Chasing a Strangers Heart in Vlorë

My team was on a bus, the fourth one that day, on the way to Vlorë, Albania. We had walked from the north part of Durres to the south tip of Durres the previous week. This was during our ATL trek right before we went to Türkiye. We were walking a lot, but God said we could take a bus down to Vlorë which is in the southern part of Albania, where He was calling us to go. There were enough seats on this bus for all 7 of us to sit down, so we dispersed through the bus and rested. 

I was waiting to walk to the back of the bus, but a lady next to me guestered for me to sit down next to her. So I sat down and started chatting with her. I’ve learned through planes and buses to start conversations as soon as possible with your seat partner. If you wait until half way through, it’s fairly awkward. You don’t need to muster up your own courage and strength to get to know someone, just lean on the Spirit and go for it. 

We talked about a wide range of things, including her job as a professor, her two kids, and religion. I talked about my faith in Jesus, the Son of God who died for me and her, I really didn’t want our conversation to end.

Before she got off the bus, we exchanged social media and agreed we should meet up again. But my team was only in Vlorë for 3 days, so I knew I had to be very intentional about it. Our whole goal was to use our time to make connections and share Jesus’s love as fast as possible. We didn’t want to waste the time God had given us. 

That night we texted each other about meeting up the next morning. I took my teammate Amy with me to meet up and pursue our new friend and her daughter, Snow. Her daughter spoke very good English, and was SO excited to meet us Americans. Snow sent me a voice recording while I was texting her mother that first night, and it was so adorable I started crying. 

What made it even better was that this 7 year old was a christian. Snow’s mother is muslim and father orthodox christian. 

We met them at the boardwalk, and started chatting. It also was the sunniest day I had experienced in a few months, so praise the Lord! We listened to the mother’s thoughts on a lot of things (politics, religion, family history, raising kids, etc), and she asked us a lot of questions. She was not afraid to discuss religion and beliefs, so we gladly shared our testimonies of that week, how God has abundantly provided on our ATL trek. She asked about Jesus, but also explained how Snow met Jesus through some classmates in kindergarten. Every chance we got, we tried mentioning Jesus. 

We also got to know Snow. She is very talented in all the arts: painting, singing, and dancing. She showed us a few pictures and videos of her work while we sat at a coffee shop. When her mother got up to try to pay at the register, Amy asked Snow what talents God had given her. Her answer was quick because she is a 7 year old girl who loves attention haha. Then we asked what talents God had given her mother. She thought about it for a moment, and we helped her think. Her mother is good with her mind, especially as a professor who works on computers. The conversation continued as we finished our bread and coffee. We didn’t end up meeting a second time during our weekend in Vlorë, but we parted ways that morning feeling at peace, refreshed, and energized to continue sharing Jesus’s love and grace. Through this conversation and many others, I’m encouraged to not be ashamed of the gospel. Why slowly mention it, especially since it is good news?? I don’t have to be hesitant because the Spirit is working through the words I say and also the heart of the person listening. I am just a vessel.

We found a church, but Snow and her family were not able to join us on Sunday. When my mind thinks of them, I pray that God continues to work in Snow’s life. And that He would protect her. That someone would pour into her and her family. That they may fully understand the good news, and the sacrifice God has already made for them. Please join me in this petition!

“I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved may be in them, and I in them” John 17:26

This family is filled with so many beliefs, both deep and shallow. I was encouraged by Amy, who asked direct questions to help Snow’s mother think about religion. So many people in Albania (and other countries we visit) tie their religion to their culture. “I am muslim because I am Albanian.” or “I am muslim because I am Turkish.” “I am orthodox because I am Romania.” or even “I am christian because I am American.” 

But our God extends over all cultures. He is not bound by one language, He made all of them. The Living God can dwell in someone who is 7 years old. God asks us to abandon everything and follow Him. We are not of this world, but we are sent into it. For our sake God gave His Son, but so many people don’t know that. God’s love knows no boundaries, it does not end. Ask that God expands the worldviews of people who are first hearing of Christ. That they accept Truth and love, despite what lies they may be hearing. 

“I have given them Your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭14‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬ (go ahead and read all of John 17, it is Jesus’s prayer before He is crucified, and it’s real good)

not my will, but His,

Sarah