Blogging Absence

So sorry that I've been the worst of all bloggers! August has been a really busy month here in Kosovo. I already wrote about camps and teams, but on top of that has been my own team members leaving and getting ready for new team members to come. I have felt, once again, out of my comfort zone, as this is all new territory for me.

Beginning in July, I became the team leader for my team. It is a new and exciting area and time for me, but it is also mingled with fear and insecurity. God has opened a lot of doors and led me through a lot this last year (and my life), but somehow my faith just still seems so small when I encounter a new situation. However, I would like to report that His grace indeed covers over all things: failures, insecurities, weaknesses, self-pride...and the list could go on.

I have been reading through the Gospels for some time now. Pretty convicting most of the time! But something I keep running into is the disciples- I am just like them! How often does He have to ask them where their faith is or say something about their lack of faith? Over and over! Yet, they were right next to Him for every miracle, every prayer, every sermon... The funny counterpart is the random Joe on the street is the one who always got told: "No greater faith is found in all of ____." Shouldn't it be the other way around?

But as I've thought on this time after time, it just keeps on reminding me: God doesn't normally use the glorious things of this world. He doesn't usually pick those people that have it all together. Instead, He picks the broken, clueless people who most of the time "just don't get it". And that is me! I find myself in that. And it gives me immense hope.

Here I am in Kosovo- honestly, I am the worst person to be sent to do what God's called me to do. I am a flop at most things I put my hands to do...or tell Him no that I won't do. Yet here I am. And the funny thing in it all, that we all know, but fail to really believe: He gets the glory! My life, no matter how big a mess I am or how broken and "floppy" I am, brings Him glory. He uses the clay pots, especially broken ones as myself. What a beautiful picture!

So, wherever you find yourself today: know that He is using you. In spite, or maybe even because, of all your brokenness! He gets the ultimate glory- rest in that today!!

Romanian Team

On July 10th a group of university students from Romania came to do some ministry with my team for 10 days. It was one of the biggest blessings from my entire year spent in Kosovo. Their hearts for God and mission were so contagious! Here are just a few pictures from our time together:

Out in a Gypsy village with a local pastor who has some ministries there.

The group out in the village- love this picture!

Another village- showing the Jesu Film.

Talking about hearts:

Sinful and Clean.

What His blood does:

washes our hearts clean!

A drama depicting the heart.

It is pretty self-explanatory...

HE came running!

Where is your heart being invested?

Thank you, my dear friends, for your hearts for the Lord and for the people of Kosovo. I am blessed to know you and now call you friend! His richest blessings on your lives- wherever He may call you!

Camps and Comfort Zones

In a previous post I put some pictures up of the camp I am working at 2 days a week. In this post I am going to talk about two of the camps I got to be involved in. I didn't get any other pictures than the above picture (that is of the second camp).

On June 30th one of my friends organized a leadership camp for 4 days up in the mountains. It was for all the organizations here to have a place to send their "more advanced" youth they've been working with. It was an intensive training time... and it was incredible. Originally I wasn't supposed to be helping out with the actual camp. But when I got up to camp on the second day, there had been some problems and I was asked to lead a small group. In my group were 10 people: 5 high school aged boys, 2 college aged women, 2 American high school students, and one older gentleman who was a Jehovah Witness. Interesting collection of people, huh? But it was an incredible time! God really moved in some of the guy's hearts, and He for sure touched my own! This past year I haven't had a lot of opportunities to do hands on leading of a small group (mainly because of the language barrier). So, this time was so special for me- to share my heart and passion for the Lord with these youth. One result has been that one of the young men has remained up at camp for the duration of the summer; helping lead the other camps. We aren't sure of his salvation yet, but he's become so dear to all of our hearts. Please, please keep him in your prayers!!!

The second camp was the group of kids that we all work with out in The Village- see the previous post for more about them! These kids are so dear to us all, and God has really worked in a lot of their hearts and lives. What a privelege to be a part of their lives for a week! But it was a difficult week for me as well. I have learned some Albanian during this year that I've been here, but I am so far from understanding everything that comes out of children's mouths- especially children from a village! However, because the team that was running the camp was from America, I was having to translate for the kids and the workers at times. It was pretty humbling at times. Not really inside any comfort zone for me! After the first day I became aware that one of the little girls had a terrible case of head lice. During my previous years of working at camp in America (Sky Ranch), we dealt with a lot of lice problems. Just talking about it makes my skin crawl. So, for me to have her laying on my bed, playing with my brush, sitting in my lap, playing with my hair... went against all that was logical and comfortable to me! But over and over God reminded me of what was more important: her feeling loved or me protecting my hair? After all, can't He protect my head? So, every day (more times than that, actually!) I committed my hair to the Lord and loved that little girl. I am happy to say that I didn't get lice. But even if I had, it would've been worth it! :-) How often did Jesus touch the leper, the outcast, the sickly when no one else would? Isn't that what we are called to do? The last way that I was extremely out of my comfort zone was on the way home. I rode the bus with all the kids down the mountain (30 kids, I believe). We'd hired a bus to take them home, and they were going to drop me off on the way. There weren't enough seats for the kids, so they were standing and crowding around everywhere. The bus driver decided it was hot inside, so he opened the automatic door. The kids were all hanging out the door as we drove at a rapid speed down the mountain. I almost lost it! But I am happy to say that I arrived home without permanately having lost all my sanity! That afternoon the team from Romania arrived... But that will have to be the next post!

