The Fellowship Arrives in Albania

It has been a few days since my return to the States from Albania and I have finally sorted through all my feelings, pictures and thoughts. So now it only seems right to share with you all my journey....

(Chapel at Shen Vlash Monastery and Resurrection of Christ's Theological Seminary/ Academy and the Home of Hope Orphanage)

May 28, 2014

A dramatic time switch creating two days from one, four different countries, two different continents, three different planes all within the span of 10 hours and finally I have made it. Albania, the country of Resurrection. I reflect on the hours before my arrival into this rustic land that currently surrounds me....I went from smiling out front gate E8A on my way to Frankfort to being in Vienna 8 hours later with my insides flipped upside down and mashed up into my throat "airplane" sick. My ears were filled with the snap, crackle, pop of the altitude and my sense of smell was intensively doubled. I could smell the cologn on the man sitting two seats over, the bitter black coffee of the woman three rows behind me and the peanut butter chocolate in the cookies of the child in front of me. Needless to say I was not a happy camper. But now all that is gone and I am here. Sitting in my room with my friend Fiona Sterling at the Children's Home of Hope Orphanage in Shen Vlash. All the nausea of the mere hours before was well worth it. The lands of Albania are warm and the people are nurturing....

After getting my passport stamped, all 9 of us got our luggages and were greated by a welcome party of young Albanian students some from the new university (University Logos in Tirana) founded by Archbishop Anastasios, but all from the Student Center in Tirnana headed by my dear friend Ana Baba. Balloons, water bottles, bananas, snickers and hugs embrace us before we even leave the airport. 

On our way to the city of Shen Vlash, our trusted "chariot" driver Haralambi, swerved in and out of lanes honking his horn, avoiding the occasional cow, dog, person or herds of sheep in the roads blocking our path. The animals in the roads captivated us. It was so funny to see what we would consider farm animals or pets strolling in the road. We laughed and were captivated by the beauty of Albania. After the animals in the road became clear to us was the norm here, we practiced our songs for the children at the Home of Hope feeling the cool Albanian air stream through the open windows...then we were there, Shen Vlash.

Shen Vlash Monastery and Resurrection of Christ's Theological Seminary/ Academy and the Home of Hope Orphanage are located at the same epicenter: at the highest point of the city of Shen Vlash. In many ways Shen Vlash was just like Hellenic College Holy Cross...a chapel at the highest point, it is set on a hill overlooking the city of Shen Vlash, seminarians leaving their anderis out to dry....Just a normal day at the seminary. It is so familiar to me that adjusting to living at Shen Vlash is going to be no problem. 

Fiona and I got the honor of staying with the blessed children at the Home of Hope Orphanage. From the moment we walked through the door we were nearly tackled by hugs and hospitality. They sat us on the couch and we did introductions. Thank you Father Luke Veronis and Ana Baba for teaching me some basics in the Albanian language!! After introductions we sang and sang and sang. We would sing in English and the children would recognize the song melody and sing it in Albanian and then sometimes all together in Greek. Father Luke sure wasn't kidding when he said we needed to work out our vocal chords in preparation for Albania. Soon the rest of the Fellowship (which is what we Americans decided to call ourselves in honor of the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien) joined us and we got to see the children eagerly get up and dance two traditional Albanian dances. It was, as they say in Albania bukur (beautiful). After the dancing Father Luke spoke for a bit but the children were really excited about one thing: NINJA! They came up to us holding their hands in numerous karate inspired stances saying "Ninja?" We as Americans could not refuse a game of Ninja especially when about 15 people where involved. We played until vespers. Another similarity between HCHC and Shen Vlash, a chapel in the dormitory/classroom building along with services everyday and the students chanting the vespers. The service was a miracle. Even though it was in Albanian we as students could follow along. I guess that is one if the beautiful things about Orthodoxy, the universality of it. LAUDI ZOTIT! Glory to God for such things! We met Bishop Nikolla Hyka, a previous student of Father Luke's as well as the head of the Shen Vlash monastery/academy (and I didn't know this at the time of writing this journal entree of course but he is also a man who throughout the trip touched my heart with Christ like love and humility). He lead us to the dinning hall. After dinner we convened with Aht Luka (Father Luke in Albanian) about our plans for tomorrow. Now I retire for sleep with Fiona here in this cozy room at the Home of Hope and I wonder what tomorrow will bring! 

(The Fellowship upon arrival in our chariot on the way to Shen Vlash)

(View on the way to Shen Vlash)

(Just some anderis out to dry...normal day at the seminary!)

(City of Shen Vlash)

(Sunset over the city of Shen Vlash)