Christmas in January

You might recognize these folks from a few weeks ago when I shared pics from a Christmas-time visit we paid to their home.

I had planned that December visit in hopes that we might also be delivering some unexpected (by them) goodies coming from the States...

You see, I had gotten word from their prayer-partner family in Michigan that goodies were coming their way, and I was excited.  I couldn't imagine a family that would be more surprised and grateful to get some unexpected love from America.

But I waited and waited, and no sign of the box at the receiving office.  

I got a hold of the tracking number and read a trail of cities across the US and Europe until it got to Albania where it sat in customs. And sat.  Finally, on Thursday we picked it up and on Sunday, just one month after Christmas we trekked up a muddy trail to their home.

In spite of my protestations beforehand, Bukeria had already put together a spread of fry bread and pomegranate syrup (homemade -- delicious!).

When I asked if I could video their present opening, the grown ups left the room and returned with new shirts on!

Nathan brought a pump along for Alesio's gift -- a much-coveted soccer ball, all his own.

Sybi had the best reaction.  The only thing I can imagine is that perhaps he had ever seen a headlamp before.  

He just laughed and laughed and ran into the other room to show his bed-ridden mother the accessory strapped to his forehead.

Alesio wasted no time and started playing with his cousin in the hallway, 'heading' it back and forth... right in front of his mother's glass cabinet of company serving ware.

In addition to the gift for this family, I also got a series of Christmas cards for different families in the village from their partner families.  How fun it was to deliver those!  I had no idea how much our American friends would jump behind and show love in this way!  Thank you, friends!!!

All in a Day's Work

The courthouse where Reni became our son in 2010.

Friends tell me that they find it interesting to read how bits of our daily lives here differ from their experiences at home.  Today I got an e-mail from a childhood friend that prompted the following recounting of our day:

Today, [you should] thank the Lord for online document request forms!  That would be SOOO nice here!  

The goal today was to attempt to renew Reni's Albanian passport.  Everybody told us something different so we knew the day was likely to unfold in an unpredictable manner.  Keep in mind this was in a very busy downtown area with one-way streets, oodles of pedestrians and cyclists darting in and out between cars and parallel parking only.

First we had to get a current birth certificate at building 1 (they are no good if they are more than 3 months old, so the one we got in July while we were pursuing residency is no longer valid). Since we had done this before and knew where to go, we started our paperchase at this office, after we had Reni's new photos made at a photo shop. 

(I really should have started our account with this stop because the stinker acts so silly when he's the center of attention and while the photographer was telling him not to laugh, it was having the opposite effect for what was supposed to be a serious expression on his face.  It spiraled downhill quickly from smirks to crossed eyes and everything else you can imagine a 5 year old boy doing -- I think he would have rather stood on his head than sit up straight and look into the lens). 

Our next stop after the birth certificate was to get an original adoption decree from the court house (building 2) because we left ours in the States in our fireproof document/media safe which my parents have been unable to open in our absence.  Just in case we would be required to relinquish the original when applying for the passport, we had been advised to get notarized copies of the adoption decree, which are supposedly as good as the original for 7 years. 

Upon reaching office/building 3, the notary perused our papers and quickly told us we were missing some necessary stamps on the adoption documents that had just been issued at the courthouse. so we had to go back to building 2 when the kancellari's office opened at 1PM. 

The kids were getting hungry, so we go eat lunch.  

After lunch we return to the courthouse, get the needed stamps at building 2 then walk to building 3 to see the notary again.  She does not have a copy machine and directs us to a coffee roaster up the street who also has a copy machine service in the back of her shop.  Of course.  Copies are made with friendly service.

We return to the notary and she efficiently stamps all our copies and keeps one for her files.  Now we are prepared to apply for the passport at the police station but the notary tells us we have to get the application at the passport application office which is in the same building where we got the birth certificate this morning (building 1).  I start walking to that office and Nathan loads up the kids to move the car closer to building 1.  

I wander in building 1 and try to figure out the system (there is a row of chairs along the wall where people are sitting and a couple of random folding tables in the middle of the room with office equipment on them and 3 workers standing around, sort of looking busy.  There are minimal signs on the wall (it really all had a very temporary feel to it) and so I wait a few minutes to see if I can figure out the system without inadvertantly jumping the queue.  A couple walks in behind me and goes straight to one of the workers at a table and is helped.  I figure I can't hurt anything by asking so I try my best to explain that I am there to get a passport for my son.  The guy tells me I need to produce an application.  I explained that I needed him to give me one, but he tells me those are at the police station, so I need to get that first and complete it, along with bring a receipt of payment for the passport which I pay for at the post office.

