Christmas in Darshen

I think our Christmas visits to Darshen is one of my favorite of Christmas traditions! While distance prevents us to regularly visit this special hidden-away place, we are grateful that our colleagues Mandi and Xhina do.  And many folks who have visited us on a short-term team have been taken here and left profoundly touched, relating their visit amongst their favorite experiences in Albania.  I describe Darshen as the way all of Albania used to be when we arrived more than 20 years ago.

 

This year we traveled up and over Mt Dajti on the 23rd, the last day of school of 2014. It's always a matter of question if the weather will permit us going (snow can easily prevent us as a portion of the road rarely gets direct sunlight), but Tuesday dawned bright and clear and, dare I say it, warm!

 

Lest you think we adopted four more children, let me introduce you to some of our new friends this fall, the G-family.  They have found themselves in Albania unexpectedly on an interim basis while they discern where God would have them serve more permanently.  In the meantime, they have been joining us in the village on weekends and we invited them to visit Darshen with us on December 23!  We did a lot of activities with them in the days leading up to Christmas -- which felt a lot like having cousins visiting from out-of-town!  We will definitely miss them when they move on, but it's looking like they will be staying within half a day's driving distance of us, so it won't be a 'forever' goodbye, for which our family is pleased.

 

The obligatory photo at the mountain pass.

Upon our arrival, the village children came to our building where Xhina shared the Christmas story.

 

They sang some songs and then the G's shared a little drama they prepared to the song, The Little Drummer Boy.

Nathan shared the meaning of Christmas and why we give gifts.  (Mandi refused to translate and though Nathan was understood, Mandi couldn't resist and translated Nathan's Shqip anyway -- ha, ha.  At least we're making progress over last year!)

Then the American kids handed out gifts which we had bought together on Saturday with funds from a friend in the States.

As for the friends who gave the $ (you know who you are), the they were super excited about their presents!  For the sake of controlling chaos, we asked them to wait until they were home to open them.  The boys got soccer balls or racetracks (depending upon age) and the young girls got "B*rbies" and jump ropes while the older girls got nail polish, lip gloss, shampoo, lotion, hair accessories, and an artist's pad and paints.

 

 

Then Nathan shared with the representatives of each household gathered to receive their food bags about Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, known as the House of Bread, and how Jesus was called the Bread of Life.  As we gave them the ingredients to make their own bread (and other food), we hoped they might consider eating of the Bread of Life, so they might not hunger again.

 

Of the 1000+ posts on our blog, the post "No Place for a Baby!" is the second most read of all time. If you remember the little baby Nathan shared about, here he is, 2 years later.

The following are pics of the distribution for the sake of our partners at CBC in Rutland, VT, who provided the funds for these food bags!  Thank you!  They were gratefully received.  Please know we were thanked profusely on your behalf.

 

While Nathan was able to share briefly with the kids in Shqip, I was able to converse with some ladies I've met in previous visits.  The last time I saw them (Christmas 2013), I needed a translator!  How freeing that I could communicate more independently!  (Don't get me wrong, we have a long, long ways to go, but Nathan and I have both have marked improvement in our comprehension and verbal skills since moving to Vlash!)

 

 

What a privilege to serve as Christ's Ambassadors.  Thank you, thank you, for all of you who contribute to enable us to serve here on His behalf!