The Change starts with you!

LAC hits the streets to clean-up Lezhe!

We in education are in the business of transformation and growth. I always say that I wouldn't do this job(Guidance Counseling) if I didn't believe in young peoples' power to change. I see endless potential in young people not just to change themselves but to change the world around them. In my past job I constantly was encouraging personal growth and change in my students as they were in a position of challenge due mostly to their own negative choices. Now in Lezhe I work with students that have the passion beyond themselves to change their city and society. They look around and say "This isn't good enough, we want something better!"

Yesterday(11/22) we took a break from class and we took to the streets with gloves and trash bags to make a difference. One of the first things you will notice if you come to Albania, especially the more populated areas, is the trash. I have mentioned this before, how horrible the lack of respect for public spaces is. People don't seem to think twice about littering and the land and beauty of the country is suffering. Our students seem to have an awareness that this is a disaster that they want change. However, it is an overwhelming problem and when you see the piles of trash it can be paralyzing. I am sure you can relate. All we have to do is turn on the news or open a newspaper and we are hit with massive injustices and enormous problems we hate, but feel powerless to change. Let me encourage you to find a way to do something. LAC students picked up A LOT of trash Friday and I was so proud of them and encouraged! However, when I walked those exact streets 5 hours later on the way to dinner I couldn't tell the difference. In fact I noticed new litter on the streets. It was as if we hadn't done anything at all. But I wasn't fooled! I know there was immeasurable value in what we did! The work the students did was empowering to them. Also, it showed the community that this issue matters. Our school is next to the market so hundreds of people witnessed our effort. What a wonderful example our students were and I believe that someone was impacted by that example. When we make an effort to change something that is wrong even if it does not seem successful, for example Lezhe is still a horrible mess today, it has value. It gives you a connectedness to the problem you wish to change. The students are now invested in their community. I feel confident that none of them are continuing to contribute to the problem they have crossed over to be part of the solution. It starts with personal individual change and then it takes teamwork to create a movement. So back to you, what have you done lately to impact your world? The change starts with you!


"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Mother Teresa

 

 

Making a Joyful noise

 

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." Ps. 95:1-2

 
Life at LAC has been very full these past few weeks. We just finished quarter 1 of the 2013-2014 school year! Can you believe it? I can't!  As we wrapped up this week I found myself spending a lot of time on the computer working with grades and report cards. This is important, but not very "life giving" work. By Friday I was exhausted and ready for the break! The end of the quarter also brings my career as a teacher to an end and that gives me relief as well. Though I will miss that daily interaction with the senior class. They are a great group!




A very exciting update is a few weeks ago our new Music Teacher Lisa Mast joined us from Oklahoma. She brought new energy and has started music club, getting our students excited about the addition of music to our curriculum! This week many of them will have music class for the very first time! A huge answer to prayer is the arrival of a piano on Friday. This is another example of how our God is an "on time God". Several months ago LAC submitted a proposal to Mennonite Education Agency for Grant money to help start our music program. We have been eagerly awaiting an answer and early last week we received word that we got enough money to cover an electric piano for the school. On Friday, Lisa and Dini went to Tirana to make our big purchase. By early afternoon it was carried by several student up to the 3rd floor to the new music room and unpacked ready for use! Just in time! On a personal note (no pun intended) this has already brought joy to my soul. Lisa and several other of the teachers spent some time Friday evening celebrating the arrival of the piano by playing and making music together. Jordan plays guitar and Justin violin so the 3 of them filled the building with worship music and singing. I wondered down to the classroom and just sat and enjoyed for awhile. I think that hearing music on a regular basis will be really life giving for me. I know that on Friday my soul was renewed by not just the music but the realization that God is providing for us here at LAC. Please pray that the music program can be an instrument of the Gospel to our students and they will feel the presence of God as I did on Friday evening.

Lisa, Justin, and Jordan jamming to celebrate the new piano.

Lisa also has a blog. If you wish to get another perceptive of our ministry in Albania, or are curious to hear more about the music program, check it out.  GOATSANDMUSIC.WORDPRESS.COM