Snow in Skopje

Haven’t written in a great while…just got back from being in Hungary for 10 days for the Eastern European Conference. It was excellent to hang out with people from all over Eastern Europe—to see their passion, hear the stories of how God is working in post-communist societies. Some of these countries are still very suspicious of religion, and even have laws preventing talking about such ideas, like Belarus. God challenged my thinking a lot this past week—always promoting growth, gently asking me to hand over one more area of my life that I have unknowingly (or more often than not, purposefully) kept in my clutches!

As we were taxiing back into Skopje I was hit with a wave of homesickness…probably the largest I’ve experienced since being here. There was a Starbucks and Body Shop in the Vienna Airport, and I nearly went on a frenzy! It must be learned cultural behavior, this consumerism, but I was slightly appalled with myself. It’s such a stark difference, the west and the east…let alone the faaar west, USA.

I woke up to the sounds of a dog fight in the street, and was excited to look out the window and see the grayness covered in a layer of snow. Thank God for the snow! I think that is something that I have been missing about Cleveland. It’s Monday, the garbage men singing loud and unashamedly as they take their route remind me that it’s trash day. I think I have post-holiday blues.

Today I will take down the Christmas decorations that have been up for two months, do my laundry, drink mass quantities of tea and make an attempt towards normalcy.