Lately there have been several things that just make me smile about life here in Malishevë.
Today while traveling to a small village to treat my little patient, Çlerim, I saw a young boy, maybe 12 years old herding cattle along the side of the road with a stick. This is a normal sight, often the cattle have no human with them at all. But today...this boy had an i-pod and ear buds obviously listening to something while taking care of his cattle. I am pretty sure it wasn't "country" that he was listening to, more likely "rap".
Also today, while traveling in the car, I noticed a song that sounded familiar...not the typical Albanian music. When I payed closer attention, I realized it was the Beatles, and the song "Let it Be". I haven't' heard that song in a very long time...and I never expected to hear it here in Kosova.
Last Tuesday, the lock broke on my apartment door. The key just kept turning around and around without unlocking the door. I was on the inside, locked in. It took a while but I finally got a hold of someone to come help...and 3 men showed up. I threw the keys out the window to them so they could try to open the door from the outside. After about 30 minutes they got the door open. The funny part was when the 3 men were inside my apartment and almost shut the door with the broken lock still in place. That would have meant that I made coffee for these 3 men until they found someone else to get the door open from the outside.
God reveals to me these little pieces of life in Kosova...to make me smile and it relieves some of the fatigue from daily life. He always shows me something that makes me smile to myself, just when I really need it. He is faithful and meets me where I am each day. Thank you Lord! :-)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
S-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g....
I have been having a very hard time with my Albanian since I returned to Malishevë 3 weeks ago. I struggle with understanding what is being said as well as finding the words to communicate clearly.
God in His faithfulness continues to go before me each day, providing opportunities that force me out of my comfort zone and make me use my Albanian.
To start with, a family in our fellowship has agreed to only speak to me in Albanian. I went to Prishtina on Tuesday and took the oldest daughter with me. We spent about 5 hours talking about all kinds of things. There was one time when she started laughing...and I couldn't figure out why. It was because I understood a question someone asked her, and she couldn't figure out what the girl was saying.
Earlier this week I went to my favorite restaurant for a late lunch. I like to sit outside and watch people and just let my mind wander and think about things. Well...God had other plans. Kujtim, a man that comes to our fellowship sometimes, sat down and started speaking to me in Albanian. As I would struggle to find the words or say really strange grammar combinations, he would help me, and teach me the correct way to say what I was trying to say. It turned out to be a verbal Albanian lesson while I ate lunch and later we shared coffee.
I have a new patient, Çlerim, that I am treating in his home. The first session was yesterday, and the person who was to serve as my translator, could not make it to Malishevë to pick me up. So someone from the family came to get me. Guess what? Not one person in this family spoke English. I had to smile and say to myself..."OK Lord, I can't do this without You". There were some rough spots, and I had to use my little pocket dictionary a few times...but it worked out. I was actually able to teach the mom a few things to do with her son each day.
Next, Tuesday, I am starting a discipleship class for two young ladies in our fellowship, Besora and Albana. Albana is a new believer, only 2 months, and is hungry for the Word. I have a discipleship program to use that is already written in Albanian, but I have to study to understand the questions, and to be able to lead discussion at the end of the lesson. I am going to memorize the scriptures in Albanian...right along with the girls. Stay tuned...
God's word tells us to not be afraid, to not be dismayed as He is the One who goes before us. He is providing opportunities where I have to communicate in Albanian. I am becoming more confident in using what I have learned. He has given me the desire to be a part of this community in Kosova...and I have to be able to understand what they are saying to me, and to be able to communicate with them. There is a saying in Albanian..."pak nga pak"...which means "step by step". I think that is what the Lord is asking of me as well...obedience, one step at time.
God in His faithfulness continues to go before me each day, providing opportunities that force me out of my comfort zone and make me use my Albanian.
To start with, a family in our fellowship has agreed to only speak to me in Albanian. I went to Prishtina on Tuesday and took the oldest daughter with me. We spent about 5 hours talking about all kinds of things. There was one time when she started laughing...and I couldn't figure out why. It was because I understood a question someone asked her, and she couldn't figure out what the girl was saying.
Earlier this week I went to my favorite restaurant for a late lunch. I like to sit outside and watch people and just let my mind wander and think about things. Well...God had other plans. Kujtim, a man that comes to our fellowship sometimes, sat down and started speaking to me in Albanian. As I would struggle to find the words or say really strange grammar combinations, he would help me, and teach me the correct way to say what I was trying to say. It turned out to be a verbal Albanian lesson while I ate lunch and later we shared coffee.
I have a new patient, Çlerim, that I am treating in his home. The first session was yesterday, and the person who was to serve as my translator, could not make it to Malishevë to pick me up. So someone from the family came to get me. Guess what? Not one person in this family spoke English. I had to smile and say to myself..."OK Lord, I can't do this without You". There were some rough spots, and I had to use my little pocket dictionary a few times...but it worked out. I was actually able to teach the mom a few things to do with her son each day.
