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3.24.2015

Over the mountain and back again


Today we traversed Mt Dajti to visit Darshen!





After visiting the school, we hiked to the lower part of the village to visit Xh... the photos don't do justice to the incline nor the slippery-ness of the muddy path!  In spite of the drizzly day, the blossoming trees added the hope of the beauty of spring!



After chatting with her family, I took her outside to capture some photos around her home for her photo book that she will take with her to America when she goes for back surgery. The following are a few of my favorites...

I think she thought I might have had a screw loose when I asked her to pick up her brother's axe...




Her younger brother was in school and sadly missed out on being in the family photo...


Marking the wall with her pre-surgery height:



Her embassy appointment is April 1!  Pray for favor for her and her guardian!




After her family gave their farewells and we walked away, I turned around to snap this last photo.  I wish you could hear how absolutely quiet and tranquil it was.


We stopped for coffee on the way back down the mountain.  Caleb declared Albanian hot chocolate will be the food he misses most when he returns to America!


On our way back through Tirana, we stopped to show the boys a few landmarks in the city -- like a communist-era bunker...


Looking sad at the salt mine forms (where political enemies were sent for forced labor)


And finally, a portion of the Berlin wall!


Then we crossed the street to scale 'the pyramid'-- a decaying relic from the 80s, originally constructed to honor the former dictator, Enver Hoxha.  David and Ephraim joined us to cross off a 'Tirana bucket list' item before they move up north next week...










Nathan and Steve attended the men's Bible study and were pleased to see a new face as well as hear some positive feedback from the father/son retreat!

All in all a good day!

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