So, I guess I would have to say this is starting to feel home-ish. Though it's not completely my place yet, I at least feel at home in the building and I'm beginning to recognize things in town--I could probably find my way to a few things now. This week has been a week of getting into the routine with David back, since it's a different routine than before. I know a bit more of my expectations now, so that helps. Christopher's desk is having its legs put on today, so by next week, we should be working in our "official" school room, which is good. Last night Valbona and I went for a walk, and then met up with some other people and went to the Kaiser, which is a restaurant up on top of one of the "hills" here (to me it's a mountain) and it has a SPECTACULAR view. That was nice, since it overlooks the whole Durres area, including the ocean and the city glitters from there. Anyone who comes there should go there at least once, and I've been there twice now :)
Anyhow, just wanted to let you all know things are going well, and it's quite possible that I'll be bringing Bianca back with me, provided I can afford to do so. They're either going to try to sell her, or send her back with me.
Prayer requests and praises:
THE WEATHER IS FINALLY COOL!
Understanding the declension system--there are nine moods for verbs, and there are multiple tenses within the moods (indicative has EIGHT by itself). Eight tenses wouldn't be so bad except for the moods besides that. So, pray for me, since there don't seem to be many curriculum-type books out there and that's what I really need. Tapes and the dictionary/phrasebook help, but they're still not enough to really understand the grammar, which I would like to do.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Mail!
I have gotten my first mail now! Ryan and Linnea sent me some! Yay :)
On a note for supporters:
I've spent about thirty dollars U.S. on food and supplies for the apartment. So, it's looking like August will definitely not cost me my full support. However, if we do go to see Benny Hinn (I think that's how you spell his name) in Italy, then that will cost quite a bit. Hopefully, with a ferry, it won't be too much.
On a note for supporters:
I've spent about thirty dollars U.S. on food and supplies for the apartment. So, it's looking like August will definitely not cost me my full support. However, if we do go to see Benny Hinn (I think that's how you spell his name) in Italy, then that will cost quite a bit. Hopefully, with a ferry, it won't be too much.
Daily Life
So, Gene has gone back to the States and I am getting settled again into daily life. Last night I fell a bit on the stairs and strained the muscles in my left arm and in my back (a little) so today when Valbona said that Christopher wanted to go to the pool with his uncle for awhile and we could do school tomorrow, that sounded good to me. So, I have the day off for the most part--I am however going to be decorating in the church for a wedding this afternoon. I'm not sure exactly who they are, but I was asked to help and I like decorating, so I said sure. I think I'm sort of in charge, so that's fun.
On another note, I am apparently supposed to pick a ministry to get involved with, so I guess I'm getting involved with music since I'm playing every Sunday now. I suppose that means I should be playing for other things too, but I'm not exactly sure. David apparently usually tells people something to get involved with, but he told Gene he'd let me choose (thankfully Gene told me).
And last note: I'm going to have housemates too. In two weeks, Brent and Carol are coming back and they will be here the whole time until I go in January, and they might be here some of the time when I come back. We'll have to work on who gets what spaces and how that all works out, so we'll see how it goes.
Prayer requests then are:
1. That I do a good job with wedding decorations
2. That I feel better
3. That I get along well with Brent & Carol when they come.
On another note, I am apparently supposed to pick a ministry to get involved with, so I guess I'm getting involved with music since I'm playing every Sunday now. I suppose that means I should be playing for other things too, but I'm not exactly sure. David apparently usually tells people something to get involved with, but he told Gene he'd let me choose (thankfully Gene told me).
And last note: I'm going to have housemates too. In two weeks, Brent and Carol are coming back and they will be here the whole time until I go in January, and they might be here some of the time when I come back. We'll have to work on who gets what spaces and how that all works out, so we'll see how it goes.
Prayer requests then are:
1. That I do a good job with wedding decorations
2. That I feel better
3. That I get along well with Brent & Carol when they come.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Shopping!
I went shopping by myself and survived!!!! Praise the Lord! I found stuff I needed, paid, got change, and understood a bit of what the ladies said to me. Whoohoo.
