Roadside Thoughts
As I was preparing to leave for my trip back to the States at the beginning of October I was curious as to how my perspective on the U.S. would have changed in the year and a bit since I moved to Albania. Growing up with biennial visits to family in the States was always bittersweet- being both so, so energizing to see friends and family, and just as hard to wave goodbye as we’d hop on a plane to come back ‘home’. After returning to Tirana on Wednesday I’ve had a little time to just reorganize my thoughts on just how much has happened in the last month. Twenty beds in 35 days, over 2000 miles driven, encountering numerous new and familiar faces—there is much I hesitate to articulate because I'm uncertain if I've fully processed it all. I’ll do my best to paint a little picture for you.
After spending time in the last year on pilgrimage trails I was encouraged to view my plethora of hours in solitude on the US interstate system the same way- an opportunity to commune in the quiet. Not sure how many people consider driving the Pennsylvania Pike an encounter with the divine, but I felt like I had the chance to just sit, knowing I wasn’t supposed to be doing anything except drive. Something I considered over my 2000 miles on the road- “what exactly was it about pilgrimage trails that made for such a profound experience? How much of the significance just comes from it being a position of quiet where you’re intentional about what you’re thinking about?”. I can’t say I walked away from my road trip with some profound thoughts on life and a renewed perspective on my relationship with God. What I will say is that I began to crave the quiet, as if even God wasn’t saying anything audibly; I knew I wasn’t driving alone. Driving cross-country was God’s gift to me, an offer to enjoy his company when no one would answer a phone call, when podcasts and music failed to scratch my entertainment itch. He is patient, and doesn’t leave.
Although the initial purpose of my trip was to recruit students at Christian colleges and universities to teach in Albania I quickly came to realize that was likely asking too much of most people. For college seniors it’s daunting to begin to consider post-grad options, let alone make a commitment to a small international school in a country most people have never heard of. I came away with a couple of different observations:
1. There are three types of Christian schools: ones that are developing diligent Christian leaders for the secular workforce, ones that are developing Christian leaders for the church, and ones that are trying to juggle both. Is there a certain kind of student attracted to a more missionally minded school, or are certain schools instilling the heart of the great commission more strategically than others? I was really intrigued by the mixed reactions to an international opportunity at a Christian school. I think some had never even considered the opportunity to teach abroad, let alone it being seen as a mission opportunity.
2. People work at GDQ first and foremost out of a conviction that Albania is an important mission field. GDQ is not offering a style of education much different from any other international Christian school. I hope we are not unique in providing quality, Christ-centered education that is supporting the growth of the local church. I’m confident what makes GDQ a strategic mission field is how it provides a service that ultimately seeks to retain missionaries on the field. Impactful ministries are the ones that have a sustained presence, and GDQ aims to encourage that with those our school serves. It’s been interesting to restrategize what exactly I’m offering potential recruits in my classroom presentation. Am I presenting a competitive job opportunity, or a call to serve those reaping the Albanian harvest? Are they energized by the livability and security of Albania as a country, or by the broader impact their teaching has outside of the classroom?
3. There is a lot of fear. Every time I individually spoke to a student I asked them what they thought was the biggest factor holding them back from committing to international missions. There were two main concerns: their family, and money. The family concern is not something I felt I could address over a 10 minute exchange. I empathize and felt the sting of saying goodbye to the community I had invested in stateside during the short month of my visit. I don’t know if there’s much more I can console with than encouraging them to find 'family' within the school and local church. Easier said than done, I’ll admit I’ve not done well with this one and I live with my family! When it comes to the money issue, all I had to say was there is no clearer “Go” command from God than when He financially provides for you through His church. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the confidence with which you financially support my ministry is a large percentage of the confidence I have to work in Albania at all. As exposing as it might feel to ask people for money to support your ministry, all I return to is how God will not withhold His hand to bless those He has called to do His work. I will say, however, the burden of college loans weighs heavy on students post-grad and with the major staffing shortage at schools nationwide, more competitive salaries for teachers are a more secure option for new graduates that might otherwise consider overseas work. When I learned of the opportunity of hosting a talk during Grace College’s Conference on Missions I initially toyed with the idea, but as the youngest missions representative by about a decade and with less experience than most, I was unsure. I ended up hosting a workshop on just that- the feeling of inadequacy. I named my workshop Called and Capable: Quieting the Voice of Doubt first and foremost to try and address some of those barriers that keep students from considering international missions as something they’re qualified to do now. I think it went well.
About halfway through my trip I felt like I had to shift my expectations for the outcome of a month at Christian schools. I knew I wasn’t going to return to GDQ having single-handedly staffed the school for 2024-2025. What I do know is that regardless of how great the staffing need has been at GDQ, God provided a full staff every single year. I know this as a GDQ student who never had to the school closing as a result of lack of staff, and as someone called back to prevent that from happening last year. The fact the Lord has provided staff every year isn’t a result of any single person persuading enough people to keep the school running, but because GDQ is fulfilling a role that God still has use for in supporting the Albanian church. Instead of entering classrooms having to plead with students, I had the joy of sharing about a country that I love and offering an opportunity to see it for themselves. It makes for energizing work.
Part of my ministry ‘side hustle’ the last year has been giving a hand to couchsurfers and others of the traveling community who have been passing through Albania. Sometimes it’s as simple as a walk in the park and a coffee, other times it’s drawn out conversations, rides around Albania or helping them acclimate to life in Albania for a longer stay. On more than one occasion it’s led directly to an opportunity to share the gospel, and it’s a people group I think are hungry to hear it. I was grateful for how the graciousness of so many hosts of mine in the States helped me broaden my understanding of what good, Christian hospitality is, and what I can hope to embody here in my ministry. We have a full house this December! Please pray for that!
Thanksgiving this year was celebrated with a big plate of seafood, something I steer clear of in the Midwest but welcome an abundance of in Albania. Looking back from January until now, there is so much to thank God for—so much I probably don’t even know to thank God for. With that, I just lift up my hands and yell to the heavens, 'Thy will be done!'
Peace to you all,
Aaron
O Lord God Almighty,
not the God of the philosophers and the wise but the God of the prophets and apostles; and better than all, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may I express Thee unblamed?
They that know Thee not May call upon Thee as other than Thou art, and so worship not Thee but a creature of their own fancy; therefore enlighten our minds that we may know Thee as Thou art, so that we may perfectly love Thee and worthily praise Thee.