Soaking it Up

 How did this happen? 

We keep asking each other. 

You plan, you prepare, you pray.  I don't know why we are amazed when God does what we have been asking him. 

Everyday we can't believe we live here. We can't believe it when the American teams land here and come stay in our home in Pogradec. We can't believe when a camp finishes well and the team goes home with full hearts. 

We just keep doing the next thing and then we look at each other and recognize that hopes and prayers have been realized. 

Last Thursday, Cory drove to Tirana to pick up Team 2. 

They are doing a day camp in Pogradec. This is for kids who's parents don't want them going away overnight and its a huge draw because its right in their neighborhood. 

So that means that last Saturday night we had 28 extra Americans in Pogradec! 

There were literally people out on the street just watching our house. They cannot figure out what is going on. 

Little boys just watch all day long. They smile and giggle when we wave at them. I guess we are very amusing.

I mean, I have to admit some things are amusing. At one point I saw a dog running across the street that had some kind of tumor under its belly. It was one of the grossest things I have ever seen. I screamed. They all lost it. 

Those boys were invited to the camp this week as well. 

Why are you all here? 
Why so many people? 
American? 
Family? 

The last camp went incredibly we well. We were SO encouraged by the team. 

This was one of the "roughest" camps in the sense that there weren't really showers, the food was pretty basic, and there wasn't coffee until Thursday. 

But they all just plowed through, loving the kids, playing the games, asking them questions. 

I wanted him to come live with us...but he had parents

The age gap was 13-15. These brothers couldn't have been older than 10 and 12. They technically shouldn't have been there but that's not a coincidence. 

There are many stories and it is hard to hear and share them all. 

One girl named Marietta was very adamant that she believed in Jesus but that she did not believe God created the world. Essentially, she did not believe in the truth of the Bible. Lissy (my sister) explained to her that everything cannot come out of nothing. And it hit her. She understood. She kept saying "Thank you, thank you, I understand now." 

Another boy named Sedioni gave his life to Christ after having the gospel very clearly shared with him by a guy on the team (Charles). Charles said that as he was sharing with him, he kept thinking of 2 Corinthians 5:20 "We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."  Sedioni recognized his need for a Savior and prayed with Charles that Jesus would take his sins. 

Another boy named Daniel asked a guy from our team (Morgan) why he had chosen the path he had for his life. Morgan shared the gospel with him and prayed with him to accept Christ. 

These are brief and we know that only Christ truly knows the hearts of these kids but these things are true: 

1. Each and every kid heard the gospel, some of them for the first time. 
2. Each and every kid knows people and has built relationships with people from the local
    church in Korca. 
3. Each and every kid was shown the love of Christ. 
4. Each and every kid had a seed planted and we will continue to water it and pray that it
    grows. 

There is a hunger here that is very evident. There is a hunger for love. A hunger for truth. 

And there are few places for this hunger to be satisfied. There is a lack of distraction, of confusion and of contradiction. 

When they hear the truth, they soak it in and eat it up. 

There is so much to be done and we are so thankful for the teams that come and help us build bridges and make connections. 

The second camp began yesterday and they are currently learning some English. 

Please pray for this team and for the students here. 

Thank you for your love, prayer and encouragement.