Albanian?

"What language do they speak in Albania?" is one of the most common questions I am asked next to: "where is Albania?" and "when are you leaving?" 

Yes, you guessed right, Albanian!  The dominant and official language is Albanian, a revised and merged form of the two main dialects, Gheg and Tosk, but with a bigger influence of Tosk as compared to the Gheg. Now, if that last sentence made any sense to you please send me a message and explain. 

What I gather is that Albanian is the last living language of it's type - meaning there are no other languages around today that are similar. This will make learning the language quite the adventure. And if for no other reason, you should continue to follow my blog to read about the wonderful stories that are "lost in translation" while I'm living in Albania. My favorite word thus far is: "gjashtëmbëdhjetë." Take a try. How would you pronounce it?  It is the number 16...and to my ear it is pronounced: jesh-movie-et. How'd ya do?

I am afraid that all of my English, the 8 years of Spanish, and one semester of Greek I took in school will be of no help as I try to learn this new language. But what the heck... I'm always up for an adventure! :-D

5 Signs I know Albanian is Going to Be Hard to Learn

By: Katie Hawkins

1. They don’t have a Rosetta Stone program for Albanian.
2. Albanian restaurants with waiters/waitresses to practice with are few and far between.
3. "No" is universal in almost every language and yes, I picked one of the few languages in which "no" doesn't mean no (jo-pronounced yo-means no).
4. I bust out laughing when I hear the pronunciation of  words because I have no idea how to move my mouth to get those sounds out.
5. It takes me 5 minutes to say anything resembling the word, 15 minutes to say anything resembling a short phrase, and we just won’t even think about full sentences yet...

Why Two Years?

This entry goes back to June. It is from a journal entry I wrote when I first started talking with Global Partners about missions work. I feel as though it perfectly answers the question: "why two years?"
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As if I haven't learned my lesson a million times over, I immediately start to plan out my life again. This is perfect. I will be a missionary. Leave in January 2011, serve until Nov. 2011, come home and join the CG in Dec. 2012. Is that what you want God? I ask after I tell Him how my life is going to work. 

 

I've got my perfect little plan in my head and share it with Tanya from Global Partners when I talk to her about my desire to do missions work. Very kindly she listened as I'm sure I sound like an idiot mapping my life out for her. She is very supportive, and really encourages me to serve overseas however long it is that I feel God is calling me to serve. Only for my knowledge though, she proceeds to tell me about their two year program- just so I can fully understand why they recommend serving for two years. She talks about building relationships, and learning the language and when people serving for a year come home they feel like their work is just beginning as they are leaving. Because of that people serving for at least two years feel a deeper sense of fulfillment. I let that brew in the back of my head and tell her I will prayerfully consider that as an option, and I did.  

 

After sharing the information with my mom and replaying our conversation a few times in my head I remembered something else she said about the two year program that didn't stick out at first. She mentioned that it is more of a sacrifice to give up two years of your life. Usually people can look into the future and say 'next year I will be doing this' but they never look out and say 'yeah, in two years...' It gives you the opportunity to give up your life for Jesus and completely put your trust in Him. 

God answered my prayer about the two year stint almost immediately. Two bible verses popped into my head. (I was thinking it was one, but I was getting them tangled together) The first was Matthew 10:39, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." and Mark 10:21, "Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. 'There is still one thing you haven’t done,' he told him. 'Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'” My plan was all wrong. With my plan to come home after serving for a year and jump into the CG I was not putting my trust completely in Him, I was clinging to my life. I was looking out for my best interests to find a situation that would better my life. But how can I better my life? I need to get over all of the material possessions and monetary wealth that the CG can provide and rely completely on God to provide for my needs. If I let go of the Coast Guard and the ideas that come along with it, I can let God work in my life and completely 100% trust in Him. Holy Cow. What a scary, yet liberating thought: not just saying I've given my life to God and that I trust him, but actually doing it. Wow!

What about the Coast Guard?

