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.

The Village

I just had to name this one that, because that is the name of my church (and a really good movie). But this post is about the village I have been working in for a few months now each Sunday. It saw a lot of fighting during the war, and now there are many widows and very poor families living there. This time each week has become one of my most favorite things to do, and each of these kids has such a special place in my heart. So, come on...take a photo journey to: The Village!

Teaching how to play baseball.

Duck, Duck, Goose!

(cool picture!)

Run, Charlie, Run!

This boy is small, but fast.

Singing:

Love the kids in the kids in the back!

Story time...on the rock pile!

One of my babies and his little brother.

Each time I go I feel like I am part of the Olympics or something- these girls are incredible!

Craft time- the kids loved this!

What we hope is becoming an active part of their hearts and lives!

Please join me in praying for each one of these sweet children. There is a lot they are all fighting against; they can use all the help they can get!

Macedonia

I am off for a 4 day retreat with all the teams in this area of Europe. Pray for us to be safe and encouraged during this time. You could also pray for my soul to get rest...I am worn out! :~P

(pictures coming later)

Spring Snapshot

Just a few weeks ago:

What the country looks like today

(I prefer this second one!):

Teaching English- don't really know what I'm doing, but trying to make it fun!


Leading worship in our children's meeting.

The Pencil Park:

in memory of the children who died in the war.

Giving my puppet a last minute talk!

The puppet show we did for Easter.

At the park with our girl's group-

enjoying the return of the sun!

The best part of Spring!

Made in Art class.

Happy Spring to all of you!!!

Becoming NOthing

"The WORD became flesh

and made His dwelling among us."

"But [He] made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!"

Easter is just around the corner, and thoughts of its meaning and purpose fill my mind as of late. Funny how all holidays that were religiously (as in regularly) celebrated by me in America have taken on a different form and meaning since coming here. Let me share with you some of my thoughts in regards to Easter for this year!

Lately, when I am walking through my city, I am noticing the destitute a lot more than normal. Those who are digging through the dumpster (very common here), children that are put on the street to beg by their parents, the man who has a very ill-kept horse attached to a piece of wood on wheels to carry his things through town...Oh the list is so long! I am not noticing them in the way of merely observing- that can't be helped. It is more of an "incarnational" way. Let me explain: Would I be willing to become like them in order for the Truth in my heart to be Truth in their heart? Would I give up my status, position as a revered foreigner to live amongst them? How about the nice food I partake each day? What about the clothes that protect my body and also contribute to my status?

What is Truth to me if I don't buy fully into it? Is it really Truth if I don't sell out for it? How important can something be if we aren't willing to make sacrifices for it? You know, that is what Easter is all about. A celebration of the fact that Christ gave up status, position, glory, etc. (more than can be imagined) and eventually His very life...for Truth! That Truth is that He loves me, He loves you, and He very much loves the old man that walks down the street stopping at each trash pile along the way. That Truth is that He desires a restored relationship with me, a restored relationship with you, and one with the woman who isn't allowed to leave her home and has no relationships of any worth in her life. The Truth that He offers hope to me, hope to you, and hope that He is returning for the sick child that has been dying since the day it was born with a disease ridden body.

He rose from the dead to conquer not just physical death, but so much more the spiritual death. The deadness that I see in the eyes of the people that haunt the coffee shops, that shop the stores, that pass me on the road...Life is at hand! Life is inside my chest! He rose- what Truth to behold! But will I share it today? Or will I place it on the shelf of my mind; valuing the sacrifice too steep to be worth making?

The choices are ours each day- here or wherever you are!

May your Easter be full of Him... Happy Easter Everyone!

Language 101

Learning a new language is a rough thing (especially if you don't really understand the building blocks to your own language... just how to speak it- that's me, and almost everyone in the world). So, many mistakes happen- it is just a fact! I was told, during training, that learning a new language is almost like becoming a child again. I have found that to be so true. Many times I feel so trapped and frustrated because I can't communicate even the smallest of things. Also, you have to be ready to be laughed at anytime and anywhere. Your feelings just need to not be attached to how others are going to respond, or you will stop trying. I find it funny that the children I work with (who don't yet grasp the concept of different lanugages) often walk away from me muttering that I am really dumb. And while it is funny, it is often painful. Many people don't care to give the time of day to someone who doesn't speak their own language. I often feel very dumb, even though I know deep down that I am not. It just feels like that a lot of the time.

So, this post is dedicated to laughing your way through language learning. Of course, it will be at other people's expense (I have forgotten all my blunders or I would readily air then on here- trust me, there have been many). But here are a few things that I found funny recently. Oh, you must remember that my team consists of three cultures, only one of which has English as their language (and even then, that is just 2 people). So, many are learning Albanian and English at the same time.

