Birthday :)

It's so fun to do things out of the ordinary.

And what better time to do that then on the day

celebrating your birthday!

So, welcome to my weekend of 'out of the ordinariness'...

Yay for great Japanese food (see also the video at the end).

This was Saturday's lunch in Prishtina.

Next stop in the capital city:

Thai massages with one of my good friends.

They make you wear funky clothes!

Getting ready for a little taste of heaven on earth!

I'm sooo learning how to give a Thai massage some day...

Another man on my team had my same birthday!!!

His wife prepared amazing steaks, potatoes, and salad for us.

Yummie...!

We were attempting to do a 'jumping' picture,

but none of our cameras were fast enough.

So, here's our cool 'band' shot!

Aka: failed jumping shot...

After dinner with the team I came home and baked some delicious confetti cupcakes from a box mix I had from the US. My roommate and I quickly downed 3 (I won't say who had 2...).

While they were baking, I spent time admiring my beautiful gift from a friend's garden.

Aren't they lovely?

I think everyone should get flowers on their birthday!

Especially hand picked ones :)

A yummie taste of home!

Happy birthday to me- haha!

BUT...here's the real treat for my birthday:

Hanging out with my favorite Kosovar kiddos!

(she's grown up so much in the last years!)

These boys are pretty rough-

the one with my hand around his neck body slammed me

 to the ground last time I was out visiting them!

Oh...I love these hugs!

And that is the end to the happy, fun weekend I just had!

Thanks for the birthday wishes and love!

Missing you guys...

Water Troubles!

For some reason I've gotten used to many difficult parts of living over here...except not having water! Ugh..! Something about not having water just ruins my whole day- I feel like I'm handicapped and it effects everything. Cooking, cleaning, using the restroom, washing up, laundry, dishes, drinking, showering...and a hundred other things you never even think about. Yesterday was such a day and by the end of the day, when the water finally turned back on, I'd had it!

Hmm, is my heart the same when I don't encounter my Living Water and have that Source pumping into my heart all day long? Can I tell at the end of the day if I've 'gone without'? I wish I could say YES for each and every day... God, help me to be able to say YES to that question!

Beginning of Camp

Being my last summer over here, I've asked to be allowed to lead more camps and be more involved there, as my responsibilities on the team have diminished some. I'm so excited to be able to spend more time up there in the coming weeks. However, a few weeks ago my team and I already took a group of people (that live here) up for a day camp of sorts. We wanted it to be a celebration of them completing the first phase of microbusiness that some of my team members were doing with them. It was a fun day for all of us!

Here's what it included:

Making Fli- the most difficult traditional meal in Kosovo.
Requires at least 2-3 hours to cook over a hot fire!

Waiting patiently!

He's one of my all time favorite Kosovars.

Enjoying each other...AND...

maybe wanting that amazing Land Rover!

We think this picture is so funny-

poor baby!

After lunch my team did a drama.

These two were dabbling with superstition and drinking...

My roommate- The Thief!

And me- The Abuser

(is that how you say that in English?)

Our audience :)

Explaining the drama and depicting what the 

opposites are of those things.

Um, can't you tell:

Gospel Presentation!

(we had numerous funny-faced pictures of each of us)

The "Graduation Ceremony".

So excited to finally be able to give out the 

rest of the clothes that I brought over with me.

To read more about that, go here.

That's all for now. More camp stuff... 

Coming Soon!

Love it...

I've been working a lot these past days preparing things for some summer camps I'm going to be helping run. During my online search for ideas, I came across this story. It caught my eye, because that is one of my favorite verses. Enjoy:

"An old Christian woman whose age began to tell on her had once known much of the Bible off by heart. Eventually only one precious bit stayed with her, 'I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day' (2 Tim. 1:12). By and by, part of that slipped its hold and she would quietly repeat, "That which I have committed unto Him.' At last, as she hovered on the borderline between this world and heaven, her loved ones noticed her lips moving. They bent down to see if she needed anything. She was repeating over and over again to herself the one word of the text, 'Him, Him, Him.'
She had lost the whole Bible but one word. But she had the whole Bible in that one word."

Life in Pictures

Aren't the mountains beautiful?

(don't mind the gravestone)

Went to the 9th grade graduation/prom for

 some of my favorite girls last night.

My new roommate made me a beautiful hat.

(my sad face was only for being silly)

I'm brining back some hats in September.

Want one??

My beautiful city of Peja!

I can't even begin to describe
how amazing and delicious these were/are.

Yep- cherries are in season here!!

They look young for being born in the early 1900's!

Sadly, I'm guessing the war took place before she died.

She was evacuated and won't be able to be buried here.

Where's Waldo...I mean, Me?

(oops- I ruined the picture!) 

The entire family- aunts, g-parents, friends... is buried here!

Just having fun taking pictures :-)

Those are some BIG dandelions!

Guess all things aren't bigger in Texas!!

Formula for some good reading and alone time!

Some of the kids we've been working with for a long time.

They live here.

They're growing up...!

What a doll!

Words aren't needed here.

My two roommates!

Some of my favorites.

There's a lot stacked against these two siblings.

When I first met her she was mute.

She speaks a bit now, but has never been to school.

Bee-yoo-ti-ful!

My Friend, Bill

I wish you could meet my dear friend, Bill. He's one of the men that stands out in my mind as 'far down the road' of sanctification- if there is even such an evaluation fathomable. He first entered my life when we were part of the same home group at The Village Church four years ago. He was a favorite speaker/teacher of mine. Not just because he would play beautiful melodies on the piano beforehand... But there wasn't a time I can recall that he taught when his heart wasn't touched to the point of tears. I was just struck with the sensitivity of his heart in regards to the Holy Spirit and God's heart for this world.

I had the privilege of getting to know him and his beautiful wife pretty well during that year and the years following. Being around them is inspiring; it makes me hunger to know the Lord more deeply. Those are the sorts of people you should 'do life' with. And I feel blessed to have done that for some time...

However, since returning to Kosovo, I've been confronted with heart wrenching news: Bill has a brain tumor. This is the update I just received:

"The tumor has been identified as a Glioblastoma, stage 4. This is the most common and, unfortunately, the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor.

Given the invasive nature of this tumor, complete removal is impossible and further treatment is necessary. Although this type of tumor is expected to grow back after resection, aggressive treatment can help delay its return and progression."
Everything inside me longs to be there to pray with them, support them, and mostly just give them each a BIG hug. But for some reason God's chosen for me to be here during this time. So, I'm doing the only thing I can do: Pray and ask you to Pray with me! Thanks...