I go outside and call Nathan to tell him to pick me up on the curb.  He's just unloaded the kids a few blocks up the street but gets them back in their seatbelts and comes to get me.  We drive back towards the direction of the court house where we had seen the police station and Nathan drops me off half a block away while he goes to find parking.  I spot the only female officer in sight (really, the only female within a block) and tell her I need to get an application for a passport.  She tells me that I must first pay at the post office and bring a coupon with me to show proof of payment before we can get an application.  Uh huh.

I call Nathan and tell him to come pick me up where he dropped me off (he had just found parking, again). As I wait, two nuns from Reni's former orphanage spot me on the street and we have a nice little chat.  8 minutes later Nathan rolls up, having tried what he thought might be a short cut but which turned into a labyrinth of narrow alleyways.  No biggie, I had a sweet conversation catching up with two Sisters of Charity, some of my favorite people in the world. Given that it was now 3:00, the time that most government offices close, we decided to call it a productive day.

Back to Elbasan we will go!  At least sometime in the next couple of months.  Before our papers can expire and we have to repeat the whole process again. :-)

P.S.  In case you are wondering why we are concerned about renewing Reni's Albanian passport it's because we were told that as our children are Albanian-born, we would not have to go through the costly and time-consuming process of applying for residency papers for them as long as they had a current Albanian passport.  Nathan and I are legal.  Now we're working to get the kids that way too!

P.S. #2 -- we made a quick, but long over due stop at Reni's orphanage to deliver our favorite caregiver to work after taking her to lunch with us.  I can't tell you how much love we experience each time we visit the Sisters of Charity.  I leave each time asking the Lord to let His love flow through me towards others they way it flows through them. We got to hold a baby and the kids got some energy out running the playroom floor. As we left they told Reni to think of their place as "Grandma's House" and come back any time!  
So as you can see, it was a fruitful day.

P

Putting her best foot forward

One of our goals for the early new year was to get our dear friend, Vera, to the orthopedic clinic in Pogradec, the place which was such a big help with Reni's last pair of prosthetics.  

Given that we live near the western edge of Albania and Pogradec is on the eastern border, it's pretty much an all day trip to travel the three hours there and three hours back, plus time in Pogradec for the consultation and whatever other work must be done.

The busy-ness of December made it difficult to find a date we could devote to such a trip. 

And given that a number of the staff were out for the holidays, we couldn't get an appointment made mid-January, but that was alright given that waiting meant the beginning of slightly warmer weather (and Pogradec is always MUCH cooler!).  

We dropped Ellie and Reni off with missionary friends in Elbasan and enjoyed nice conversation with Vera on a beautiful, bright and sunny winter day.  It didn't take long for snow covered mountains to come within sight.

Captured through the window of our moving car, crossing the last mountain pass as we reach the far eastern edge of Albania.  That's Macedonia across Lake Orhid.

Vera was all smiles once we arrived at the Light of Hope center!

Juxhin (Eugene) measures Vera's leg length differential -- 4 centimeters!

Len and Lynne brought her new walking shoes from the States which we left with the orthopedic team after they measured Vera.  They would work to add a lift of 3 centimeters to the outside of her left shoe, as well as 1 centimeter to the inside of her shoe while we went out to find lunch.

During a previous visit to Pogradec for one of Reni's appointments we found a good little restaurant/pizzaria south of Pogradec in the lakeside village of Tushemisht, so we took Vera there.  We figured if the view was good enough for Hoxha (the former dictator), it should be good enough for us!  (His former summer vacation home was nearby).  We had the restaurant to ourselves right up until we were about to leave, which made it extra quiet and relaxing!

Vera kept remarking how most folks only ever go to Pogradec for their holidays and there she was, getting to enjoy the day with us!  She really was a great travel companion and as always, we learned so much!

Before we knew it, it was time to get back to the clinic to try on the finished shoes!

Didn't they do an excellent job?

Vera had them on her feet less than a minute and said, "Now I need to get a pair of shoes for the summer!"

Everyone who has known Vera and that we were embarking on finally getting her some help, asks how she's doing with it, and it's obviously early to comment, but we think that 60 years of walking one way will take a while to un-learn.  Initially, she was overcompensating by leaning the opposite direction as before!