* In Albanian there is no word for foot or for toes. The word for foot is the same as the word for leg, and if you want to say toes, you just attach the word for fingers onto the other word. Literally translated (as many of my students do): Toes = leg fingers. That cracks me up everytime.

* One of my team members had a sister-in-law in the hospital recently to deliver her neice. When she was telling me about it, she said something about going to the hospital to "make a baby". I was horrified and confused for a minute, but then I realized she was talking about "having a baby" or giving birth. I quickly corrected her from saying that anymore!

* During our team training this past week, it began to snow. Once, on one of our breaks, a few of us went to the girl's quarters. Some of the girls were speaking in another language so I wasn't paying attention. All the sudden it switched to English and I got brought into this: "Christina, can you believe that she isn't wearing her underwear today?" Again, horrified, but I slowly turned around to assess what was happening on the other side of the room. You guessed it, the meaning was LONG underwear, or long johns. I informed them that the first word was vitally important in this situation.

I could go on and on with these stories. They happen all day long (many times from my own mouth). But these are the ones that readily come to my mind from the past few days. Hope you guys get a kick out them!

For your further entertainment and better understanding:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IzqJtxoWzM

Strawberry?!?

When I moved over to Eastern Europe, I was hit with the harsh reality (harsh because I am from a nation that has anything I want when I want it at my fingertips) that fruit (and veggies) is indeed seasonal!!! I can't just have a pear, some grapes, or a kiwi to accompany my meal or for a snack. I have to wait until they are in season. And while that does sound logical, it was hard for me to grasp at first (don't laugh!). It is difficult to not have fresh fruits and vegtables to eat during the winter months. I have missed them.

So, enter today. My team leader's wife brought a bowl of cut up strawberries to my house this afternoon when I was taking a much needed nap. I woke up to find them sitting on the table and just stared at them for a minute in disbelief. My mind knew what they were, my heart just wasn't believing it was true. So, I just finished enjoying two strawberries. They are not fully ripe yet, but they are the best strawberries that I have ever tasted (it has been over 6 months since I had any).

I would like to encourage all of you to go out and get some strawberries (or whatever your favorite fruit is) and enjoy them thoroughly, with the mindset that what you are partaking in isn't reality for most of the world. It is a blessing to eat that strawberry! :)

Happy Eating!!!

Picture Time

Welcome to Peja- the snow-covered city in the mountains!

More shoebox distrubution.

Teaching about Flag Day (from what I can tell)...why didn't my teachers ever draw such amazing pictures for me?!?

Lest you think that I am not having any fun:

Our sledding group.

Skiing with my team in Macedonia.

This was taken on the ski slope. My camera was on the wrong setting for the next 2 pictures, so I tried to edit them...but I don't really have much to edit with on my computer. But I thought they were still pretty, nonetheless.

Happy 1 Year Birthday, Kosovo!

Romance

It is funny to look back at American culture and how I grew up and picture the things that are painted to be "romantic" to everyone: candle lit dinners, sitting by the fire, snowy scenery, taking a walk, ect. However, now that I am gaining a bigger picture to the world (past my American bubble, and really it is a bubble, away from how the rest of the world lives), I am so curious as to how any of those things ever came to be romantic.

Take candles for instance: if you are eating by candlelight, it means you don't have any electricity. Which, for those of you who don't know, means you've had to cook and prepare a meal by candlelight (a very difficult task). What wife would be in a good mood after that? And not only does it mean that, it also means that every other part of your life was difficult: no microwave, washing machine or dryer, electric stove, mixer or blender, computer...you get the picture.

The same for all the others: if you are walking, it means you don't have a car, horse, or bike. If you have to build a fire it means it is frigid outside and you don't have another way to survive, but to sit directly next to the stove. Trust me, none of these things could in any way be romantic!

So, how'd we turn them into romantic things? My thought is that with the age of new and better things, the above mentioned things became unnessesary for living. However, people wanted to preserve them, so they became a special tradition and lost their value. I am pretty sure there is a very small population of people in America that buy candles, firewood, or take a walk because they have to (at least not from my neck of the woods). A candle or a fire are no longer means of survival for the majority.

However, here for me and all the others living here in Kosova, candles, fires, and walking everywhere are a means of sheer survival. That brought me to think about something else: Who is God? To me, here, He is my survival; I couldn't make it through a day without clinging to Him to carry me through. But that wasn't so when I was in The States. I could make it through just fine without spending every hour (maybe even each day) crying out to Him. I had things under my control, and God was often a side piece accenting my day. Maybe even a "romantic" notion. Often He wasn't the essence of my life.

I am living in pretty much the "Bible Belt" (if you will) of Islam in Europe. It reminds me so much of believers back home. They don't know what they believe, why they believe it, or what implications it should have on their life. It is just the romantic thing to do, so they jump on the bandwagon, and so help you if you try to reveal Truth to them or even to try to help them understand their own religion. It is interesting indeed.

