June, part 5 | The Interns (and other random bits)

Visitors bring an energy and excitement to our special summer programs.  We were happy to welcome three summer interns who came for 7 and 9 weeks. 

Ellie and Eda share a moment in the van ride to kids club in Metalle...

John spent 11 months with us in 2018.  It was lovely to have him return and see all of the changes and growth in the ministry scope and team size.  He loves sports, but particularly basketball and was happy to give Luis and Luli some coaching pointers in basketball.  While Luis and Luli primarily coach soccer, they have been asked to provide training for a small Special Olympics basketball team in Tirana. John played collegiate basketball under a gifted coach whose training John passed along in his sessions. 

Below, E poses with a craft designed by Belen for kids club to accompany the week's memory verse, "Be still and know that I am God..."  (Psalm 46:10) The reverse side was a "stop sign."  Very clever!

John's visit was to fulfill a cross-cultural component of his mentored ministry requirement at Asbury Seminary.  Below, Nathan and John consult with his supervising professor (our dear friend, Dr. Jonathan Powers) about the direction of John's research.

Chloe and Melissa hosted a slumber party one evening for the missionary girls.  We heard MUCH loud singing and laughter downstairs!  What a gift they gave to provide our girls with some feminine fun they often don't get to experience in our isolated setting!

In anticipation of the Asbury team coming, we utilized the help of our interns to shop and prep food for in the weeks leading up to July.  Below, that is THREE shopping carts worth of food.  That's only one of many grocery trips!  I must confess it's at times like these that I long for a place like Sam's Club or "click and shop" services with curbside pick up, ha ha.

Another reality for us is carrying groceries up to our second-floor apartment.  I was never more grateful for the extra hands, just in carrying the food upstairs!

Below, I texted someone and said, "Seven eggs down, thirty-seven more to go!"

Cooking ahead saves my sanity.  Later, we would assemble these into breakfast sandwiches to freeze and reheat later, after the team arrived.

The girls were great about jumping into our evening workout classes -- even when it was sooo hot and we moved outside!  The summer season took a toll on our numbers, but a few dedicated ones remained.

We didn't work them completely to the bone. :-) One day I took them on a trip up to Shkoder for the day to visit Rozafa Castle, Middle Bridge (a beautiful model of Ottoman architecture), the Museum of Witness and Memory (a site of communist-era religious persecution), and an art center that produces Venetian masks exported and sold at stores around the world!

This castle withstood multiple sieges against the Ottomans in the 1400s. Fascinating stories!

Melissa at Middle Bridge.

Above, they pose with the factory owner.  We were given a tour of the production floor, but sadly we were not permitted to photograph the amazing artists who were creating these pieces.

John prepared a special message that he shared at church one Friday evening.  He did a great job!  He and Melissa also worked each week to prepare worship for our church services.  Everyone was amazed that he led worship in Albanian!  This was thanks to his language study from his prior visit ... and lots of practice during the week!

Not pictured, but just as valued are the hours they spent playing with the village kids, prepping the guesthouse and Jeta for all of our summer visitors, spending time with Ellie and Reni, running the special programs at VT, and just filling in wherever we asked them to!

Click here to view a handful of highlight reels stitched together:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTgNseATcs4