago, it was shockingly void of most marketing.
In the midst of these changes, it has reminded us that one of the blessings of being in Albania is the gift of contentedness. As the kids get older, we are thinking more and more about how to instill this value in their lives as well. We love the message of this video and are trying to figure out how to integrate this into some new family traditions. Presents will still be part of the tradition, but not the centerpiece. What about you? What do you do differently for Christmas to give your PRESENCE?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
What I’m thankful for…
Posted on November 27, 2009 by Robert
my AMAZING family
the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
taking a stroll thru the park and playing frisbee with the boys
unconditional love
praying supporters
experiencing the variety of different cultures
laughter that makes my gut hurt
friends that stick close to the end
skype and google (communication enhancing technology)
deep conversations
witty humor
Jadyn’s smile
Tyler’s art
Austin’s athleticism
Jenny’s compassion
parents who are committed to their marriages for life
and most of all, for God forever changing me from the inside-out!
Filed under: Culture, Family, Just for Fun | Tagged: thanks | Leave a Comment »
Cheers!
Posted on November 27, 2009 by Robert
When we were raising support to serve in Albania, it became a regular occurrence for anyone over the age of 35 to ask me about this classic episode of Cheers. You gotta love Coach.
Do you remember this clip?
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Albania, Cheers TV show, Coach | Leave a Comment »
Heart of Worship
Posted on October 22, 2009 by Robert
Kristi is one of our teens who gave his life to Jesus last year. He is 13 yrs old, but is much more mature than his age. He really has a heart for worship and loves to play the guitar. Recently he’s been leading worship for his guys small group that we just started.
Last spring he wrote these lyrics to a song:
une pas teje dua te shkoj (I wanna go after u)
rrugen tende dua te ndjek (I wanna follow your path)
emrin tend do te nderoj (I will honor your name)
biri i zotit shpeton jete (the Son of God saves lives)
ty degjoj te adhuroj (i hear and worship you)
se si ty ka vetem 1 (like you i have only one)
ty te shoh une ty te ndjej (i see you, i feel you)
biri i zotit shpeton jete (the Son of God saves lives)
une e di mire kush je ti (i know well who you are)
une e di qe ti jeton (i know that u live)
une e di se cke bere ti (i know what u have done)
zeri yt kudo jehon (your voice echoes everywhere)
kur une lutem dicka ndjej (when i pray i feel something)
thelle ne zemer me godet (i feel it deep in mu heart)
me godet nje fryme e shenjte (holy spirti hits me)
biri i zotit shpeton jete (the Son of God saves lives)
kur une krahet i ngre lart (when i lift my arms up)
degjoj engjejt te kendojn (i listen as the angels sing)
dhe pastaj nje shkendi (and then a spark)
vret te keqen shpall lavdi!!!!!!!!!(kills the evil and proclaims glory)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: worship song; albania | Leave a Comment »
How to share your faith
Posted on September 23, 2009 by Robert
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Opening week at the Loft
Posted on September 8, 2009 by jwheelis
Last Saturday we had our fall kick off at the Loft. We have 11 (ELEVEN) first time visitors! Yeah! It was a crowded place. Can we tell you that nothing worked? Not the power point, not the videos… it was just one of those weeks where the team felt unprepared and just plain NOT READY! But guess who showed up? Yep, God. Oh, how He does that. Egli was able to share a simple gospel message in worship and our team was able to connect with all of the new students and begin building relationships! One of our core values is that “Life change happens best in relationships!” It is getting to be a little crowded don’t you think? We may need a new space! Praise GOD!
Here they are.... all crammed in!
Orb of FUN- Thanks Amy! We love this game!
Worship
Filed under: Youth Ministry | 3 Comments »
Back from Thailand
Posted on August 29, 2009 by jwheelis
Hey there… we are back from Thailand! Did you know we’d gone? We went for our agency’s International Conference. We may not have said the exact location to protect those who are in ministry in other places. We had an amazing time. It was good to reconnect with who we are and why we do what we do. And we were so encouraged to hear stories from all around the world of what God is doing and how He is expanding His kingdom. We met with three families that we went to candidate school with in Arizona three years ago which was such a joy to reconnect and hear what God is doing in their corner of the world!
So what did we do for a week? We worshiped, we listened to conference speakers, we prayed for the nations, we talked and talked and talked, we got Thai massages, we rode elephants, went to the zoo, at unhealthy food at places like McDonalds and KFC. And as Tyler told his grandma, we ate tons of doughnuts. Which was fine for him as we were talking this week… since he has not an ounce of body fat! But God was so faithful to renew our spirits and minds with passion for HIM and for what we do. Robert has spent the last week preparing and planning for our Strategy team retreat this weekend as we get ready to kick off a new year of ministry to reach teens in Albania!
Here are a couple of links to our pictures, posted on Facebook if you have not already seen them! Check out the vivid and amazing colors!
Filed under: Travels, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
The wonders of a week at camp
Posted on August 2, 2009 by jwheelis
Well with all that has been going on in our world these days you may be wondering if ministry has ground to a halt here in Albania. The answer is most certainly NOT! The wonder of training and equipping still works and God is all about HIS business here in Albania. Last week 11 of our students went to a Christian camp in Erseke. Those of you who have spent a sweaty, hot, uncomfortable, awesome, amazing, wonderful week with a group of teens at a summer camp anywhere in the world will know how life changing it can be in a student’s walk with the Lord. But don’t take our word for it! One of our MKs (missionary kid) that Robert has been discipling this last year has started his own blog.
It seemed like I was hitting the whole spectrum [of emotions], but this past week at Erseke I wouldn’t trade for anything. It was through the harder times of this past week that I learned some very valuable lessons. I learned…
-the importance of reconciliation.
-that “love is patient.”
-that God is faithful.
-that life with Jesus is an adventure and a battle.
-that good things aren’t always achieved easily.There were three guys in my youth group who I really felt like God gave me the chance to reach out to this past week and grow in my relationship with. God provided me with…..read more here!
It has been amazing to see God keep all about His work with out our involvement during this time Robert is healing. He really doesn’t need us here, he just WANTS us here. Isn’t that awesome???!!!
Filed under: Youth Ministry | 1 Comment »
This pretty much sums up our lives in Albania (both physically and spiritually)
Posted on June 11, 2009 by Robert
You have an idea of what the new country looks like. Still, you are very much at home, although not truly at peace, in the old country. You know the ways of the old country, its joys and pains, its happy and sad moments. You have spent most of your days there. Even though you know that you have not found there what your heart most desires, you remain quite attached to it. It has become part of your very bones.
Now you have come to realize that you must leave it and enter the new country, where your Beloved dwells. You know that what helped and guided you in the old country no longer works, but what else do you have to go by? You are being asked to trust that you will find what you need in the new country. That requires death of what has become so precious to you: influence, success, yes, even affection and praise.
Trust is so hard, since you have nothing to fall back on . Still, trust is what is essential. The new country is where you are called to go, and the only way to go there is naked and vulnerable.
It seems that you keep crossing and recrossing the border. For a while, you experience a real joy in the new country. But then you feel afraid and start longing again for all you left behind, so you go back to the old country. To your dismay, you discover that the old country has lost its charm. Risk a few more steps into the new country, trusting that each time you enter it, you will feel more comfortable and be able to stay longer.
–Henri Nouwen
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: wisdom | Leave a Comment »
