But Worth It!

I started to just comment on my post entitled "Not So Easy," but decided this is worth a post all of its own.  I mentioned how my bags' zippers were cut off, and I really wasn't looking forward to contacting the airlines.  Well, as if the Lord hadn't been gracious enough already, He outdid Himself.  

In case you've never filed a claim, they ask for a lot of obscure info that I just happened to have all available.  When I called, the two ladies I spoke with basically warned me that they don't cover zippers, which sometimes hit the conveyer belt and break off.  Not looking good, but I would do my part.  As I was on the phone with the second lady, who'd already told me to expect at least a week delay because of the holidays, she surprised me when she told me that she would actually take on my case herself and to email her my photos rather than having to return all the way to the airport.  By the time we were off the phone, she had issued a check in the mail for me, which I received last week!  

Then I was visiting my sister for Christmas and saw that luggage was 60% off at Belk.  I was lured by the tiny French flag on a brand called Delsey, which I'd never heard of before.  A French lady happened to be there and gave a good review.  I would wait till back in Charleston where I had a Belk  gift card and store credit.   Saturday I ventured to Belk and after an hour of pros and cons (unfortunately there was no luggage with all my criteria, and I didn't end up with Delsey), I did find one with my one non-negotiable: the feature that slides the zippers into some grooves to protect them from destruction.  Originally $340, I paid nothing when you factor in the discounts, the gift card, store credit, and reimbursement I got.  Isn't that amazing?  Worth over 5 times my other bag!  Hope the quality is reflective of the price. :).  And thank you, Lord, for this blessing! 

Time To Pick Up The Pace?

The past week has been transitioning back to US life.  While I'm used to coming and going, one of the biggest differences is the pace here.  I think it's a combination of the American lifestyle that likes activity, but also the fact that Charleston is the place in the world where I know the most people and have many close relationships.  It's sometimes a shock to my system and really challenges the  lifestyle I normally try to cultivate that incorporates stillness and rest in a very demanding world.

Perhaps the stomach bug stayed around a bit longer because of the lack of rest my body needed; perhaps it was a call to slow down.  Either way, it wasn't the funnest of weeks, though quite productive and full of evidence that God is my help.

I'll spare you the details of my many projects, but I'll write just a bit about one.  We had a deadline of registering our nations for the large Congress coming up in August, which you'll be hearing more and more about.  That may sound easy, but it involves lots of work and much communication.  I spent several hours last Monday writing our national director in Egypt and working on registering several of their team members.  One reason it took so long is because well, I'm not very savvy when it comes to Egyptian addresses; so I kept having to ask, "Is such and such a street or a town?"  "What's the zip code for Alexandria?  And Cairo?"  "I need so-and-so's email address."  

I was starting to feel annoying around 5:30 PM which would be 10:30 PM their time and apologized for yet another message and so late!  He thanked me and asked how I was still awake (11:30 PM in Zurich), that this was normal for Egypt, but for "my country," it was unbelievable.  That made me laugh, and I had to confess that I was jet-lagged from flying back the night before, but I was now on US time again.  As devoted as I want to be, in Zurich, I would've been asleep and definitely off my computer.

These children have been trained by our team in Egypt to share
the Gospel with their friends and family.

I was also incredibly thankful for technology and Internet which I rely on a lot for the work that I do. Just from this registration process, I now know about a few other workers in MENA that I am so looking forward to meeting in August.  They have a great influence in this part of the world in sharing the Good News that Jesus came to bring hope and life to Egypt (and other Arab nations)!  Thank you for your prayers for our team in this part of the world.

Not So Easy...

Among my many visits last week, I picked up a stomach bug, which hit me Thursday night, the eve of our day trip to France.  The Lord was very gracious as I never got sick, but by the time I woke yesterday (Sunday) morning, the nausea was much worse, not better.  Not exactly how I wanted to start my day of international traveling.  I must say I am incredibly grateful to have so many praying friends, which I believe is what got me through the trip, which was not so easy—-that and the Lord's mighty hand of love, which is so evident when we have eyes to see.

For example, as I was doing some last-minute things, I spotted a couple of wristbands that help with motion sickness/nausea that I had just happened to leave out.  I've never worn them, but today would be the day!  Thank you, Lord!

Fastforward to the airport: As I pass through immigration, the lady asks if I have a resident permit.  No.  My last trip was in September?  No, October, to Albania.  This is when she tells me I have overstayed my visit and starts flashing my passport in the air to show me that there are no stamps to/from Albania in October.  Oh no…it wouldn't surprise me if Albania didn't stamp, but how I wish I had checked when I was there and could do something about it!  

Me: Okay, so what do I need to do?

Lady: Pay a fine.  

Me: May I see my passport?  (I was going to find those stamps!) 

Lady: No.  You have to wait for my colleague to come.  

