Lorraine writes- hearing sad news any time of the year of about friends and loved ones is hard, but it always seems harder when it around Christmas time!! Our thoughts and prayers go out to Craig & Karena MacKay and family at this time. We received word and have read Craig's blog regarding his beloved wife, Karena. She is in the last stages of cancer and we want to extend our love and prayers to them........Karena is an inspirational women of God, and has impacted many people, me being one of them. All our love to you Karena xx

Lorraine writes- the children in the day care are getting so excited about Christmas...WHY.... because Humedica give them every year a wonderful shoebox full of gifts!! As soon as the staff put the tree, decorations and lights up they all started singin 'Happy New Year'. This beautiful picture is of one of our children comforting her sister who is too young to attend day care, but often trys to creep in and join us!! The children love being in the day care and get so much out of attending....its a joy to see their happy smiles!!

Chris on location in one of the mountain villages whilst holding a medical clinic for Humedica. A doctor from Germany came to run the clinics for two weeks at the beginning of November. Nine villages where visited and over 400 patients were seen.

Chris writes: well we are now in December, Advent and thoughts naturally go to Christmas and friends and family. For us of course it is a little different so I guess only natural that feelings of homesickness creep in. How I would just love to be able to walk along the coast by the sea, or go bike riding or worship and listen in church in the English langauge...but those are some of the things we have given up by our choice to live in Kosova. We have now been here over a year and so maybe the romance and glitz...if there ever was any of being a missionary....is starting to wear off and I am starting to miss some of those simple things I used to take for granted! Today was difficult in our Albanian speaking church with little translation - Lorraine was away and I was not expecting translation just for me the only English speaker there! It really feels like we are at a crossroads - will we decide to carry on with our adventure here in Kosova or return to UK?? It feels that there is much for us to do here and our long-term future could be here but at what cost? Some days the cost seems minimal and other days it seems very high. Please do pray that we will make the right decision and stay in God's will. Thanks for reading and praying for us and standing with us in our adventure. Zoti Bekoft!!

Chris writes: well life is at last starting to settle down as winter sets in, the last of the doctors have gone home and all has been packed and stored away ready for next year. Things are going well with the jobs which had been piling up for me while I was out with the doctor and my to-do list is now quite a bit shorter than my arm!! Our second power cut (and third long one!) due to non payment by our neighbours last week did not help life here but fortunately only for 48 hours this time but thankfully the power and our sanity was restored as abruptly as it was cut off! The regular cold and dank mist in the morning and glorious sunny afternoon is becoming a pattern for the weather as we watch with concern the flooding back home in the UK. Life seems a little slower now and less frantic but that may not last long as we have the arrival of the Christmas packages just around the corner and then our second Christmas as missionaries serving in Kosova to look forward to. We are now starting to come to grips with some aspects of life here and starting to know what to expect which is good. Our learning of the language is growing but never as fast as we would like. As a couple we are trying to work together better and understand each other better..but still somedays are harder than others. The support, love and prayers from our friends and family is being felt by us both. We are also thinking and talking a lot about our future and hope to share this with you at sometime. Well lunch is calling so I'd best sign off and say thank you so much for reading and following our adventure here in Kosova. Much love

Chris writes: well it is hard to believe that we have been here in Kosova for a whole year tomorrow!! Our first birthday! At the moment life is sooo.....busy as we are in the middle of our doctor visit and my job is driving him out into the villages. In addition my job in the clinic has changed...i am not just registering the patients....but now i am sorting out the drugs - giving out the medicines as prescribed by the doctor!! It does mean i am much more involved in the clinics and much busier and all round better experience which i am enjoying. Naturally while i am doing the clinics all my jobs back in Krushe are piling up but that is ok and just means i will be busy for a few weeks to come! We are doing ok as a couple and our future here seems to be getting clearer but we were rocked by the news that two good friends of ours working out here could be returning home at anytime...this made me feel quite homesick and a reminder of the frailty of our existence out here. Please do pray for us especially during this busy time that we will be able to keep healthy and strong and we will not be affected by the attacks of the enemy. Zoti Bekoft and thanks for reading....we love you guys :)

