Some of my daily haiku (poetry in 17 syllables) from our time in Albania! It will mean a lot to me if you leave a comment about one you enjoyed or have a question about!
We drive to Turkey on Tuesday; please pray for safe travel!
our first Race snowfall
our first Albanian day
our hosts join team time
white mountains surround
memorials to the lost
young men forced to fight
compete with locals
vibrant Uno cards pile up
crowd applauds Olta
chocolate mustache
stops crying for her parents
we rinse out her cup
forest of stone cliffs
monasteries top the spires
golden Sun lights Greece
beer, giant pizzas
discussion of religions
layered birthday cake
admit I’m struggling
several times through the day
lightening each time
pub night with two priests
unmatched zing of fresh feta
delicious ice cream
exposed stone and brick
bean bags and couches all filled
discussing Christ’s joy
I can make each drink
coffee culture has allure
with its own lingo
winding up we drive
mountains in all directions
village among stones
snow piles on the mosque
local offers a Quran
men kneel before God
guest preacher from States
invites congregation up
to receive healing
a call with a friend
is what makes me feel normal
like this is real life
make Mateo’s toast
apply the mystery sauce
he decodes label
firearms adorn walls
wood furniture, hot kakao
Bradbury discourse
full from cookie dough
hairy red rug-like blanket
wood stove grants warm feet
no experience
I ride the lift to the top
child helps me ski down
craft with too much glue
a balloon that can’t touch ground
God delights in kids
blue-green unstill lake
tall, snowcapped distant shoreline
a surreal landscape
cold, hungry they come
squeeze lemons in their hot soup
juice freezes my hands
watery paint streaks
nebula forms on canvas
light from the darkness
couch and tables cleared
standing room for worshippers
crowd gathers, lights dim
curious students
asking us about Europe
through my tablet screen
raucous but charming
insists his drinks here are free
fix him a Turkish
stench of minerals
itch of warm pools on raw feet
wonderful, the same
George and his dragon
icon I now understand
allusion to Christ
museum hopping
asked why he hung with sinners,
Christ said it brought joy
handing off guitar
turns strumming classic rock riffs
old hobby, new friend
4 and 5 years old
record stories on my phone
send tales to squadmates
create characters
twice the turnout I expect
we roll dice, share laughs
large group discussion
made worlds better when co-led
hearts and minds improved
personal invites
for donors to send questions
hours writing replies
degrees slowly drop
as we spend hours discussing
our meliorism
single headlamp guides
seven of us out the cave
one light, huge impact
we contribute fruit
homemade foods fill the table
post-church communion
jelly bean array
some tasty, some sickening
the worst flavor: snail
Sophie’s fresh sourdough
not ill, but the soup provides
rest and recovery
crêpes and Gospel
a good friend deserves to hear
what motivates me
we’ve each come prepared
with words to build and challenge
over French cuisine
last ride together
sunny capital city
say surreal farewells
a friend needs insight
“now let peace be your compass
and love be your sails”
free transport and meal
lodging at haggled discount
God always provides
sideline street dogs watch
we kick up rubber turf bits
God brought us brothers
chance new friend to love
smooth stone stairs overlook sea
shawarma, Gospel
find the right question
get conversation flowing
hand them an invite
cranberry seed cake
chocolate flakes on whipped cream
generosity
Ecclesiastes
read through in one afternoon
team games perspective
rain pitters aloft
pull bones and eyes from our fish
a turkey struts by
ferry is delayed
I rush around the slick deck
playing hide and seek
berry gelato
fresh mozzarella pizza
taste of Italy
our mission to bless
missionaries round the globe
yet here they bless us
a cord for our net
the shuttlecock doesn’t mind
teach him a new sport
slideshow about us
group games before dinner spread
traditional dance
finish their cheesecakes
lean in over the table
asking me tough ones
four bags of fresh fruit
we bless locals as we go
reaping sidewalk smiles
clay and stones worn smooth
clamber Adriatic cliff
cape of Paul’s mission
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