Before we knew it, the sun was rapidly falling towards the mountains and we had to bid our friends in Pogradec adieu. Until next time!

An About Turn | Saul on the Road to Gymnastics...

Or so said Ellie...

I love craft time.  It's the quietest time of Kid's Club.  Anna continually finds ways to challenge and stimulate the kids artistically.  While reinforcing the message.

And the prize goes to...

January so far | Camera Phone Dump

Last winter spoiled us.  They told us it was mild.  I had brought a nice winter coat from the States and wore it about 2 weeks.  Our gloves and hats never left the coat closet shelf.

Plus, we were in the city, sheltered by high rises on all sides, living in an apartment with small rooms that can be closed off to make heating easier.

For all of those reasons we have loved our home in the village.  We have views on three sides letting in lots of sunshine and fresh air, when wanted.  And our rooms are more spacious, helping us feel more connected in our home, not separated when doing our own things in different places.

Our view to the east.  See the snow-topped mountain?  First sign that the cold has reached Albania!

But it also makes heating that much more challenging. Especially when we have no central heat and we could probably need to re-caulk around our windows.  Our floors are tiled and the walls are not insulated.  Yep. It's like living in your garage.  And that's when the lows at night dip into the 30s.

I'm not trying to complain, just explain our new reality.

At the end of December a cold front hit the Balkans from northern Europe.  The temps plummeted down to the 20s at night, barely breaking the freezing mark during the day.  I knew it was unusual when our mild-mannered neighbors started lamenting after about day 7.  Apparently winter comes in cold cycles that last a few days at a time, interspersed with several warm days in between -- not usually lasting for upwards of 2 weeks at a time...

Evidence that one (or more) of the pipes on the rooftop water tanks had cracked.

Pipes started freezing.  I was going to bed wearing my fleece jacket over layers of pajamas, and sometimes a scarf.  (I know, probably not the safest thing to wear to bed -- it was usually because I just forgot it was on).

Mornings would find us making blowing clouds of vapor in the kitchen/living room until we could get a fire roaring. The bathrooms?   Forget about trying to take a shower.  I won't say how long we went but we finally got desperate and strategically lined up a path of floormats from our bedroom to the shower and brought in heaters.  I let the lukewarm water run a little while to try to warm the shower floor before hopping in for the fastest shower I've probably ever taken.  Keep in mind that though we have a hot water heater in our bathroom, it is still mixing with icy water from our outside tank. A tip we gleaned: it might not hurt to submerge your shampoo bottle in warm dishwater prior to use to return it to a normal consistency and not shock your scalp).

Something else that changes in consistency in the cold: a memory foam mattress topper.  We'll just say it feels less 'foamy' and more rigid, except the parts eventually warmed by your body.  This it feels sort of like you're sleeping in a giant muffin tin in the shape of your silhouette.  Regardless of how many nights we did it, we never ceased to be surprised by the lack of 'give' when we'd fall on our bed at the end of the evening with a dull thud.

Evening devotions by headlamp.

Then there's the issue of electricity.  With so many folks drawing on the power supply to run electric heaters (who can blame them?) the power started going out even more, but usually at least a couple of hours each night for selective brownouts or rationing.  Let me tell you, sitting in the dark, huddled around the fire on many a night has made me think more than ever about pioneer life and thanking God for the hours I do have light to wash my dishes and tidy my house in the evenings and internet to work.

Putting Reni to bed under lots of comforters by the light of my LED headlamp.  These kids have yet to complain.  They're troopers and still find it rather exciting.

In spite of the cold, the boys still turn up faithfully each afternoon to play sports.  The photo above was a lightly attended day. Probably because the temperature on my phone said it was 26 degrees.  And yes, that boy at the bottom is not wearing a coat.  Isn't Nathan the best?  So devoted.  I couldn't hardly watch without wincing each time someone hit the ball.

Anna bundled up at church Friday night.  And she had the warmest seat in the room! ;-)

Nathan shared a message about Noah and new beginnings.  I don't have any photos because after worship I took the younger ones into the kitchen where they watched Veggie Tales and did coloring pages for the fruits of the Spirit.  It was the first time we tried taking the younger ones out of church.  They have been so squirmy and distracting to the adults, and since for many of the adults, this is the only teaching they get all week (while the younger kids get kids club the next morning), we thought we'd try bringing the noisiest/youngest ones to the other room.  

kids working on their coloring pages while I prepared refreshments for after church...