Chris writes: we have now been back in Kosova around seven weeks and our summer in the UK seems along time ago. It has been very busy since we returned with the organising and preperation for the visit of our doctor and nurse from Germany who were with us for two weeks. This basically involves around four weeks of work in total...one week preparing two weeks actually taking them out and running the clinics in the villages and then one week clearing up and trying to get back to normal. In addition there is still the jobs and routine maintainence to catch up with when time allows! We are both still growing and learning..with the language..with working together in ministry and also the (possibly) temporary addition of a puppy! Sadly some Kosovars do not treat dogs very well and there are many strays wandering around or dead by the side of the road. Our desire is to be a witness in all things and should no less involve treating animals with respect. The puppy adopted us and we felt we needed to be a witness and so are trying to give him a good start in life. Have taken him to the vet and are currently looking for an alternative home for him. There are some reasons why we should not keep him and are praying for wisdom over this. Having him has brought up issues for us both which only further complicates life here but God knows and we are in His hands! We are also now in our second term here and are praying and fasting over our future...our desire is that our will is His will and His will is our will. Please do join us in this prayer and share any words you have with us. Thanks for standing with us in our adventures here...lol and Zoti Bekoft...(God Bless)

Chris writes...we are now back in Kosova and settling into life in our tiny village. We had a fantastic time in the UK seeing so many family and friends...thank-you ALL for making it such a special time! but at the end we were ready to come home. Life in Krushe continues much the same and it is nice to continue with the relationships with the children (though some are not so rewarding!) and other people of the village. The new school year has once again re-started and it is good to see the children coming back...tho some of course will not be coming back as they have moved up to big school over the road! We have had quite a busy few weeks getting everything ready and also preparing for the medical visits. We have just started another medical fortnight and have a doctor and a nurse staying with us for two weeks. We look after them then organise clinics and take them into the remote villages to run GP surgeries. Of course this takes a lot of organising and keeps us busy for quite a few weeks. As we start our second term here we are of course looking at our future and would appreciate your prayers in this regard. We are also trying harder with the language and know that we need to put more time and effort into this....please pray and thanks for reading and following our adventures! Zoti Bekoft...God Bless...xx

Chris writes: we have been in the UK for over a month now and in just over a week we will be heading back to a place in a tiny village in Kosova we now call home...Krushe. It might seem far away from us at the moment as we have become so engrossed back in UK culture again.......... ..friends and family around us, motorways, expensive cups of coffee, pavements everywhere, rain, aside from the regular electricity supply of course...but it is still our home and the place where we will not be going to a sports bag to find our clothes anymore. We have had a fantastic time in the UK and been so blessed, loved and well looked after by our friends and family but now we must return home. We have travelled over 2000 miles (over 3200 kms to our friends in Kosova!) travelling most of the length and breadth of the country in a blessing of a car. But before all that we have our last visit.....to the Dorset area to see friends, our flat in Christchurch and preach at our church on Sunday before return here next week in preparation for Kosova. We have so many mixed feelings but are really looking forward to going home again. Thanks for reading and for your support and prayers for us during our time in UK.

Lorraine writes- well, one week on and have to say I am loving being back in the UK. I have done so much in such a short time and have had a great time with my brother and family but, its time for us to move on and Wales is our next venue. We have drunk lots of huge mugs of coffee and tea, eaten great food, done lots of walking, experienced British rain and wonderful scenery and even used a laundrette for the very first time in my life!!!!!! Even though I am enjoying our break, Krushe isn't too far from my mind and heart. I had an opportunity to share at Rosehill Baptist Church Girls Brigade about our work at the day care but also about the first GB group in Kosova which was formed in January this year. Some things have changed since we've been away, yet other things remain the same. I'm finding that as I go around from place to place that I am comparing many things between Kosova and Britain. As our time here continues we will be praying about what we're experienced so far and what God may have in store for us!!

