A Little Taste of Home...
Christmas was interesting and was a time I will never forget but...
I was in a desperate need to get away and have a True Holiday Vacation.
Let me just give a pre - story to this story:
I have hit the two month time here in Albania. I dont know how I can explain what I am going through to people who havent been in my situation but I shall try. When I was told that I would be living here for a year, it did not fase me a bit. I thought of myself as wonder woman and I could handle anything. Well all my amazing strength disappeared the second I moved to Lushnje. Thankfully God was right there holding me up, but without him I would probably be back at home in Nashville right now. I would have ran from this situation like a scarred little chicken. God has kept me strong, and shown me amazing things. For the first month after I got use to my surroundings, I really became intrigued with this country and was ready to serve. Then the holidays came. I began to miss my family like never before. It was hard, but thanks to God and skype I got through it. Not only did I miss my family during christmas, I also had to do a lot of work the week of christmas. So my holiday wasnt really a holiday. Which is pretty usual for a lot of people. We dont actually get a break becuase all the crazyness of the season. Well this year I was needed in three different places at the same time. Sadly I was not shared well, and fatigue and confusion was very evident.
Anyways now onto the actual story:
Ryan, Kaci, Tate, and Mya are a mission volunteer family here. They are going through the same thing as me Mission Corps and we will be here for about the same exact amount of time. We were actually in the same CCO (Cross Culture Orientation) together, which was the thing I went to last october in Kansas City. They were some of the first people I met that weekend, we did not spent to much time talking but I did remember them. They first came here last January and was here for seven months. Then came back here about a week or two weeks after I came and they will be here till september as well.
They are an amazing family, and I have loved getting to know them. They have been so kind to me and welcomed me in. They invited me to spend christmas with them and stay till after new years but I was needed in Lushnje so could not be with them on christmas. So on monday I hopped on a bus and headed back to Tirana and headed towards there home.
I was in such a need for something American. Most people on there first trip over seas, just get a taste of the forign life but then head back home. I am not going to get that, so to survive I needed something familiar. Well the Ronne's have given that to me.
Monday:
I was invited to have lunch with the rest of the team at a locals house, but my bus was late and I didnt make it on time. This was a good thing. The Ronne's left there keys for me at the church and I went to there home and just relaxed. The family was gone for pretty much the whole afternoon and It was amazing. I havent had time to just let my shoulders down, do nothing and just lay around without caring about interacting with the family. It felt good my friends. When The Ronne's did come home the came bearing gifts. I got 4 boxses from the states! It was amazing, christmas came a couple days late but it was well worth it. I couldnt belive what the church had done for me and I was so thankful. That night Kaci sat down with me and we planned a menu for the rest fo the week. She wanted to make me american meals that I have been missing. How kind is she?
Tuesday:
I awoke tuesday so peacfully, true relaxtion was there and it felt nice. Kaci made me chocolate chip pancakes with SYRUP!!!!! I literally savoured every bite, they were miraculous. The rest of the day I knitted like an old woman, had Sloppy joes (OHHH YEAH!!!!) and then me and kaci went on a really really long walk into the center of town to get supplies for the part the next day. It was so great. Like I have said many times I love to walk , and this was a wonderful stretch of the legs. It also was grand because I really got to talk to Kaci, she is truly an amazing person and I am so thankful to have such a good friend here. She excepts me for who I am, even with all my crazyness. I dont have to hold back around there family and I love that. That night we had BBQ chichen with hand made apple sauce. Did I mention Kaci is an amzing cook, well because she is.
Wednesday:
I woke up and made myself some hot tea and maple syrup oatmeal. It felt like I was back at home, it was warm and wonderful. For lunch I made the family egg salad sanwiches, they had never had such a sanwhich before. I think they enjoyed them, but I know I really did. The afternoon was spent preparing for a New Years Party! The team here was getting together at the main missionaries house and having a FIESTA for new years. I made cinnamon & sugar tortilla chips to dip in a fruit salad. It is a recipe that I wont mind trying again. Kaci made fajhita's and queso dip, and Jen (the wife of the other missionary couple here) made enchiladas. The food was Excellent. Can you tell I was missing americanized food just a little bit. After the food we talked for many hours. Then 30 minutes before midnight we prayed. It was a wonderful time.