Trying to remain calm, I start searching for emails with my tickets to Albania.  Her colleague arrives and whips out her badge that says "Police."  I have to follow her.  As she types things into her computer, I decide to find pictures from Albania; and would you believe that I had taken pictures of my boarding passes both to and from Tirana and never deleted them?  Praise God!  I've never done that, but will plan to do it from now on!  She calls her boss who agrees to let me go without the 350CHF fine, but lets me know it's my responsibility to make sure they stamp my passport with a legible stamp in the future.  She confesses that Italy (Rome was my transiting country in/out of Schengen) is infamous for not stamping or at least not legibly).  I can only imagine the future conversations I'll have with the Italians and Albanians…🤪

So much for my plan to get a banana at the airport.  (I couldn't stomach the food I had at home).  By the time I made it to the gate, it was 10:44, one minute before boarding.  Thankfully I had all 3 seats to myself and was able to lie down most of the 9-hour flight to Philadelphia, which was just what my body needed, especially since I'd have a 6-hour layover before the flight to Charleston.

When I landed in Philly, I was pretty weak, having nibbled on only crackers and pretzels all day.  How would I manage my bags?  But there was a man with a cart just sitting there!  Perfect timing because the machine with the self-serve carts (which charged a fee) was broken.  He got my bags and took them all the way to re-check.  Don't worry, I tipped well, full of thanks for this man!

    

The fact that I made it home so easily was again an act of God as the southeast has had winter storms causing delays and closings of all sorts.  My flight was on time, and while there was a good bit of turbulence, we had an otherwise easy flight.  

I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds.  Psalm 26: 6-7

Sometimes it takes storms and sickness and false accusations to see and appreciate God's hand of love in our lives.  Now, time to practice what I preach and keep this same attitude as I file a claim with the airlines for my zippers which appear to have been cut and now make it extremely difficult to open and close my bag.  Not so easy...😬

Last Couple of Weeks in Switzerland for 2018

The last couple of weeks have been quite full.  As soon as I returned from France, we had a family from our new Albanian team in town.  I always write this, but how wonderful it is to get to physically be with our team!  It was just a joy to get to know them better.  It was also a privilege to help them get around Zurich, attend church together Sunday, and babysit so they could attend a meeting with Helmut Monday morning. 

With our Albanian friends and colleagues in Zurich
 

Then back to several meetings, cleaning/packing, and lots of goodbyes.  I have to say that my last week in Switzerland was my most social one yet.  It's been helpful to be here longer (3 months rather than the 2 5-week periods last fall and spring) to meet more people and connect with those I've met before on a deeper level.  I'm really grateful for all those the Lord has blessed me with here in the Zurich area.

At one of Zurich's 3 Christmas markets with Gabriela, who I met in 2016.
It's amazing that we communicate as her first language is Romanian, but we manage by mixing all of our languages, ha!

  Finally, I even got to go back to France!  A few from the Swiss team wanted to take me to a couple of Christmas markets in Alsace before I left for the States.  I'm so spoiled!

Colmar, France at Christmas time (well, Advent)!

France!

I left France 12 years ago next month.  Within the 7 years before that, I'd lived in Nice, Paris, and Rixheim (Alsace) after having toured all around during a summer study abroad in 2000.  Other than a couple of quick visits during my years in Germany and chaperoning a very tourist-y trip in 2015, I hadn't been back on French soil…until a couple of weeks ago.

Chateau at La Porte Ouverte

It's a really long story with a lot of twists, detours, and a misunderstanding; but I arrived in a small town in Burgundy called Lux at the Porte Ouverte (P.O. for short, translated Open Door) late on a Saturday evening after a train, 7.5 hour-bus ride, another train, and shuttle.  After a good night's sleep, I attended the church service on site, shared a meal with some girls, took a nice walk to the Saone River, and celebrated Veteran's Day that evening with a group from P.O.  

Veteran's Day (Armistice) is widely celebrated in France

So strange yet so good to be back in this country that I love so very much.  I can't explain it, but the love I have for France is surely from the Lord.  It's certainly not the weather (though I was spoiled the first couple of days) or the atmosphere which is so heavy and dark or even the mentality which can seem fatalistic to an American (though the believers shine as they have a more hopeful outlook).  Even the food was hard for me to get used to the first time I lived here, though now I'm fully converted and agree that the French have the best cuisine in the world. :)

Each day was a gift, and I was so blessed by those I was able to get to know and spend time with throughout the week.  I was even able to hear a Canadian evangelist who visited Wednesday night.  Before I left Friday to head for Alsace (north-east France), I felt like I was only beginning to understand the vision and purpose of this Christian center that hosts retreats and missionaries but hopes to be a place of discipleship training in the future.  To give a little plug, they really need help maintaining the property and restoring the chateaux.  I offered to publicize their needs in my newsletters, so stay tuned in case you want to be a part of this venture!