Chris writes: we are now back in the UK for six weeks having returned on Friday. We have been living in Krushe for eight months....this will be our first time away. When we returned we expected a culture shock....but it does not seem to have affected us yet. It almost seems that we have just settled back into life in UK so easily...too easily maybe. While missing our friends back in Kosova we are excited to be seeing our friends and family in UK. We have been blessed with the use of a car on loan from my parents and have travelled to Lorraine's brother and his family in the north of England. Next we visit friends and family in Wales, then Reading, Worthing, Kent and Bournemouth......hopefully we are not doing too much travelling and will get opportunity to rest and relax as well! We also hope this time will also give us an opportunity to reflect and pray about our first period in Krushe and look to our next period. Naturally we want to stay in God's will and will be seeking Him for our future there. Thanks for your prayers....we need them more than ever now! Thanks for reading. Zoti Bekoft x

Lorraine writes- This picture was taken by me when we were visiting the sight of the Krushe's mass killing just two weeks ago. All that remains of the barn where we believe 116 men where killed at the sight, are two craters. These craters where made by the Serbs, who bombed it, to hide the killings and make it look like NATO had done it. It was an emotional time, as we had never been that close to where the killings took place. Looking over some pictures I had taken of that day, I came across this one. WOW, it gave me goose bumps and does every time I look at it. The light of the sun is shining over one of the craters. For me, this image shouts out, how God is shining over Krushe, and its people. The people and children of this village are shown love, on a daily basis, through the day care and all those who are involved through its ministry. The village has gone through the worst kind of human experience, but it warms me to think that God's hand is over them. It reminds me also, of how God has his hand over us. That is so important to us and gives us the energy, drive and passion to do what we do.

Chris writes: We have now been in Krushe for over seven months. Family and friends in the UK seem so far away. The places we know seem a distant memory. We are now less than a month away from stepping out of the plane back on UK soil. This fills us with excitement and also trepidation. We have changed and people in the UK will have changed - how will we react to them and how will they to us? We are both ready for a break and an opportunity to take a step back. Are we still in the place God where wants us? Maybe for me this has been more of a question which hit me recently than for Lorraine - with her background in childcare seeing the facility developed is something she is very much enjoying embracing. There is so much we could be doing in Kosova...but coming here has very much been about things being 'stripped away'...the people and things which mean so much to us we have learnt to look forward to when we visit the UK, but now I guess it is more about the character qualities; the unseen aspects of our nature or dependancies, though good in themselves, which we can cling to rather than to God. Moses had to spend many years as a shepherd in the desert before he was ready for the job of leading the people out of Egypt!
We have now passed through the especially busy period. Several people have come and left us and new friendships formed, we are now settling back into a somewhat normal routine. Last weekend we even had the chance to get away. The busyness and heat of summer continues - with watering the grass in the evening, cutting it during the day and dealing with mole hills caused by the damp ground - it is almost a never ending circle!
Inevitably with all the busyness something has been dropped and sadly this has been our learning of the language. This has probably been our biggest challenge over the last seven months and having a good reason not to do it has not been hard to justify. After a good lesson yesterday (Praise God!) we were reminded just how much we do know however..thanks Korab!
Whilst in the UK (10th July until 24th August) in addition to a period of relaxation we hope to visit and see as many people as possible and are currently making preperations for that. The dates are in our newsletter - which hopefully you have seen - maybe we could meet up if we are close by you.....Please let us know.
Thanks for reading and do share any thoughts you have - Zoti Bekoft x

Chris writes - well we have lived to fight another day! It has been a long and tiring week but we have survived it. Last night our power (and sanity) was restored! All week there have been rumours and speculation - finally it happened! We saw the workmen at the sub-station in the village as we were leaving a family we were visiting and asked them - to our delight they said "Po" (Yes)! They left the village and nothing happened. Then about an hour or so later we heard some shouts from over the road - somebody had flicked the switch at the power station and the village was 'on' again! It is so good to be able to put things in the fridge again and not in the cool box or the bucket of cold water. We have got used to the odd hour or two...or even five hours on a bad day...but a whole week.....!! You suddenly realise just what you take for granted when you don't have it...we just have so much to be thankful for! Today we saw workmen measuring up our road with a view to laying down tarmac - wow this is just too much!! Thanks for reading and Zoti Bekoft x

Chris writes - we all have our crosses to bear as they say! At the moment much of Kosova is without electricity as the power company Kek hold us all to ransom. This is a crazy and difficult situation and our own village has been told we must pay 6000 euros before our power is reinstated. Our power was cut on Wednesday lunchtime - today is Sunday! Having to start the generator every twelve hours to run the freezers is proving expensive - and tiring. As i write the sound of generators running fills the air. Sadly we have now got to the point of having to throw food away as there is not enough power to keep everything frozen. This has really limited us and even communication outside the country -it feels like we have gone back in time - but as they say here 'what to do'. The Bible i think is the better saying however as we read the other day - 'Consider it pure Joy' !! Thanks for reading and praying with us - Zoti Bekoft!!

