Merry Christmas, from Albania

It amazes me...from this side of the pond...watching what is taking place in America.  Charlie Brown's Christmas has been "edited"...under court order...?!?  Seriously...???

I live in a country that in 1945, the Agrarian Reform Law under communism meant that large pieces of property owned by religious groups were nationalized, along with estates of monasteries and dioceses. Many believers, and many priests were arrested, tortured and executed. In 1949, a new decree required that all religious activities be sanctioned by the communist state alone.

Then in 1967, Albania was declared to be the first "completely atheistic" country in the world, by Enver Hoxha. Hundreds of mosques and dozens of Islamic libraries containing priceless manuscripts were destroyed. Churches were not spared either, and many were converted into cultural centers for young people. The new law banned all "fascist, religious warmongerish, antisocialist activity and propaganda"  Preaching religion carried a three to ten years prison sentance. Nontheless, many Albanians continues to practice their beliefs secretly.

The People's republic was dissolved in 1991-1992, and the freedom to practice religion was restored. Many missionaries responded to the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to Albania.


Look at the "Albanian National Holiday" schedule for 2015. There are 2 national Easter Holidays...!

April 3…Good Friday…Observance

April 4…Holy Saturday…Observance

April 5…Easter Sunday…National Holiday

April 6… Easter Monday…Observance

April 10…Good Friday (Orthodox)…Observance

April 11…Easter Saturday (Orthodox)…Observance

April 12…Easter Sunday (Orthodox…Observance

April 13…Easter Monday (Orthodox)…National Holiday

December 24…Christmas Eve…Observance

December 25…Christmas Day…National Holiday

Vendors in the market where I shop...have all told me, "Gezuar Krishtlindja", which literally means, "Happy Christ's Birth."

Tirana is covered in lights, giant Christmas trees, giant Santa Clauses. Of course they are referred to as "New Years Tree" and "Father New Year"...but it sure feels like Christmas to me. 

The poinsettia in Albanian is called the "Christmas flower".  

 

And I live in a country where you hear the mosques calling to prayer, a country where prison time was the cost for "preaching"...and I come from a country that is perceived by "Albanian nationals" as a Christian nation. 

Merry Christmas from a country that knows what it means to be put in prison for sharing your faith...any faith. 

Kangoo Jumps~~~

 Ok...so my background in physical therapy had me scratching my head when a store opened up across from the market where I shop. Then I started seeing aerobic classes for adults, and children using these devices. My specialty in the US was "feet and ankles", and understanding gait, loading, and biomechanics of function.

I looked on the internet, and there have been some studies on the "claim" of reduced impact for athletes. In fact this is the claim, "with a lower risk of injury, providing significant protection to the joints, when compared to traditional sport shoes. Consequently, Kangoo Jumps rebound shoes could be considered the world’s lowest impact shoe."  

           

Really...???  I looked up to see how much these "impact shoes" cost.  In the US...the cheapest version is $179, with available spare parts at $20 and up. With an average monthly salary of $300-400 USD here in Albania,  I wonder how many pairs of Kangoo Jumps this store has actually sold...?  

No...I have no plans to go in and try on a pair...!

3.3 and 5.0...things are shaking....!

Early this morning there were two earthquakes, like seriously about 2-3 minutes apart.  So this is pretty new for me, no earthquakes in New Mexico.  I was in my living room, heard a commotion from all the dogs outside and then heard a loud rumbling...and the room was "rocking and rolling".  The first one made me think...wow what is going on?  Is there some heavy machinery work going on outside?  Then after the second one, I knew it was an earthquake.  I checked with my landlord...she is still probably laughing at me, as if this was just a normal day.  

Apparently, I found a site online that has mapped out the "earthquake risk for the Balkans" and surrounding countries.
http://horizon-magazine.eu/article/mapping-europe-s-earthquake-risk_en.html  

Yes...life is always an adventure...!  

Happy Birthday to me....!

Since I have been on the mission field, I have had the opportunity to celebrate my Birthday, in 7 different countries:  England, Kosova, Albania, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, and of course the US. 

