Reni - May 2016

Reni -- I'm not going to gush and embarrass you.

I just want you to know someday -- someday out in the future when you find this blog and read my words -- that I'm so incredibly proud of you.

You are so brave.  I know that going new places can fill your heart with anxiety over how people will respond when they see you, but you suck it up and be yourself, pretending not to notice the looks.

You're fearless and try hard.  

I hope you never lose that spirit.

I don't know if you'll ever see it yourself, but it's when you tackle obstacles with your usual zest the look in their eyes changes. People are not staring at you for your differences. I see the wonder in their eyes that you can do just about everything they can do, and that you're happy, confident, secure and loved.

You are shattering misconceptions.  You contradict everything they have been taught to believe.

You have not been a burden.  You do not bring us 'bad luck'.  Oh no. It's just the opposite.

You are a living testimony to the truth of God's upside-down Kingdom.

Keep it up, Reni.  

Love, Mom

The kids have been in heaven the past week we have had our house guests.

I'll let the photos do the talking...

The team brought over some finger-less gloves we ordered.  Nathan had the brilliant idea to get these so Reni could be free to use his hands more (safely) when out and climbing around.  They did the trick!

 Who's to say this boy can't go where he wants to?  These we from a hiking trip we took on Friday afternoon at a nearby national park...

I love how relaxed Reni looks below with his teacher (below) after Friday night's church service.  He's usually so reserved when he's outside of the house.  It does my heart good to see him so comfortable with her...

Kind Demir -- our Ellie was sort of doing her own, free-spirited thing during our Albanian folk dance lessons.  Here, Demir is trying to teach her the dance steps...

Gigi and Gjysh sent over a guitar strap for Ellie's guitar.  "Now I feel like a REAL guitarist," she said.

Thanks to Jonathan for helping Nathan install the posts -- we were afraid of damaging the instrument!

Yep!  We're having fun!  (And if you think our kids are being spoiled, you should see our neighborhood kids!)

They Came To The Party!

You know that feeling when you send out invitations to a party and you hold your breath wondering if anyone will come? 

That's how we felt driving up to Metalle today. 

As we rounded the bend in the road, a child stuck his head out his gate, saw us, and darted across and up the slope to the old school grounds.

Nathan said he thought, "At least we'll have one child!"

Then we kept following the curve up the road. They heard our engines straining and wheels crunching the gravel and came running.

And they just kept coming.

We hurriedly unloaded and tried setting up while dozens of eyes looked on.

The parachute bag served as an effective weight on the easel.

Nathan counted 78 kids and grown-ups, no including our team.

They listened while we sang the first song and clapped politely when we finished.  The next song (If You Have Faith Like a Mustard Seed) was a little more interactive.  Kimberly grabbed a helper and the ice started to break.

Then Eda started the first lesson.  "Who Created the World?"

I was so proud of her.  And so glad I was wearing sunglasses.
To everyone who has invested in the ministry in Albania over the past two decades, we witnessed the miracle of replication.

The wind was crazy loud, but we discovered it was much quieter on the back side of the school.

The parachute was an enormous hit.  Parents even joined in!

Smiles and more smiles.

American toddlers are quite the novelty... Props to her mama, Faith, for sharing her daughter. ;-)

We were so grateful for our buddy, Luli, who joined us and gave a much needed hand!

Before we knew it, it was time to go!  They said they wanted us to come back next week!

Thank you, Lord, for going ahead of us!  He answered your prayers!

Keepin' it Together

Every night as we tuck the kids in bed Ellie announces the next number in the countdown -- the number of sleeps until the Asbury team comes.

There are a lot of reasons why the kids are extra excited about this particular set of visitors.

Reni remembers the 'guy time' he had with the group that came 2 years ago.  I've tried to prepare him for the fact that it will be a different group of people this time.  Sorry buddy, Bryce has graduated and has a job.

Our budding guitar-ist (Ellie) is looking forward to in-person guitar lessons from a real expert (Jonathan) and not just some guy on YouTube.  "He says, 'Good job!', Mom, and he can't even hear me!   Then he moves on before I'm ready!"  she says of YouTube teacher Andy.

The grown-ups know that visitors generate a buzz in the village.  Friends coming from the States will return with a new understanding of where we live and what we do.  They will have names and faces that will be familiar next time they read one of our updates.

But it's not just Asbury.  We have three college interns coming for 7 weeks just two days after the team leaves.  Then we have two families coming in early June!

How in the world am I keeping it together?  It's a lot of planning -- from schedules, to meals, to transportation and housing. (But I think a weird part of me likes the thrill of the challenge...)

I've always been a list maker.  I think the physical act of writing down all those rapid-fire thoughts racing through my brain helps me feel a greater sense of control -- I can't be surprised by something I forgot to do because the written reminder itself will be its own insurance from forgetfulness, right?

Then my tech-y husband introduced me to Google Keep last fall.  I'm in love.  It's on my phone and always open on my laptop.  Google Keep is my digital list of lists. And I have never used it more than I have in the last two months.

On Keep I can jot down titles of Albanian worship songs to look up online later.  I can keep my ever-running list of groceries or to what errands we need to run on our next trip to Tirana.

I have a running list of what we usually bring from the States so when someone asks what they can send us, I can suggest something lighter in weight than peanut butter, my default answer.

I have a list of projects for the volunteers to tackle this summer and a list of supplies we need to borrow or purchase to furnish the interns' rental house.

I can also store a photo of that random item I need to buy at the store when only a photo will adequately show the clerk what we're looking for.

But it's not just out of a weird need to be in control, I also believe (and hope) that with good planning I can enjoy myself more while our guests are here!  We can squeeze more into our time together with the right planning.  If I cook ahead, that means less time spent in food prep and clean up and more time with people.  If I have that list of what I need at the hardware store, Nathan won't have to make a special trip later because we forgot that 'one thing' the last time we were there.

(Oh yeah, I can share my lists with Nathan's phone too -- it auto syncs).

No, this is not a sponsored blog post.
But yes, now I can check off 'post to the blog' on my list of 'things to do.'