I love the pace of life in this country. It's so interesting how everything seems simplified, and though we may see plenty of Mercedes Benz on the street, there seems to be the lack of materialism we find in America. Now that we're back in Tirana and have a somewhat lighter schedule, we had time to take the kids on a walk to go get ice cream this afternoon. We played the game of, "name all the things you wouldn't find in America...." The things that my kids initially noticed were more "big city" things, like traffic, graffiti, and lots of stores. So as I was trying to pointing out the differences I saw, I was struck with the simple way many of these people live. I pointed out the laundry that hung outside almost every apartment window.... since no one in this country seems to own a dryer. I pointed out how they sell their fruit in bins on the street and that shoppers go to a different store for fruit then they go to buy meat. This is definitely not the land of Wal-mart or Target. No Big Box stores or shopping sprees. And everyone walks everywhere, so you buy only what you need, and no more than you want to carry for the next 20-30 minute walk. It's fun to get to see life from an alternate perspective, and to realize how differently Americans live from most of the rest of the world.
Sara.
ReplyDeleteReading "blogs" is not in our DNA, but this morning I determined to learn how to do this. I am touched by all of the stories you have shared The team (and most of you by name) have been in our prayers daily. Several of you have mentioned being overwhelmed by the mundane, and being uncertain of whether your efforts are making a difference. There is no way we can know the mind of God, and what he will do with our efforts. Think about Daniel and how he kept to the right way, on a daily basis. I am sure some of that was extremely mundane. And yet his story encourages us several thousand years later.
I discovered a scripture that seemed to be designed for a prayer over all of you. "Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Ps. 5:11b-12;
Encouragement and prayers,
Sue Pence