So ta da da video number tre
this video is of my own personal laundromat and some of the way cool kids.
Yesterday I hit the two week mark on making my home here in Lushnje. I am not usually a ritual kind of person meaning like celebrating every two weeks, month, or 5 month anniversary. But they are very big with traditions like that here so I thought I would honor that. My comfort level here has now gone up to pretty much complete. It probably fully became complete the day we got wirless here, and oh am I thankful for that day. Thanks to Skype and Facebook, my family and friends do not feel so far away.
Here is a list of things I have now learned on week two in Lushnje:
- No mattter who you are with or where you are going here, no one will ever tell you exactly what you are about to do. I don't know if it is language barrier, language translation, or just being in Albania but I seem to be never expecting whats next. Yesterday I was asked by the family i'm staying with to go visit there sister with them. So I said sure thinking it would be a quick easy visit. It ended us we were going to a mourning for the sisters father in law. So a group of people gathered in her house, and showed there condolences. There is nothing worng with that, but I just felt a little odd since I was not a part of the family, never met the man, and had no clue this is what I was showing up for. Yeah this sort of thing keeps on happening.
- My largest fear is fear itself. Yes I did not come up with this one, but it has been something I have been thinking about lately. Every time I try something new here, or do something I was very unsure of It is no where compared to the pain I thought it would be. Yesterday I rode the bus here. I don't know why but I had this crazy fear of riding the bus here. Well I guess I do know why because I had heard lots of stories of things that has happened in the past. Anyways it was no big deal at all, I do not doubt at all that God was there with me and protected me, but it was super easy and not dark and creepy like I had imagined in my mind.
- I am always amazed by the Albanians hospitality. When you go over to someone's house no matter if they have almost nothing they will give you the very best of what they have. They will never let you serve it to yourself or help them put it up. They are so honored to have you in there home. I have also noticed they do not just act this way for me the foreigner, if anyone makes a visit to your home this is how you greet them. They bring out there nicest china, there most expensive candy, cookies, and juice. Then they place it elegantly in front of you. There is no way you can not feel warmed and welcomed my there kindness.
- A smile can go a long way. When there is a language barrier, you automatically feel uncomfortable and only can lean on emotions draped across the other persons face. At first people thought that I was unhappy or sad to be here, because I always had a blank expression on my face because I didn't understand what they were saying so had no emotion to it. But then I decided no matter what, I would smile constantly. This change in emotion has helped so many things. I have been able to feel more comfortable around the grandmother of the house because I just smile her way and she backs down about me not eating enough. When I'm visiting someones home they don't hesitate to have me in there home.
- The last thing I have learned this past week is even if I become comfortable here I know I will never feel normal here. I know how great things can be, and I also have heard how much worse things can be. Albania is in the middle between two different worlds. They have many problems, some are slowly rising out of the gutter and the others seem to have no end in sight. But the new generation seems to be pretty open for change and is looking to any country that has it better then them. I think it does have an opportunity to become a stronger better country, but i can only pray that they see that as well.
Well keep praying for church here, we have planted the seeds, were just waiting for the flower.
Here is a list of things I have now learned on week two in Lushnje:
- No mattter who you are with or where you are going here, no one will ever tell you exactly what you are about to do. I don't know if it is language barrier, language translation, or just being in Albania but I seem to be never expecting whats next. Yesterday I was asked by the family i'm staying with to go visit there sister with them. So I said sure thinking it would be a quick easy visit. It ended us we were going to a mourning for the sisters father in law. So a group of people gathered in her house, and showed there condolences. There is nothing worng with that, but I just felt a little odd since I was not a part of the family, never met the man, and had no clue this is what I was showing up for. Yeah this sort of thing keeps on happening.
- My largest fear is fear itself. Yes I did not come up with this one, but it has been something I have been thinking about lately. Every time I try something new here, or do something I was very unsure of It is no where compared to the pain I thought it would be. Yesterday I rode the bus here. I don't know why but I had this crazy fear of riding the bus here. Well I guess I do know why because I had heard lots of stories of things that has happened in the past. Anyways it was no big deal at all, I do not doubt at all that God was there with me and protected me, but it was super easy and not dark and creepy like I had imagined in my mind.
- I am always amazed by the Albanians hospitality. When you go over to someone's house no matter if they have almost nothing they will give you the very best of what they have. They will never let you serve it to yourself or help them put it up. They are so honored to have you in there home. I have also noticed they do not just act this way for me the foreigner, if anyone makes a visit to your home this is how you greet them. They bring out there nicest china, there most expensive candy, cookies, and juice. Then they place it elegantly in front of you. There is no way you can not feel warmed and welcomed my there kindness.
- A smile can go a long way. When there is a language barrier, you automatically feel uncomfortable and only can lean on emotions draped across the other persons face. At first people thought that I was unhappy or sad to be here, because I always had a blank expression on my face because I didn't understand what they were saying so had no emotion to it. But then I decided no matter what, I would smile constantly. This change in emotion has helped so many things. I have been able to feel more comfortable around the grandmother of the house because I just smile her way and she backs down about me not eating enough. When I'm visiting someones home they don't hesitate to have me in there home.
- The last thing I have learned this past week is even if I become comfortable here I know I will never feel normal here. I know how great things can be, and I also have heard how much worse things can be. Albania is in the middle between two different worlds. They have many problems, some are slowly rising out of the gutter and the others seem to have no end in sight. But the new generation seems to be pretty open for change and is looking to any country that has it better then them. I think it does have an opportunity to become a stronger better country, but i can only pray that they see that as well.
Well keep praying for church here, we have planted the seeds, were just waiting for the flower.
Comments
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May you see God in every strange face, feel His presence in every friendly touch, and hear His voice in the sounds of the night, as the God's light shines through your window.
I love you Ems