Goings on...

Life at Lezha Academic Center has been rolling right along! This past month we had an addition of new volunteer teachers to help diversify our curriculum and give much needed support in our daily schedules. We also welcomed into our school and church community a volunteer group of 6 ladies from the mission organization "World Race." We were one of their stops in a year long tour of 11 countries. They stayed a little over 3 weeks and helped with church activities and English tutoring after school. We benefited from their youthful energy and enthusiastic service.

The current "Missionary Staff" at LAC and Sandra who left last month

In many ways my life has fallen into a normal routine. I go to work at 7:30 and leave around 5:00, most days I then go to the gym and workout, many times stopping on the way home to buy water for the next few days. Then I set about making dinner and find ways to unwind in the evenings. Even the unexpected power outages, changes of work expectations, and supply shortages have become routine (though still frustrating). Almost daily I struggle with understanding how I can be used by God here in Albania. I know He called me, but I don't know that I can see the fruits of my obedience yet. Today I was given the opportunity to give my Testimony in assembly. This was something I was really excited to be able to share with the students. In addition it was a good time for me to reflect on how much God has guided and impacted my life journey. I am reminded that often in the midst of life's experiences I have no idea how God is working and the impact it will have on me or those around me. I need to just trust that He is in control and He cares for me. This was true in Pennsylvania and equally true in Lezhë, Albania.


   I was glad to have Klementina translate for me.

The kids seemed attentive and I am just praying that there was something in my story that could help them in their understanding of God. 



Fried dough I bought on the street in Tirana. It is an Italian treat and since then
Valentina has also made it for me and her's were even better! 

Mid-term!

Today marks the half-way point for the LAC 2013-2014 school year! Amazing!



students taking finals

It is a time of transitions and new beginnings not just for the students but for the staff as well. We are saying "Good-bye" to our English Literature teacher Sandra Cardinal who was serving a 6 month term with VMM. She is someone that I met during my training in Harrisonburg back in July so it is sad to see her go since we have been traveling this journey together. New arrivals for short-term service are Elise and Richard Bowman, Lois King, and Betsy and Philip Moyer. Lois and Betsy will be teaching English, Philip will be teaching Biology, and Richard, Physics.

The most popular question of the week has been "How am I related to Phil and Betsy Moyer?" As far as I know we are only related though Christ. "Moyer" is a really common name in Eastern Pennsylvania.  However, they are from my home church, Salford and we have known each other for many years so it is wonderful for me to have them here.

LAC operates with block scheduling with 90 minute blocks and this marks the end of the first semester and we start all new classes Monday. The best news for me is that I won't be teaching this quarter. I celebrated at lunch by opening a bag of Kettle Chips that I bought in London. I had been saving them for just such an occasion. The next few weeks I will be busy with compiling grade reports and updating transcripts. We do not have fancy software like we have in the States that generate these types of reports so I do it all manually.

Tonight we will all celebrate this major milestone with PIZZA. Which honestly is not all that different from every other Friday night. Pizza is something that the Albanians do very well. Now if only they understood Hawaiian Pizza.




"Every day is a new beginning, take a deep breath and start again!"

Out for pizza with Sandra!

Ramdom discoveries

Not sure if this is worthy of a post but while I was home many people seemed very interested in what the weather is like in Albania. Today it was sunny and about 58%. However, tomorrow it is supposed to rain. We don't get snow apparently since we are near the sea. It sure can get windy though and that causes frequent power outages.




The other common question I get is what do you miss about America. That is an easy question since I miss my friends and family the most. However, also interesting is that there are a number of things I haven't been able to find in Albania or at least in my small city of Lezhe. I miss many of these things too.

In Shkodra this past weekend at Café Flo.

Here is the list in no particular order.

1. Filling cabinets

2. Brown sugar (got it from Kosovo)

3. Tortilla chips

4. Diet Coke (Coke Zero is not the same thing)

5. Note cards - no need since no one uses the postal system

6. Ben & Jerry's

7. Pretzels

8. Sticky tack

9. Movie Theaters (maybe in Tirana?)

10. Brownies

11. Magazines - don't miss them until you can't get them

12. Milkshakes

 





Beautiful Saturday last week in Shkodra!
Not sure what these lights are supposed to be but
aren't they artistic?