Good Morning
Not as in Hello, but this was a good morning. School has gone well--Christopher is his usual funny self (he told me today that he had played with a gizzly bear!) but we are getting things done and all is well. Bianca is also doing well--no going to the bathroom in the house yet today :) Plus, talking at morning devotionals seemed to go well today--right after I finished, Valbona had a scripture God gave her to go along with what I said, so it was like, hey, I guess I was talking about something good after all. Plus, people were nodding while I was talking (they apparently still nod when someone is talking to them in English) and seemed like they were agreeing with me. So, all went well.
Prayer request for the day:
Mosquito bites are bad today, please pray we do not get any more.
Prayer request for the day:
Mosquito bites are bad today, please pray we do not get any more.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Honeymoon is over
So, today I think was my hardest day. Good things happened, but I'm just in the adjustment phase. Please, pray for me and getting used to my new life here. If you want to know the whiny-type details, let me know and I'll email you, but nothing particularly serious.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Good Day
Today was a not particularly eventful, but good day. We had school and Christopher was his silly and amusing self, ate lunch, got some planning done, went for a walk, and laughed at translating songs. Right now, the worship team is working on translating songs into Albanian, and it's apparently a very difficult task since the languages just get confusing after awhile, but people were having fun. I now know where the morning devotionals are, so I can start going (finally!). I'm supposed to speak for the one on Monday--just some short encouraging-type thing, so hopefully I will know what I should say soon. I'm thinking I might talk about doing everything with your whole heart as to the Lord (my phrasing). So, I am off to watch some movies with the Pennoyers and I hope you all are well!
We went to a "park" last night, so pictures of that will be up soon as well as pictures of the city in general. Please pray for the mosquito situation, they are eating us alive, even with repellent, I still got two more bites last night! (I'm not the only one with problems either).
Please also pray for the puppy situation--David , the main missionary in charge of here and the man whose son I'm teaching, bought a puppy without his wife's approval. She seems to be trying to reconcile herself to the idea, and I love the idea because the puppy currently stays with me. So, I'm hoping she decides to keep it. Anyhow, it got a tick last night, so that's the part that needs prayer--we don't want to see any more ticks or fleas on the puppy! Her name is Bianca, and she's a white Westie-Poodle mix.
Please also pray for the puppy situation--David , the main missionary in charge of here and the man whose son I'm teaching, bought a puppy without his wife's approval. She seems to be trying to reconcile herself to the idea, and I love the idea because the puppy currently stays with me. So, I'm hoping she decides to keep it. Anyhow, it got a tick last night, so that's the part that needs prayer--we don't want to see any more ticks or fleas on the puppy! Her name is Bianca, and she's a white Westie-Poodle mix.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Summary Type Thing
For those of you who haven't heard from me since I left, here's the brief version of what's happened so far:
First off, the plane ride went smoothly and though Gene's luggage got inspected, we had no other problems getting through customs. That was definitely a blessing! Customs in Albania was a bit nervewracking because of the large police presence, but not too bad. The police presence here is a bit like it was in China, but Christianity isn't illegal here, I just need to get my papers sometime soon to stay longer. That, we'll do when David comes back with Gene.
Getting adjusted to life here was a bit odd at first, but it is seeming more and more normal. I'm unpacked now, though I need to do some organizing and decide if I'm sending much of anything home. Mostly, I have needed everything I've brought. There have been a few things that I don't necessarily need, but that have been nice to have. I've been glad for the recommendations of those who had been to Albania because there are things that are very difficult to find here, if not impossible.
People have been great here. Valbona has taken me in and is making sure that I have company (but not too much company--i.e. if I don't want the kids in the apartment, she takes them off of my hands) and that I have food. I've been glad for her and that we've been getting along well. The other workers have also been embracing, helping me with translations and sometimes asking for me to help them. So, I suppose I feel like I do have some friends here, even if they're not particularly close yet.