Today I celebrated my 58th Birthday in Budva, Montenegro while attending the Albanian Mission's conference. The conference was an amazing blessing...!

I received the following video from my daughter Elissa and Sam, and my granddaughter Hannah, and grandson Ezekiel:

Then later in the day I received an e-card from my dear friends, Lirak and Suela Gjoshi in Prishtina, Kosova.  The front of the card said, "it is not proper to ask a woman her age.", then when you open the card it says, "so how much do you weigh?"   This so made me laugh, and I shared with my friends here at the conference...

Then...at dinner, I checked into the front table entering the cafeteria.  Just as I was sitting down with my food, a waiter brought me some red flowers and a candle for the table wishing me a Happy Birthday. (I think he spoke Montenegrin or Croatian?)  As I finished my meal, the waiter brought me a birthday cake, a knife and plates.  So I cut pieces and shared with my friends, it was about 8 inches square.  It was very cold, I thought it might be an ice cream cake. There were very thin layers of cake, with a tart strawberry filling and whipped cream in between, topped with more real whipped cream and walnuts...and delicate chocolate hearts on each corner. Sorry, no photo was taken...it was wonderful and not at all like the regular cakes/pastries in this part of the world.

The staff at the hotel looked at my passport when I checked in...this is a treat the hotel does for their guests, no one at the conference  told the hotel it was my birthday.

As I passed out cake to my friends, they sang Happy Birthday to me...in English of course, in Albanian, and in Spanish.

I will always miss "the chocolate cake" with my daughters in the US...but what a precious treat this was for me today. 

God's surprises...make me smile...! 

Road side signs...

During my travels exploring Montenegro recently I saw these two road side signs.  This first sign was just along side of the road, no crossing stripes on the highway, no stairs anywhere to be found.

This second sign was about 100 yards away from the first sign, no school any where, no real evidence of a residential area, no playground, no soccer field.

It is interesting to see signs, that you think should be "universally" understood to their meaning, and the warning they are presenting.  I really don't know what they mean...another one of the mysteries of traveling in the Balkans.  

By the way, in case you don't know where Montenegro is, find Italy on a world map, go east across the Adriatic, it is located between Croatia and Albania on the coast. It used to also be a part of former "Yugoslavia". 

Baby it is hot outside...!!!

Today is the last day of August. We have had a record setting hot summer, punishing heat and humidity, with evening lows only into the 80's.  The last few weeks have been much cooler, well only  into the 80's with lows at night into the upper 60's.  

Today...we hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38 Celsius,  with 40% humidity.

Just plain hot...everyone is ready for cooler fall weather...!

I think I will go have some ice cream...

Meet George...!

It took a lot of creativity, extra $$$ funds in my support funds, and a team willing to bring a full skeleton to Tirana.  George arrived two weeks ago...many thanks to the SBB team from CC Wildwood for bringing George in a bin.  It was very easy to put all together, and I think for the first time in my PT career, I have seen a skeleton with all the parts intact. 

George will be an important part of the Practical Anatomy class I will start teaching in two weeks.  It is for physical therapy students, medical students, doctors, or whoever wants to come. 

When George was first put together...the following comments were heard:

• Our nurse at ABC Health stated how good it would have been to see a skeleton like this while in nursing school. She had never seen a full size skeleton, only pictures.
• One of our medical interns stated that he also has never seen a full size skeleton, no such thing is available in medical school. He is a licensed doctor, and he has never seen a skeleton before.  I can not grasp that...and I hear it over and over. This intern will be attending my class. 
• Another medical intern wanted to know if it was a male or female...?  This intern will be attending my class. 

So starting September 5th, I will start teaching Practical Anatomy, to Albanian PT and  medical students.  I will challenge them to take all of their "rote memorization" of bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, etc and put it all together. So they will better understand where each bone is, how the muscles function, and how does that help us provide better care to our patients. It will be a challenge for the students, and the teacher.  I took anatomy in 1984, and I have never taught it before.  But...I have George to help...!

Always an adventure~~~