Chris writes: The busy busy fortnight has come to an end and with some sadness took our Doctor and new friend to the airport this morning and put him on the first flight out. Has been a challenging but interesting fortnight and now is the time to reflect. we saw over 450 patients during the period - people who would otherwise have had great difficulty or never actually made a trip to the doctor. Many of the problems are common, many where pretty mundane but all of them important to the individual. The two weeks has stretched us as a couple and there are some lessons we can learn. But through it all relationships are so important to the Kosovar people and it has been a priveldge to get to know and build friendships with them.
We have almost made our plans for our trip to the UK in the summer and hope to be able to see and share more with as many of you as possible - please contact us if you have not been in touch recently so we can arrange this. Thanks for your prayers and for sharing our adventure with us - Zoti Bekoft!

Lorraine writes- Have you every seen or heard about an old TV show called 'The GoodLife'?? it stared Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal. This couple left the employment rat race and became self sufficient; growing their own food, making their own clothes, things they needed; trading homegrown goods for milk and other things they couldn't make. Well its safe to say that I feel a little like our life has become like that!!! The art of cooking was not my strong point, but I have learnt so much since I've been here. We have now even turned our hand to growing. We have planted lettuces, peppers, strawberries, melons and tomatoes. Trying to make my own rather than buying food has become the favoured choice. I have been fortunate too, to be have been given a sewing machine with the intention of making items we need like clothes or things for the house. Having bought some lovely fabric, I have successfully made 5 cushion covers!! may be simple and not much to shout about, but for someone who has never sewn before a good start!! Many things in our life have changed; somethings have taken a while to adjust to, somethings we embraced straight away and some things are ongoing challenges. Its such great character building thought; my beautiful Mum (who sadly is no longer with us) always said how important it was to allow God to change and mould us; to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow. I know I want to better myself; to learn new skills, and being in Kosova is definiatly helping with that!! We really value our family and friends; messages sent from individuals are a real blessing; and we especially value prayers!! Newsletter due to be sent out soon!! Keep reading :-) x

Chris writes: just a few days into the busy fortnight! When we were back in UK we never would have realised just how busy these times get! Going reasonably well with a few slip-ups - well at least the vehicle is legal now! Great building the relationships with people in the villages and hope to be able to build on these in the future. Still struggling with some of the same problems and some new ones mainly generated by our busyness would appreciate prayers for improved communications! Thanks for reading and be blessed x

Chris writes - has been a busy few weeks but really enjoyed having my parents over with us. Think they really enjoyed their time here and were pleasantly surprised - as it was not what they expected! We visited some of the neighbouring countries and also went to a wedding and were invited out by one of the families in the village for a traditional meal. It was amazing how much we managed to pack in but as usual we ran out of time and did not get it all in. It was encouraging though as everyone told us that we would suddenly be aware how much we have learnt since we came here just over six months ago and also how much we have changed and how accepting we have become to the driving and lack of electricity and so on. Well we are now preparing for a busy few weeks with a medical fortnight and a mission team here for a month. We will then be flying home around mid July for six weeks in the UK so the next few months already look busy! Things are going well generally and getting better at working together as a team, language is growing but very slowly - still practice helps to get better!! Thanks for reading and Zoti ju Bekofte!!

Lorraine writes- seeing the sun set over the day care fills my heart with hope for this village. After a week of emotions running high, and low for the villagers, we long to see them feeling this hope too. It was very humbling for us to see and be there for the 10th anniversary of the killings. To see and hear the tears flowing just made our hearts melt. To see one of our staff members grieving over the body of her brother just returned 10 years on, that was being buried on the anniversary, makes you wonder what is happening in this world we live in. Praying for the people and this land seems all we can do, but boy what an amazing and great opportunuity, we need to do that!!!

