GloryInKosova's Xanga

Monday, October 12, 2009

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:01:30 GMT

my work of art kid, in the photo below is in jail. i am sick about it. i am pushing myself to find peace with God over the circumstances because some horrible accusations have been made about him. We don't know what is true and what is false. We don't even know exactly what charges he is being held for. We finally figured out WHICH jail they put him in, here in Kosova. It is frustrating to figure out their legal system. it is hard to get information. it is a heartache. Steve just had Lavdim read the story of Joseph for bible study last week. interesting. Please pray.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:34:40 GMT

I am working with a 17 year old kid right now. This kid is a true work of art. A village boy, thief, addict, abuse from family, tried cutting his wrists, spews mean stuff out of his mouth, walks around with demons hanging on him, attitude the size of florida, sexual problems…etc. Although he is a pill, we believe he has made a commitment to Jesus. Never-the-less, I have found myself groveling before God with what to do. I have cried over this kid and I love him so much, it even shocks me. I don’t know what I see in this kid but I absolutely yearn for him to move into the future I see for him. I pray for him constantly, talk with him daily, and have him spend the night in our home once a week. And yes, I have been completely burnt out with him and almost felt a bit of depression. My kids have suffered a bit at the cost of discipling him and this tears me apart. I am constantly asking the question “where is the balance?” My family and kids come first. I don’t think steve and I have found the magic formula yet but we are walking forward in God’s strength, and doing our best to use wisdom and have boundaries. We have done absolutely everything for this kid and yet he continues to push me and down right piss me off on purpose. I just look at him and think “what the hell?” I don’t get this kid…..and I know deep inside he is testing me to see just how far the love and grace will go before it runs dry. Because he has proven his idiotic theory with his family and friends and teachers. He has taken rejection upon himself. I have the power of Jesus love living in me. I have the authority of Christ over demons. I have God’s anointing and favor to set captives free. I hold the truth. I embrace the forgiveness of the cross so that I am able to extend it to others. I know who I am, and I know who I belong to. I know the mission that Jesus has commissioned me to. I know it is life and limitless and eternal. I know love doesn’t have any conditions. It just loves!

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:50:37 GMT

7,000 Shoebox Christmas Gifts to be distributed

to every elementary aged child in Decan.

I feel the weight and fatigue pressing down on me from the last few months. I can see so clearly my need for help and I am desperate for it. There is a great sense of expectancy in my heart. I feel the presence of God, the excitement of serving Him, the growth in our believers and there is truly nothing like this feeling, and yet I sense my own personal physical limits. My mind, body and emotions are pushed to the extreme limit almost daily. I merely crumble to a heap of listlessness on my day off. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dying or anything. I AM ok. I just know I cannot keep this pace.

I want to maintain my personal health and weight loss goals. I want to have order, discipline and plenty of love and care for my kids. I want my husband to feel #1 in my life. I want to obey God and follow His best plan, not my own good intentions. I want to live fully and fully live!

I know that help is on the way. Our dear little Missionary Associate is trying with all her might to raise her funds. She is coming to home school David and Raema. I don’t think I could ever be so grateful at this season in my life. Sometimes I cry when I think of the relief this will bring me.

Christmas is around the corner and I am not ready. Today Steve carried the boxes marked “xmas” down from the attic so I can begin the decorating process. It is more important than ever to decorate our home, for it is the only sign to our kids that it is indeed Christmas. No one around us will celebrate. The stores will not have candy canes and Christmas music playing in the background. We will not see a parade or Santa seated in a mall with kids lined up to take pictures and hand him a list. For the world around us it is just another working day. Nothing special, nothing recognized. But for us, it is the reason we live, the reason we are here and the reason we celebrate. It is a HUGE excitement among our few believers. This is THEIR day to parade our celebration, and force their family to wish them Merry Christmas and recognize that indeed there are Albanian Christians in Kosovo and indeed Jesus came to earth as a baby to save us from our sins. Although we are alone this year to celebrate without extended family, and we are just 2000 believers in all of Kosova, it seems more real than ever. Christmas IS special. I trust God will give me the balance and energy to celebrate to the fullest with my family and Kosovar friends.

