These questions were asked by a high school-aged niece for a class
project...we thought you might have some of the same questions and
decided to share this information with you!
|
| How long have you been a missionary? |
| We've been missionaries for about 10 years and formed Planters
Seed Foundation in 1995. |
| Where was your schooling? Training? |
| We just have bachelor degrees in advertising
(David/University of Illinois) and education (Sarah -- Illinois
State University). We received no formal missions training. Our
spiritual background and training has come through church classes and
personal study. I (Sarah) went to Bible College for 2 years, but
nothing directed specifically towards missions--just general classes. |
| Why did you become a missionary? |
| David and I became involved in missions because we felt
that God had a specific purpose for us and that our skills could be used
to lead others to Christ. Also, we developed a deep love for the
people of Albania -- a love that began with our first visit to this
country in 1993. We were then and are still today the most
content when we are working in Albania as compared to working on the
farm in America. We live and breathe the work here in Albania.
Does that explain, "feeling called?" |
| What is your main objective? How do you achieve that main
objective? |
| Our main objective is to glorify God and to promote his
Kingdom. That is done through sharing our faith with those people
in the villages of Marikaj, Kasalle,
and Vlashaj. They are villages that
range in population from 3,000 to 300. They mainly are agrarian
and are located in small foothills about 20 miles from the Adriatic Sea
in the central part of the country. Our objective is focused
mainly through providing a weekly children's program in each of the
villages. We then do follow-up work to reach the parents of the
children. |
| What is the greatest joy you have experienced in Albania? |
| The greatest joy in working with the people is when you
talk with them and you can see them responding to the Holy Spirit --
when they really are desiring to hear more about God and what He means
to you. There is nothing like it!! |
| What was the greatest hardship? |
| The greatest hardship is keeping warm on a cold, rainy,
windy day in the winter! Especially indoors when the electricity
goes out! |
| What are some non-spiritual qualities/skills/abilities you need
specifically for Albania? |
We use our non-spiritual skills in many ways. It
is unbelievable how much we need accounting skills when operating a
non-for-profit organization. Also, advertising is very necessary
to
fund-raise. Hospitality skills are vital in missions work.
"Public
relations" is a must when working with people cross-culturally.
Since we are farmers too, we use that to our advantage when
we work in rural villages. Since we also are training young
Albanians to do the ministry in children's programs, Sarah's education
background is very vital. These skills are not specifically needed
to be a missionary in Albania, but to be a missionary anywhere! |
| What are some opportunities for service for a high school
student? |
| Anything a young person has experienced in his or her
church youth group, Sunday School, or V.B.S. is applicable to the work
here within the children's programs. Many of the adult Christian leaders
in the Albanian church did not have the blessing of growing up in
children's ministry in the church. They usually welcome any ideas or
suggestions that you may share from your own experiences. |
| What are some needs (personal- and mission-related)? |
| Our needs for the work range from general materials
such as crafts, game equipment, and curriculum to computers and
personnel trained in teaching English as a second language. Our
dream is to expand the ministries within the villages to reach the
village young people and teach them practical skills as a means of
showing the love of Christ. |
| Besides the Bible, what is your greatest resource
book? |
| That is a hard question! Maybe we could say our
Albanian/English dictionary. There isn't a lot of progress without
verbal communication. We don't speak the language very well and so
we have depended heavily on translators and other creative means. But
we definitely feel that language is our biggest obstacle outside of
Satan's warriors! |
| How long does it take for the people to respond
to the Gospel? |
| People respond in many different ways. Some are
like a ripe fruit that has been waiting for you to come and just tell
them. Others are so indifferent it is like hitting your head
against a cement wall. You just come to the point that you need to
move on. Overall it is through relationships that people
understand what it fully means to trust Christ and to make a life change
with him as Lord! |
| What is the average life span? |
| I would guess that people have a life span of about
60-65. Health care is so limited and the diet and education is
poor concerning health habits. Also, infant mortality is high in
the mountain and remote regions. Folklore regarding health problems and
treatments are also widespread in these same regions. Diseases are not
diagnosed early enough to prevent death. Heart problems are very prevalent
due to smoking, high blood pressure, and a life of drinking. |
| Are there many diseases/are you in danger? |
We are in constant danger every time we get in a
vehicle. The driving is terrible and very dangerous. People
drive any way they want to. There is some political danger living
in a Muslim
culture but it basically isn't a radical Islam that is practiced
here...just a few pockets here and there. |
| Is there freedom of religion there? |
| Yes, there is a freedom of religion. |
| What is the weather like? |
| The weather is hot and dry in the summer, beautiful to
near perfect in the spring and fall but rainy in the 40-50 range in the
winter. It seldom freezes near the sea during the winter. It
only snows in the upper mountain areas. |
| Tell one story of an amazing way God met a need. |
| There are too many amazing stories! One of the best
concerns an instance of us driving home one night when the headlights
went out on the car 35 miles from home with no nearby service station or stores
to get them repaired. We drove home in the dark with no white
lines on the road for guidance. We used the lights of the oncoming traffic to guide
us on our side of the road (when there were cars...otherwise we just
went slowly). |
|
published January 29, 2003 |
