Mission: Albania

I never thought I'd be a missionary in a foreign country, going on a mission trip to another foreign country.  However, last week we had a Master's Commission mission trip to Albania.  One of the goals we have for our students is to expose them to the mission field in other countries.  God does tell us in his word to go and make disciples of all nations.  He commissions us to go out in our communities, nation, and world to spread the life transforming gospel of Jesus Christ!  Every week our students lead and run local ministries.  Every so often we put on outreaches to the nation of Romania, and now we have just gotten back from our missions trip to Albania! Our vision for this trip was to come underneath a local missionary there, Sean Mason, and help equip the youth with tools.  Whether it be for their worship team, school, etc. 

The first three days we modeled Micro Kids for a ministry that helps kids with school.  We showed new ways of learning, that we had found successful in our Micro Kids.  For those three days not only did we do Micro Kids, but we loved on them like they were families.  These kids grew so attached to us that a group of girls had taken one of our first years, Carmen Marin, into their home, where they practically treated her like royalty.  It wasn't just the kids who grew attached, though.

On Wednesday we climbed a mountain with the Mission Emanuel Youth to get better connected with the young people under Sean Mason.  Megan Dean filmed a part of this adventure:

 also have to brag on our first years.  There was this one guy that worked at one of our favorite restaurants.  One day when we were walking back from dinner, our guys saw him and began to share the gospel with him.  He was very open, receiving, and hungry for it!  They came home excited about what God had done!  One of our first year girls even got to share the gospel with a Muslim girl!  Our students never once treated our mission trip to Albania as a vacation.  Every second they were ready to spread the gospel!

On Thursday, Liz Cucu, Niki Mirela, and I were guests on a Christian radio station to talk about our mission in Albania, Master's Commission Romania, and then give a word of encouragement.  I got to give a word of encouragement on the life transforming power of the gospel, and how it had transformed my life!  I have to say, that this is one of my favorite subjects to talk about right now.  What was also cool is that this message reached not only Albania, but Macedonia too!

This same day we helped train the worship team in practical tools of worship.  Sorin worked with a guy named Armando, teaching him how to play the drums.  While the girls worked with a girl, teaching her how to play the guitar!

God moved greatly in us on this Missions Trip.  We got to meet needs and support our fellow Christians across the world.  For one of our students it was the first time she had left the country!  We accomplish what we set out to do: we supported our Christian family, and got to expose our students to a possible mission field!  Glory to God, and thanks for all of your prayers and support!