 Can you believe it? It's already been 1 year since our big move to Albania!Albania has become our new home in many ways. Through joys and trials, you have been with us through this journey, and we hope by sharing a few of our stories*, you'll continue to share our heart for Albania. *stories are shared with people's permission  XHoi without joy
"I need you to leave now," the gaunt exhausted mother of 6 children said to me in Shqip (Albanian). I had just met this 20 year old Roma woman named Xhoi (Pronounced "Joy") and had cherished this opportunity to meet a fellow twin mother. She hadn't named her prematurely born twin son yet; "He wouldn't make it." she told me when I asked her why. His twin sister was still in the hospital. "Wow, your hands are so cold!" I told her as I clasped her weathered hands to help hold her 2 month old son. He felt so thin and fragile bundled in blankets. She then went on to explain that she only had running water for one hour each day and needed to finish the laundry before it ran out so she needed me to leave soon. I watched her in amazement as she bent over outside in the winter chill, scrubbing her family's clothes in the plastic washtub with the hose. Inside her home, my heart ached as I watched his 6 year old sister struggling to feed the tiny baby in a car seat propped on the couch with cold tap water and a scoop of formula. "What do you think of breastfeeding?" I asked Xhoi earlier. "No, I don't have time or milk. I'm already nursing my 3 year old son. I don't know if this one will make it so it's better to give it to the healthier one."
The Father is starting to give us His eyes to see the "least of these" whom He sees and loves. Please pray with us for the twins, for mama Xhoi and her Roma community to have true Joy and Hope. Medical Seeds
We also recently had the opportunity of being part of a couple student medical conferences. From basic suture workshops and ACLS to taking blood pressures, the conference gave lots of fun practice for the students. The most invaluable part of the conferences was discussing with students what it means to be a physician believer. Continue to keep the next generation in prayer as they grow and learn what it means to share the love of the Father through medicine. Also pray that many seeds of the Good News were planted from the conferences. 
Life Giving Blood
"Who does this: give blood to someone you never even met?" Klaudia asked in disbelief. Her husband Eno replied, "The church. It's who they are." Her brother had been rushed to the trauma hospital after jumping off the 4th story concrete balcony. A house fire had just destroyed his home, along with his mother who didn't survive the same jump. The surgeons required at least 5 people to donate blood to repair his broken pelvis and L-spine fractures. Right away, 6-8 people from Eno's church volunteered and even drove an hour away to donate their blood. Her brother had stabilized and fully recovered today. "If this is what the church is," Klaudia pondered aloud,"then, there must be a God who sees me and loves me." We all praised the Father that day for the work He has done, and continue to pray for Klaudia to know Him one day. 
Kimchee Festival 2021
Hae-Jean enjoying her roots. Shaun's first time making kimchee! Did you know that food brings people together? And recently, kimchee did just that. All 3,000 pounds of fresh Napa cabbage from Macedonia, along with Korean hot peppers, persimmons, fish sauce and shrimp brine and lots of salt - all brought together folks from Germany, Bulgaria, Albania, Korea and America. The annual Kimchee festival was a highlight for us to be a part of and we got to share some of our Korean culture with our friends here. I guess our Korean is getting better along with learning Shqip! 
|
