HOPE

I wrote this and never posted it...

Our first team left Albania this morning. 

They spent Sunday night across the lake in Macedonia for what we call "Team Debrief." 

It is a day for them to reflect on and share with each other what the Lord has done in the last week. It is also a time of rest before they get back on the plane for the long trip home. 

Since it is only an hour away, Cory and I (and the babies) went to join them for dinner on Sunday night. 

At dinner, Cory asked them to share something about their week and how it had impacted them. 

This was one of our youngest teams and most of them had never been on a missions trip before or been around the lack of basic Biblical knowledge that is present here. 

Almost every one of them were impacted by the same thing. 

They were impacted by the same thing because all of the Albanian kids they shared the gospel with were impacted by the same thing. 

And that is the HOPE that comes through faith in Christ. 

Many of the Albanians they shared with come from Islamic backgrounds.

They said, "I don't have that kind of hope." "We don't have that kind of hope." 

"I want that hope." 

The hope that salvation brings. 
The hope of Heaven. 
The hope of Eternal life with Christ.

And I was thankful to be reminded of how this hope truly transforms lives. 

And we are constantly watching this reality...

20 Jr.High boys from Pogradec were also at that camp (it was made up of kids mostly from Korca). The week after they attended camp, our older boys from the Project met with them 3 days in a row just to build a relationship with them. They did a devotion with them from the book of Genesis. 

And this was so touching to Cory and I. 

Sometimes it can feel like we are simply spinning our wheels. 

There are SO many kids. 
There are so many PEOPLE. 
There is so much pain and brokenness. 
There is so much hopelessness. 

We want desperately to reach this place for Christ but there are times when we kinda look at each other (Erion, Melodie, Cory and I) and laugh at how "outnumbered" we are. 

But the beauty of true discipleship is that actually does reproduce and bear fruit. 

The boys that were in Cory's bible study all year are now doing devotions with and ministering to the new, younger boys. 

And this is biblically how we SHOULD grow. Not 4 of us doing everything, but raising up disciples that raise up disciples. 

Since writing that we have done another camp in Korca with a church from Chicago. There were a ton of new kids, many of whom have never heard the gospel before.

Today our 3rd camp begins right in Pogradec. 

This camp is the most exciting to us because it is right in our city. 

It is kids that we will personally follow up with all year. The ones who will become a part of our bible studies and youth group and ministries. 

Many of the kids from the summer project are also helping translate and lead this camp. 

It's incredible to see kids that were saved last year at camp now inviting their friends, sharing the truth with them and becoming a part of the ministry that will take place this week. 

Thank you for your continued prayers! 

Please pray for the kids who have been coming to youth group and bible studies but have not yet decided to follow Christ. 

Please pray for the kids who have never heard the gospel before. 

Please pray that in all of this Christ would be honored and His name would be proclaimed.