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Can you feel it?

Robert — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:53:19 +0000

A New Kind of Christmas

Robert — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:13:41 +0000

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?

Cheers!

Robert — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:32:42 +0000

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?

Heart of Worship

Robert — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:38:31 +0000

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)

How to share your faith

Robert — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:10:07 +0000

Back from Thailand

jwheelis — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:43:50 +0000

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!

Chaing Mai Zoo Elephant Rides and Show Orchid Farm

This pretty much sums up our lives in Albania (both physically and spiritually)

Robert — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:39:35 +0000

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

6532 and 6

jwheelis — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:27:52 +0000

6532: The number of miles we have put on the car since June 22.

6: The number of days left in America before we return home.

Returning to blogging soon!

Dog Tired

jwheelis — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:05:59 +0000

Well,

It has been a great couple of weeks. We have had lunch or dinner with some one or a group of someones everyday this last week. We have shown our slide show pictures and talked about Albania and youth ministry and everyday life and kids and language and people until we think our voice boxes are going to fall out! And we have sleep-confused kids and suitcase weary parents. But God has been faithful and good.

It has been hard to even find time to blog. We went to New Covenant today and enjoed SO MUCH seeing the sweet New Cov family, hugging necks and talking with many of you. We missed others and it is so hard knowing that the time is so quick! We are here in OKC for just a few more days and it is going to fly by.

Would you pray for our kids this week? We have literally just worn them out! This week they are going to VBS at Edmond Christian and I am not sure they are even excited about it. While they have gotten to do lots of fun things (like today, swimming with AC and Bev’s giant schnauzer in the pool for 4 hours!) they have had very little consistency or routine. So… we could use a little extra covering this week for their mental and emotional health!

That’s it… I’m going to bed!

35 for the Birthday Boy!

jwheelis — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:00:04 +0000

Well, it is a great day when you get to celebrate the man you love! So here is mine! Today is Robert’s birthday and honestly in the midst of our travels and meetings this week, we weren’t sure we would even have an evening to ourselves to celebrate. So here is my top ten list of things I love about my hubby. Help me out by commenting or sending him an e-mail, telling him what you love about him…. I know the list is long!

10) He calls me beautiful (even when I am not).

9) When I text message him to pick up something on his way home from work (like diapers or milk), he automatically says yes.

8) When I was learning to cook during our first year in Albania, when I told him we were having French toast (again) for dinner, he ALWAYS said, “sounds great!”

7) He always rubs my neck and shoulders without complaint when I have a headache.

6) He is always looking for ways to be a better husband. When he reads or listens to something that causes him to think about how to make our marriage better, he shares it with me.

5) He is young at heart, young in spirit, and goofy like our kids. He makes me laugh out loud.

4) He has a HUGE heart for people. He loves to be around people, talk with people, and see people be all that God has created them to be.

3) He loves our kids with an amazing tenderness. He desires for the boys to be all crazy boy that God created them to be and our sweet girl is just the apple of his eye. He is a great dad.

2) He is a man of vision and impact. God is doing big things through him.

1) He loves Jesus with his whole heart.