One of the best parts of teaching is having summer vacation. I am blessed to have two months off, and am very thankful for it - especially this year. So far I have been able to relax a bit, read a couple books, spend time with my nephews, teach at a youth camp for a week, and now return to Kosovo, where I used to live in.
Some may think I am crazy...and I might even agree, but it was all worth it. Two weeks ago I was on staff at a Christian youth camp for a week. I woke up early every morning, was very busy teaching bible studies and leading activities and went to bed very late. It was a great time sharing God's love and teaching about how God is (or should be) the director of our lives. I even got to show parts of The Princess Bride during Bible study, as that was the name of our group....as its one of my favorite movies.
Then after a great but exhausting week, I went home, unpacked and did laundry...all to pack again to go to Kosovo the next day. I had about 30 hours from when camp ended until I got on a plane. I slept on and off during the first flight to Zurich, then could not keep my eyes open during the second flight to Prishtina. I landed around 2:00pm and then waiting at the airport for about an hour for my friend to pick me up, thanks R! Thankfully I saw another friend at the airport (a positive thing about Kosovo being so small) and chatted with her until R came to pick me up. We then drove straight to Peja, had a bite to eat at the newly renovated Art Design and headed up the mountain to join the university Leadership Camp that had already started a couple hours earlier.
Again another week of waking up early and staying up late...but it was all worth it! It was so great to be back in Kosovo. For two years I have not been able to visit, and I was so thankful when I found out I had this opportunity to go. R and I worked together starting in 2004 and its great to be back together, evaluating where things stand with the organization we helped to create 7 years ago.
Three pictures for today:
1. My Bible study group at Crosswalk
2. The Leadership Camp students
3. The view from where we stayed in the mountains.
It was a beautiful day for a hike.
Jan, Sarahann, and I as we hiked up.
Normally the busses here run fairly on schedule. During the week, the bus to Peja runs every 20 minutes. So when I arrived at the bus station yesterday, I thought I would only have to wait 10 minutes as it was 1:10. I waited, and waited, and walked around to make sure where I was is still where the Peja bus leaves from. Soon more people were waiting with me. It was hot, and I was getting tired. I couldn't wait to get on the bus and take a nap. Finally at about 1:50 the bus pulled in to its spot. I quickly assumed we would leave at 2:00, as I couldn't imagine the busses running less than every hour. After more than 30 minutes of sitting on the hot bus, I realized how wrong I was. I am not sure why I expected things to happen quickly, or with any sense of normalcy. My frustration made me realize how accustomed I am to my easy life in America where I drive myself around whenever I want to go somewhere. What can normally take 1-2 hours in your own vehicle, took me 4 hours and I finally arrived at 5:00pm. 
Only in Kosove can you get all this food (cheese byrek, apple cake, and lots of fruit) for 2.30 euros which is about $3. It was very yummy.
We encountered this cow on our hike up the mountain. This was about half way up. He and his friends eventually made it to the top with us. And then tried to eat the leftover food we hadn't yet eaten.
3. The view from where we stayed in the mountains.
