Half way through Sunday and I am already about to cry


My last day in Lushnje is now halfway over. All my goodbyes seem to have gone so quickly, and now I am two coffee visits away from leaving Lushnje for good.

Last night Jess and the OM team gave me a going away party that was so kind and re-announcing who my true family was in Albania. The leader of OM said that when they heard a Nazarene missionary was moving to Lushnje on her own, they were unsure what kind of girl would do that. Ha, but he went on to say that he was so glad that I became apart of the family and that OM would accept me anytime and would miss me greatly.

This morning at church our small room where we meet was full of people, and I could not be more over joyed to see so many faces I had seen through out the year. At the end elke had me come up front and gave me a present. She gave me a coffee cup, and said to everyone "You have never seen someone like coffee as much as Emily!". They also gave me a beautiful book all about Albania with great pictures. Everyone in the church signed it and game tons of best wishes, and I was overwhelmed with thanks.

After the service we had pizza and spent a couple hours reminiscing over the year. It was a great ending to my time spent in the Lushnje church. It has come along way since when I first stepped inside the tiny upstairs room in Elkes home, to a nice building and open people.

Standing on the steps and telling goodbye to all the lovely faces, tugged at my heart pretty strongly. The hardest goodbyes were said to my Albanian grandparents Vasisli and Olga. They were my first true experience with Albanians and I will never forget them. Also saying goodbye to Elke, Lukas, and then Debora. As the car door shut she said in english "I love you and you will e-mail me". The little 4 year old girl who at the beginning new zero english, ended our time with that perfectly put together sentence. It was beautiful, and brought tears to my eyes.

Tomorrow morning I will travel to Tirane for the last time, and will make sure I am all ready to go for my early flight on Tuesday morning.

Well Goodbye Lushnje, thanks for giving me an experience I will never forget and showing me a whole new way to live for God.

Grace and Peace friends

Comments

renee said…
Emily, I cried as I read your blog feeling that a little bit of me was saying good-bye with you. Knowing a lot of the faces in the picture and being in the places you were talking about brought back my own memories. I'm so glad I got to visit so that I could feel a little of what you’re feeling. I know it is hard to say good-bye but we are excited about having you home. Now the Albania’s know what we have known your whole life. You are an amazing girl that we gave to God and now he is using you to help in his world. We love you and are proud of you. Marmi
September 13, 2009 at 4:36 PM
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