Trying this again...

OK - so I am admittedly lousy at blogging.

Things like this always make me think that I have to come up with something profound to "dazzle" my myriad readers - but then, no one even knows I have this blog! I may or may not ever make this thing public, I don't know. For now I will just add some thoughts periodically.

Yesterday I went to the funeral of one of our neighbors. It was very sad. The service consisted of a trip to the cemetery (which, by virtue of the mess they call politics here in Albania, is completely full, so they have begun to dig up the roads through the cemetery and are burying people there) where we observed a rather short moment of silence for the deceased, then watched as the water was bailed out of the grave before the casket was lowered into the hole. Once the casket was in, several of the family members pitched in to cover it with dirt, and when it was completely covered the spread some flowers on it, then we all got back in our vehicles and left. That was it - no words of comfort for the grieving family, no talk of a life in the hereafter, nothing even remotely referring to God. This is why we are here I guess...

Later in the day I went with a new missionary on the field to look at an apartment. They arrived two weeks ago and the team they are working with is very busy so they are kind of on their own in trying to find housing and get settled. Cindy and I have been trying to help where we can. After we looked at the apartment, we met the owner of their temporary housing to do a rental contract (needed for their residency permits) and then had a coffee with him. I thoroughly enjoyed that time. While translating conversations is a bit more taxing than just talking, it was great to be able to chat for an hour about various Albanian customs, and help another missionary while I learn myself.

Coffee is the great lubricant here in Albania. Business deals are done over a coffee. Relationships are built on coffee. Sometimes having a coffee is the best way to work here. Yet another reason that I love Albania!