Next, Tuesday, I am starting a discipleship class for two young ladies in our fellowship, Besora and Albana. Albana is a new believer, only 2 months, and is hungry for the Word. I have a discipleship program to use that is already written in Albanian, but I have to study to understand the questions, and to be able to lead discussion at the end of the lesson. I am going to memorize the scriptures in Albanian...right along with the girls. Stay tuned...
God's word tells us to not be afraid, to not be dismayed as He is the One who goes before us. He is providing opportunities where I have to communicate in Albanian. I am becoming more confident in using what I have learned. He has given me the desire to be a part of this community in Kosova...and I have to be able to understand what they are saying to me, and to be able to communicate with them. There is a saying in Albanian..."pak nga pak"...which means "step by step". I think that is what the Lord is asking of me as well...obedience, one step at time.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
S'ka rrymë...S'ka ujë
No power...no water...
Thursday afternoon at 3pm, the power went out in Malishevë. This was not such an unusual thing, just an annoyance to work around for 2 or 3 hours and then it will be back on. Not this time, it came back on at 5 pm on Saturday afternoon. All of my electronic "stuff": computer, i-pod, cell phone, flashlights, and refrigerator were no longer working. Along with the power going out, the water stopped as well. For this, I was not prepared for a 3 day period of time without water. I had a 60 liter barrel that was only about 1/3 full. I had been slowly emptying it out so I could clean out the unknown stuff settled in the bottom. If I was careful, it might be enough to flush the toilet. But I had no drinking water. The market across the street sells cases of 6-2liter bottles of water for 1.5€. I figured out how to wash my hair with 6 liters of water...and use the soapy remnants to flush the toilet.
By Friday, I was into reading...as there was nothing else I could find to do. When it was dark...well, I went to bed, since I could no longer read by candlelight. The constant sound of the generators can really get on your nerves, but unlike Prishtina, there was no odor of the fuel used in the generators.
I didn't know if this was a "something is broken" or "this is how it is in Malishevë during the summer" thing. I later learned it was "something was broken".
God showed me several things in these last 3 days. First, I am a part of this community...not just when there is power and water, because all the other people living here also did not have power and water. They also were trying to find ways to charge their cell phones, our life line in Kosova.
Another thing the Lord showed my heart...the people who live in this community have not had the luxuries that I consider normal. Last night one family shared that they put food in a bucket and lowered it into the well to keep it cold...just like they did during the war. I had to throw my food away. This family has only had a refrigerator for 7 years. For water...well they returned to the well, and hauled water to the house. I had a young man from the market carry my water to my apartment.
That is one of the things I love about this community...they just keep moving and do the best they can with what they have. There is work to still be done each day. They are not afraid of hard work. Life is hard here. There is an Albanian saying, "C'ka të bëjmë", which means "what to do?"
The next time the power goes out, or there is no water, I will be better prepared, but my heart attitude will be different. C'ka të bëjmë?
Thursday afternoon at 3pm, the power went out in Malishevë. This was not such an unusual thing, just an annoyance to work around for 2 or 3 hours and then it will be back on. Not this time, it came back on at 5 pm on Saturday afternoon. All of my electronic "stuff": computer, i-pod, cell phone, flashlights, and refrigerator were no longer working. Along with the power going out, the water stopped as well. For this, I was not prepared for a 3 day period of time without water. I had a 60 liter barrel that was only about 1/3 full. I had been slowly emptying it out so I could clean out the unknown stuff settled in the bottom. If I was careful, it might be enough to flush the toilet. But I had no drinking water. The market across the street sells cases of 6-2liter bottles of water for 1.5€. I figured out how to wash my hair with 6 liters of water...and use the soapy remnants to flush the toilet.
By Friday, I was into reading...as there was nothing else I could find to do. When it was dark...well, I went to bed, since I could no longer read by candlelight. The constant sound of the generators can really get on your nerves, but unlike Prishtina, there was no odor of the fuel used in the generators.
I didn't know if this was a "something is broken" or "this is how it is in Malishevë during the summer" thing. I later learned it was "something was broken".
God showed me several things in these last 3 days. First, I am a part of this community...not just when there is power and water, because all the other people living here also did not have power and water. They also were trying to find ways to charge their cell phones, our life line in Kosova.
Another thing the Lord showed my heart...the people who live in this community have not had the luxuries that I consider normal. Last night one family shared that they put food in a bucket and lowered it into the well to keep it cold...just like they did during the war. I had to throw my food away. This family has only had a refrigerator for 7 years. For water...well they returned to the well, and hauled water to the house. I had a young man from the market carry my water to my apartment.
That is one of the things I love about this community...they just keep moving and do the best they can with what they have. There is work to still be done each day. They are not afraid of hard work. Life is hard here. There is an Albanian saying, "C'ka të bëjmë", which means "what to do?"
The next time the power goes out, or there is no water, I will be better prepared, but my heart attitude will be different. C'ka të bëjmë?
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