Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve written. We made it to Albania after 3 flights and around 45 hours of travel. It’s been a full past couple of weeks here in Pogradec Albania.
We’ve been adapting to the environment, getting used to the time difference and finding a rhythm with ministry. Pogradec sits in between two mountains and has such a beautiful lake, which is only a ten minute walk from our house. About a week ago the mountains got dusted with some snow! So beautiful! The weather has for sure been colder than Guatemala but we are adapting. Driving in the first night felt like driving through a small mountain town in Colorado. The weather is crisp and we caught the last of the fall leaves. I was missing fall and I got a little taste of it!
Ministry days here in Albania
We are working with Living water Church and Adopt a child ministry. Both these ministries partner with 4 different churches around Pogradec. From kid programs and teen programs to women’s teaching and church ministry we have a full week of teachings and testimony sharing. I’ve been able to share my testimony multiple times and I was able to share a message on Psalms 139 with a women’s group at one of the churches.
There are little things packed in our days and the pace of the environment here feels slower than Guatemala. We’ve been able to dig deep into our individual relationships with the Lord when we aren’t in ministry. God has been so sweet in this time and I have been growing so much in my relationship with him! I am learning not just to be still in the environment but to be still in my mind and my whole being. It’s been so sweet!
Random things
Team time and little adventures
I really love my team. We have explored Pogradec and we’ve been growing so much together and with the Lord.
Bike rides on the lake!
Bread runs become a daily thing. The bread lady is now our friends because of all the bread runs we have made.
Gatik bridge: part of the Roman road built in the second century. So beautiful!
Lake time and skipping rocks. I love our little lake oasis.
Making food and banana bread
Holidays
This holiday season we spent Thanksgiving as a team and as a squad. As a team we went to a hole in the wall restaurant. We got rabbit, boar, fish, and venison. It was all really yummy! Love a good hole in the wall place!
This past Saturday we celebrated Thanksgiving with the whole squad. One of our teams spent a day cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal for us! So thankful for this team and for good food!
More thanksgivings
- For deeper revelation and wisdom of the Lord. Learning more about him!
- For my family and the ability to talk to them
- For good food. All the fruit and veggies
- For an oven to bake bread. Just being able to make meals for the team!
- For the sunshine and being able to sit in grass
- For the fall ish weather
- For the snow on the mountains
- For mountain drives to one of the churches
- For family time with people that feel like home. The whole squad
- For such a sweet house that feels like a peaceful environment
- For sweet God moments and living in an interruptible mindset
- For the ability to speak some English to people
Prayer requests
- Unity as a team
- That I would gain a deeper revelation of the Lord
- Thanksgiving as we get to know these people their hearts are softening to us and they are ready to hear what we have to say. A continual deeper revelation to them of who God is
- That we would be prayerful in our ministry times and days. Take every opportunity to be intentional
Thank you all for reading!! I am beyond blessed for your prayers. I’m so thankful to be here and to share a bit of it with yall. I miss you guys so much and I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving!!
Much love and in Christ, Sydney <3
Some more pics of life
Thank you for the update and photos. It is so good to hear about your activities and to see your surroundings, the team and some new friends. Prayers to connect with the people and for open and receptive hearts.
Always looking forward to your updates! I’m so proud of you and beyond joyful and thankful for your safety, your loving heart of servitude, and the ever-growing hunger and thirst for the Lord. May he continue to illuminate your path with His glorious light, blow your mind with His many wonders, and fill your spirit with awe for His everlasting goodness.
Much love my beautiful friend and sister in Christ! XOXO