Chris writes - Friday and the end of a rollercoaster week of emotions. The daycare has been closed all week for the school holidays so we took the opportunity to get away for a few days and went to Peje which is north from where we are. Had a good time relaxing and reading and practicing our langauge - which is coming along very well - what an answer to prayer! We visited a Serbian historic Church in Peje which is, after ten years, still guarded by NATO. We even had to hand our passports in to visit the place. It made me wonder for how much longer they would be guarding it. One of the locals i spoke to said NATO should leave and just 'let us get on with our lives now'. Sadly it seems that emotions are still strong however. We returned home on Wedneday. The medical team are not coming at the weekend so the pressure for us is off now. Yesterday it was the 10th Anniversary of the massacre in Krushe and our friend and staff members' brother who was killed in the war was buried in the village. After 10 long years the family have only now got an opportunity to see him at rest. The amazing thing is that they are actually the lucky ones. Their pain and grief is only eclipsed by the other families in the village for whom the bodies are still missing. There are 26 people buried in the graveyard but there are still a staggering 90 people still missing. These families cannot move on - everyday living with the hope that their loved one could walk through the door at any moment. It is so easy at times like this to become very anti-Serbian and want to see revenge and justice for these families - our friends and neighbours. Please do pray for us for grace and wisdom in abundance! On more mundane matters - today we have been in Prishtine trying to sort out the path for the medicines to come in. What in UK could be done over the phone or by post has to be done here in person. In addition we have now booked our flight back to the UK in July (we hope to see some of you!!) and our flight back here in August! It seems that 'Kosova is in our hearts' and will continue to play a large part in our lives for the forseeable future! Thanks for reading. Zoti ju Bekofte!!

Chris writes: today I am glad to say is Friday and the end of a busy week! We are looking forward to a weekend relaxing. We have one more week before we get a week off and then the fun starts! Medical teams and my parents staying with us will keep us busy almost until May. The last few weeks have been good - preparing for Dave & Cindy to return from USA - which they did this week. It is good to have them back and hand back the 'mantle' and start preparing for the summer here in Krushe. We are also talking about our return to Krushe which we both feel is right to do. In the midst of us talking about our life and the next few months, our future and our vision for our time here - the pain of the people in the village is still as raw as ever. This week one of the staff very couragously shared with us that the body of her brother would be returning to the village to be buried in two weeks time. She has wrestled with this for sometime and also with oppostion from others in her family as her brother is the only body which will be returning and whether it is right just for one person. Her pain of not being able to see her brother at rest and of trying to think of the feelings of other people in the village must be quite intense. This is our priveldge to be able to support her through these days. This morning we found out that there was a meeting in the village yesterday to discuss bring charges against the people who rioted in the village in 2006 when the UN brought some Serbian people through the village. At times like these it is easy to flare up and protest for justice and mercy. Please pray that we will have wisdom in doing what Jesus would have done. Thanks for reading.

Chris writes - last week was a short one. We were off on Monday for the Independence day holiday so I visited a friend in his new English school in the morning. In the afternoon we visited one of the families of the children - building relationships. Had a party in the evening with some pretty amazing dancing. Tuesday was the big day and we went into Gjakova to celebrate with the guys from the Smile centre. The evening was amazing just walking up and down the main street greeting people. The whole Independance thing is quite strange and it feels a little unsteady - as you might be aware many countries still do not recognise it - hopefully given time they will. But Kosovar people are very patriotic and their flag, and many other countries flags who helped them, were proudly displayed everywhere. We got home to bed very late wishing we had another day off! Wednesday was a regular day with the addition of a volunteer from the UK who brought us some fantastic treats over - thanks Charlie!! Out for coffee to Prizren in the afternoon - Kosova life! On Thursday evening we were invited out to one of the families for a Burek (my favourite!) and some amazing Kosovar hospitality - the life! On Friday we took our volunteer back to Gjakova and went shopping - Joy! Saturday after cleaning the auto went out to Prizren with another couple and home for food. On Sunday we were at our church and after - for coffee - the life! In the evening we caught up with some langauguage and the enevitable three hour power cut - with the invertor only working for one hour this was pretty tough - Kosova! Still battling with my gremlins and find myself having to keep asking for forgiveness! Still struggling with trying to be a loving husband/team-mate. Some days are better than others - sometimes it is silly things which trip me up! Keep on keeping on!! Thanks for reading and praying!!

