ABC Family Healthy Clinic

This morning we met Dr. Guy who is an American Doctor who has been working here for 11 years.  He helps run a clinic that offers Family Health Care, which is unusal in Albania.  He had time to share with us the vision to train doctors here to treat with the family healthy care approach, but most doctors are specialists that work by receiving bribes from families to treat patients.  We had a time of prayer with Dr. Guy.  Would you pray for Dr. Guy this morning and his ABC Family Health Clinic?  Also for a lady named Eralda, who is in charge of continuing ed at the medical university.  She is a believer that shares the vision of western ideas in treating patients, which is foreign to the medical community here.

Nurse Abby went with a group of women today and Jen, a worker that works with Dr. Guy at the clinic, they have gone into the Roma Gypsy village to do home visits with families there. 

The rest of us are at Beverly's apartment today working on sorting all of our wonderful supplies so many of you donated and helped send.  We literally have twice as much of our belongings that we broiught for ourselves that we brought that can be used here.  Medical supplies, dental supplies, clothes for children, toys for children, candy, books, craft supplies for our women's retreat at the end of the week... you name it, we've got it.

Later today, we will be visitng a dorm that houses orphans that have aged out of orpahanges or are not in orphanages yet.  We also have with us today Alda, who is the Executive director of Eagle's Wings.  Would you also pray for Alda as she leads this group home? 

Also, Austin has encouraged us to just pray silently at all times where we go.. We are just lifting this country in prayer at all times.  Would you pray for Albania too?

We love you all!

WE'RE HERE!

Greetings to all from Tirana, Albania.  We have all been awake for 30 plus hours (although we have tried to sleep), traveled for 15 plus hours in planes, vans, and trains, but are all safe and sound.

So far, we have had no major issues, other than Robin misplacing a bag back at the Atlanta airport.  Unfortunately, it was not found, but we have all found ways to share our clothes with her. 

We have spent the day in Tirana getting a great orientation from our missionary hosts, Austin and
Beverly McCaskill.  They have been wonderful in getting us acclimated to city life and all that we will see and encounter.  Albania is a county of beautiful terrain and it has been a very warm day.  There is a lovely new restaurant across from our hotel that pulled out the white tablecloths for us.  We dined on fresh grilled veggies, salad with olive oils, baked pizza bread, and homemade pastas.  (We thought we would all be losing weight!) 

We spent the rest of the day with a walking tour of the city and market.  We especially loved the rotisserie lamb heads we saw!!  Many in our group were taken aback when the Islamic call to prayer echoed on loud speakers.  What a different sound than that of a city in America... we all paused and prayed to THE GOD of GODS for the people of this nation.  Austin commented he does the same when we hears it... praying that the hearts of Albania would continue to be open to the gospel.

Beverly and Austin shared today that after the fall of communism there were 5 Christians remaining... the numbers now are around 15,000 to 20,000 Christians in a country of millions.  Pray, pray that while we are here, we will have the opportunity to touch lives in some special way.

Thank you to all of you that have prayed for a safe journey.. God answered our prayers and we are here.  Tomorrow we will split into groups to travel with Abby H. and do in home visits in a gypsy village.  The other half will visit an orphanage.  In the afternoon we will travel to Eagle's Wings Girls Home.  Will you join us in prayer for all we will see and do tomorrow and all we will encounter?  We love you all...

A Letter to our Senders....

Dear Senders,
Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for all of you that helped make this possible.  Your roles have varied in many different capacities...committee member, chef in the kitchen for freezer meals, phone callers, tshirt sellers, tshirt buyers, tshirt wearers, freezer meal purchasers and indulgers, prayer warriors, nursery workers, gourmet dessert chefs, concert praise and worship leaders, mission team trainers, van drivers, ticket peddlers, and the list goes on. 

How can we begin to say thank you for making this mission trip possible.  It is a gift from God that so many have sacrificed in order to spread His love and His word and His gospel.  You, senders, are making this happen.  It is a beautiful and humbling process to watch the Body Of Christ work...

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise GOD for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ and your GENEROSITY in sharing with them and with everyone else.  2 Corinthians 9:12-13

Thank you for sharing and serving for Jesus!
The Albania Missions Team

Albania, here we Come!

What can happen when a group of women commit to dream to make an overseas mission trip happen... what can happen when prayer leads this group to go forward on an amazing journey?  Not only a journey across an ocean, but a journey of learning and witnessing how God can provide in awesome ways. 

Our summer has been spent planning and preparing.. God showed up big and provided ALL the money needed and more... 10 days and counting and WE ARE leaving..

Please join us in prayer as we leave our families and friends behind for an incredible adventure across the world... Albania, Here we Come!