I thought it would be funny to steal her bread.

She didn't agree...

Shkodra is a larger city to the north and has

a lot of culture and history. It is fun to visit since it has many more restaurants and things to do. It is about 45minutes and $2 to take a van.  

... what else would you like to know?

Season for Giving

I suppose it is kinda late to talk about Christmas and New Years but I need to give you an update on my absence. As most of you know I was home in Pennsylvania for the break. It was a blessing to see my family and catch-up with friends. I was only wishing I could've seen everyone on my list but I ran out of days. It was a real time of refreshment and encouragement for me.

I have been wanting to share with you something cool that happened at LAC before I left. We had our very first food drive! Giving non-perishable food items is a practice we all have participated in at one time or another in the States. We have many charities that make it simple and as painless as possible. You can even drop your cans off only a few feet from where you buy them in some of our grocery stores and someone else will take it from there.

However, in Albania there is no such system and the food drive was a new idea. Klementina and I really were not sure that the students would participate. However, we sweetened the appeal by offering a prize to the class that provided the most food/money. I hope that doesn't sound like a bribe but hey it worked! We were able to provide a sizable amount of food for 15 families and 15 students showed up on a Saturday to help distribute it. We ran into a few snags though since people do not have street addresses here. We were faced with a lot of people in need claiming to be the persons named on our list(which was given to us by the mayor). I guess it is obvious that I am a rookie since I went into the poorest neighborhood in Lezha and asked around while driving a car full of food. It did not work and soon Klementina looked like the "Pied Piper" and we had to abandon the mission after only locating 2 of the families. We later needed to come up with a plan B with the Mayor. This is what I am calling a learning curve, not a failed mission. We were successful in starting a new concept and giving students an opportunity to help those less fortunate then themselves. I was encouraged by their involvement and believe that LAC will continue the tradition with a few necessary improvements. The biggest success was probably seeing those students volunteering their time to help others. Honestly, that is what the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season should be all about. GIVING and being Jesus's hands and feet to those in need!

I hope that you and your family had a joy filled Christmas! Thank you for your love and support of me and LAC! Blessings to you!  

"Giving Thanks"

I had a very unique Thanksgiving this year! One I will not soon forget. After celebrating with LAC students and there families on Wed. night. I left Thursday with Lisa and Justin for London. I have never been to London and it was wonderful to stay with my friend Beth and her husband and visit all the famous sights. We actually had remarkable weather, knowing the reputation of London.

I was really happy when the sun came out for our ferry ride on the Themes and we got to see Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and The Eye in perfect view and color! It was fun to enjoy the diversity of foods and walk around the many Christmas markets and shops. Of course I missed my family, friends, and normal traditions but it was good to do something different. I have much to be thankful for and this Holiday Season I feel even more aware of the things that really mater.

I am looking forward to being home in PA for 2 weeks over Christmas. I hope to use this time to reconnect with everyone and renew my spirit. If you have ever spent time in ministry you know some of the challenges and the drain you can feel, especially if you are not making time to celebrate God's blessings. I plan to pay special attention to the people and things I am thankful for. I am so Blessed to know Christ and the true meaning of Christmas and I am not taking that for granted this year. Thank you for your involvement in my life and I hope you too have found reasons to be "Thankful" this year.

As you know my ministry is fully funded at this point. However, if you are able and willing there is a family at our school that is in need. I had mentioned in my Newsletter that 2 of our students lost their father to cancer this September. They are valued members of our community and the LAC family has reached out in a number of ways. However, the tuition is $200 a month for each of them and that is a real issue right now. If you would like to Bless them checks can be made out to VMMissions and sent to Virginia Mennonite Mission, 901 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22802, put "LAC Scholarship - Pllumbi" in the memo line. There is no deadline, I just know that Christmas is often the time when we look for ways to give and the Pllumbi's could really use a gift.

I thought Tower Bridge was so cool!

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