Albania Day 9 : Monster Trucks and Friday night church

The boys in the village knew there would be a surprise at the end of week, but they didn't know what. Friday morning they were waiting at the gate well over an hour before the scheduled time.



Our local Lowes had generously donated 25 DIY monster trucks for the boys to assemble. 

We had told Tobin, before the trip that he would have to give a devotional for the event. (Easy to say, but how do you tie monster trucks to a teaching from scripture?)

Fearlessly, Tobin read from 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul compares the church to a body with many working parts that are all dependent on each other.  He then showed that the monster truck needs each part in order to go! (We were kind of a little proud!)

               We formed an assembly line and let the boys start working on their trucks.  Many of these boys were holding a hammer for the first time ever. The boys ages   ranged from 5-16.


There were so many boys that even the girls had to lend a helping hand. However, God had provided just enough that even Ellie and Reni got to make one.

The toy trucks occupied the boys for the rest of the day. They were a huge hit!

I had told God years ago, that if He was calling us to Albania, I would be willing to go and even sweep floors for Him there.  So, of course, when Jen saw me here she was quick to remind me of how God had answered my prayer! God has a sense of humor.

The boys could not wait to take us to their "big rock" in the woods.

One last afternoon game of four square.

Aaron was given the opportunity to preach at the Friday evening church service.  It was a privilege to be able to encourage our brothers and sisters in VLA-shaj. ( I noticed some giggles while I was preaching, apparently I had been putting the emphasis on the wrong syllable! Pastor Genti translated it exactly as I had said it,

emphasis and all!)

Before we left the service the body prayed a blessing on us. It was hard to leave, even the kids said we weren't there quite long enough.  The people of Vlashaj are in our hearts and we cannot wait for the opportunity to return.

We left the village right after the church service to catch our 10pm ferry from Durres to Bari, Italy.