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......

Chris writes: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!! Christmas in a different place yet alone a different country sure is strange and i must admit i found it difficult to get into the 'Christmas mood' and to think of it as us celebrating it away from UK. In addition we have even had some of that white stuff! A white Christmas! How amazing!! Our struggle remains the language and will probably continue to be so. Despite having said that when we arrived here seven weeks ago it seemed such a mountain for us to climb in terms of adjusting and getting to know our roles and the people that it is amazing to think what we have done in such a short space of time. We now have our boxes from the UK and are enjoying seeing our personal stuff around us and the place becomes much more like home. We have many good friendships out here now and will enjoy spending some time with them especially over the next week or so. Dave & Cindy have now left us for around two and half months so this will be the testing time for us, though the nursery is closed at the moment until 12th January there are always jobs to be done. We hope that we will be able to get a few days away for a break the week after next. So almost two months in and we feel fairly settled and are even adjusting to the erratic electricity supply which is particularly strange tonight - on and off every ten minutes or so. It would never happen in the UK - but then we are in Kosova and consider it a privledge to be here. Looking at the vast array of stars the other night - a sight i have not seen in a little while - made me think of that verse in Psalms 8: "when i consider the heavens...the moon and the stars....what is man that You are mindful of him...." Wow!! What a God! That is the most important thing - not our ministries but our relationship with God. How amazing!!

Lorraine writes- Today was the last day of Kindergarten for 2008. We re-open for the kids on Jan 12th, so the next three weeks will be very quite with out them and the staff here! Its been a joy getting to know the kids and staff over the last 6 weeks; learning about their culture and how they live and trying to learn their language. Having a break over Christmas and New Year will give us more time to get really settled and plant our feet firmly on the ground. I've found it hard to settle, but I guess moving anywhere new, especially a new country, does take time. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Life for a women here in Kosova is very different than in the west. I have to respect the traditions and learn to adapt to a new way of life. Now that we have our boxes, which arrived last week safe and sound, with our personal belongings in, its making the place feel really like home :-) Putting ones thoughts down isn't as easy as I thought it would be. But as Christmas arrives and with the New Year almost here, I'm praying that 2009 will be an amazing year where I can truly communicate whats on my heart. I pray that it will be a year of blessings and one where I will grow in faith and grace and serve the people of Krushe e Vogel/Kosova well. I endeavour to not get so worried about things and take one step at a time; to enjoy the surroundings and to develop deeper relationships with friends. We love to receive emails and post, so if you have any free time to write, we'd love to hear from you. Lots of love to you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR xxxxx