Lorraine writes- where has the time gone!!! Three months has just flown by. We so love being here, learning how to be part of a different culture. We have started to visit each of the children attending the day care (a long process as we have 45 on the register) Its wonderful to meet the children in their home environment; to see where they live, meet their brothers and sisters. Meeting their parents has been a privilege. Being able to encourage them regarding their child/children has given us a great opportunity to engage in conversation and to begin to establish a relationship with them and to share about what life is like in the day care. Kosova's Independence day is just around the corner (17th Feb) and we are keen to be part of a country celebrating freedom, after experiencing so much pain and oppression. Quite how they will celebrate is yet to be seen, but we are looking forward to it!

Chris writes: we have now been in Kosova for over three months and it is really feeling like home. That is not to say it has been easy. Working and living as a team for me and Rainie is new to us so naturally there have been some adjustments to make and it has not always been easy. This has been particularly hard as we live and work in the same building - often with other people around us so moments together can be precious. This has of course all stretched our relationship - sometimes more than othertimes! I must admit I have not found it easy trying to be a good boss and be a loving husband! We are also still without Dave and Cindy who hopefully will be back in one month. Yippee! We have also had big problems with getting our money - thanks Abbey! We have also struggled with the language and finding the time in the evening has often been a battle for us both. Praise God we are living through it and growing in grace for this new life we have taken on. Last night we had a mains power cut and just got on with what we were doing - sometimes by candlelight sometimes with the generator. We seem to have hit a milestone with the language and are starting to remember some of the words inspite of our dyslexia! Now that is an answer to prayer! At one stage I thought I would never remember a word! I guess our testimony is: it has not always been easy but then we never expected it to be - but we are living and growing through it. Whoever said living any kind of life - living life God's way - was going to be easy? Nobody I know. When people ask where was God my only answer can be He was right there with us all the time - His hand just so clearly seems to be on what we are doing here we have found favour with the staff and children and had some answers to prayer and watched His provision on the way too. It is not to get complacent of course or make you think that we have got it all cracked - we still have much to do and it won't be easy - but all this bodes well as we think and pray about what happens after September but that is for another day! Thanks for reading and I pray that you can know and share something of our relationship with Our Heavenly Father. :)

Lorraine writes- Our weeks are becoming more and more enjoyable.....the children are really at ease with us both and are often keen to have us sit with them at their table. A few times I have played a cat and mouse ring game with the younger group; reckon its a conspiracy though, as every time I play, when its time for the cat to chase the mouse almost every time the children have chosen me to be the cat and run after them (the mouse)!!!!! There's always a lot of laughter during that game :-) and lots of energy released on my part. At the start of every day we gather as a staff team and I lead a time of encouragement. We had been discussing role models, recently; what are they, how to be a good role model and why. Its been great how the staff are able to share their thoughts on the topic. As we chatted we talked about how we had people in our lives who inspired us yet there are those who don't always have a positive role models to look to. We are role models for the children and as a team we are investing in the lives of the children in our care; that investment (i.e manners, acceptance, love, faithfulness, trustworthiness) can then flow out and be passed on, into the lives of those the children, come in contact with, like their family and friends. As a result positive behaviour, attitudes, kindness, happiness and love can flow out into the village and even further a field as they grow up, out into the wider community and society. Wow, what an exciting opportunity. We pray every morning, before day care starts, Chris, Alban (our translator) and my self; we pray that God's love will flow over the day care; we have been reading through some Psalms. Psalm 139 verse 15 reads "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body". I think about the children here and how God saw each of them as they where created, if we can show them just a glimpse of how much God loves them then how amazing will that be!!!

Chris writes: have been thinking a lot about sacrifice and giving up recently. As a Christian of course we ask what can we give up when we have everything in Jesus - and indeed that is the ideal but for how many of us is it really true. How many of us can say we are totally fulfilled by our relationship with Jesus? Not with our ministry or anyone or anything else. We can have total fulfilment in Jesus! How amazing! Look at Jesus in the Gospels - he sought to meet all the needs which were presented to Him. He healed (there is a study in itself - the complete person eyes, ears, legs, hands and so on....) He raised the dead, cured the lepers, He fed - physically and Spiritually - was there any part of the body which Jesus did not touch?? As a Christian a relationship with God includes Him as friend, provider, parent, Saviour....and so on - another study there! I am reading one of Yancy's books, entitled prayer and this quote jumped out at me from a monk he was visiting: "if you need anything let us know and we'll teach you to live without it!" What do we need and what do want? what are we willing to give up? I got this other great quote from our daily reading notes recently questioning how you know it is God asking you to give up something when 'you are willing to leave behind those things which now mean nothing in order to live for those things which now mean everything'. So is God everything to you? For me coming over here has really moved me along that road - I guess to the place where I have been able to let go of 'those things which mean nothing'. The truth is of course as i am sure someone said around 2000 years ago after the death of Jesus - the more you give up the more God gives back to you - finances, friends so we don't really go without - its a bit of a pardox I suppose. Wow! Amazing God! Or Awesome! As they say in USA.

