Jet Lag

It's 2:15 AM... 

The last 4 nights I have been awake because my babies were but tonight (at least for the moment)...it's just me...laying in my quiet house imagining I'm sleeping. 

Jet lag is the worst.

Shiloh has woken up every night asking for food at 3 AM. It's as if

her body clock is telling her it's dinner time. 

I lay on the kitchen floor for 2 hours while she walks around in her 'Purples' and eats bananas. Her 'Purples' are her high heel plastic Disney store shoes that her best friend Grandma Bubbles got her. Grandma Bubbles is my Mom. She earned this name because when she was here in June she always blew bubbles with Shiloh and then when we Facetimed all summer she would tell Shiloh she was going to do bubbles with her when she saw her next. 

Now when Shiloh sees her she says Bubbles...so we call her Grandma Bubbles. 

Shiloh's purples are her most treasured possession. I'd never seen her get mad at Taliah until she saw Taliah sucking on one of her purples. 

Oh and they are purple by the way. 

And that's what Cory and I call them. Her Purples. 

I feel like I have somewhat given up on myself when we are traveling and I say 'Cory do we have Lamby, NyNy and her Purples?' 

Here is she wearing one of her Purples. It took her awhile to get the hang of wearing both of them. 

She is also into beads which were also from Grandma Bubbles. And I think Shiloh has a lisp...especially when she says 'purse' and 'beads.' I am hoping she keeps it for at least 5 years. 

She is forever changed from her time in America. Which in many ways is a completely different world. 

When we were there, I constantly found myself thinking 'Do I really live in Albania? Is that really real?' 

It almost felt as if we had never left America. Never said goodbye to our family or packed up our stuff or moved into our house above the bank. 

I didn't know it would feel like that. 

And now, America doesn't feel real either. 

Neither place feels like home honestly. 

On one hand they both do, and on the other hand they both don't. 

It's a very weird feeling. 

Maybe like stumbling through the wardrobe into Narnia. 

Or shooting into that place Thor is from... 

And I only bring this up because the number one question I was asked when I was in America was 'Is it weird to be back?' 

It was weird to hear strangers speaking English. I felt like I was on sensory overload. 

It was weird to stop at stop lights. I almost ran one. 

It was weird to eat all day anything I wanted. Bagels and blueberries. Chipotle and McDonald's breakfast. That is not a joke. 

It was weird to go to a church service. And talk with people afterward. 

It was weird to see faces of dear friends that looked the same but then to see the faces of their babies who I have never met. 

It was weird to think that I no longer belong there. That I no longer have a small group or a grocery store or a Wednesday play date. 

It was weird to watch Shiloh's vocabulary sky rocket as she was only surrounded by one language. 

It was weird to remember that I belong in a little city on a lake in a country of 3 million people. 

But then what wasn't weird was to remember people. That's when Albania and Pogradec and our house above the bank felt very real. 

When I thought of the girls in my bible study. Or Erion and Melodie and their kids. Or the boys that Cory disciples. 

The faces of people we have grown to love made it feel very real and close instead of a distant dream. 

And now that we are back in Albania, America seems like somewhat of distant dream. But my sisters and brothers and cousins and parents and friends and church family feel very real. 

This is scattered because it is now 3:45 AM (I took a short break from this blog to eat two bowls of Frosted Flakes and walk Taliah around the living room) . Or maybe it's just scattered because my brain is always scattered...

BUT. What I am trying to say is that people are real. 

That sounds dumb when I say it like that. 

But I think I was reminded of that in this whirlwind of a month we have had.

I can feel like America isn't real or Albania isn't real BUT the people in each of those places are very real. 

And so when I am confused about where I belong or where home is or if Costco and the butcher are both actual places on this planet, I can remind myself of the people God has given me to love. 

Whether that be in America or Albania. 

And what is amazing is that in Heaven we will all be worshipping God together, and we will all be truly Home. 

So while my children may be a bit confused as they grow up as to the difference between these two worlds we are suspended in, I will remind them of the people that are important to us, and of the One God who unites us through His Son. 

It's 4 AM and I'm going to stop here. 

Next time, I will tell you more about our time in America and why we were there. 

Here's our little world traveler with Lamby and NyNy. 

In Other News...

*Last week at girls bible study I told them we wouldn't be having bible study this week because of camp. They asked if they could come the next day...

"You want to come again and do bible study tomorrow?" I said. 

"Yes can we?" They all nodded. 

"Of course!!!" 

So they came the next day. 

We have been going through John and are just about to the end before Jesus is crucified. 

