almost a decade has flown by . . .

It's the 5th January 2014 . . . and it dawns on me.... this is the end of almost a full decade in Albania....10 years....sometimes it feels like 3 years and other times it feels like 30 . . .

I think I have experienced EVERY possible circumstance imaginable and been used in ways i never dreamed possibly, and even in ways i never desired. . . so let me recap a little.... [i will post a video summary of life here at the end of this blog as well....be sure to watch it!]

i came to Albania at the ripe young age of 25 [well barely having turned 25]. . . thinking i knew it all.... as we do at that age. . . i was here to see this nation changed and to teach them the right way..... *insert appropriate laughter from the wiser generation here* . . . little did i know it was i who would change and be challenged and taught and shaped.

i came in as a non affectionate person into a nation of huggers, kissers and hand holders and had to learn to show affection, but now its the most natural thing in the world to do, and a very real part of who i truly am.

i came in saying to God, i want to work with broken and abused woman, but PLEASE no teenagers or children. . . and YES, God has allowed me occasionaly to minister to hurting woman but more often he has used me with youth and teens and street children, and orphans. . . and i love it.

and on and on the list could go.... i realised very quickly each time that God asked me to do something that wasnt on my "list" of what i felt called to... it was because HE TRULY DOES KNOW BETTER AND KNOWS ME BETTER AND HAS MY BEST INTEREST AT HEART! this has been one of my biggest lessons here....along with trusting that when i have exhausted all i can do and all my contacts, sometimes i just need to take my hands of and watch HIM do what HE can, and HE has never disappointed.

i wish i could paint you all a rosey picture of the glory of missionary life. . . i often joke about how its all cappucinos and souvlaci's... etc  but its been anything but a rose garden, in fact its been as close to hell as i can imagine, alot of the times....so much heartache and tragedy and betrayal....and frustration and lack of results or changes etc.... and loneliness.... being a single missionary is one of the most difficult things out there.... i have shed more tears than i knew possible. . . but at the same time it has been worth it....each and every moment, even the difficult ones....because i have learnt so much more not just about who i truly am....but more importantly about who HE truly is. . . and also because THEY [the locals] are worth it. . . HE ADORES THEM AND IS DESPERATE FOR THEM TO KNOW HIS LOVE. . . .

so yes its been a long journey with many twists and turns and i dont know how much longer the albanian portion of my journey is.... but i know His hand has lead and guided all the way....and i am so grateful for that.....so without anymore more of my ramblings..... here is the last 10 years in review....

A South African's Tribute to a Great Man . . .

As South Africans we mourn the death of President Nelson Mandela.... at his passing i, despite not being present in my country, mourn along with my fellow country men . . . the news is overflowing with stories directly or indirectly related to Nelson [even some stories that try detract from his life and story - like our non sign sign-translator] . . . he is reffered to as president, madiba, Tata, Moses, Jesus, a saint, a terrorist and everything in between.  and i know the truth is that he has been one of the most globally influential men of history. . . but is he all he is cracked up to be?

This period of time has made me really question where i stand on my opinion about him. . . i know a lot of south africans dreaded his passing more out of fear of what would happen in the country than out of sorrow at his death. i know many many people are now exposing his darker side, and the fact that the country is in a far worse state than its ever been since the ANC took over...that we are now a nation plagued with hideous violence and poverty and disease. i know there are others that attribute him as being the saviour of south africa, reconciling the whites and blacks and avoiding a potential civil war. so what is the truth? i dont think we will ever know the full truth. . . .questions scream out from my mind.... if He [Nelson] was so great, why did the country end up such a mess from his rule and onward? why is the country now the rape and murder capital of the world? why is AIDS an epidimic in my nation? why are babies being raped? if He [Nelson] was so great why did he condone violence and communism and political dictators like Gaddafi? how can a tree with a bad root produce good fruit? so if the fruit coming through him and the party he lead start to show itself for what it truly is... what is His [Nelson's] true root? good or bad? saint or sinner? but then how did we miss a civil war when apartheid fell? how did this terrorist who loves violence implement the TRC and not overthrow the country in bloodshed?.....and then i realised something....the reason is because HE IS SO GREAT! and this time the HE is Jesus. [all those not wanting to hear truth can stop reading at this point.]

but when i look back on my countries history.... at the time of the shift and change... the church was on its knees praying like it has never prayed before . . . and if i need to pose one question . . .who has the power to change a man's heart and touch is spirit, God [Jesus] or Mandela?. . . .i think we all know the answer. . . the reality is that South Africa was [and still is] predominantly a Christian nation. . . and God in response to His people's cries for help can use even a terrorist communist leader to implement a system of forgiveness and can touch a peoples hearts and settle their land.

 my tribute today is not to my former president, who was one of the most influential people of all time....but my Tribute is to the one, Jesus - truly the most influential man in all of HISTORY - upon who and about whom all History hinges, who saved my soul....taught me what true forgiveness is and turned my heart from wickedness toward Him and righteousness. . . my tribute is to my God, the true and living one, who moved on behalf of His peoples cries and prayers and spared their land. . . To the God who holds the leaders/kings heart in His hands.

Proverbs 21:1

In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.

South Africa, yes we are in a mess....yes you live in fear for your lives and your children's purity every day, yes it seems impossible....yes is seems like its still speeding downhill toward destruction....but you are still close to a 70% christian nation and therefore still serve the same God who could take a violent communist of a man and use him to faciliate the start of change in your nation....God is still alive and kicking and alert and listening to your cry. [IF ONLY YOU WOULD CRY OUT!] . . .He is still all Loving and all powerful. .. and He is more than able to rise up and show himself faithful on your, and my nations behalf,.... if only His people who are called by His name would humble themselves and pray. . .

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

i beg you give honour where honour is due.... Yes acknowledge and mourn the passing of a powerful leader that was mightily used.... but true glory for the supposed good doesnt lie on his shoulders, it lies on God's....praise him [God] for what he has done. . . praise Him for the fact that you are still alive despite living in the murder and rape capital of the world. [despite not being there -at the moment -  i praise him for escaping 2 violent hijackings with my life....cause God still has a plan.] . . . so praise Him! and then continue to trust Him and cry out to Him for our nation....our nation can be saved... our nation can be changed even in a day because of who HE is....so my tribute to the greatest man in history doesnt go to my fearless  president  who has now passed on.....it goes to Jesus Christ, the all loving all powerful Saviour of the world.

1 Chron 16 : 8 - 11
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.