Oh Kosov!

Above is the phrase that comes out of my mouth at least once a day. Many of the people I work and live with say it just about as much too. Basically what we are meaning is: Only in Kosovo! So, following are happenings from the past 24 hours...Enjoy the three-ring circus that is my life!

I was walking home last night from a nearby restaurant where we had all gone to eat after church. I was about halfway home when I heard my name called. Now, let's get something straight- your name is attached to your identity. It is personal and somewhat private. For someone to yell my name across the street and try to win my attention, they should probably know me or at least have a good reason for wanting to talk. So, my first mistake: I turned around. The man yelling my name didn't know me, but he was standing next to his older brother who I'd met once before (and thought I would be a perfect match for his little brother). What followed (after confirming that I was indeed an American...) was one of the most frustrating conversations I've had yet. He wanted to go for coffee this next week (that means basically going on a date). I rejected him on the basis that I will be up at camp and I am pretty busy right now. He inquired when I would be free for a coffee (mind you, this was all in severely broken English- I wasn't about to speak Albanian with him!). So, I cut to the chase and told him that my organization has rules about going out with the opposite sex, and I wasn't allowed. He became frustrated and began a few minute long rant about how he was supposed to find a girl to marry if he couldn't take her out for coffee and be alone with her; we are both believers after all. I don't remember much of what I said or was thinking at this point, I just remember watching his face, thinking it should be turning red from embarrassment... Nope! Nothing. I said, "Goodnight and Goodbye," and walked away...Marveling the entire way home at the amount of pride he had.

This morning I had a meeting with one of my friends here who is operating a real estate company. I am trying to buy a house for my team right now, and we were meeting at his office to work on some stuff. I walk up and he informs me that they'd been broken into the previous night and 200 Euros had been stolen. The police were on the way. So, I sort of sat to the side and flipped through one of the binders. Forty-five minutes later the police show up (I could've walked to the station twice in that time!). Two men in uniforms show up; one steps right inside the door and begins interrogating the secretary about whether anything had been touched (that lasted about 3 minutes). Then he and his partner go pull up chairs at the cafe outside, order coffee, arrange the chairs, and finally end up moving the table to be out of the sun. The secretary goes outside and, as they are trying to fill out the report, becomes the chief suspect...even though the door was forced open- of course, they wouldn't know that because they didn't look at the door! After a few minutes another cop comes, sits down, orders coffee, and begins the questions again. He didn't even enter the building. Two more police show up, and join in. My friend asked his secretary if they were going to fingerprint, and she said she had asked for that, but they wouldn't answer her (we were convinced they didn't know how!). Then two of the cops came inside and had a camera. At this point I had to leave, so I don't really know what happened. But it was one of the funniest things I'd ever seen...

Who needs TV when you can just live in a soap opera or comedy? I am taking applications to come visit...just email! :-)

~Birthday~

A bunch of us here had birthdays in June, so we all celebrated together with a cookout followed by waffles and strawberries. So good!

The store bought Kosovar cake- with Uno cards (for Hyun Sik's birthday).

Here's my homemade cake- MinHye (standing next to me) made it...her first time to ever make a cake! It was delicious! :-)

Game time: watermelon seed spitting contest. Competition at full force...but alas, I won! WooHoo!!!

My special team wishing me a Happy Birthday.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes.

It was a special day (apart from missing y'all)!

Gone a Campin'

Welcome to camp!

It is one of the prettiest, most serene places on earth. I love my time that I get to spend up there each week. Camps have been going on for a few weeks now. All your prayers are appreciated!

Here are the buildings that are sort of

finished/still being added onto.

Getting ready to lay concrete for the footings for the building expansion. Working with a few of the local teens.

My amazing boss up at camp!

Putting the beams up for the outdoor kitchen roof.

Kitchen Krew!

Working on getting the kitchen ready for summer.

The meadow above camp-

used for sports and meetings.

The dining hall:

eating can't get much better than this!

The beautiful Creator of this loves us! How can such a thing be possible? I don't know that I will ever know why... How utterly amazing!!

Lovin' Spring!

Now that it is Spring, we can take our kids outside to play. I much prefer this to flocking to the woodstove to keep warm!

Which team can drink the cup of water the fastest?

Run, run, run!!!

Being silly- OUTSIDE!

