Not in yet...
February 17

From the sounds of it we are getting the better of the weather conditions these days!  So sorry to hear of your cold, white, and wintry days in the Midwest and East! The sun has decided to once again return to Albania. The nights are cold but during the day everyone heads for the sunny spots on the road and streets.

From the looks of things in the village, it must be time for tilling the soil. Yesterday in all directions there were shovels working feverishly making way for spring activity to follow.

You may think from the sounds of it we are now making our residence in the village. Sadly, to our disappointment, it is only for the daylight hours that we are able to be in the village. We are not yet able to stay overnight. The workers were not able to finish the Vlashaj building renovations in time for the anticipated move-in date of Feb. 13. Our date will be postponed probably another 10 days or so. We are taking great lessons in endurance and patience. It is a very long story of the delays that have postponed our move-in and somewhere in the middle of it all it includes a flood. We should be able to get in though, before we return to the States in mid-March.  The words of James 1, 2, and 3 have been words of comfort to our hearts and mind.

Shkurt
February 5, 2003

   I like the Albanian name for this month: "Shkurt." (Literal translation =  short month). How many days did it take before Noah got tired of the rain?  Was it on the 10th day, the 13th day of rain or more than 18 days of straight rain? I'm not comparing our weather to Noah's but Noah has been on our minds these past couple of weeks.  It makes for very cozy times when we can rest beside the hot wood stove.  Praise the Lord for our November trip to Italy to purchase several good wood stoves to place in the ministry centers.  It was so cute to see about four children after coming in from their walk from home, standing all around the stove with their hands extended over the stove top to warm them before the meeting began.  Another scene happened this morning when I came in the ministry office to see three Bright Star team members with their chairs pulled directly up to the stove, working with books, pens and papers on their laps (see photo above).  
   It is great to see the team coming together, becoming more acclimated to a full-time work schedule (a change implemented in early January). The Tirana Center is feeling like a real office area. There is near constant activity during the day except for the times we leave for the village programs.  
   This adjustment from part-time to full time status for most of the team members has also kept David and I busy with extra training sessions teaching the team members different computer programs as well as instructing them how to prepare integrated children's lessons a month at a time with themes and extra dramas.

Here is the last update on the Vlashaj construction project:  Windows are now in, floors are about finished with tile and wood, water lines are in the bathroom. We are now awaiting tile for the bathroom walls and installation of the kitchen.  Before Saturday comes I will need to polyurethane the wood floor.  We (David, the Bright Star team, and I) are counting down the days for our first overnight stay in the village--8 is the number remaining!

Oh, I must also add a note -- this is an all time first for me while coming to Albania in 10 years---I found celery in the market!  I didn't even care that it was all wilted and pithy.  It was wonderful to make good old dressing with onion and celery.  What a treat!  (sorry if that sounds silly, but when home-like food seems so far away, it doesn't take much to bring joy into one's life)!

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers.  Whoever is praying for more electricity I would sure like to know.  We have had nearly non-stop electrical service here in Tirana for over a month now!!  This also is an all time first in 10 years!

Love to you all,
Sarah for Sarah and David