Summer-ize

I've struggled over the past few weeks, wondering on how to put into the words the work that God has been doing this Summer. I think the problem was that I was too concerned of writing interesting, fantastic and supernatural happenings. Really though, what has occurred over the duration of these weeks is something much more special. We have formed relationships. We have grown to know the neighborhood and see how God can use the smallest of gestures to make a difference. We weren't out street witnessing everyday. We didn't stand on the street corners and hand out fliers for the church every evening. We were living day to day life in Tirana and with this comes a slower pace. So yes, God has been working, although it hasn't been in exactly the way I had thought it would be. It has indeed been different but seeing life in this country through the eyes of the people has been an experience I believe we will all treasure. We can relate with the woman who carries her groceries uphill everyday. We can relate to the children that are sitting out in the shade to escape the crazy summer sun. We can somewhat understand what they go through to an extent now. This then opens the doors to make friends, build bonds and minister in a new way. 

We go out every Friday morning to pick up trash in the neighbor hood and the people in our community have watched curiously and questioned our intentions. Then they talk with us, a few have joined in and eventually we become known as the crazy Americans who run a church and pick up our trash. Although, they also know they can talk to us and expect a smile and kind word. We also do worship in our community every week. Our neighbors now look forward to this and when we miss a day at least one will question if it will continue. Over time we have established a children's outreach that we hold every Saturday morning. Not very many children come but there are a few that steadily have been attending and they in turn are sharing with their friends what they have learned. On Tuesday nights we began a School of Worship so the kids here could learn guitar, drumming, and what worship is really about. The kids that the Lord has brought to us to teach are a generation, albeit small, of worshipers that are curious and hungry to learn more. Thursday afternoons we hold an English Club at the church for the kids in our neighborhood, just so we can get to know them better. We hope to eventually turn this into a youth group and it is obvious that God has great plans for these youth that have attended regularly. 

There is so much more I could list as to the days we have spent here. In a whole though,my point is this. What we have really been sent here for is to let the people of this community, the Grimes and those we've met along the way, know that we came to encourage them, grow relationships and lovingly share Christ with them. It has also been showing us how simply we can do this. It doesn't take miraculous healings, large crowds, or flashy events. Rather it has simply taken the ability to listen, uplift, and see others as Christ would. As we have been walking in Christ, He has over time walked others into ours lives to minister to. Each smile, hello, invitation and inquiry has had an effect and I think this can be an important principle to hold to as we leave in two weeks. No matter where we are, whether home in California or here in our new home, Tirana, we must be mindful of the effects we are having. God has been causing Streha to flourish. We have been privileged to experience and meet these people along the way.

 The team arrives on Tuesday and I know the Lord has great plans for that week. Our time here though, of learning how to be an Albanian and relate to the people has been precious. Thank you for being patient for this post as I was gathering my thoughts. I hope to write more as the team arrives. 

Shume Bekime!

(Many blessings!)
-Emily Maloney