Yesterday we took the 6.5 hr drive (with a lunch stop) through the gorgeous green hills and mountains from Durres to Erseke which is located in southern Albania. We were in a comfortable air conditioned coach bus but the windy, bumpy trip left a few of us queasy. I loved looking out the window as we drove through small towns, corn fields, vineyards, and olive trees. We saw lots of donkeys being used for riding, pulling carts, and hauling. Saw sheep, goats, some cattle also. Sadly there was lots of trash littering the roads and rivers. The most interesting thing we saw were the cement bunkers that are littered throughout the countryside (photo above). They were built during the communist era as the people were told "the big bad Americans were going to bomb them". Looking at them made me feel sad for the people who were fed propaganda and lived in total dependence of the communist party and what information they wanted to fed the people.
We arrived in Erseke in the late afternoon and were welcomed with thunder and lighting. We are in the mountains at about 3500 feet so the air is cooler and less humid. We are staying at House of Hope which is where Mark and his family live. The house was originally bought and expanded to be an orphanage in the late 90s when Albania was going through an anarchy. But the need went away so the house was turned into a ministry house and used for many purposes. Mark and his family moved in three years ago and host people all the time. I am in a room with 4 other ladies on a top bunk. 19 of us are sharing two bathrooms but the accomodations are much nicer than I anticipated they would be. We tooked the 15 minute walk to camp after arriving where camp is hosting 115 9-12 years old. The kids are very friendly and don't hestiate to introduce themselves. Some speak pretty good english. We ate dinner with the campers and then sat in on their evening praise singing program. One of the 13 year volunteer counselors named Maggie who I met earilier took my hand and insisted that I sit with her. When they sang she wanted me to stand next to her and partipate which was quite interesting trying to read Albanian words on a screen and learn all the hand motions. She was so pleased that I tried. After walking back to House of Hope in the rain our group met for devotionals and then fell into bed very tired.
We arrived in Erseke in the late afternoon and were welcomed with thunder and lighting. We are in the mountains at about 3500 feet so the air is cooler and less humid. We are staying at House of Hope which is where Mark and his family live. The house was originally bought and expanded to be an orphanage in the late 90s when Albania was going through an anarchy. But the need went away so the house was turned into a ministry house and used for many purposes. Mark and his family moved in three years ago and host people all the time. I am in a room with 4 other ladies on a top bunk. 19 of us are sharing two bathrooms but the accomodations are much nicer than I anticipated they would be. We tooked the 15 minute walk to camp after arriving where camp is hosting 115 9-12 years old. The kids are very friendly and don't hestiate to introduce themselves. Some speak pretty good english. We ate dinner with the campers and then sat in on their evening praise singing program. One of the 13 year volunteer counselors named Maggie who I met earilier took my hand and insisted that I sit with her. When they sang she wanted me to stand next to her and partipate which was quite interesting trying to read Albanian words on a screen and learn all the hand motions. She was so pleased that I tried. After walking back to House of Hope in the rain our group met for devotionals and then fell into bed very tired.
Sweet of Maggie to be by your side! So much to assimilate!!
ReplyDeleteThe time is flying by here....does the time go slower there?
Love,
Tanya