About to yell at the boys for stabbing each

other with the straws! :-0

I love our kids, but I love them a lot better outside, in the wide open space, than in the small meeting room! :-)

New Mercies

This morning I was woken up by the 4am call to prayer from the mosque right down the road. I've had a lot on my mind and heart lately, so once I was awake, my brain began to take off running at high speed. There was no chance of dozing off again. So, I reluctantly put my feet on the floor and trekked out to the living room. Here's what I found awaiting me out the door:

You know, sometimes it is so easy to get caught up in the struggles, burdens, and difficulties of life. We don't stop to remember...Wasn't that, after all, the problem with the Israelites? They were stuck in an endless cycle of doing out of habit, with no heart and no rememberance. How I loathe, with all my heart, becoming like that. But I do it! Probably every day.

Today God gently called to me- speaking through His beauty- "hey, I AM here. don't forget ME. I AM holding you. these things you wage against aren't too big for ME. I AM the one who paints the sky each morning, even when you don't see it. I AM the one who makes the trees to bud and flourish. I AM the one who sprinkles the earth with dew each morning. I AM the one casts light into the world filled with shadows and darkness...I AM!"

May we not forget who it is that holds us and who it is that grants mercies anew for each day; just like the coming of the dawn!

Nathaniel & Karla

Just realized that I never put any pictures of my brother's wedding on here (it was back in March!). So, here you go: a peek at the wedding- yeah, that is all I got too... :-)

*They are small cuz I stole them off Karla's Facebook*

I heard it was beautiful and lots of fun.

They look amazing together in these pics!

So, here's to my bro and sis-in-law: Cheers!

May your journey together be blessed by

His presence each and every day.

May you love each other with sacrificial

"1 Corinthians 13" love always!

I love you and can't wait to hug

your necks when I come home!!!

Home is...

I feel pretty confident that almost anyone reading my blog can fill in that sentence I began in my title. Well, maybe it is just an American expression. So, for all you out there that don’t know, the saying goes like this: Home is where the heart is.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about that phrase. I find it immensely encouraging that it doesn’t say: Home is where you are comfortable or Home is where your family is or something else. “Home” is any place that God takes you and you CHOOSE to put your heart. I say choose, because a person can be miserable anywhere they are- even in the most ideal, cushy situation that others would love to have. It is like the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is dependent upon what is surrounding you or what is happening. Joy is a choice of the heart to be content and cheerful no matter what is going on around you. Being at “home” somewhere isn’t dependent upon the circumstances, but rather upon the state of your heart.

I find it funny how this has played out in my life as of late. I look around and many times I despise where I live, the sin that abounds around me in the people and their choices, the weather, the difficulties, and the list could go on and on. But somehow, at the end of each and every day, I feel at home here. God has called me here, and this is where I have peace. Looking back on my life in America… The power didn’t cut off 3-4 times a day. I didn’t walk down the street and have everyone stare at me and say obscene things to me (actually I didn’t walk down the street at all usually). My water stayed running pretty much the entire year. I didn’t have to build a fire in a wood stove when the weather outside was below zero. I didn’t cook everything from scratch. I could speak the same language as pretty much everyone I encountered throughout the day. My family, friends, church, and other areas of support were a call or a short drive in the car away. I didn’t wear the same clothes day after day, month after month…Yet I was miserable! I didn’t belong there. For whatever reason, God made my heart restless and discontent. And so, here I am- halfway around the world. In a very uncomfortable country, doing very uncomfortable things, and feeling, well, very uncomfortable. And I am at home!

Now, that isn’t to say I always love it here or I am always happy. The honest truth is that I have sat down at this very computer, in this very spot on my couch, and wanted to write terrible things about this country, my work here, my team, or whatever was rubbing me the wrong way on that day, and put it on my blog. I felt miserable, and I wanted everyone to empathize with me. Thankfully God stopped me and walked me through whatever I needed to be walked through on that particular day. But even in those moments, I feel a small, quiet voice in my heart (it is often hard to hear as I am raging about different things). It gently says: “Hey, if you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you want to be?” (I ALWAYS get the same question- you’d think I’d learn!) And each time, I stop, quiet my heart, and answer: “Right here. This is where You’ve called me. This is where You’ve led me. This is where I have peace. And anywhere else I’d go right now would be out of Your will, and I would be utterly miserable.” It isn’t always glamorous. It isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always fun…but it is life. My life. My precious gift from my Creator, and how I long to honor Him with all of it.

“Wherever you are- be all there.”
-Jim Elliot

Maybe this quote can be encouraging to you...wherever you are today, doing whatever He's called you to do. May He give you the grace to indeed put your heart where your home is!

Ohrid, Macedonia

Welcome to Macedonia:

a place where you can actually get pineapples on your Hawian pizza...see my joy!

An old church- beautiful!

A huge fruit/veggie market I found as I wandered about.


A beautiful castle that is being restored- that was super fun to trapse through.
I felt a bit like I was in Lord of the Rings!

Totally Europe! :-)


And there you have it:
Macedonia is a beautiful place!

*sorry the pictures are so small- I was lazy and borrowed a friend's camera and had her email them to me.