Let me just say about midnight in Tirana, Albania on New Years. New Years is huge to Albanians, they dont really celebrate christmas. They do all our christmas traditions on New Years. They have a New Years Tree, and at midnight they give eachother New Year's presents. Sounds crazy hu? But one thing they do and they do it right. Is New Years Eve. At midnight eversingle person in Tirana sets off fireworks at the smae exact time. Now right before I left for albania, and I went and saw the fireworks in cincinatti I was blown away by them. Well on new years eve that was no longer the best. Seeing fireworks buzz around your head in every direction, wherever you look is a sight to see. I went from the perfectly planned out music set to ones in Cincinatti, to out of control who knows if you might get you head knocked off ones in tirana. Both absolutly beautiful but completly different. I can not truly explain how amazing the moment was standing there in the amidst of the color ful balls of fire. But here is a link to a video that might give you a little glimpse but it really is not enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s4JqkipHSs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bTmy4_VUI8
Thursday:
We woke up very late but had to get going, becuase we were all invited over to a church members house for a visit. It was just a visit but we were served lunch, it was very good, and all of the amazing tradition albanian food. For the dessert we had backlava and turkish coffee, it was grand. The main missionaries kids stayed over at The Ronne's house last night and we had a dance party. I love to dance with kids.
Friday:
Today was entertain the kids day, we played games and made donuts that actually tasted like krispey Kream. Did I mention that kaci is a phenominal cook.
It has been an amazing week and I shall go home tomorrow. I am so thankful for this week and I know it was God sent. I know God will lead me in the next couple of weeks but I pray for motivation. I hope that does not sound bad, but sometimes it is hard when you are doing this on your own. But I know I m here for a reason and God is in controll.
I hope you all have hand a grand week as well and if you ever feel like talking I am here friends!
I was in a desperate need to get away and have a True Holiday Vacation.
Let me just give a pre - story to this story:
I have hit the two month time here in Albania. I dont know how I can explain what I am going through to people who havent been in my situation but I shall try. When I was told that I would be living here for a year, it did not fase me a bit. I thought of myself as wonder woman and I could handle anything. Well all my amazing strength disappeared the second I moved to Lushnje. Thankfully God was right there holding me up, but without him I would probably be back at home in Nashville right now. I would have ran from this situation like a scarred little chicken. God has kept me strong, and shown me amazing things. For the first month after I got use to my surroundings, I really became intrigued with this country and was ready to serve. Then the holidays came. I began to miss my family like never before. It was hard, but thanks to God and skype I got through it. Not only did I miss my family during christmas, I also had to do a lot of work the week of christmas. So my holiday wasnt really a holiday. Which is pretty usual for a lot of people. We dont actually get a break becuase all the crazyness of the season. Well this year I was needed in three different places at the same time. Sadly I was not shared well, and fatigue and confusion was very evident.
Anyways now onto the actual story:
The Ronne's
Ryan, Kaci, Tate, and Mya are a mission volunteer family here. They are going through the same thing as me Mission Corps and we will be here for about the same exact amount of time. We were actually in the same CCO (Cross Culture Orientation) together, which was the thing I went to last october in Kansas City. They were some of the first people I met that weekend, we did not spent to much time talking but I did remember them. They first came here last January and was here for seven months. Then came back here about a week or two weeks after I came and they will be here till september as well.
They are an amazing family, and I have loved getting to know them. They have been so kind to me and welcomed me in. They invited me to spend christmas with them and stay till after new years but I was needed in Lushnje so could not be with them on christmas. So on monday I hopped on a bus and headed back to Tirana and headed towards there home.
I was in such a need for something American. Most people on there first trip over seas, just get a taste of the forign life but then head back home. I am not going to get that, so to survive I needed something familiar. Well the Ronne's have given that to me.
