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

Why?  Because I can’t grow facial hair…at least not very well.  I’ve joked for years that I’m follicly challenged.  After doing a search on Google, I’m thinking of joining the following advocacy group: People for the Expansion and Advancement of  Comprehensive Hair  (P.E.A.C.H.)

So,  I’ve been trying to grow a FULL beard and here are some pics after 2+ months…but now I’m at a crossroads.

When discerning God’s will, I know I  must first consult the Scriptures.

I received hope from the following passage from Numbers 6:5  “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long.”

But, then, I read Ezekiel 44:20  “They must neither shave their heads nor let their hair grow too long. Instead, they must trim it regularly.”

Being even more confused than before, I prayed and ask God to reveal His truth to me.  He reminded me of Hebrews 4:12 “God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything.”

That is to say, everything but hair.  So, obviously, God is neutral on the subject.

Therefore, I’m leaving it up to you.  I need your discernment…

Exercise in Futility?

Cut my losses and stop the bleeding?  (yes, both awful puns were intended…I blame Von and Matt)

OR

Persevere and Fight the Good Fight!

YOU DECIDE! Post a comment and cast your vote.

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to go with Robert to the neighboring town of Elbasan where he was speaking for a gathering of youth workers.   He was asked to share some thoughts and ideas on developing youth ministry to this group of 20, many of whom are volunteers and workers in small towns and villages.  That means that their ministry might look vastly different than ours here in the capitol city, Tirana.

But as I have said before, it is really all about stealing.  We have no great ideas for youth ministry here in Albania.  We just keep taking a little bit here and a little bit there, and we try it out to see if it works for this time, this place and this culture.  Some things hit, and some miss.  But the thing that stays the same is the “transferable principles.”  I don’t know who coined this term but it’s money.  Anyway… here are some photos of our time.  We spent time sharing about vision, mission and strategy and how to discover the principals that transcend to every ministry.   Our language is still not at a place where we can talk in front of a crowd but we were able to have individual time with people for questions.  Time well spent.

Sajmir did a great job translating!

It was a sunny but cold day, we wore our coats the whole time!

The trip was worth it just for the views.  This is the view from top of the mountains on Rruga Elbasanit between the two cities.

Over the years, we have stolen many good ministry ideas from others.  HABITS is one of the best.  Developed by Doug Fields at Saddleback, HABITS is an acronym we use for steps to growth in our relationship with God.

H- Hang Time

A- Accountability

B- Bible Study

I- Involvement

T- Tithing

S- Scripture Memory

Well now, we are passing the idea on to new generations of teenage believers in Albania.

SHPREHI- is the new word.  It means a skill, developed by practice; a habit.

And look at the cool designs Wopsle did for each step along the way.  We just finished the new HABITS shack for the Loft.

Saturday our friend Genti died. Just 12 hours before his baby boy was born. He has gone one to be with our Savior. But our sadness is heavy and deep. He leaves behind his wife Milena, their 11 month old daughter and now their new baby boy, whose face he never saw.

He was a kingdom maker. Just an hour before we knew of his death, one of our volunteers at the Loft, Albana, shared how Genti had led her to the Lord. She knows Jesus because of him. And she is not alone.

Please pray for Milena, for her children, for her family, for Genti’s family. Pray that they will find comfort and peace in our God who is still good. Pray that God will be glorified despite tragedy.

April 18, 1972 – December 6, 2008
Genit with his wife, Milena, pregnant with Aaron, and baby Dea.
Picture October, 2008

I sent in my absentee ballot a couple of weeks ago. it’s amazing how much the American election has captivated the attention of the world. The first question my Albanian friends and neighbors have asked me lately is, “who is going to win?” and quickly followed by, “Who do you like?”.

