journeytoalbania.com

Had to share this post from a fellow missionary in Albania.  David and his family live and minister in a smaller city about an hour from Tirana. 

Once upon a furlough, a sweet but naive man told me, “I bet it’s so incredible to be a missionary, to have nothing else to do but evangelize all day long.”  (At this point my missionary readers are chuckling audibly, because they all know that sometimes the simplest tasks can be all-day events in developing nations.)  Yesterday, as I must do each summer, I re-registered my Ford Transit van–and that’s about all I did yesterday.  Here was my day:

Step 1.  Drive out of the city to the police station with all the documents that were required of me last year for the same process.

Step 2.  Wait in a line for an hour in the sun (OK, I’m being generous — this is NOT a line, it is a mob of other sweaty, stinky men, all mashed upon you, jockeying for position, elbowing into one another’s ribs in front of a small barred window, behind which one man is processing what seems to be the whole world’s vehicle documents, by hand.  Three other employees are sitting with him, drinking coffee but, predictably, doing nothing.)

Step 3.  An hour later, when I finally elbow my way up to the window, I learn that this year I need to go to get a pre-inspection, down the road, so they can make sure my van isn’t stolen. My first hour in the sun amidst the aroma of body odor has been in vain.

Step 4.  I wait behind other cars for pre-inspection, and after 30 minutes, it is my turn.  But the people need to see my passport and visa.  I have in my hand the originals and photocopies. But no, they want a notarized photocopy.  Logically, there is no notary nearby.  I must drive back into town.

This resembles our life. 

Wrap your mind around this profound theological conversation I had with Tyler and Austin last week after their soccer game.

Me: Hey guys! How was the game?
Tyler: Great, Dad! MY team won!
Austin: Nuh-uh
Tyler: Uh-huh
Austin: Nuh-uh. The Bible says that the first will be last and the last will be first, so MY team won!
Tyler: (with rolling eyes) Austin…everyone knows that’s only in HEAVEN!
Austin: Oh yeah…I forgot! (both quickly run off to play with friends)

So, which is it? What do you think?

On our way back from Kruja yesterday, I saw what tops my list of oddities in Albania.

A white trailer with the words (in English) “FAST FOOD,” spray painted on the side.

This is what was tied to the back of the trailer.

(Note: These are not actual pictures… I could have kicked myself- we did not have the camera!)

How fast is that, do you think?

Today, Jenny and I drove to Kruja, a smaller town about a hour outside of Tirana, located on the side of the mountain. We went to do a little gift shopping. It is hard to imagine that the bumpy two lane road will lead you to one of the best tourist spots in Albania. And the road has improved greatly since my first trip there in 2002!

On the way home, we passed several individuals and groups waiting on the side of the narrow roads for furgons (small vans) that transport people from town to town. You can usually take a furgon from Tirana to Kruja for about 200 lek (a little over $2). But really, it’s like organized hitchhiking. Really just about anyone who might want to earn a little cash and has room for you might stop and offer you a ride! There is a certain amount of organization to the furgons passing by, but really no guarantees… as far as we know, there are no offices that set up furgon schedules or sellfurgon tickets or any specific furgon stops. It’s all old style, word of mouth and common understanding. As you drive along you see people gathered on the road, every one to two kilometers, waiting with their luggage, for the furgon they need to take them to the place they want to go.  Like I said, organized hitchhiking. You just have to hope that you are not the last one aboard who ends up sardined between two guys who haven’t showered for a week and don’t own deodorant.

That’s what I call her when I answer the phone. That’s what I feel about her in my heart. That’s what her eyes communicate. But ,most importantly, that’s how God views her! Today, my beautiful wife turns 36! So, I thought I would take a moment to tell you all what she means to me.

We have been married for 13 years this August and we have known each other for 20 years now!!! When we were in high school, I told her that I didn’t believe in love so young. I said that people were too immature and foolish to fully understand what “love” really is! But, you know what, she LOVED ME anyway! And she taught me (thru her life) what love could be…the kind that can only come from Jesus.

I’ll never forget how intimidated I was by her when we first met…she had a presence about her, a light, a confidence that filled a room. The joy and love in her eyes spoke volumes of her soul. She was always quick to point out the positives in others. She was always willing to cry with a friend who needed her. She always stood up for what she believed in. She was a person of quiet integrity. She deeply cared about others. She had an inner strength and conviction that commanded an audience. She had a voice that poured beautiful songs from the depths of her heart.

This was the girl I fell in love with way back then…and this is the woman I’m MORE in love with today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE YOU LIKE JESUS!

Today during our language lesson our teacher, Fitorja was telling us that (to the best of her knowledge) tumors are referred to as “foreign meat” inside one’s body. Yes, you did read it correctly, the doctor will tell you after your x-rays that you have foreign meat in your body.

Seriously?

(Side note: I did do a little research later and found that any kind of abnormal tissue growth can be referred to as a foreign body or ‘meat,’ even in English. I don’t know why but it still strikes me as utterly hilarious!)