Anita Pearce spoke Wednesday night

Then off to Rixheim where I lived for 3 months in 2006.  The weekend was quite busy reuniting with friends, sightseeing, and a series of workshops at the local church.  I was so encouraged by this event where the church promoted different missions agencies, showcased various Christian artists, and invited a French missionary to Cambodia to speak Saturday night and Sunday morning.  His messages were so powerful and moving that people continued to reference them throughout the week.  Praise God!

Evangelical Church of Rixheim who hosed the workshops and event

This artist painted this as a worship song was playing in the background.

Timothee Paton, the guest speaker, was being interviewed before his first talk.

The next week went by quickly.  I was able to attend a prayer meeting at this church and also meet with a group of pastors who are involved in evangelism.  We exchanged contact info and will keep in touch.  Stay tuned for more info about them as well in my upcoming newsletters.  

Two of the three "French" pastors are Brazilian.  This gives you an idea of the need for
workers and pastors in France, which was something they shared.

Please, please pray for France and the French-speaking countries of Europe.  Within the last couple of weeks, we (European office of EE) received a request from Belgium as well.  There definitely seems to be interest, but our greatest need is to translate the materials and also find workers.  

Now back in Zurich in time to meet some of our Albanian team who's in town this weekend. :)

Delira and Excira

This is Irish slang for "delighted and excited."  Cards on the table, this was not my attitude for the first few hours this morning.  In fact, I was even feeling a bit down in the dumps.  Weather app indicating no chance of a visit from the sun today, I bundled up for a quick walk after lunch just to get out.  As I climbed one of the few cloud-covered hills nearby, I marveled at the joy that a different perspective brings; overlooking the fields with a view of a nearby town and the airport in the distance.  Perhaps it was foreshadowing as I returned for the online meeting after lunch.  

My boss and I "met" with our worker (withholding name) in Ireland.  Every time I get to meet one of our people whether by phone, Skype, or especially in person, I light up inside.  These are my heroes.  This man has given up everything to plant a church and run the EE ministry in Ireland.  He and his family are stepping out in faith to have their financial and all their needs met.  They have met many challenges so far, but I really admire their courage and attitudes that this is part of the deal.

He was sharing how Northern Ireland has been called the "South Korea of Europe" with churches on every corner; though the Republic of Ireland is drastically different.  While it may sound encouraging, at least for the North, the danger is the consumer mindset that can creep in with so many options to choose from.  It takes me back to my Bible Study this morning on the importance of the purity of the Gospel.

Anyway, it was touching to hear my boss sharing with our Irish brother how he feels a responsibility, not only as the VP of Europe, but also because the Gospel came to Switzerland from Ireland.  Not only is there a sense of gratitude and debt for this, but as Ireland is doing well, Switzerland is doing well in a sense.

As we ended the call, I was no longer down.  It's like our conversation was the "walk up the hill" my soul needed to give me a broader perspective it was missing.  Getting to listen to the progress and successes as well as the challenges and seeming setbacks.     Hearing about the ministry and our colleague's family.  Getting to brainstorm ways to help him and this growing ministry.  Each lifted me back up.  I think you could even say I'm delira and excira about it :).  And would you believe that the sun even came out for the rest of the day? 

Back in Albania

It was so wonderful to be back in Albania as well as with the other EE leaders.  The time crawled by in some ways, flew by in others.  I don't want to repeat what I'll share in my next newsletter, but here are some impressions after my second trip now to Albania, with a third one in the works.

Tirana Skyline

As I wrote in my post in April, the country is a fascinating blend of cultures—Greek, Arabic, Balkan.  Last time what impressed me was the mix of mosques and churches.  On the one hand, the people are mostly secular or nominal in whatever religion they identify themselves with; on the other, there seems to be an openness based on conversations from our outreaches.

I learned a bit more this time when I got to meet our new board, which in and of itself is a huge praise!  We weren't even sure we'd have a full-time worker last April, and now we have the beginning stages of a team, wow!  To give some background, the Communist regime fell in 1989 during the nation's revolution, making today's believers there first-generation believers.  And also opening doors to a very large harvest field.

While Christianity is accepted, the church is small.  We were able to visit an evangelical church which meets in a small room Saturday evening.  They'd like to be trained in EE.  I imagine that most evangelical churches meet in similar locations as there are no church buildings I saw other than the large Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church, which bring in many tourists and host events.  The new mosque is just as welcome as these churches, though bigger than both.

Greek Orthodox Church

New Mosque Being Built

It will be exciting to see what will happen by the time we return next summer.  Please be praying for the new EE team in its beginning stages as they are trained and train others and especially as they share the Good News with their fellow Albanians, which is their and our heart's desires.