Kosova - Independence

We have now been on the road for almost 10 months! We have all but given up on timely blogs and it wouldn't matter anyway as things continue changing so fast!

So many doors overseas were opened, and we have been back in North America since December processing various options and praying through what God may have us do with our lives. We have seen and done so many incredible things in the past year that you just have to believe us when we say it has been simply profound. There is not enough paper... or megabytes on the computer... to write it all down. Much like many of your experiences over the years.
However, we are making strides in understanding our gifts and skills and matching those to relationships and "coincidences" in which God has placed in our paths. For instance, we have seen an American who lives in Albania doing business as mission work in cities in 4 different countries in just over a year (Vancouver in Canada, Tirana in Albania, Budapest in Hungary, L.A. in America). We are refining our vision for café and home ministry and even economic development (over the long run). Many wonderful people have come into our lives and been part of this process. Thank you all so much! We continue to be blessed by your generiousity, wisdom and love for us.

Although we don't have firm paths yet... (and I (Cheryl) am a planner that loves to know 3 -5 years in advance!)... we continue to walk in faith. We are growing in our trust for the Lord's provision and our past year has been an amazing example of this!

A story we will conclude with for now is below: it's an example of an intimate creator that orchestras more than our minds at time can comprehend. We continue to be deeply moved by this... It's a wonderful "coincidence"! :)

...So, we have been in California talking to churches about our experience showing the Jesus film in Ferizaj, Kosova in the summer of 2007. It just so happens that the church adopted the Albanian people group to support after the war in 1999. They have remained true to this calling to provide financial aid, human support and other support over the past 8 years. Maybe people have come into that church with a pre-existing heart for Albania or Albanians as well. This church has a uniquely specific desire to serve among the Kosovar Albanians (the ethnic majority is Kosova - or Kosovo as known in the west). We planned these dates months ago without knowing the date that would be set for declaring independence. Therefore, it was a unique coincidence that we happened to be at this particular church, on this particular day, with individuals and couples with a heart for Kosova and Albanians, and also, get this with a Kosovar to celebrate with!! The Kosovar was a guy studying abroad in California and attending this church on that particular day. We were able to spend time with this individual, hear his story, pray with him and for the Kosovar people, and to celebrate a reality his people hoped for but were afraid would never come to fruition!

The unfortunate aftermath in Belgrade due to Serbian protesting and looting will soon die

God is truly incredible. Many blessings!

Cheryl and Kevin

PS - I wrote this to a friend in an email and since I have been fairy non-communicative with friends and even family at times about coming to faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour I wanted to start to put pieces of the puzzle together for those that do not yet believe. (Because those of you who are believers are more moved to thank God and praise him then to want to know... But I know people love testimonies of how God finally got a hold of them!)
So WOW... my life even 2 -3 years ago seems like a different life completely. I was finishing my MBA on exchange from the University of British Columbia in Copenhagen, Denmark and wanted to work in foreign aid and economic development. I was always interested in Corporate Social Responsibility at UBC but my desire to help others in less fortunate countries increased while in Denmark. They have a lot of good courses in this area and are like Canada in wanting to give to other countries. However, I found it strange that I wasn't truly excited about this possibility as "helping someone buy a car, or a nicer car, was not going to enrich their lives dramatically". At that time I didn't know I need Christ in my life, to feel his deep love for me and others, to act to redeem this world, to go beyond physical needs to developing spiritual health. When God started talking to me (not audibly - although he will do that to some), I really felt this connecting. I started going to an international church in Copenhagen and the pastor was very analytical and worked through various questions and issues. I was finally asking the tough questions and demanding solid answers to what Christianity was. I knew I had a tradition of Christianity in my family and the people were amazing but I always thought that when I was my grandma's age then I would consider going to church or maybe to take my kids to Sunday school like I had gone. But then it occurred to me, if there really is a God, if there really is one Truth for humanity, if the Bible really is real and a valid source of God's plan, that he really did send his son Jesus (who was also God but fully man) to come die for the sins of humans so that knowing God (the Father) would be possible, and that accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life really was life changing... then why would I not want to know of his love and grace NOW?! Why would I waste time not investigating for myself these truths? So that's exactly what I did. When I came back to Vancouver after completing my MBA, I signed up for the Alpha course to continue to go deeper in understanding the claims of Christianity. My eyes were now being opened to the Gospel but I had sooooooo many questions and wasn't the type to "believe what I was supposed to believe just because!" So I took the opportunity to figure out for myself what I really believed and time to understand what God was saying through his Word in the Bible and by sending his son Jesus. The rest is history and I praise God for the grace he showed me and how he continues to walk with me and love me so deeply!! Lavdi Zoti (Praise the Lord in Albania) :)

California!

Hey all,

We are way overdue in posting here, so we apologize! Much has happened and we are wrapping up our journey's in California. We have much to say and will be posting a detailed update before the end of the week!