Things are going well here. The Snow has almost all melted and it is so good to see some green again - although our lawn looks like it has been attacked by a large family of moles! Going well with the roles bit and learning what each others role is. We have now started back with the nursery after an extended break and are just trying to get to know the staff and the children more and trying to be good role models but maybe Rainie will tell you more about that.
Thanks for reading :)

Chris writes: it seems that we are rapidly settling into life here and adapting to all its quirks. It is great to think how quickly we are adapting to this culture - the wonder is how quickly would we adapt back to life in the developed west. One test has been trying to even update the blog. Every time for the last few days i have tried to do it the power has gone out - and typing by candlelight is not very appealing! Kosova. We are really learning to adapt and in some ways it is good training for what seems like a recession which our friends and family are going through back home in the UK. The only difference is that over here they are prepared and used to this way of life - in some ways this is refreshing. We have just returned from four nights in Macedonia which was a good break but great to be home again in Kosova. We left on rather difficult snowy roads. We returned on the same roads and any hopes of a thaw were dashed. the weather here has been quite amazing. Temperatures so far as low as 20 below and snow two feet deep plus in places - it seems that for some the novelty of the snow is now wearing a little thin! Today it has been raining and this has frozen so we now have a sheet of ice everywhere - much to the joy of the children who enjoy skating down our driveway! This weather has meant that the school has been closed so we in the nursery have followed suit. Hopefully we will open next week as we are both missing the children, the staff and the routine of the day-care. One of the most exciting things from our time here is the way our relationship and faith in God is developing. Not having many of the distractions from back home has been really good for this. Also working together as a team has been challenging for us as a couple and one which we are learning and seeking to improve upon everyday. It seems really exciting to think of all that we are learning in this way of life and i would recommend it to you all!! Thanks for reading.

Lorraine writes- On the stroke of midnight the sky across Gjakova was lit up by fireworks, celebrating and welcoming in 2009. It almost glowed and was a sight I haven't ever seen before. Bonfire night always has fireworks going off at different time; but this was fireworks all going off at the same time, amazing!!! All you could hear was the sound of rockets whizzing and bangers popping. The noise was almost deafening. After having a wonderful, very English Christmas, it's safe to say New Years eve was very Kosovan. Two very different times of fellowship but both equally enjoyable. I got quite emotional to think we were celebrating Christmas and New Year in Kosova. As the snow fell on Christmas day, it was hard to stop the tears of amazement and joy. Amazement and joy at God's nature and creation, at His faithfulness to me (and Chris) and at what He has in store for us here in Kosova. Even though we have been truly blessed with our accommodation and surroundings, it feels like God is stripping away luxuries and getting me to look at myself, my character and the basics of faith. He's wanting to simply say 'I Love You Lorraine....let me remould you, make you new'!! I'm excited about 2009 and pray that I will be open to God's loving arms and touch. Thank you for your prayers and support. I, we, really appreciate and value it. Many blessings to you as we go into 2009. Happy New Year!!

Chris writes: Happy New Year! It is so easy to take for granted all the blessings you have around you - many people think it is amazing what we have done and the sacrifices we have made - but i have been challenged by two different people today. Yes it is hard being away from family and friends and the comforts we take for granted - TV,(esp Doctor Who!) regular electricity supply, being able to go for a walk by the beach, being able to comunicate with people in the shop without needing a translator, having to learn a new language - but what have we really given up? We have a lovely spacious flat, many of our belongings around us, access to to two autos, loads of friends and snow! We have had a fantastic Christmas and New Year entertaining and being entertained. Last night we visited a family and had a great evening of food and fun and setting off fireworks. Today we had people over to our flat and again had a fantastic time of fun and food. I guess the lesson is gratitude for all that we have and we have soooo much here in Kosova! Next week we head off to Macedonia for a few days break - wow! Thanks for reading......