This week has been full of challenges but abundant in blessings as well.

God has led me to give up my own plans and expectations and lean into the work He has for me. My group in Tirana has been switched to a small village 45 minutes from our church. When we were first told of the changes, my heart immediately sank. I have loved our work in Tirana, and the day away from Kotodesh was always refreshing and fun. The Roma kids ministry was changed to a different day, and it didn’t make sense for us to drive all the way there for only a church service. Me and a few others from my team had loved our time in Tirana, so this change felt disappointing. However, we have gone to our new location twice already, and we love it!

In the morning on Thursday, we joined a women’s group and shared our testimonies with them. In the afternoon, kids from the school next to the church came flooding in. They were shy at first but quickly warmed up and began playing games with us like “Duck, Duck, Goose” and many other easy-to-teach games. We sang worship songs with them, and someone from our team shared their testimony as well. After the service was over, the girls ran to give us hugs, and we assured them that we would be back the next day for church and every Thursday and Friday for the following month. Their faces lit up, and they even asked to stay longer to keep playing games and talking to us. We have the opportunity to really impact these kids’ lives and show them the love of Christ over the next month!

There are some difficult moments in the day-to-day as the excitement of our life here turns into a normal routine and arguments and annoyances arise. However, I’ve found peace in the mornings with my Bible time, prayers, and calling family back home before starting the day. When the day feels long and I start to feel discouraged or like I’m not doing enough, I try to remember where I was six weeks ago when I first arrived here. I was in a rough spot and felt like I had no idea where to go with my life or how to spend my time. As of right now, I’m filled with excitement as I think about the next few months of my life, and I have a much better sense of what I’m searching for in my future. I’ve learned so much about myself and about what living in community with other believers looks like. I am so lucky to have this place to learn and grow, all while having an incredible support system back home.