Accepting the Gift

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

For this fiercely independent American girl living in Albanian culture, to give means to receive graciously. To accept the lavish gift of relationship poured out upon me. To share a whole lot more of myself than what's comfortable and give up my privacy and independence.

New Years Eve Reflections

Several someones have suggested that one of the devil's tricks is to keep Christ-followers so busy that Christ is crowded out - out of their thoughts, out of their time, out of their relationships, out of life. I struggle with this sin, this thinking that by somehow accomplishing more tasks, ministering to more people, doing more for Jesus will make Him happy with me. On the mission field this problem is magnified ten-fold, as I rush from task to task, person to person, as if I were their savior, as if I were on a race against time, trying to save as many people as possible before… before… before what?

If you don't go see that person now, they're going to think you don't care.

They won't like you unless you make a good impression.

If you don't get that done, you're on a slippery slope to failure. 

If you make a mistake, you will ruin your chance at this ministry.

Lies. Guilt.

The Cost of Christmas

Christmas in a formerly atheistic, now predominantly Muslim nation is a very different experience than in historically-Christian America. Instead, New Years is the major holiday. In my Muslim neighborhood, people are decorating New Years trees and putting up New Years lights. December 25th will be a day just like any other for most people in Albania.

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year in the States with everybody getting into the decorations, festive music, TV specials, concerts and Christmas baking, but in my neighborhood it takes some effort to "get in the spirit of Christmas." I re-watched the movie, The Nativity Story, to help get myself "in the spirit." It focuses on the lives of Mary and Joseph when they suddenly found themselves called by God to an incredibly difficult task.

A Traditional Food Experience

This Thanksgiving week is also a week of Albanian holidays! (None of which are Thanksgiving, by the way. I'm definitely gonna miss waking up to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year!) November 28th is Albania's Independence Day with schools and the government closed, so at least it will feel normal for Americans to celebrate a holiday, too.

Various parts of Albania were ruled by different nations at different points in history, from the French, to the Germans, to the Turks. A great deal of variety exists between cities and villages, which means that each city represented in our squatter community celebrates different religious and cultural traditions. Last weekend the Albanian family with whom I used to live invited me to celebrate a holiday of theirs celebrated in their northern village.

I Am Not a Pumpkin!

Being immersed in a new language means that I misunderstand people every single day. It means I need to be very flexible, laugh at myself, and take no offense at what people might say to me. Cultures differ in what is appropriate in conversation. While telling an American that they are "fat" is offensive, in Albania there is no shame in talking directly to a person about their weight. I have noticed that a great percentage of females my age and younger are extremely thin. In comparison, I have been called "fat," but I brush it off and take no offense, recognizing that it's a different standard than what I am accustomed to.