Visitors from Indiana! and an overnight in Berat

Our traditional "airport arrival pic" -- we nearly forgot (out of practice after a long winter), but Reni reminded us!

We're blessed to work for an organization that cares about our mental and spiritual health enough to send folks on a semi-regular basis for pastoral care.  It's especially nice when they are also long-time friends!  We've known Todd since we started working together in the fall of 1999.  He was a big help in our transition from campus ministry to Albania so that we could stay with our organization, but serve on loan to Planters (the foundation my parents started).  More than seven years after that conversation (he may have been the very first person we shared our first 'nudge-ings' to move here), it was a joy to share a bit of our lives with him, as well as his wife, Mindy!  He now pastors a church in Ft. Wayne, but his church as graciously released them to volunteer part time in a pastoral role to all missionaries in our organization living in Europe.

Todd shares greetings to our church in Vlashaj

Todd and Mindy chatting with some of our young adult friends

It was cold and rainy most of their visit, but Saturday was lovely out in the village!

Todd and Mindy came not just to see us, but to get to know our greater team here in Albania.  We found a brief window of time when we were all able to get away together for them to encourage us in a more relaxing setting.  Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon we got away to the beautiful Albanian town of Berat, about 90 minutes south east of where we live.  It was a first time for all of us to spend the night in this city, except for Nathan and Reni.

We enjoyed a couple of yummy meals out, but also crunched out some business too...

Berat is one of my favorite places to snap photos, and this trip was no exception with all the pretty flowers in bloom... I just didn't have the foresight in the midst of also hosting to think about trimming Ellie's bangs (sorry, Mom!) or cleaning Reni's fingernails....

Berat is said to have the highest concentration of Ottoman-style architecture of any city in the Balkans.  It also has a castle perched at the highest point in the city that began as a Roman garrison around 400 BC.  The perimeter eventually spread to the edges of the hilltop to contain an entire town which presently contains about 120 families within the castle walls.  We spent most of our time up in the castle, but came down to the old town for photos Saturday evening before dinner.

Someday he'll agree to wear something other than graphic t-shirts for special photos, right? :-)

The limited time-frame and weather also did not work in my favor... But thank you, Tiffany, for capturing this photo of our family!  What you don't see are all the pedestrians and cyclists walking between us and the camera! It was a hasty shoot.

The kids were good sports during our meetings, but we finished about 30 minutes before our lunch reservation so we pulled out the dominoes and got in two games.  Reni trounced us all!

 Living in a country with very few chain restaurants means that eating out is a bit of trial and error without some good advance research.  At the recommendation of friends about four years ago, we found a great hotel at the bottom of castle hill in Berat (Hotel Mangalemi).  But as tourism to Berat started to increase, we found that it was impossible to eat lunch there on most weekends as they only accommodated large tour groups.  At the recommendation of some other friends, we decided to try a new-to-us place up inside the castle.  When I dropped into make reservations Saturday, they told us that their tables indoors were all booked, but if we were okay to brave the weather, we could eat on their outdoor terrace.  It was beautiful so we agreed.

Unfortunately, just as we sat down it started to rain.  And rain, and rain.  If you see the shelter above us, it's lovely, but not necessarily designed to protect from rain as much as sun.  Thankfully, Nathan and I happened to sit under the two major leaky spots.  To say I was damp was a bit of an understatement.  The restaurateurs felt so bad, they comped all our beverages -- something I've never experienced before, but was certainly a nice gesture! We assured them we knew they couldn't control the weather, and I took responsibility for choosing the table.  I just hope no one in our group gets sick as a result!

But if you like vegetarian fergese and you ever go to Berat, you have to go to Hotel Klea!  YUM!!! I think it was the best I've ever had and worth the wet jeans. :-) (Fergese is a side-dish casserole of minced sweet red and green peppers, tomatoes, and a creamy cheese sort of like ricotta, baked in stoneware.  We usually eat it spread on bread.  The owner told us they made the cheese themselves!

Poppies are out in full force throughout Albania!  I LOVE IT!!  So pretty! I took way too many photos...

(below) A rare group photo!  Courtesy of Tiffany...

Albania is such a land of contrasts... For so long economic conditions have stifled development (and still do). A lack of resources mean buildings crumble or remain unfinished.  Trash is still shockingly abundant in some places.  But there are pockets of beauty and when you find them... wow. (photo below courtesy of Tiffany)

The cool, damp spring we have been enjoying has been amazing for Albania's roses!  SOOO gorgeous!

Hoping for dryer weather soon... until then!