Once per month we have a game night after church.  Mom and Dad found a great party game for the Wii that allowed us to split everyone into four teams.  It was a real hit and we love the extra time to just have fun together!

The kids started back to school last week.  Coincidentally, they were studying France in geography and were tasked with building a model of the Eiffel Tower.  Nathan had the smart idea to build it using gum drops and toothpicks. 

We've started Shqip class 2 hours a week for the kids (Mondays and Wednesdays with our neighbor, Xhania).

1 hour is stretching their attention span and they get frustrated that they don't understand a lot of what she says yet, but little by little.  They are growing their vocabulary and that is a good start!

Tomorrow night I'm going to wear a new hat: that of English teacher!  I better go prepare my lesson while the lights are still on!

P.S.  The cold streak has snapped and our daily highs are reaching 50 degrees, with lows hovering around freezing or slightly above, so we are living much, much easier!

O-H

This photo was taken a few days after New Years.  Nathan's holding a plate of Jello Jigglers molded in the form of the Ohio State Block 'O'.  (Thanks, Mom and Dad VO!)

But the smile he has on his face this morning isn't too different than above, just perhaps a bit more bleary-eyed after last night's/this morning's CFP final game!

Sorry they are a bit 'frosty.'  We might have tried to expedite the gelling process by putting them in the freezer near the end. ;-)

On this particular day we weren't celebrating Nathan's beloved team, but the start of a new year with a visit from friends, which happened to include a little Skype love from America. My, how far communication has come!

Tune in for more updates on winter life in the village... when I can thaw my little fingers! ;-)

"Home" for the Holidays

Being away from family at the holidays could be a tough part of this calling on our family if we chose to dwell on it.  But last year we were blessed to share Christmas with Abby, Anna and Vera, and just a few months ago we could have never imagined that this year we would spend several of the days leading up to it with the amazing G family! 

 

The Gs had prepared for years to move to another country when that door was abruptly closed last summer at the eleventh hour.  Unsure of what to do next, they responded to an invitation to housesit for some Americans in Tirana for the next several months while the Gs determined their next steps.  Our paths crossed through the homeschool co-op, then shortly after that at the AEP conference and the rest is history.  We invited them to visit us in the village and it turned into a temporary ministry opportunity for them, joining us on the weekends (much like what we did last year from Tirana) for church and Kids Club, until their time in Albania comes to a close.

 

For the holidays we chose to sort of adopt each other as surrogate family during the days leading up to Christmas (remember when the cousins would come from out of town?), including a family sleepover in the village!  God provides family in some of the most unexpected ways!

 

Here are some of my favorite memories:

 

We discovered that Dave and I would turn the big 4-0 within 2 days of each other, so on his birthday (the day before we distributed shoeboxes), we took them to the nearby coastal city of Durres to see the ancient Roman amphitheater ruins and have coffee and dessert at sunset on the sea.  We love introducing folks to the rich history of Albania  ...and Nathan loves making awful jokes about the sun setting on the dwindling days of our lives.  We hope it was a memorable time for Dave!  We sure had a lot of laughs at his expense!

 

 

Then later that night we had a gift-wrapping party of presents that we would later take up to the kids in Darshen.

 

The next morning we got decked out for an end-of-year party at the grade school to hand out shoeboxes. 

 

I can't describe what a blessing the friendship of these kiddos has been for Ellie and Reni!  They have lots of Albanian friends, but they are still pretty limited in their ability to communicate, and more importantly to them, be understood.  That's why the G kids are pretty special to them right now.

 

 

After the party concluded and all the kids were fed lunch, we arranged to visit our favorite grandma in the village who is housebound and we excitedly climbed the hills above to take the Gs up to experience their first village home visit.  Can you see the incline from the photo below?

 

 

 

Bukeria surprised us with her homemade donuts (frybread).

Gezuar!

After we finished our yummy food, we went to the backroom where Grandma stays.  Arthritis in her knees has confined her to her home, and so we were happy to bring her some Christmas cheer through a visit, prayer, and a little drama to the song Drummer Boy.

Through tears she thanked us for coming.

But we ended the night with smiles on Sybi's gomar.
If you come to visit us, he gives free photo-ops on the authentic wooden saddle!  They look comfortable, don't they?