We are all very much like sheep, no matter our culture or nationality. We follow the next person even though they might not know where they are going or what they are doing. The root of every culture is the same...We all want answers and to have a purpose in life. However, most people are wanting someone else to do the work for them and just lead them. In America it is currently God that is the romantic ideal. Here is it is Allah. But why? Well, most in either place don't know and don't care to find out. But does anyone really ever step back and try to understand the means to their survival. I know coming here has forced me into that on a deeper level.

How does one do that while remaining in your own culture? Not sure since I am here and discovering this...But my thought: be involved in something outside yourself. Be a part of a God-sized thing that requires an utter dependence upon Him to get accomplished. Learn to make Him your sole way of surviving. And while maybe that sounds like merely a romantic idea, I believe with all my heart that should you choose to ask Him for help in that area...He will reply with a resounding YES.

Brentley Update

I forgot in my last post: Brentley made it home! He is slowly recovering and is still in lots of pain. Keep him in your prayers...he's not being a good patient. He's already trying to go back to work- he owns a landscaping company...Pray for patience and a willingness to be still!

And yes, I do hope he reads this! :P

Ho Hum

So, it has been a very long time since I blogged- sorry to all you avid readers out there...right! But the winter has given me the blues and I haven't been in the mood to write about anything. But that isn't to say that things haven't kept happening at a rapid fire pace. So, since I am still not in the right mindset to blog, I am going to just put it all up as bullets (pictures later, hopefully).

-> Took a day trip with 3 friends to Macedonia (yes, that is still a country). It is about 3 hours from here. The highlights were McDonalds (reminder of home), finding M&M's, and going to see Madagascar 2 in a real movie theater!
-> Delivering more Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes in some schools in a village near here for a few days with a local church. It was fun to work alongside the local believers, and see how God was at work in their lives- creating life and cultivating His heart of love.
-> Ministry started up again full force (on our side of things) after a week off for the holidays, but the kids didn't show up for a few weeks due to the terrible weather conditions and a long break from school. Thankfully they are returning- I had about 15 children in my English class today (max. before had been about 8).
-> I got to chat with my amazing Home Group from church on Skype! I was able to see all their faces and hear their voices...technology is amazing. It was very encouraging and uplifting (thanks, y'all!).
-> Our girl's meeting has taken on a new structure. The three people that run it (my Albanina roommate, my Korean team leader's wife, and myself) are now taking turns leading it each week. We decided to do a study on the different women of the Bible and how God's character is seen through their lives and their stories. I led it last week and it was really fun. Pray for this if you would.
-> And lastly...the weather, since it is such an important topic of conversation here, I will include you. I had prayed that God would give some relief from the utterly frigid temps, even if just for a bit (I know, I am a crazy Texas girl who likes the up and down temperatures). So, in answer to that, for about a week it went back up the 40's (funny that we say back home: "it went down to the 40's...). But this week it is back down to being icy (that is in regards to what happens to my blood) and I believe snow shall soon grace the city once again...stay tuned for pictures if I can bear to take any more...haha!

Thanks for bearing with my lack of enthusiasm in regards to updating- I promise, come Spring, things will return to normal!
Love y'all!

Prayer Request

One of my dear brothers, Brentley, from my Home Group at church was in a terrible four-wheeling accident this past Saturday. He is now in the trauma ICU at a Tyler hospital. He was flying at about 50 mph through a field when he hit a hole. He flew off the vehicle and landed on a barbed wire fence. He lost all his bottom teeth and a few of his upper ones as well- the damage to his mouth is extensive! He also has some facial lacerations that have been stitched up now. He has a basal skull fracture and the doctors are watching for his brain to swell. His left scapula (shoulder) is broken as well. He says he is ready to go home right now, so pray he would have all the patience necessary to fully heal before he tries to attempt doing physically exerting things again. Pray also for his spirit to stay positive during the difficult road ahead. May God provide ample people to love on him and minister to him in the days and months ahead! Thanks for joining with me in lifting him up to our Mighty God!

AHHHHHH....

This week it is supposed to stay at -20 degrees Celsius! I believe that translates to be about 0 degrees Farenhiet (not positive though, and I am too lazy to Google!). I have never been so cold in my life- pray that I live through this week! *Thanks*

B r r r r r r r ! ! !

Happy New Year!

(photo by Curt Sharp)

Goodbye party for the girl I am hugging in the back.

She moved to Albania.

At a fun resturant here in Peja- looks like winter wonderland!




Reminds me of those Christmas villages people put in their houses.


My favorite!

I wish I could give you some of the beauty of the snow and ice here...mostly I wish I could pass on some of the freezing-ness of it all! It is c-o-l-d! ! !