Every week we do a review and it is constantly amazing to watch what the Word of God can do. 

I love these girls and am so blessed by their faithfulness, eagerness and friendship. 

**I don't know if I've mentioned this before but there is not a nursery or Sunday school class at our church right now. 

I will spare you the details of why but lets just say it makes Sunday mornings PRETTY tricky for me. 

Shiloh used to take a morning nap for the entire service in my Ergo. That worked great until she dropped her morning nap and I was 6 months pregnant with Taliah. 

All of the kids go to a room in the back and run in circles. 

It's a room full of corners and dust and wound up boys. I am waiting for Shiloh to just get a gash in her head. 

In the winter it is freezing. In the summer it is sweltering. 

It's only women and babies so Cory and I can't take turns.  

So for most of this year, when I go to church, I go for the music and then have to go to the back. 

Sometimes I just want to cry. 

Like why get up, get the babies ready, throw off their naps to drive 45 minutes both ways and sit in a back room where I can't hear the sermon and even if I could talk to the women, we can't talk because the kids have gone wild and I'm trying to keep Shiloh from getting trampled?

I mean I do it but sometimes I just feel like...WHY???

And yes I know why...I'm just saying...

And I'm being a bit flippant about this but truly it has been a struggle for me. 

So I am very much looking forward to when we have our own church service in Pogradec in the fall. 

BUT right now I have a plan that is going to drastically change my Sunday mornings. 

Shiloh is going to learn how to sit still for the entire church service. 

I am determined. 

We are currently up to 15 minutes...I will update you with our progress. 

We just have to work on her not talking really loudly to her books while she looks at them...

Any tips? 

***Taliah has cradle crap and today a lady asked me what it was. 

I said, "It is broken." 

It wasn't until I left that I realized I said her head was broken instead of dry. 

The words are very similar. 

****This week the camp is in Pogradec and we are calling this team "The Dream Team." It is made up of friends who have been here doing camps for many summers and of our amazing interns. 

Ryan and Natalie (a long time friend) met here 2 years ago. I told Ryan he should marry her at the end of that first summer but went their separate ways (Nat to Seattle, Ryan to Chicago). However, last summer they hit it off and spent many hours talking at our kitchen table. They got married 5 months later. Now, they are back to help us with this Pogradec Day Camp and lead the tent camp next week with Alderwood Community Church. So thankful to have them here! 

Kassi got saved at a summer camp at Shasta that Cory and I were at in 2011. She was invited to Shasta by Natalie who was her health teacher. She was on my boat that year and in my small group the year Cory and I lived in Seattle. She was on the first team to Albania in 2012 and it has been so awesome to watch the Lord save her, grow her, and use her. Love you Kass! 

We also have Chris Calvi from Faith Bible Church who was on one of the teams last year. Cory served with him at Faith when he was doing worship there the year we lived in California. Chris has jumped in and is playing the guitar for the evening sessions. We are so thankful he said yes to coming and helping this week! 

Rachael Davison, who is JV staff and lives in Czech, has jumped in this week as well. Although thing are done a little differently here in Albania she has made herself at home teaching English and leading a small group. Again, so thankful to have her here! 

We also have our amazing interns (minus Nathan who is gone this week and who we are missing A LOT) who we could not have done this summer without. Bethany and Katelyn you will never know how thankful we are for you! 

And of course the dreamiest of the dream team is my incredible husband! 

This man has been working SO hard this summer and I am so proud of him. 

Seriously, I can't say enough about it. 

I love that our relationships at home are at the core of our ministry here in Albania. 

I love that girls who have been in my small groups back home (Katelyn, Kassi, and two girls on one of the Alderwood Teams) are coming here to lead small groups this summer. 

I love that this is Natalie's 4th summer in Albania and that she met her husband here. 

I love how the Lord uses His body around the world and I'm so thankful for all of our incredible friends who support what God is doing here. 

Tonight Cory is teaching for the Evening Session. Please pray for open minds and hungry hearts. Please pray for this team as they talk about God with many kids who have never talked about Him before. 

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. 

Lots of Food

In order for there to be food at this camp in the mountains that we have created, it has to be cooked in the church kitchen 20 minutes away and then brought to camp. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

After each meal, the dishes are washed in an outdoor faucet thing by some of the leaders in the church youth group. 

About an hour later, they set up for the next meal. 

Feeding 110 people in the mountains of Albania is no joke. 

Such a blast. 

And this is just a small part of the work that goes into this week. 

And it's so worth it because of stories like these: 

Last year Cory walked up to a guy at camp who was sitting at a picnic table bent over the Bible. 

