The after math

This is what it looks like when you unpack...
2 large suit cases
2 carry on
2 back packs

After two people have been over seas for two weeks...I will sum it up for you...

LAUNDRY DAY!

-Keith

And we're back

Hello Atlanta!

Day 14: Last day; part two

This is my last large machioto in Kosova at the place I had my first when we got here...beginning and close to another chapter or step on our journey...

From the heart of

Keith

Day 14: Last day

Today marks our official last day (since tomorrow will be our travel day starting at 4 a.m.) here in Kosova. It has been an amazing time here. Relationships have been made, continued, and enhanced. We are saddened to leave but we know that it is not good bye only (as the Mickey mouse club used to say) "see ya real soon"... And that is what we are pushing towards. To see our sweet beautiful Peja in the rear view this morning and now our final hours in Pristina.

This is not the end of our blog. Now that we are in the swing of updates we will continue the best we can. We also have many pictures of funny event, things that made us laugh, and things that you don't see in The states that we will be posting in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for your willingness to come along with us on our journey through this blog.

You are the ones that keep us updating, so don't forget to comment on our posts. We love each and every one of you. We can't wait to see you when we return and tell of all of our stories and adventures. Feel free to contact us to meet and have coffee (just as the Albanians do) and hear all about them. That is just one of the many things we are adopting to bring back to our culture in America.Thanks again for reading.

From the heart of

Keith

Day 13 - we fit in at the hoopes

We fit right in with the family we are Staying with now in Peja. .... Look at all these kitties! <3 klee

Servant Leadership Program 2012 Video

Click here to see our Program Video

Enjoy!!!!

Day 12 - Part 2:Great day with lots of friends

We had a great and busy day today visiting with many friends. We ended out day off with the Fejzaj family. We try to meet with them each time we come. Tonight the mother made us laknor. Which is a traditional dish that is like two pieces of corn bread with spinach and onions in the middle. It was super good! We ended the night by going to see the waterfall that is near the village they live in. It was beautiful and great to get a close up look at God's handy work. We had a great time today. I am blessed for god to have put all these great people in my life. We have another busy day tomorrow. I can't wait!

Day 12: Friends, Friends, and more Friends

Over the years Kaylee has made many friends in many places. Today is the day to meet with them and continue that relationship.

Friends are important no matter where you are from. Keeping in touch with them has become faster and easier then ever before. With the information age we have come so far to make this happen. But one thing we must remember is the time we have in a face to face conversation is what makes our relationship grow then by text, email, or phone. Spending that quality time lets them know that they are important to you. Quality time is the word of day 12, days past, and days future.

From the heart of

Keith

Day: We're Back down from the Mountain

Just a quick post to let everyone know we are back from Camp. It has been a amazing week of camp...all are sad that it is over. Will be posting soon with many pictures and the camp video...But we are back in Peja and safe. Just wanted to give that quick update. Thanks

From the Heart of

Keith

Day 7:Ready for camp!

All looking fresh and fly in our neon orange staff shirts!

Day 6: Camp supplies

Today was a great day of preparation for camp starting this Monday (tomorrow)...lots of supplies. At the grocery store they offered to let us use a pallet since we had so many drinks (that was just a small portion of what we were getting)...(pictures to come)

Once done shopping the team went up to camp (up in the mountains) to prepare the places where we will be staying

The mountains of America have nothing to describe the beauty of these mountains. It amazing to be in awe, to really feel so small in such big peaks.

Well this will be our last post and communication until Friday afternoon because of no service on the mountains. Plenty of pictures will be posted when we return. I know there will be plenty of stories to tell from camp. This camp will be historic and has already started being that. The connections, relationships, and knowledge will be great and we are thankful to be a small part of it.

Kaylee and I send our regards. Thanking for your support in all the many ways that you have done not only in our lives but the lives of the Kosovo people. As you are reading his you are supporting our passion for them. It means a lot. Please continue, it makes all the difference. Enjoy ta few pictures from the top.

Day 5: Travels to Peja

We met this morning with all team leaders and translators to go over our week at camp. It was a great time meeting the young lady that will be translating my words... Let me repeat translating everything I say word for word... I've been working on talking slower then normal, I think I have the hang of it...

After our meeting we packed the truck and huge van full of camp items and headed to Peja... The land, mountains, and people are so wonderful. Slow pace living life one minute at a time would describe my experience here. Taking the time to sit, have a cup of coffee, and listen to the person you are there with instead of what is taking place next. I believe I have adopted that for me already from these people. I will strive to continue when I come back to the states.

All is well, we are settled into our temporary place until we leave for camp in two days, after that no posts or communicating until after we come down the mountain. Enjoy our shots of Peja and the magnificent mountain.

