small victory....great blessing...!

I went to treat my little guy, Çlirim, (his name means liberation, he was born in the mountains during the war) this last Thursday and it was a very special day for me. I have been traveling to a small village about 18 km from Malishevë, to treat Çlirim each week for the last 2 months. It has been such an amazing adventure and challenge for me each week. I do not have a translator, there is no one in the family that speaks English...so I am forced to find a way to communicate in Albanian. Each day I pray for God's provision, that my mind might find the words and be able to understand...to effectively communicate. Everyone in the family has always been so patient with me as I struggled to speak in Albanian. Sometimes, I have struggled greatly and have been so discouraged that I even questioned whether I would ever be able to treat patients without an translator.

But God...blessed me so richly last Thursday. The entire family was sitting outside, including Çlirim, when I arrived at their home. It was a time of visiting..and guess what? I was able to speak with them and share about my family, my life and work in Malishevë, and my upcoming trip back to the US. I was also able to understand what they were saying to me...and there were times when we were all laughing during the conversation. I was communicating in Albanian! I understood Albanian humor!

Then the family blessed me greatly with a traditional meal of spinach and cheese pita, a kind of flaky filo dough pizza with spinach and cheese inside. There were also fresh tomatoes, spicy peppers, and cucumbers from their garden. Pita with spinach is my favorite, and this was amazing food.

It was so special to be able to just "visit" with this family, to learn more about them and to just laugh with them. My physical therapy opened the door for me to meet this family, but God blessed me richly with the opportunity to be their friend.

On the drive back to Malishevë, I realized that my Albanian is getting better, and that maybe I will be able to treat patients on my own. I also realized that my heart has been greatly blessed by the opportunity the Lord provided for me to come into this home. When Çlirim's mother, Ajnishja, gave me a hug to say goodbye it was very special. When little Çlirim smiles during therapy...it is priceless!

How can that be...?

The weather forecast from the BBC news is below:

Fri Day weather

Sunny

35°C 95°F

18°C 64°F

SSW 6mph 10km/h

18% 1009mb Good

Sat Day weather

Sunny

36°C 97°F

19°C 66°F

WSW 11mph 18km/h

19% 1003mb Very good

Sun Day weather

Sunny Intervals

19°C 66°F

11°C 52°F

N 11mph 18km/h

53% 1009mb Very good

How can the temperature change from a high of 97 degrees on Saturday to a high of 66 degrees on Sunday? Cooler temperatures are most certainly welcome. This may be interesting.

Stay tuned...

It is most definitely hot....

The last few weeks I have been struggling with the heat...trying to find ways to stay hydrated and cool. Yesterday I noticed the candles on my refrigerator...

Today the forecast calls for cooler weather, in the mid 80's. :-)

30 days of Prayer...

Today is the first day of Ramadan in the Muslim world...including here in Kosova where the population is 97% Muslim. Although the majority of Muslims here in Kosova are nominal in their practice of Islam, Ramadan is a time when there is an increased awareness of their faith. It is a time when we as followers of Jesus Christ need to get on our knees and pray for the chains of bondage to be broken, that the lost may hear the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and receive His gift of salvation. We are in a battle, for the souls of the lost in this world.

"We have been given the weapons we need to free those who are in bondage. It is our privilege and our right to stand in the gap for those who are lost, to lift them up in prayer, and to demand back the territory Satan has stolen inch by inch. Through the power God has given us, we can and should use prayer to set our loved ones free. And God help us if we don't" (from Prayer Our Glorious Privilege, Chuck Smith, p105)

We need to reach out to Muslims in our communities with the love of God...the same love He has shown us. We must have an attitude of genuine love...

Here is a link to a great resource for prayer during the month of Ramadan. I encourage you to download the manual and make a commitment to pray for the Muslim world the next 30 days...
http://www.30-days.net/resources/download/

My heart is saddened...

Bajram- I have just learned that a gentleman that I met when I first moved to Kosova, has passed away.

I first met Bajram when I received a call from my friend Sharon, that he was injured severely during a physical therapy session in Prishtina. I went to his home to see what I could figure out on his behalf. He was in severe pain in his left hip, unable to walk. It was later determined that his hip was fractured during the therapy session. I could not believe this.

The rest of the story....

Bajram had stage 4 colon cancer, and the fracture was pathological. It was my first real exposure to health care here in the Balkans...Kosova. Bajram received a total hip replacement in Macedonia...still unaware that he had cancer. The only person in his family that knew of the cancer was his sister, but at the same time there was a large group of Americans that all had knowledge of his medical status. No HIPPA here...! It is not uncommon for the patient and or the family to be told about the prognosis of a patient...especially with cancer. It is just not discussed. Even though Bajram went through some type of chemotherapy, it was not discussed. I believe he was finally told about his condition, I do not know if the rest of the family was ever told.

I helped Bajram with exercises and mobility in his home following his surgery. He greatly blessed me, both of my daughters when they were here, and my friend Sharon to a traditional Albanian dinner...complete with "cultural traditions." So much food, and it was amazing.

Bajram was the mechanic for the fleet of World Vision vehicles in Prishtina, many times he has heard the gospel. Sharon and I shared the gospel with him in the hospital in Macedonia...he knew the truth. Many were praying fervently for this man and his family. But...he never made a profession of faith.

Please pray for the family that Bajram left behind...a wife, 2 daughters and a son. Please pray for the bondage of Islam to be broken in Kosova, that people may hear and receive the truth of Jesus Christ.

The Adventure continues...

It is so hard to believe that I have been in Kosova for 2 years now, and that it was 4 years ago when I first came to this country I now consider my home. When I first decided to accept the call to Kosova, a very good friend told me to "hold on tight...!" What an understatement, but I would not change any of it for the world.

I have learned so much about the Lord during this time...and He has shown me so much about who I am, and who He wants me to be. I have learned what it means to say, "He is my all in all!" I have learned about the power of fervent prayer, and I have felt the love and prayers of each of my faithful friends and supporters.

God in His faithfulness goes before me each day. Sometimes I have to be reminded to let Him go first, and to do things according to His plans and timing, not mine. He provides exactly what I need for each day...patience when the power and water aren't working, divine appointments when I need to be reminded of why I am here, encouraging words from friends, and situations where I am forced to use my Albanian and gain some confidence in speaking with people who cross my path each day.

"Lord, thank you for who You are and Your faithfulness when my faith is weak and wavering. Help me to keep my eyes firmly focused on You, and my heart tuned to hear only Your words. Use me Lord, for Your purpose. I want to be bold in sharing Your truth, but most importantly I want to be bold in reaching out and loving the people of Kosova, of Malishevë, with the same love You have shown to me. Help me to not be fearful or discouraged. Let all that I do and say be for Your glory Lord. There is much work to be done..."

Amen

Everything has it's time...

I have been treating Nazmi in his home since last November. He had a serious head injury 2 years ago, which left him partially paralyzed in the right arm and leg, as well as unable to speak. He however, has very good understanding and is able to communicate his needs. We were able to make some huge gains in his ability to move and sit up for meals...but Nazmi had started being resistant to therapy last February before I became ill. The family asked me to come back one more time and work with Nazmi on range of motion and seated activities, so today Besnik, my translator, and I went to the village to see him.

It was very clear that Nazmi has no intention or desire to participate, at one point he was crying and very upset. Besnik and I visited some with the family, and I got to have Bleona, the youngest daughter sit on my lap one more time. When we were saying our "goodbyes"...Nazmi pulled me close and gave me a hug, and squeezed my hand. His eyes spoke volumes to my heart. Thank you Lord for the time you gave me with this family...


"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:17