Monday:
I was invited to have lunch with the rest of the team at a locals house, but my bus was late and I didnt make it on time. This was a good thing. The Ronne's left there keys for me at the church and I went to there home and just relaxed. The family was gone for pretty much the whole afternoon and It was amazing. I havent had time to just let my shoulders down, do nothing and just lay around without caring about interacting with the family. It felt good my friends. When The Ronne's did come home the came bearing gifts. I got 4 boxses from the states! It was amazing, christmas came a couple days late but it was well worth it. I couldnt belive what the church had done for me and I was so thankful. That night Kaci sat down with me and we planned a menu for the rest fo the week. She wanted to make me american meals that I have been missing. How kind is she?
Tuesday:
I awoke tuesday so peacfully, true relaxtion was there and it felt nice. Kaci made me chocolate chip pancakes with SYRUP!!!!! I literally savoured every bite, they were miraculous. The rest of the day I knitted like an old woman, had Sloppy joes (OHHH YEAH!!!!) and then me and kaci went on a really really long walk into the center of town to get supplies for the part the next day. It was so great. Like I have said many times I love to walk , and this was a wonderful stretch of the legs. It also was grand because I really got to talk to Kaci, she is truly an amazing person and I am so thankful to have such a good friend here. She excepts me for who I am, even with all my crazyness. I dont have to hold back around there family and I love that. That night we had BBQ chichen with hand made apple sauce. Did I mention Kaci is an amzing cook, well because she is.
Wednesday:
I woke up and made myself some hot tea and maple syrup oatmeal. It felt like I was back at home, it was warm and wonderful. For lunch I made the family egg salad sanwiches, they had never had such a sanwhich before. I think they enjoyed them, but I know I really did. The afternoon was spent preparing for a New Years Party! The team here was getting together at the main missionaries house and having a FIESTA for new years. I made cinnamon & sugar tortilla chips to dip in a fruit salad. It is a recipe that I wont mind trying again. Kaci made fajhita's and queso dip, and Jen (the wife of the other missionary couple here) made enchiladas. The food was Excellent. Can you tell I was missing americanized food just a little bit. After the food we talked for many hours. Then 30 minutes before midnight we prayed. It was a wonderful time.
Let me just say about midnight in Tirana, Albania on New Years. New Years is huge to Albanians, they dont really celebrate christmas. They do all our christmas traditions on New Years. They have a New Years Tree, and at midnight they give eachother New Year's presents. Sounds crazy hu? But one thing they do and they do it right. Is New Years Eve. At midnight eversingle person in Tirana sets off fireworks at the smae exact time. Now right before I left for albania, and I went and saw the fireworks in cincinatti I was blown away by them. Well on new years eve that was no longer the best. Seeing fireworks buzz around your head in every direction, wherever you look is a sight to see. I went from the perfectly planned out music set to ones in Cincinatti, to out of control who knows if you might get you head knocked off ones in tirana. Both absolutly beautiful but completly different. I can not truly explain how amazing the moment was standing there in the amidst of the color ful balls of fire. But here is a link to a video that might give you a little glimpse but it really is not enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s4JqkipHSs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bTmy4_VUI8
Thursday:
We woke up very late but had to get going, becuase we were all invited over to a church members house for a visit. It was just a visit but we were served lunch, it was very good, and all of the amazing tradition albanian food. For the dessert we had backlava and turkish coffee, it was grand. The main missionaries kids stayed over at The Ronne's house last night and we had a dance party. I love to dance with kids.
Friday:
Today was entertain the kids day, we played games and made donuts that actually tasted like krispey Kream. Did I mention that kaci is a phenominal cook.
It has been an amazing week and I shall go home tomorrow. I am so thankful for this week and I know it was God sent. I know God will lead me in the next couple of weeks but I pray for motivation. I hope that does not sound bad, but sometimes it is hard when you are doing this on your own. But I know I m here for a reason and God is in controll.
I hope you all have hand a grand week as well and if you ever feel like talking I am here friends!
Comments
We love you
We are praying for you
Tell your friends thanks for taking care of our sister.
I heard from dad your moving to your own apt. awesome. That will be mucho bueno. We love you.
Peace.
Rob