From the heart of

Keith

Day 5:Hello Peja!

Pictures say more than words. ..

Day 3: Tying up loose ends (not sure of what we are tying though)

As we were walking our way to dinner, Kaylee reminded me that we hadn't posted today. I of course said we had but did not remember what we had... That meant we hadn't...

Well here we go...We got our booklets printed, had lunch, got some supplies for camp. And tied up all of the loose ends. Once we were ready for tomorrow we went to a really cool restaurant with true Albanian food with a Spanish style motif...ok we are still currently still working on things but needed to grab a bite to eat. Leader meeting for camp in the morning ad then traveling to Peja for our team leaders to get to know one another before the camp... It will be a great day and great bonding time. I do not know if we will have Internet then so this may be the last post until we get back from camp on Friday (we know we won't have it on the mountain. So I will say tungi (good bye) until we return from the mountain.

From the heart of
Tungi
Keith

Day 2: ending

After a long day of camp stuff we got to meet a few friends from past years...even though I had never meet them before in my life the glow and happiness that it brought to both Kaylee and Jan made me feel like I has known them forever. We ended out night with my first macchiato and Jan and Kaylee's 1st bombay with schume schume sugars for them (very much sugar) since we've been here...this place is great...

From the heart of

Keith

Day 2: The bee sting

As we were unloading our bags on the busy streets of Pristina, Keith said it felt like something bit him. We looked up and the flowering vine above us was filled with about 100 bees. Here is Keith's first day battle wound!

Day 2: Camp Cramming

We have made it to Kosovo...We had a nice Dinner last night, Spent some time with the locals at the 4th of July Celebration for America, Saw the Statue of Bill Clinton, Statue of mother Teresa (She's from Albania), and George Kastriot Skanderbeg (Albanian Hero)...More info. on him in later posts...All of this like Kaylee had said on maybe two hours of sleep...I began to feel it as it was getting closer to 10 p.m. here and 4 p.m. (American) day two...This is a beautiful country, people, and nice group. We will be finishing up a few things for camp that we were not able to do in the states and needed to finish once we got here.

Funny Story #1:
-As our day of traveling came to a close and made it to the Kosovo International Airport we were greeted with all of our bags...this was a total of two bags and a carry on for each of us (9 Bags total). We placed them on two carts and began to roll out of the airport we were greeted with a Kosovo Airport Police Officer...Well I was greeted as Kaylee and Jan had progressed past the officer. He asked (To later find out what he said) "Do you need to check in any of your bags through customs". I would not say I am Fluent in Albanian but I do know certain words (Around 4-5 Key words). As he asked me his questions (In Albanian), He knew I wasn't understanding his words. I stood there in amazement; Not thinking I would be arrested or anything but that we would have to go through all of those many bags and such one by one...Luckily Kaylee had turned around and started speaking with the officer. He asked if I spoke the language, Kaylee responded with "Very Little". So he asked her if we needed to go through customs and she said No. We all three laughed and we progressed out of the airport doors. It is amazing with the words I do know, He only used a few of them. I do not believe in Language barriers because we all speak body language or "charades" if you want to be more specific. 

Languages that you may not use everyday or know a lot of does not make it difficult it just makes you be out of your comfort zone of just being able to hear and finally speak. It makes you Watch, Hear, Listen, Think, Pray, Watch again, Pray, and then speak. Maybe we can all learn from that in more then one way in our lives. 

These posts were meant to be short but sometimes my hands type things on my mind. Also as I was told early in life; There is always a lesson to learn in every situation in life. And I love to have a funny story because there is always something to laugh about in life.            

The next few days with a mix of meeting with past friends, printing booklets, seeing the leadership team, Getting my Games together (I'm not only a team leader but the game Guru as well) and meeting new people. Check back with us Daily as we are posting at least once to twice per day (Thanks to Blogger App). Lots of things to do but we have a great group of leaders and translators here making it work. 


From the Heart of 

Keith 

Day 1...Part 5: 4th of July in kosova

They had a big celebration tonight for the 4th of July! We were able to go out and do some sight seeing and be able to enjoy some independence day festivities!

Now that it is 930 and we all only slept about 2 hours in over 24 I think it is time for bed. So so so so much to do tomorrow

Day 1...Part 4: In kosova!

We've made it. Three bags here so far as we wait in the baggage section. Hoping that the other three come!

Day 1...Part 3

Waiting for our flight to Zurich... May be the last time for quite a bit of hours before we have wifi again...one flight down waiting on flight 2 and then progressing to flight 3 after that...

Day 1...Part 2

After much confusion over our first flight... We are finally on board! All bags were right at 50 lbs! Wahoo
They had an issue with our bags making it to pristine, so please pray that they arrive!