Thursday, April 21--Third Day at GDQ

Well, it was kind of sad to wrap up our time at GDQ today.  We've grown attached to having recess and PE time with these kids!  They are so much fun.  Some students did more drama today with the high school students, others prepared activities for the afternoon.  More bump with middle school and the team and freeze tag with the lower school kids.

The afternoon was a special time of Easter activities:  judging Easter crafts including an Easter bonnet parade; egg drop contest; egg relay and surely an Easter egg hunt.  Our team was at stations and got to lead many of the activities.  The whole school assembled at the end of the day and thanked our team, welcomed back other teachers and wished all well for a long Easter break (Friday-Monday).

Many of the high schoolers here are preparing for big exams (Cambridge exams), kind of like our students getting ready for AP, I guess.  We could relate.

Tonight we hope to spend time with Zef and Altin and their families.  Looking forward to a little more sleep tonight.  Many of us stayed up until midnight watching a Real Madrid win over Barcelona, then up at 6:30.  Hope you are all well.  We're doing well.  Everyone is pretty healthy, perhaps a little tired and maybe fighting sore feet and allergies, but walking in strength.  May you experience the richness of Christ's passion for you these next few days!

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Wednesday, April 20--Second Day at GDQ

Day 3 was good!  Had a great second day at GDQ school.  Many of the students had P.E. and recess all day.  Perfect day at school, huh?  Last night I led a Bible study on John 15:1-11.  I love this passage about Jesus as "the vine."  It's funny, I told the group at Emanuel "I have this strange feeling I've taught on this passage here before."  Altin, said, "yes, you've spoken on it four times!"  Thankfully he was being his humorous self.  Anyway, I think that went pretty well.  Zef did something unusual.  At one point he said, "we've got about five minutes."  Usually they are not so schedule conscious.  Then I learned that he was going to the opera!  Funny.

The group did a great job at chapel today--Katie and Jimmy led questions of the kids about Easter traditions, and Hannah talked about how we should remain in Jesus as the vine.  It was so fun to see the GDQ worshipping together.  They sang out with such strong voices.  I got to play guitar and sing and I find myself just staring at the joy on all the kids faces.  It really is a joy to lead worship with children (My wife is smiling right now, I'm sure.)

Final day at GDQ today.  The group will be leading Easter activities at the school this afternoon.  Not sure what we'll be doing tonight or tomorrow.  The activities with Emanuel have been less planned this time around with some unexpected changes.  But these things are normal.  If nothing we'll spend time walking the city and praying.

Lots of laughs and lots of writing in the informal "quote book."  Good times.  I'll continue trying to post new photos and videos!

Jeff

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Tuesday, April 19--First Day at GDQ School

Great day today at GDQ.  Ran late today in getting breakfast and our ride to school so we walked right into the assembly that we were leading--literally from car to room!  Paisley and Kimmie both shared their testimonies today, while Miles brought the word from John 13 on Jesus' example of servant leadership.  I got to pull out the guitar and lead some songs!  Our teams split into two groups today with Group A mostly doing drama with different grades and Group B mostly leading recess and PE activities.  We're tired!

So far with a day of orientation and a day at the school we have not seen Zef or Altin much.  But I'm glad we are spending more time this year at the school.  I'm hoping that towards the end of the week we'll spend more time with Albanians as our interaction at the school is with ex-patriots.  Tomorrow night I will be speaking at their midweek church Bible Study at Emanuel so we will spend time with them then.  I think tonight we'll go look for some Albanian dinner at Gloria and perhaps have more time as a team.

I've uploaded a few more pictures today--gallery.me.com/gepharts

Monday, April 18--Day of Orientation

Well, got here safe without complications.  We had a nice time in Munich, although kind of slow on a Sunday.  Quite a haul to get here in 26 hours.  We settled into our beds last night after 1am.  Good day of orientation today.  Walked around the city.  I made the students divide into groups and go hunting for things like water, sunscreen, map, fruit and drinks.  Always fun to see them jump right in and start interacting with Albanians.  I think they enjoyed it.  We spent the afternoon planning for our work at the school next couple days.  We have a group jumping into some drama time with students and others working in classrooms and P.E.  Tomorrow we'll lead chapels for 6-8 and 9-12.  Rounded out the night with a late meal at the Stephen Center.  We've just said goodnight and it's off to bed.  So far the team has had a great time together.  Lots of laughs.  Many quotations going into Miss Bell's journal of all the funny one-liners.  Jimmy and I spent a good deal of the dinner tonight quoting Nacho Libre.  Good times.

I hope to publish more pics here, http://gallery.me.com/gepharts

Zoti ju bekofte,
Jeff

Getting Ready to Go

We're only 3 days away from another trip to Albania! It's been 13 months since Bear Creek's last visit to Tirana, and another team has been gearing up. This is the place we will post some of our thoughts during and after the trip. In previous posts you can see our trip last year and our highlight video.

Please pray for the following:

1) safe and healthy travels

2) team unity and strong teamwork

3) openness to how Christ wants to work in and through us

4) quality development of relationships with people in Albania

Saturday after a full week!

Well, so much for the regular posts huh? It's been a great week here. We've been all over the city.

We've been to Lincoln Center in two locations to sit into English classes for conversation. We've been to Kruja, the city of Skanderbeg, the national hero. We've been to GDQ to play with the kids and meet some of the high schoolers.

Last night we watched Amazing Grace with some people of Emanuel Church. Great movie! I was moved to tears once again.

This morning Betty and I will teach a few seminars on Prayer, Studying and Leading Bible Discussions, and Spiritual Leadership for a group of college staff workers and student leaders from campuses around the country.

Tomorrow I'll preach at Emanuel and some of our team will lead Bible study, then we'll go to Durres on the coast to sightsee. Hard to believe our time is almost at and end. It's been great.

If possible I'll try to get some other teammates to post some thoughts before we go.

Peace,

Jeff