Travel Week to…
ALBANIA!
Cochabamba, Bolivia
La Paz, Bolivia
Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Miami, Florida, USA
New York, New York, USA
Istanbul, Turkey
Tirana, Albania
Vlore, Albania
So were here in Vlore, Albania, safe and sound! That is literally a picture of our
city, though that is certainly not the house we are living in. We are living in a college
dorm further in the city, about two miles inland from the water. (I googled the
picture above, so far we’ve only been to the beach when it’s cloudy.) We arrived
here after flying from La Paz, Bolivia to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, to Miami, Florida, to New York City, to Istanbul, Turkey, to Tirana, Albania, and taking a four hour van ride
here. It was quite the week.
AMERICA
My parents brought a bunch of us Chick Fil A and
pumpkin muffins in NYC, and we were absolutely giddy. Collectively as a squad I
think we may have made the Miami Airport Starbucks run out of pumpkin flavored
items. In NYC, we stayed in a hotel, and were completely baffled by things like
the hot showers and continental breakfast. We then all made a Target run for
warmer clothing for Europe, things we needed, and more pumpkin or fall things.
It. Was. So. Weird. A blessing, but really surreal.
Istanbul, Turkey
Now we are back to going to the
bathroom in holes in the ground and knowing about 4 words of Albanian. In Turkey, we got Turkish Delight, took a picture with a Turkish man, and waited in way too many lines. Albania is beautiful. We haven’t been around much, besides the beach once (the Adiratic/Ionian/Mediterranean Sea… we’re still figuring that out), but we can tell it’s
a beautiful country. It smells like coffee and cigarettes.
Me sitting by the sea on a cloudy day.
Vlore is about 70 nautical miles from Italy, and Athens, Greece is about a 9 hour ride. The weather is exactly like autumn at home and it’s awesome. When we ordered
hot chocolate to celebrate, we got hot chocolate pudding in a cute little mug and I immediately fell in love with Albania. Fifteen years ago, Albania was closed to all visitors, especially Christians. The harvest is ripe 🙂
Really, really excited about country number 4 with palm trees. Made up for the clouds.
It’s so weird changing cultures and languages. In America, we accidentally spoke Spanish to everyone, and here, we try both before realizing our point is not getting across. This morning when ordering breakfast, we ordered eggs by bending our arms and flapping our “wings” like a chicken, and then making a little circle with our hands. (We wanted eggs, and we got out eggs.) Unfortunately, however, it seems to be Albanian custom to pour liquid lard on their eggs, and I got some on my dress. Such is life on the World Race.
Oh, lastly, there’s a giant SANTA that lives in our room. Currently, we’re all squished in a room, and I built a fort and sleep under it, while Santa watches over. He’s super creepy, and he definitely knows when we’re sleeping and when we’re awake. Soon, we will be more spread out (excuse the mess in this picture), but Santa will still be our roommate. So much for an all-girls team.
Anyway: the important stuff… we are living in a girl’s dorm at the college in Vlore, working with Campus Crusade for Christ (now CRU), and love it. We have good showers for once one the race, but we have to go to the bathroom in a hole. Always a good time. We start ministry tomorrow with CRU, and we’re pumped. Our goal is to make real friendships with the girls, invite them to events, tell them about the Lord, bring them out for coffee and follow up conversations, hook them up with church, etc. We also have a few American Culture nights planned, where we are going to show them dances like the YMCA, the Cupid Shuffle, and the Cha Cha Slide. A Halloween party is also in the mix. Pray for us, pray our translators are awesome, because currently I can only say hello, goodbye, thank you, i’m sorry, one, two, friend, and egg (and the last one is in sign language.) Ministry update soon 🙂 College life, without the Christians and the homework. Let’s do this thing.
Oh, and in case you don’t know what a squatty potty is, this is a pretty nice one.
Hi Steph,
Glad to see that you arrived safely. Been praying for your whole trip. Scenery is gorgeous. If I tried that potty, I’d look like the commercial for life support necklace, “HELP! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!!” Really enjoy the blogs. Continuing to cover you in prayer.
When Tom was little the potty was a log over a trench and an extra large woman broke the log. She needed to be hosed down. Praise the Lord for your squatty potty!!!
Love, Peg
Steph,
It looks pretty nice there. When I was In Zimbabwe we had to use ‘The Hole’, except ours was just a hole in the concrete. Wow girl, it looks like you’ve got yerselves a luxury hole….WooHoo! An’ it’s got it’self a name….A that there Squatty Potty!! I have to go gross out and I’m not even over the 12 guinea pigs yet!!
I’m glas you got to see your Dad and get yer Chic FilA!! Yum, that more than makes up for the ‘potty’!! WooHoo! In all seriousness, we are praying that your all girl (minus that horrendous Santa) team is a super influence for the cause of Christ!
Love, Susan
Steph,
I was wondering if any of the parents could make the trip to NYC. You were lucky to have your folks so close. I know there was quite the reunion after 3 months.
I have enjoyed following team “Love Song” these past three months and now a new team !!! Go and share the Good News!!!
Psa 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
Yeah. We are all about that PLANNED Halloween party. Bring it.
Step,
I love getting your updates. Your updates make me smile the entire time I read them. I’m so glad that you were able to see your parents on your way to Albania. What a blessing.
Know that we will be praying for you as you spend this month in Albania. I will be praying that as the harvest is ripe in Albania that it will be pentiful.
Be blessed!
Lisa