Pamela Barksdale is a teacher from Oakley, CA.  A Holy Cross graduate, she brings her experience in education and short term missions (this is her 3rd short term mission) to the team. Her comments about her Albanian missionary experiences are:

    “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35 

In John 13:34-35 Our Lord called His disciples to unity in love and humility that they might enter into the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.  For two short weeks twelve would-be- disciples came together to live Our Lord’s commandment to “Love One Another,” the theme of our summer camp.  We sought to share love and joy with the children, the missionaries in Albania, and the Albanian people we met, and to allow the love of Christ, which abides in each of us, to flow from our hearts.   

We discovered, as every short-term mission team does, that the people we thought we came to witness to and evangelize became our teachers.  The Albanian people are an ancient kind-hearted people, for whom hospitality is a way of life.  The Albanian children are just like other children all over the world, full of giggles, smiles and curiosity, and ready to love with open hearts.   

There are so many experiences that I take home with me from Albania, but there is one that I would like to share: 

    We celebrated the vespers of the Dormition of the Theotokos at St. Vlochos, with the children of the Home of Hope.  I gave one of the children a small paper icon of the Protection of the Holy Virgin.  There were hundreds of pilgrims at the feast.  People came from all over to spend the night and pray for healing and to receive a blessing from the Mother of God and St. Vlochos.  During the services, I saw the little boy put his icon on a ledge of the iconostasis.  As a pilgrim family came by to venerate the icons, their son picked up the boy’s icon.  I thought, “No that is not yours, I gave it to my friend.” Then I looked at the child who had given his icon away. He was radiant with joy and said, “He took my icon.”  This child knew the truth of faith and love; that we are blessed in order that we might be a blessing to others.  Nothing we have or receive belongs to us.  Everything is a gift from God and meant to be shared. How often had I heard the saying, “Love is not love until it is given away.”  On that night, I saw the purest gift of love shine forth from the heart of a child.  It was glorious!

During the summer camp, each day's theme was centered around the fruits of the Holy Spirit:  Love, Humility, Compassion, Friendship, Charity, and Service.  On the day devoted to Service, we packed up the entire camp and took them over to the Soup Kitchen.  I had not expected to find such a beautiful facility or warm-hearted staff, radiating love and hospitality.  The people came to eat like they were dining at a beloved relatives home.  The children came inside in groups and sang the Christian camp songs they had been learning and some served them their meals. When we returned to the camp the next day, we talked extensively with the children about what they had seen and done at the Soup Kitchen.  Everyone, children and counselors and our mission team, was touched by the true sense of care and love that we witnessed.  We all agreed that this Soup Kitchen is a joyful place that serves a hearty m eal, in an atmosphere of dignity, respect, and love.

Please support George Russell and the Run for Albania project and remember the people of Albania in your prayers.

With Love in Christ Our Lord,

Anastasia Pamela Barksdale