As a one-time aspiring politician (granted I was in high school), I have long believed in the privilege and responsibility to vote. When I think of my Albanian friends who have only had this privilege for the last 16 years, it makes me appreciate this even more today…

However, I’ve also long believed that the government cannot change hearts. Therefore, it is limited in what it can accomplish. No laws or economic policies or health care initiatives can provide the “audacity of hope” that God alone can provide! This is why when I became a Christian, my political aspirations began to die a slow death and my loyalties moved to a much wiser authority! As I’ve gotten older, I find myself believing more in more in the power of the church and less in less in the power of the government or it’s leaders.

No matter who you vote for tomorrow, remember these words by the author of Jesus for President,

“WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HOW WE VOTE ON NOV.4 IS HOW WE LIVE ON NOV. 3 AND NOV. 5. WE VOTE EVERYDAY WITH OUR FEET, OUR HANDS, OUR LIPS, AND OUR WALLETS…ULTIMATE CHANGE DOES NOT JUST HAPPEN ONE DAY EVERY FOUR YEARS.” –SHANE CLAIBORNE

AMEN!

So we have been slowly making over the Loft!  As you may remember, we started with white walls and empty space. I posted a few of the before pictures below… it is quite a change! It is a process to create a friendly and welcoming space for teens on a tight budget!  Look at some of the changes that have happened over the last few months!  And this is only surface stuff… it doesn’t even touch the colors that are being painted on the walls of hearts!

The month of September is Ramadan (Ramazan in Albanian) in the Muslim faith.  It is a month of fasting for devout Muslims, who only eat after sundown each day.  During these 30 days, we have seen little change in our Albanian friends because none that we know personally are devout Muslims, though they would all call themselves Muslim as a part of their heritage.  Yesterday, however was a national holiday in Albania known as Bajram Ramazan (the end of Ramadan).  After sundown, families gather to eat a feast as a celebration of the end of the fast.  For many, it is just a family tradition to gather and eat.  Most families eat lamb, some slaughtering their own (maybe even in their bathtub!).  The slaughter of the lamb is symbolic of Abraham’s slaughter of the lamb that God provided to Abraham for his sacrifice instead of his son Ishmael (Christians believe it was Issac who was saved from slaughter). Our neighbor Bona shared this wonderful traditional dessert she made for her family with us yesterday.  Baklava!  Yummmm.

One of the things we have seen more of during the month of Ramadan is drummers and musicians in the street.  They are beggars who are appealing to Muslims who give alms to the poor as one of the pillars of their faith, one way they can earn their way to heaven.   I took a picture of these men just outside of our gate.  You could hear them coming for 5 mintues before they arrived. 

We continue to pray for our Muslim friends who don’t know Christ and His hope!  Please pray that we would have opportnities to share about the hope we have in Jesus and to speaky BOLDLY! You can read more about Albanian Muslims here.

Yes we are still here!  After a few days of getting settled, recovering from the outreach and getting back to the world after several days of sketchy internet and then a few of NO internet, we are back among the land of the living.

The outreach was a BIG success!  We know that stories of God’s faithfulness and movement will really only come to us after several months of getting to know students and being a part of their lives, but it is so fun to watch the beginning of the process.

After 5 days of sports outreach and English Cafe, we ended the week with a BBQ hosted by our church staff.  Von, Toni and Xhelo (pronounced Jay-low) came out as awesome servants to cook hotdogs for the 50+ that showed up at the Loft Friday afternoon.  There was quite a buzz around the room “Did you hear there is something here tomorrow? Yeah, tomorrow there is a meeting here at 11!  Every week this place is open.  We can come.  Yeah, let’s come tomorrow.”

And so a new year begins!  Here are some photos from the week(click on an individual photo to see a larger view).

Well we have arrived home now we are off and running!  Beginning today we are hosting a week of sports ministry outreach at the youth center, The Loft!  Nothing like playing sports in the heat when you are still jet-lagged.  :-)  Every night this week from 5-7pm (10am-noon CST) we are playing soccer, volleyball, basketball and Ultimate Frisbee with kids who come out from the neighborhood near the youth center.  We have posted these cool posters (thanks for the design Evie!) all over the area and can’t wait to see what God will do!  Pray with us to see God reach a generation of Albanian teens!  More photos and stories later this week!