For a month with 31 days, May passed quickly! A few key events jump to the forefront of my mind as consuming the bulk of our planning and time...
Launch -- Regional Orientation
As the number of global workers mobilized from outside of the USA has grown, our sending org has shifted from US-based trainings to regionally-hosted trainings. The first nine days of May found us hosting folks working in five nations within our region for several days of training on practical matters as well as orgnizational distinctives.
Nathan and I managed the training logistics (lodging, meals, airport transportation, and meeting space) as well as provided content for three training sessions while our regional director planned the agenda and arranged presenters. We enjoyed seeing old friends, and getting better acquainted with new ones.
Ellie was thrilled to reunite with the Archers, who represent some of her biggest interests: music (Ruth) and apologetics (Vince).
We transformed the gym into a training space, where presenters were recorded so trainings could be shared with those who could not attend in person. Nathan oversaw the technology involved in recording multiple audio tracks and video.
Because of various work schedules of attendees whose schedules didn't align perfectly, we hosted training over multiple days, so some days the content was repeated. It was a balancing act to fit our trainings into spaces and hours when Jeta wasn't in use!
About half of the participants spoke Spanish as their first language -- hence Vince provided live translation from the women's locker room!
In the evenings we enjoyed times of fellowship -- like this evening around the firepit.
Below, our regional director, Joy, remained in Albania until May 11 -- so we were able to have meetings in person, which are always more effective! Below, we drop her at the airport.
In the midst of hosting an extra 6-10 folks around our table each evening (those were just the guests staying with us -- it didn't count others staying with local teammates), I noticed that the food in our freezer was going soft! We quickly moved everything to our deep freezer.
Our informal testing confirmed things were not functioning as they should.
So in the midst of everything else going on, we bought a new fridge! And we found one on a really good sale! Remember the dishwasher saga from March? At that point in time we were six weeks into waiting for that appliance to be repaired, so we had no idea how long a fridge diagnostic and fix could take.
Thankfully, we were able to get our 10-year-old fridge repaired and give it to our colleagues -- who unbeknownst to us had been praying for a larger fridge!
Thankfully, we were able to get our 10-year-old fridge repaired and give it to our colleagues -- who unbeknownst to us had been praying for a larger fridge!
 |
| We had to remove the stair railing to get the old fridge down the stairs and the new on up! It was still a tight fit! |
Medical Clinic
The next week brought a guest to our home from South Carolina, Reshma T. Her visit coincided with a medical clinic hosted by our friends from Hope for the World, in the neighboring village of Marikaj.
For three days we greeted walk-ins, ascertained their respective medical needs, and directed them to the appropriate registration tables for consults. Ellie, our social butterfly, was in her element meeting all of the nursing students and their professors and professional counterparts -- all visiting from the USA. It was quite the clinic and, over the course of 3 days, we welcomed about 700 friends and neighbors!
As interest in Albania grows from the international community, we have increasingly more interactions outside of our typical missional community. On Saturday, May 18, we hosted a soccer group from England. My understanding is that they travel internationally to connect cross-culturally with folks of other nations through the sport of soccer. Our pastor and his wife were asked to host this group, so they toured Jeta and then traveled with a group of men from our village by bus to play soccer on the municipal pitch in Shijak. Nathan represented the ministry in Vlashaj and helped ensure they had balls, water, and supplies for a safe match. All seemed to have a really good time and we heard from their tour guide that they really enjoyed Albania!
 |
| A friendly amateur match: Albania v England |
While Nathan was hosting the 'big boys', I was hanging out with the 'young boys' at kids club in Metalle... I grabbed this photo through the windshield as I drove away.
Visit by the McGradys
The following week (May 21-25) we hosted Ned and Marlene, member health coordinators from our sending org. This is the only photo I have of them, taken after hosting a team dinner in honor of Nathan's birthday after church. They met individually with each member of our team over the course of three days in Albania.
Earlier we celebrated three birthdays at church : Nathan, Anneco, and Luis!
As Hannah and Luli prepared for a summer of fundraising in the USA, they asked me to take some publicity shots for them. Here is one they didn't choose, but I really liked. :-)
Finally, my cell phone dump uncovered this selfie I took for my mom to show her the surprise new hair cut my hairdresser gave me! It took a while to grow on me, but I'm glad for the change!
And cooking club has turned into a Thursday afternoon highlight. These sweet girls help us prepare refreshments to serve in church each week.
We have made brownies, oatmeal bread, lava cake, baked ziti and more!
All in all, May was a great month and we are thankful for all the opportunities it provided!