I've been playing my flute in the Sunday services, and though I cannot understand much of the music there are some that have been translated so I know the English words. Plus, untranslated music is great listening practice. I'm getting lots of practice listening to others and figuring out the sound of the language. It's different, but not impossible--there are not many words that I have thought "How on earth do I say that?" about as there were with Chinese. The structure of the language is interesting and between that and the vocabulary I have plenty to do.
School has started also, and Christopher is doing well. Just for us however, since the rest of Albania does not start school until the end of August. I think that we will be able to get first grade done by January, and if I come back after that, we can probably start second grade also--especially in math. Sometimes, the books are too easy for him, and other times, they are right about his level. Reading is a bit difficult, since he tends to flip words backwards, which if he had been reading for a long time would be disconcerting, but this is only the second day we've actually read things, so no problem.
It's fun though, seeing all of the quirks of a new country and understanding how things work. Strange thing for the day: if you turn the key in the lock twice, then you have to unlock it twice also, three times, you have to unlock it three times. Not sure exactly how the lock mechanism works, but it's kind of strange.
More later, but for now I'm off to work on planning!
First off, the plane ride went smoothly and though Gene's luggage got inspected, we had no other problems getting through customs. That was definitely a blessing! Customs in Albania was a bit nervewracking because of the large police presence, but not too bad. The police presence here is a bit like it was in China, but Christianity isn't illegal here, I just need to get my papers sometime soon to stay longer. That, we'll do when David comes back with Gene.
Getting adjusted to life here was a bit odd at first, but it is seeming more and more normal. I'm unpacked now, though I need to do some organizing and decide if I'm sending much of anything home. Mostly, I have needed everything I've brought. There have been a few things that I don't necessarily need, but that have been nice to have. I've been glad for the recommendations of those who had been to Albania because there are things that are very difficult to find here, if not impossible.
People have been great here. Valbona has taken me in and is making sure that I have company (but not too much company--i.e. if I don't want the kids in the apartment, she takes them off of my hands) and that I have food. I've been glad for her and that we've been getting along well. The other workers have also been embracing, helping me with translations and sometimes asking for me to help them. So, I suppose I feel like I do have some friends here, even if they're not particularly close yet.
I've been playing my flute in the Sunday services, and though I cannot understand much of the music there are some that have been translated so I know the English words. Plus, untranslated music is great listening practice. I'm getting lots of practice listening to others and figuring out the sound of the language. It's different, but not impossible--there are not many words that I have thought "How on earth do I say that?" about as there were with Chinese. The structure of the language is interesting and between that and the vocabulary I have plenty to do.
School has started also, and Christopher is doing well. Just for us however, since the rest of Albania does not start school until the end of August. I think that we will be able to get first grade done by January, and if I come back after that, we can probably start second grade also--especially in math. Sometimes, the books are too easy for him, and other times, they are right about his level. Reading is a bit difficult, since he tends to flip words backwards, which if he had been reading for a long time would be disconcerting, but this is only the second day we've actually read things, so no problem.
It's fun though, seeing all of the quirks of a new country and understanding how things work. Strange thing for the day: if you turn the key in the lock twice, then you have to unlock it twice also, three times, you have to unlock it three times. Not sure exactly how the lock mechanism works, but it's kind of strange.
More later, but for now I'm off to work on planning!
Test Post
Hi all,
I know many of you have been waiting patiently for an update from me, and this is how I think I'm going to do my updates. While emailing all of you would work, this will be quicker and easier to access for all involved (I think) , so I'm going to try it out for awhile. Things in Albania have been good so far, and the difficulty of adjusting has lessened. The first week after Gene Cooper left was probably the hardest since that meant I was really "on my own." Thank God that he was able to come over with me though, that eliminated the stress of travelling and made the trip fun!
I know many of you have been waiting patiently for an update from me, and this is how I think I'm going to do my updates. While emailing all of you would work, this will be quicker and easier to access for all involved (I think) , so I'm going to try it out for awhile. Things in Albania have been good so far, and the difficulty of adjusting has lessened. The first week after Gene Cooper left was probably the hardest since that meant I was really "on my own." Thank God that he was able to come over with me though, that eliminated the stress of travelling and made the trip fun!
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