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)

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

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

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???!!!

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