Coming off a few days at a Greek resort has left me feeling refreshed and rested. I am also feeling ready to get back to the project in Fushekruje. My crew has been working without me all week and I am eager to see them and to take a look at their progress.
On our way back to Tirana, we took a detour through Thessaloniki. “Thess,” as it is referred to by the missionaries here, is where the two letters from Paul to the Thessalonians get their names. I was told that nothing remains of early church structures there. All of the physical remains of Paul’s church have been lost to time, decay, war and deliberate deconstruction. We did find the White Tower, however; a 23 meter in diameter, 27 meter tall structure near where the city meets the sea. I looms like a giant chess piece near the shipping center of the ancient coastal city.
We stopped a total of three other places along the 8 hour road back to Tirana. About 30 miles from the Greek border with Albania is the last center for fueling one’s body or one’s vehicle. There may be a level of government control involved in the placement of gas stations in Greece which is unknown in the States. Roadside quick marts are few and well outfitted.
The next place we stopped was a fish farm. One of the passengers of our van couldn’t wait for a restroom any longer. There was a long, loose-haired dog guarding the cellar of one of the buildings near by. He was young and curious; never barking at or coming very close to me or my companions. One beautiful, bright blue eye and one less vibrant brown one stared at me with interest as he waited for us to leave. This dog may have had a name, but I didn’t know how to ask the woman who owned him what it was.
If I didn’t know any better, I would say that one missionary is going to be getting himself a dog when he comes home.
Back in Tirana now it is cooler than it has been in about six weeks. I was told that it rained here earlier in the week which is very good news. We’ve only had one day of rain in the last few months which lasted for about an hour. On the day we left for Greece there was ash floating through the air from a nearby hillside brushfire. We passed about seven small fires on our way out of town on Monday. God is sending rain, please send your prayers. Thank you.
albaniacalling 