July 22

Hello there,
It is Sunday, just after 12:00 noon. Quin and Hallie are taking a nap in the apartment. Thankfully, they are feeling better now. Thanks for your prayers.
This morning I went for my first run in a week. This week I have been getting my exercise by going up and down the stairs in our apartment building. A good many of us have had a touch of "Skenderbea's revenge" and I have not ventured too far from a bathroom during my exercise sessions -- enough said. Jill and Hallie got out this morning for a walk and to do so shopping at a vegetable market. (The produce here is very good.) Quinton, Helen, Amelia, and Quin also ventured out to do some shopping for the potluck dinner tonight after church services. I stayed in and worked on my sermon for tonight.
Yesterday evening Quinton, Helen, and the OC students went to Tirana via bus. The main purpose for this trip was to attend the Tirana church's 15th anniversary celebration. I think this event also served as a building dedication. I have not seen the Tirana church building but I hear that it is quite nice and bright red. The dedication was from 6:00 to 9:00. Jonida's family (mom, sister, and Jonida's kids) also attended. According to Helen and Quinton's report this morning, there were some 100+ people in attendance. Most of the evening was filled with various presenters talking about the church and the new building. The building's two A/C's were doing their best but not cooling too well. Elira, my 2-year old niece, was quite playful and very cute. There was food served after the presentations. The Tirana group arrived back in Durres around 10:15.
Last night Jill and I had our kids' portraits drawn by a sidewalk artist here in Durres beach. (Around 6:00 each night vendors set up their tables all along the sidewalk opposite our apartment building. As the night progresses the crowds get heavier and it is very crowded on the sidewalks.) Well, on more than one occasion we had noticed the work of this one particular artist. A few days ago Jill spoke with him (he is Albanian, lives in Macedonia, and speaks English) about pricing and the procedure for getting a portrait. For 15 Euro ($20.00) he sketched our children in black and white pencil. Actually, he drew Amelia's and Hallie's portraits and took a picture of Quin with his digital camera. He is going to draw Quin's portrait at home. (We didn't think Quin was up to sitting still for 30 minutes considering he had been up since 6:00 a.m. We are such wise parents!) Anyway, Rick, the artist, completed Amelia's and Hallie's portraits to the pleasure of his watchful audience. He really is talented. Apparently he travels to various touristy areas each summer to draw portraits and make extra money. He sets up at 8:00 and shuts down at midnight. Jill asked him what he does during the day. He said, "I swim".
Saturday morning Jill and I took an hour long walk together. We walked on the streets and some on the beach. The people at the beach never cease to amaze me. At 9:00 a.m. it was absolutely packed. We saw all shades of suntans and sunburns and a wide array of swimsuits. Young people kick the soccer ball, bump the volleyball, and even play badminton among the 1000's of other beach goers. Everyone seems to be having a great time at the beach. One older lady knits and sells her creations right on the water's edge. I don't know how many scarves and booties she sells in the 98 degree weather but they sure seem like quality products. Maybe one day I'll by the warmest item she has for sale (perhaps a stocking hat) and then sprint out into the Adriatic and swim like crazy just to prove that knitted items are really appropriate beach wear. Who knows, maybe at the next Olympics we'll see an Albania swimmer in a knitted scarf.
On Friday night following my studies with Myfit and Igli I was treated to another excursion. Taking Alfred with us, the four of us traveled in Igli's car southward, past his father's bar, up paved and unpaved roads to an overlook about 15 minutes drive from the church building. The land belongs to Igli's grandfather and brother. After stopping at a gate at the end of a narrow and dusty road we climbed out of the Mercedez and circumnavigated the gate. We continued to walk along a trail that had a rather steep drop off on the left hand side. After walking about 150 yards we came to a point -- the overlook. I'd say we were some 250 - 300 feet above the boulevard below. From this point I could see all of Durres Bay. There are 100's of new hotels and apartment buildings all along the Adriatic shore. Alfred informed me that all of these structures have been built since communism fell in the early 1990's. Some of the hotels have very nice swimming pools with fountains and slides. The sun was beginning to set in the west just off the tip of the Durres port. It was a fascinating view. We then loaded back into the car. Igli then proceeded to drive in reverse some third to half of a mile or so back down the dirt road. This was the furthest I have ever traveled in reverse. Alfred mentioned he would like to bring our family back up to this spot so they can take in the sights. I hope he does. I showed my video footage of my trip to Jill. She seemed a little hesitant about taking our family up there; but, I know they'd love it.
One of Jill's students has been attending church services for some time now. She has two sweet children ages 15 and 10. She has told Jill that she has been giving some thought to being baptized. Jill and her discussed this during their last study session. Please pray for her. Lord willing, she will give her life to Jesus soon and her children will do so as well in the future.
I have another Albanian observation for you. As I have mentioned before, there is a bakery right across the street from our apartment. We often visit the bakery for loaves of bread, chocolate rolls, and bagel type rolls. At the bakery, it is every man for himself. The concept of standing in line and waiting your turn is not practiced at the bakery. I don't know if this practice goes back to communism times when people had to fight for bread or not; however, old habits die hard. Case in point, today before I walked up to the internet cafe I popped in the bakery to get a roll for Amelia. Two gentlemen were in the process of paying for their bread when I walked in the bakery ahead of another gentleman who had double parked his BMW in the street. I was standing in line behind the two gentlemen when Mr. BMW walked right past me and put his hands on the bread display case. This did not surprise me but was still not appreciated. I guess the worker knew I was in the store before this man and looked at me for my order. I gestured and spoke in English to tell her I wanted one of the round rolls. Mr. BMW asked a question of her and the other worker and they both helped him for a minute before I was given my bread. Next time I may just have to be more assertive like Helen. She went to the bakery on Saturday morning. She was getting chocolate rolls for her grand kids and wasn't going to be denied. She got right in there like any good Albanian would and got the rolls. Go Mimi!
More later,
Darin