He asked him what he was reading and they began to talk about the Bible. 

They talked about evolution, creation, the story of the Prodigal son, the gospel message and  Cory answered many questions this boy had. 

This boy began to listen to MacArthur sermons and and search the scripture for answers. He had many deep, thought out, complicated questions. 

He said he knew that if he accepted Christ, it would mean his entire life would have to change. 

And a few months later, God saved Him. 

Since then, he has gone through Romans and Jude in Cory's bible study, he has taught in youth group, he has translated for Cory when he preaches and he is going through Fundamentals of the Faith with the Summer Project. 

He also invited his cousin to youth group. God also saved his cousin. His cousin has gone through Romans and Jude in Cory's bible study, has become a leader in the youth group and is also going through Fundamentals of the Faith with the Summer Project. 

Now this cousin is at camp this week to serve alongside the American team. 

Yesterday Cory challenged him to share the gospel one on one with kids at camp. 

Today he told Cory, that since yesterday he has shared the gospel with 3 kids. 

When Cory and I talk about the work that goes into camp, the time it takes, the money put into it, and the hearts that are unchanged, we remind each other of boys like these. 

It is such a beautiful, clear picture of how God is working here.

It is amazing example of true, saving faith that bears fruit.

It is encouraging to us as we attempt to plant this church in Pogradec. 

And it is affirming to us as we continually evaluate the ministry taking place here. 

And it's incredible to see how the salvation of 1 can impact so many more. 

Please continue to pray that this would take place in Albania. 

And pray for the salvation of the lost, the growth of the saved, and the endurance of the leaders this week at camp. 

Ready, Set, Go!

1st Summer Team from Grace Church of the Valley in Kingsburg! 

This morning 12 Americans raced around Pogradec in an attempt to win "The Amazing Race," Albanian style. 

They were stared at, probably laughed at, and definitely embarrassed themselves. 

Just a day in the life of the Cramers :) 

I would include the details of the race, but we have 3 more teams coming for this cultural experience so I have to keep it a secret. 

Here they are learning a little traditional Albanian dance. 

What was neat about this Amazing Race was that we had the Albanian kids in our Summer Project help out with it. 

These kids have committed to studying "Fundamentals of the Faith," and to helping with camps, teams and other ministry events this summer. Our goal is that when we begin a Sunday Service this fall, they are in many ways the "backbone" of the church. So we are preparing them this summer to serve in the church and learn what it means to be  part of the body of Christ. 

They had a blast today and it is neat to see them bond and work together. We are coming to know them and love them more and more. Especially as we learn their stories, their families and their hearts. 

This spiritual preparation has been so exciting to be a part of and their has also been a lot of "physical" preparation for camp.

Up until about 5 minutes ago, there was no water or electricity at our campground.... 

Yes that's right. 100+ people about to go to Camp on Monday with no electricity or water. 

The water pipe was broken but we didn't know where. 400 meters from the source to the camp site and no idea where the problem was. 

Cory went Rambo and tried to search for it with some guys covered from head to toe and wearing rubber boots. Swamp. Bees. What a stud. I wish I had a pic. 

The electricity was damaged in the winter and getting it fixed has been a huge ordeal. 

But, there will be showers and lights in the end! 

The kids from the summer project went to the campground this week to get it ready. 

They spent a lot of time picking up trash...

And we have definitely upgraded this year...

We have bathrooms! 

And a stage!

 And a tent!

And just to keep the main thing the main thing.

 Why do we do this? 

Why do we ask American churches to send teams? 

Why do we spend time and money and energy to camp in the forest? 

Why do we teach English and play Kijabe-Can-Can? 

Why do we spend our nights trying to swat the mosquitoes away?

Why do we spend the early hours of the morning sweating and trying to hide from the sun? 

Why do we eat bread all week? 

Why do we spend hours with kids who don't speak our language? 

Because God uses it. He truly does. 

The time away. 

The focus on His Word.

The hearts of the American teams to serve and give. 

It's not the ultimate culmination of ministry here in Albania for us. It's just the beginning. 

It's just the seed planting. Some of the seeds do fall on rocky soil. Some of the seeds are eaten by the birds. But some of the seeds do fall onto good soil and the roots do begin to grow. And we will spend the rest of the year, and the rest of our years watching and working to make the seeds grow. 

Please pray for this first camp next week. 

And pray for Cory as he teaches in youth group tonight from Matthew 6:19-21, 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither most nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in an steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also." 

And in the midst of all this, Shiloh just 'doo-doos' which is "draw" in Shiloh.