Elbasan and the Wakeleys

I left from Robert's place last Thursday and headed down to Tirane on a furgone (a minibus - a very popular way to travel in Albania). Once there I got across Tirane with the help of a few Albanians, to the minibus for Elbasan. These minibuses leave when they have enough people on board, so it's not uncommon for them to drive around in circles for a little while trying to find passengers. I arrived in Elbasan about 5 hours after leaving Lezhe, at a cost of 450 lek (less than €2), which I reckon is very good value!

After a quick phone call I was picked up from the minibus stop and taken to the compound where the Wakeleys (Nick, Sar and 5 children) live. It was great to see them again. They have very kindly let me make use of the guest apartment, which has the amazing luxury of an English-style toilet (not at all common in Albania - even the Wakeleys themselves don't have one).

They have been very welcoming and I feel a bit like one of the family. I have offered to help out with things they want doing, and I have been given a list to do, which include: the school of light (which is for blind and partially sighted people), doing things on the computer, spending time with the children and other practical duties. To this list I have added learning Albanian, because although I may only be here for 4 to 6 weeks, I think it would be great to be able to communicate with people.

Time has been flying past. On Saturday I went to the youth group (and ended up playing guitar - although they didn't know most of the worship songs I tried playing!). On Sunday I went to the church where Nick is the pastor and it was good. Tuesday I went with Nick to Tirane which was a great day out (albeit an early starting one), and met some other 'missionaries' there. I have come to realise that missionaries are not some strange set of people who are somehow greater than everyone else, they are pretty normal people who have just moved to another place to serve God.

I was helping with the School of Light yesterday. Mimoza, who used to lead it, has gone to England for a year to attend Bible school, she left on Monday for England so I did see her before she went. So my arrival may have been very good timing.

Communication can sometimes be difficult when going to different countries, so you learn the benefit of sign language and miming to get your point across. This has some extra complications when talking to Albanians - i.e. to say yes you shake your head, and nod to say no! And it gets even more difficult when trying to communicate with those who can't see!

I am really enjoying my time here. The children normally seem to want my attention, but they are fun. I'm hoping to go for a bike ride with Joshua and maybe Joanna later. Nick and Sar are doing well and it is very good to spend extended time with them, something I don't think I've managed to do much since they were leading the 17+ youth group in Fareham over 10 years ago. Nick had been praying for me before I came to Elbasan and he believed that God was saying that I was not so much going to be there for ministry to others, but that He wanted me to get to know Him better through His word. So I have started reading the Bible more to simply find out more about who God is. It's been great already, I feel like I've got back to that excitement I used to have. For the last few years life had seemed to be getting quite dry and tiring to me, so this refreshing has been very welcome.