We arrived to Durrës Albania, on September 17, after an 18+ hour drive on a charter bus, crossing three boarders, everything went so smoothly. I was very excited to see Durrës, Albania because of the beach. I had never seen the beach before. When I arrived it was everything I had imagined, beautiful, breathtaking, and knowing that I have a relationship with the one who created all that beauty!
(Picture of Adriatic Sea)
Training was very impactful. Our mentor Ari brought the Word every day for a week. We learned about the Holy Spirit, God’s character, spiritual gifts, and spiritual warfare. Our last day of training the Holy Spirit put it on someone’s heart to wash each other’s feet at the sea, which led into our whole squad being baptized in the Adriatic
(Feet washing at the Adriatic Sea)
The next week was debrief. We split up into groups with our coaches, mentor, and leaders to reflect on how the month in Romania impacted us. Then after debrief our teams split up to go to the various locations we asked the Lord for, since it was ATL (Ask The Lord) month.
(Worshiping with our squad during debrief)
We didn’t have a ministry host or someone that’s familiar with the area, total dependency on the Lord. We prayed and the Lord showed my teammate Vlorë, Albania. So, we headed that way. Vlorë was about 3 or 4 hours, away from Durrës. We had already booked an Airbnb. We got to Vlorë smoothly and we waited for our Airbnb owner. He then showed us the location where we would be staying. That night he offered to show us around the city and take us for tea. So, we got the chance to get to know him a little better. He shared his beliefs. He is Muslim and grew up in a village with groves of olive trees. His words were “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”. He explained it was about harvest time and he needed workers to pick the olives. We got excited because that was a good opportunity to serve and share the gospel. He told us to think about it and get back with him.
(Picture of my team and airbnb owner)
(Empowered Servants)
We decided to get familiar with the area, so we go out into the surrounding area to look around. As soon as we got outside, I received so many stares and looks. We decide to take a walk along the shore to look at the sea and to get some exercise. We passed a group of young guys and I hear them chanting “nigga, nigga”, but I didn’t turn around I kept walking. When we got back to the apartment, I felt so unwanted, like an outcast and I wanted to get a ticket back to America. During team time I tell my team I needed prayer and they asked me what was going on and I told them that I didn’t feel wanted here and that I wanted to go home. They prayed for me and I felt so much better. God gave me a vision of Him on the cross and Him saying “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34). He also reminded me“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (John 15:18).
Every time I go out, I get evil stares and looks, but God reminds me they are not looking at me, they see the light in me and the light is BRIGHT! I hate racism, it’s the dumbest attack from the enemy on the human race. God always reminds me He is with me and He is in me and I’m accepted by Him and that’s all that matters!
Our Airbnb owner contacted us and let us know that olive harvesting started later in October, but we would be leaving much earlier than that. So, we asked him if we could go and check it out and visit. We ended up staying two nights in the village. The people there were so welcoming and hospitable. They gave us watermelons, pomegranates, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, soda, and fig jelly. Our last day in the village we wrote some villagers we had met letters and put scriptures on them. They were very happy to receive the letters.
(Picture of the food the villagers gave)
Our time in Vlorë, Albania was coming to an end and we had met so many people. The last week we bought flowers, put scriptures on them, and passed them out to locals we met. They were very happy to receive them. ATL(Ask The Lord) month was awesome and I am looking forward to another one!
So glad you got to visit the beach, Tiffany! And this beach is one few Americans have seen. I am so sorry you were insulted. I agree that racism is so stupid. The devil wants to divide us rather than see Christians (or even non Christians) unified. You did the right thing to ask for prayer. Sound like you have been gathering stories and I want to hear them.
My lovely sister, I am so proud you. As you know that I have experienced similar situation here on the Race. My prayer for you is that will walk in confidence in how the Lord has made you this whole year. This has been hard me as well but it super powerful. Those around will not understand because they have never experienced it before so it is good to let them know and pray about together. God will do a work in your team during this time trust Him. Love you