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:59:50 GMT

This photo was taken from the balcony of our home in Peje, Kosova. It is such a blessing to be reminded of God's promises especaily when you feel the weight of oppression here. God is really doing a lot of great things amoung the Albanian people. I am excited to be here for "such a time as this"!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:37:40 GMT

ok. sorry some pics are sideways. i promise i rotated them before i downloaded them here. oh well! the above photo is me and the new wife of Timi's brother Riza. They were married one month before we arrived here. i missed the party but still got to see her decked out in this formal wedding dress. She was wearing this for Bajram, the muslim holiday. (( i was standing on my toes))

This lady is Dotchi's new wife with there 5 month old boy! wow he is a big kid.

You might have guessed it already. This is the famous Resmia. We had a wonderful visit. I am waiting on God to do a miracle in her body.

. Are there really words for this?

Dije (my friend and house help) with her new baby girl, Melina. Notice that cute guy in the background?

Going to see Resmia!

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:21:27 GMT

Tomorrow I am going to see my beloved Albanian sister, Resmia. She still has cancer but is still living. I continue to believe God for His plan of healing in her life. I am really excited. Naila and I will meet Resmia in Gjakova, another city. She is sometimes able to have her family take her from her house and meet with us secretly in a town where she will not be recognized. I'll take pictures and post them soon.

I love and miss everybody! ( I'm praying kathi! It's 2pm your time)

Here I Am

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:55:43 GMT

Here I am, back to “real” life! In some ways, I am surprised at how easily I seemed to fall back into the swing of things. Shopping, driving, the language! It all can cause stress and frustration and already I have had days were I felt the fatigue of setting up home in a new land. I keep rehearsing in my head “it’s ok, take a break, you’re doing fine, you’ve only been in the country for 9 days” but my type A personality seems always to revolt. I did manage to stay in bed today till 10am then take the longest bath ever, sorta in memory of the newly scorched ( it caught on fire the other morning) Hot Springs in Bozeman, Montana. I was really sad about this but really glad I got my year there before it burnt.

The bath seemed to help the sinus infection that is taunting me. I got sick just before we left the states and having been physically pushing the envelope for weeks. My lower back was really bothering me the other day but I’m doing better now. I feel good about having the house mostly set up. I’ve made several meals in the kitchen now, proving that it is function-able, the kids room is finished, the downstairs is set up, and I’m back to doing the slow paced clothes washing. Just David needs his bed and furniture and the office is quite a mess still. Steve bought 6 meters of wood the other day. Three gypsy carts with real horse power came to the gate and unloaded a mini forest in front of the house. Another guy on a cart with a saw blade came and zipped everything into smaller pieces. Mike, Steve, Timi, David, and the 3 other little kids helped stack all that stuff in the garage. It was raining that day so the wood is in the garage with the windows open and a huge fan blowing it dry (or at least that is our hope). Steve and Labinot are shopping for a new door to the garage, some more kitchen cabinets, a lock for the bathroom, and to have a linen closet made. I always look forward to having everything in it’s place and organized. I look forward to being DONE! ….ah! but then I will start teaching homeschool. It’s true, a woman’s work is never finished!

Honey, I'm Home!

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 19:38:39 GMT

We are finally back here in Kosovo now. The trip was a little rough but we were ok. It took 3 days, one overnight hotel in D.C., 5 airplane flights, and one REALLY hot 1 1/2 drive to Peje. Poor Mike wretched on the side of the road, 20 minutes from our destination.

It was a difficult "good-bye" in Bozeman. I sat and bawled on the plane for a while and the further I flew, the more the ache in my heart sunk in. I did my best not to think about it. Once we got here I felt excited, relieved, and ready to have a real home agian.

We have worked hard for 2 days to get things set up. We are all sleeping in beds, eating on a dining table, the vehicle is out of the garage, and Mike even set up the sand box, swings, and play house for the kids tonight! GO Mike! This guy rocks!

I love you my friends. Thanks Becky with all my heart and "Happy Anniversary". You sure picked the right guy to marry.

I'll send pictures soon. Timi is huge now. Almost as tall as Steve. Dije is married and has the cutiest Albanian baby i have ever seen. I am Aunt Lisa! Tomorrow I will see Labinot and on Saturday the whole church! yippee!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:42:42 GMT

Just a few fun summer pictures!

100% Preciptation

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:25:54 GMT

The cruelties of living in Montana amidst all it's spledor is the fact that it is snowing tonight!