Saturday in Erseke

I am writing this early Sunday afternoon after attending church service at Mark's church. The church building is a former home converted into a church with a small sanctuary, a few classrooms, and a front and backyard enclosed with a beautiful stone wall. The church service was held in the front yard underneath grape vines which was an absolutely beautiful setting. We sang songs in Albanian (some with familiar tunes) and Mark's sermon was in English, translated into Albanian. He spoke freely of the 14 year old's death a month ago and honestly talked about his own struggles with why it happened and where God was. Daily he spends time with the mourning father of the girl, his friend, which is opening his eyes. While Albanians attended the service it was largely an international service as it included summer volunteers and staff members from England, Canada, the States, Kosovo, France, Finland, Germany, and a few other countries. It was a wonderful service and afterwards there was a time of fellowship in the church's backyard where young adults played volleyball, and others enjoyed Kool-aid (that's where the donated Kool-Aid is being used), cookies, and visited with each other. After church Ruthie, with the help of others on our team, prepared a wonderful roasted chicken dinner. At the end of the meal she served a birthday cake for the four team members who are celebrating b"days (two of them today) and then we recognized the birthday of our nation on this 4th of July. We all sang God Bless America and I got so teary-eyed as I was overwhelmed with the appreciation of where I live and the freedoms we all take for granted (by the way, I wasn't the only tear-eyed person).

Yesterday, Saturday, we worked in our crews in the morning (I stained the playground benches I'd previously prepared) and then I, along with two other ladies from our group, walked to the market two blocks away with Ruthie, Mark's wife, to buy lunch makings. The campers left Saturday morning, so instead of having our lunch and dinner at camp, we are eating at the Stoscher's home. The small corner market sold lots of fresh vegetables so Ruthie decided to make a chicken vegetable soup (remember, she's feeding 28 - our group, her family, her parents and niece). Albanians shop daily, just like in Europe, so we bought just want we needed for lunch and dinner. Once back home I was happy to assist in the kitchen chopping and preparing the soup, a tomato/cucumber/onion/feta salad, and drop biscuits for lunch. Dessert was sliced watermelon (really delicious here, and we've had it a lot). After lunch, and since the camp was closed, the staff opened their rock climbing wall and small ropes course for us. I made it three quarters of the way up the rock wall, then up a swinging ladder, across a swinging bridge holding only a rope and down a zipline. It was a small scale ropes course as compared to ones like at Calvin Crest camp but it was challenging enough. It was a really great activity to bond the team as we encouraged and cheered each other on. We've had rain every afternoon but today the clouds held it in with only a sprinkle now and then.

Saturday evening we prepared yet another big meal of macaroni, beef strip chili topped with all sorts of fresh veggies, more tomato/cucumber salad, and raw carrots. Love all the fresh veggies here! On Saturday evenings there is usually a dance at the church but we discovered that because the church is in mourning over their loss, and out of respect for their family who is mourning, the dance was cancelled. The locals met at the church for some social time and then for about two hours people in town stroll the streets. We joined in and enjoyed an evening walk around town.

This afternoon, Sunday, we have free time so some of us will go for a hike in the hills and others will walk around town. I think I'll walk around town since I haven't seen much of it other than my stroll last night. Our group has bible study every evening which requires quite a bit of personal preparation beforehand. I have to squeeze reading and studying time in between work time, meals, and bedtime which at times is challenging. Days like Saturday and today where we aren't as busy make it a lot easier to focus on bible study which allows me to participate when the group meets. Well, it's off to walk, look, see, and appreciate where I am.