Before I heard if I was accepted into the Coast Guard or not I became really excited about the life the CG would provide for me. I would make a  fairly decent salary, have a housing allowance to afford a nice apartment, make enough to buy or lease a nice, new, Xterra. I would have enough money to pay off my student loan in a couple years. The GI bill would provide me the opportunity to go back to school and get my Masters compliments of the US Government. I could also use money from the GI bill or my AmeriCorps Ed. Award to buy a cutting edge, state of the art Mac to replace my 5 year old slowly dying pc. With military discounts and 30 vacation days a year I would be able to travel all over the world at a lower cost. I would have health insurance, life insurance and dental coverage. I would make a good pension. And I would have the ability to continue to move my way up in the CG thus making more money and if choosing to stay in long term I would have a really good retirement plan to fall back on when I retired after 25 years of service at age 50. Those are just the benefits that came along with the job. The job itself, though I didn't know what exactly I would be doing, seemed pretty exciting as well. Putting my life in danger to protect my fellow Americans. Not being stuck in a daily routine leaving room for boredom and discontent. Plus I would be doing a job where I could put others first and make a difference in the world...sounded wonderful!

Finding out I didn't make the August class was like a knife going through my heart. "Come on God, I've been so patient this year, waiting on where I thought you were leading me. I really thought this was your plan for my life. It doesn't make sense. I want to move on- now you're asking me to put my life on hold another 6 months to see if I can make it into the January class as the #22 alternate..." were the thoughts going through my head. I'm not going to lie, it hurt when I first found out I was wait listed as #22 for the January class, a class made up of 20 people. But God knows what He's doing, and who am I to question? I mean after all, throughout the whole process my prayers were "let Your will be done" and "if this is what You want for my life." After half a day of wallowing in self-pity and trying to come to terms with the decision that was made I tried to suck up my pride and praise God that I didn't get in even though it's what I wanted. 

I love the fact that God knows me better than myself. Seriously. It is quite humbling and really puts your life into perspective... God knows me so well and knows how much I love to travel, and how it's been on my heart to go overseas and do mission work that He closed the door on the CG to give me the opportunity to do that. To go overseas now, before I have a career, a home, a family, etc. the timing is perfect. Thank you Jesus!

Global Missions Festival

This weekend my church had its annual Global Missions Festival. I have attended the festivities for, gosh I don't even know how many years, but this year I got to participate in the weekend. It was awesome! I got to meet some more "real live" missionaries and pick up some pointers from them as most of them have been in the field for many years. God really used this weekend to reassure me that with every step I take He is right there with me. And with every step I take I am also reassured that this is exactly where I am supposed to be, and this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

my table at the mission festival

We used this weekend to officially kick off my support raising and team building endeavors. I am just so blown away by how supportive my church, as a whole, and as individual members are of me and my calling. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful church family. This is just the beginning and I know I will continue to be overwhelmed and blown away throughout this whole journey by peoples generosity.

Prayer Card

As a missionary a prayer card is a "must have." It is a wonderful reminder for people to pray for you and your ministry while serving overseas. After wavering back and forth I decided to create my own prayer card instead of going through Global Partners. In doing so I was able to personalize it a bit and give it a touch of "me" instead of having the standard prayer card. I am pleased with the results. So...without further ado, here is an electronic preview of my new prayer card. Check a mailbox near (in the next few weeks) you for the real deal...

the front...

...and the back ;-)

Missionary Song

You know how in different seasons of life there are certain songs that become your "theme song"? You can listen to the song over and over because it so perfectly portrays your life, your thoughts and your feelings; and quite frankly it's hard to believe it wasn't written specifically for you. 

As we were driving to Orientation one morning I was riding in the car with two other girls and we were chatting as some music was playing softly in the background. Suddenly the volume got louder and the driver proclaimed that the song we were listening to was her "missionary song," so we stopped talking and listened to the lyrics. I have a "missionary song" too I thought as I listened. As the song finished we started talking again and realized that the three of us all had a "missionary song" and we all had different ones.

My missionary song, the song that I constantly reverted back to throughout the last couple months, is "Follow You" by Leeland featuring Brandon Heath. It just so perfectly describes my journey and is a snapshot of my soul. 

Isn't it funny how music speaks to us all differently? What is your "missionary song" (you don't have to be traveling overseas to have one)?

I've Been Oriented (?)... Orientated(?)... I Went Through Orientation...

