3 weeks ago, we left Albania and headed to the beautiful country of Kosovo! We got to debrief our time in Albania together as a squad and also prepare for our new team changes.
On the race, we change teams every few months. My first team, Early Birds, was a really sweet team. We had done life together everyday for the past 3 months. We all had a strong desire for intimacy, community and mission. We got to share the gospel together, we got to laugh and cry together, we got to play countless ~intense~ games of exploding kittens together, cook together, eat together, worship/pray/study the Bible together, and much more. Gosh, I will miss these people!
After saying goodbye to my amazing alumni team leader, Aaron, as he headed back to the U.S., as well as my lovely teammates, Karlie, Barret and Kirsten, I was filled with a bittersweet feeling. I navigated some sadness, but also an excitement and joy moving forward into a new season with new growth, new people and new experiences. I would also have the honor of stepping into a new role as a team leader, where I would be taking on new responsibilities and stepping into a completely new territory for me. With all of these changes, I knew this new season would come with lots of learning and also a new dependence and trust in the Lord.
So here’s my NEW TEAM(!!): the Wacky Warrior Women! We are a small team of 4, and I quickly learned the sweetness of being on an all girls team and doing life with my new teammates: Mak, Nan and Elizabeth!
This month, we were challenged to live a life of abandonment and to seek the Lord in what that looks like for our team. For us, that meant abandoning our desire to plan and have control, it meant sleeping in our tent for a night in 30 degree weather, it meant giving up the comfort of spending personal money to have extra fun things in order to depend on and trust that the Lord will provide, and it meant giving up a lot of our own personal fears and stepping into community, vulnerability and trust with one another.
The Lord has been patient with me in this new stretching and learning process. He has taught me a lot about personally abandoning my own internal comforts to step into the boldness, confidence, and leadership He has for me in order to grow and help others grow closer to the Lord. I got to experience some really fun and sweet times with my www gals this month.
We started our journey off with heading to the city of Podujeve, Kosovo with no set plan, putting full trust in the Lord to provide. We wandered around for a few hours, and ended up meeting a man, Butrint, who was able to drive us in his cake truck to a gorgeous camping spot along a lake to stay there for the night.
2 nights later, we invited him to a fire we were having and we got to learn about his life, his family, and his Muslim beliefs. In turn, we got to share our beliefs and the good news of Jesus with him, to which his response was “I’ve never heard that before”. We got to share stories together over the fire, accompanied by pizza and Coca Cola.
A few days later, we walked into a village outside of Podujeve and ended up meeting a sweet new friend, Adrita. She invited us inside her home to drink Turkish coffee with her and meet her family. 2 days later, she drove us to church and we got to learn more about her, her family, her culture, and her Muslim beliefs. We got to share the gospel with her, share stories with her, eat burgers, and of course play some games of monopoly deal and pass the pigs with her.
That day, we attended a church in Podujeve which is where we met a beautiful family, Zach, Haley, Laynie, Millie and Elsie. Zach and Haley are long term missionaries here in Podujeve, Kosovo. This family opened up their home to us, and graciously took us in to stay there for the rest of our time in Podujeve. I was filled to the brim with joy as we were invited to share meals with them, share our stories and experiences, have nightly popcorn + game nights, play pretend doctor and dentist with the girls, and just spend intentional time in fellowship with them. We got to help serve with and support the local church they partner with, who welcomed us in with open arms. I am grateful for the opportunities the Lord provided for us in this country. Goodbyes are always hard, but I have the hope that I’ll get to see all of these beautiful people again someday, on earth or in heaven.
Yesterday, we arrived in Georgia where we will be spending the next few weeks! I have come with a willing heart, motivated and encouraged to continue stepping into more boldness, confidence and leadership. I have come here hopeful and excited to trust the Lord, to be obedient to His voice, and to go wherever He leads me with open hands and a joyful heart!
