college-career study

two of my students came to church on sunday, which was surprising and great... one went to the albanian service and one went to the english service. one is probably 40 or so and the other is just 21--it was awesome to see how the albanians came to reach out to get them to feel welcome too--introduced them to some of the youth--the lovely wife of our translator was very kind to both, and then one of the youth got the phone number of the younger one... so good to know they now have someone besides just us and they seem glad to continue. :)

the bible study we went to is just a time after the service where some of the young adults go and discuss the sermon... the one couple whose house we went to is hoping to become missionaries to Bosnia, a pretty closed muslim country. they say it is easier for people from here, who have some muslim background however faint, to get into countries like that as missionaries.

about the religious atmosphere: a LOT of the people we meet will say they're muslim, but of those almost none are devoutly practicing at all, and even if they have been to the mosque, it isn't often, and you wouldn't guess they're

muslim by their dress. one woman said (paraphrasing). "i am muslim... but i normally go to the orthodox church because my husband works there. but it's no problem to come to your church!" another young girl said, interestingly, "i am muslim...but i want to change to catholic or orthodox, because i don't think that i should have to dress a certain way or wear a certain outfit just to say i believe in God." another said she is muslim, but goes to the mosque maybe once a month or so. a young married man who shared his testimony with us said that he had been rather committed to being muslim (at least as far as not turning to another religion), as his sister tried and tried to persuade him towards christianity despite his persecution of her beliefs... and finally, God changed his heart... this was the man who plans to go to bosnia as a missionary. So, although the great majority of people we meet would call themselves "muslim" as is reflected in info about Albania demographics, i think we have yet to MEET one who is actually practicing to a significant extent... although we have seen just a few here and there on the streets with the head coverings. only very few.