7 second update on my life in Aug.: The beginning of Aug. I spent a week in Haiti. The week I returned home I was appointed as a missionary to Albania. The next Sunday I was on a plane to Indiana to attend a week long Orientation and Training with Global Partners. Now we're up to speed... (and yes, it all happened that fast.)

Let's talk about the Orientation, but instead of starting at the beginning let's start at the end - I came home Friday night with a full brain, a library of books, and a team new friends! It was a wonderful week and so refreshing being around like-minded people, at the same point in the journey as I. This orientation did a great job of transiting me into the role of a missionary: what it looks like, how to build a team, and ways to prepare for my journey overseas. On Thursday we got "dressed up" and told our story to the staff during lunch. The whole week I was blown away by the staff at Global Partners and how supportive and encouraging they are - I already enjoy being part of their team.

wearing my Cambodian skirt for our presentation to the staff.

While in Indiana, I spent the week living at the Shunem House which is a wonderful respite for traveling missionaries. All I can say is I was nowhere near ruffing it for the week - which was a complete contrast to Haiti. I spent the week living a life of luxury, laughing, playing bananagrams, eating huge breakfasts, and learning the proper way to fold a fitted bed sheet. I'm looking forward to my next trip to Indiana!

bananagrams!

 A limo is the cheapest mode of transportation to and from the airport

One of the many wonderful people I met last week was Katie Hawkins (maybe I will embarrass her and give her her own post on a future blog update). You will probably be hearing a lot about Katie the next few years as she is the person I will be traveling to Albania with. I am overjoyed by the fact that we hit it off right away. (God is a great "match-maker!") We are both very similar in personality and have the same sense of humor- it's going to be a good two years overseas.

I have no doubts in my mind that this is the path God wants me on right now and I am so blessed. It's also wonderful, after a year of "transition," finally having direction and a path to follow.

Officially Offical

It's officially official! I have been appointed as a missionary with Global Partners and I will be serving in Albania for two years. As I've been telling family and friends about this journey there have been two reoccurring questions: Where is Albania? and when are you leaving?

I am not sure of my departure date yet. I have to raise my own support so depending on how quickly or slow it takes to raise said support will determine when I leave. My goal is June 2011. While there I will be building relationships and sharing the love of Jesus with the youth, teens and young adults (mostly female) in Durres, Albania. I may also have the chance to start an anti-trafficking program as well. The first 6-9months in-country will be intense language training.

Albania is a little country in Eastern Europe north of Greece. It is also directly east of southern Italy but the Adriatic Sea separates the two countries. Check it out on the map below!

My plan B was God's Plan A

" 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,'
declares the LORD." - Isaiah 55:8

It was never my plan to be a missionary. Honestly, that thought never crossed my mind. It wasn't until recently, I mean the last couple months, that God really put it in my heart to go overseas and follow Him into the world. Actually, let me rephrase that... He has been preparing me my whole life for this journey but it wasn't until this spring that He revealed that plan to me.

It started at the end of Feb. when I went on a missions trip to Cambodia. I don't know what it was aside from God's spirit but He used that trip to stir this passion of living and serving Him overseas - being His hands and feet. See it was my plan to become an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard and at that point I was already through the application process just waiting to hear back from them. As time went on though this desire became stronger and stronger. Not knowing what God wanted me to do with those desires I spent the next few months in prayer about the direction of my future. Mid-June God unexpectedly closed the door to the Coast Guard on me and I knew instantly I needed to pursue the desires He had placed in my heart. My plan B was God's plan A. Still, not knowing where He wanted me to go, or what He wanted me to do I spent the next few moths seeking God's guidance on where I should go- completely surrendering myself to Him.

I received a couple offers from a couple different organizations but didn't feel at peace with any of the options. After struggling over placements for a couple months I heard about an opportunity with Global Partners in Albania and knew immediately it is where God wants me. But it wasn't the job description that sold me. You see, the whole time I was praying, people I've never met, half way around the world in Albania, were praying for someone with the same skills and background as I. Without knowing anything about me they had been praying for a single woman in her mid-20's, with an AmeriCorps background who could help start an anti-trafficking program in Albania. That doesn't happen by chance - that's a God thing. I accepted the mission and immediately found the peace I was seeking. I don't have the slightest clue what I'm getting myself into but God does and His plans are better than mine.