Journals of the European Tour - Not Ashamed!

I arrived safely to Germany and was met with the warmth and love of my prayer partner, Steffi, and her mother, Brigitte.  They were a blessed sight, since I had met some challenges along the way.  It all began when I was unable to make my original connection from Phoenix to Newark.  I was re-routed through Houston due to weather, and all was good... less my luggage.  It did not join me in Germany, so I had to go on to Albania with some borrowed and some newly purchased bargain clothes (we only had about one hour to find my needed items the evening I arrived -- it was rather crazy!).  Either way, our trip to Albania was not to be delayed just because my luggage did not arrive.  God would show me how little I could live with... although I will be honest and say that it certainly was not my preference.  Gifts for the Albanian children along with all my personal effects would be left behind as I forged on to the Tirana airport.

I had the privilege of accompanying Steffi on this, her first flight ever in her almost 20 year life.  We had a fun time as we made the venture together.  Once we arrived in Tirana via Budapest, we found our driver from the Nehemia organization (hallelujah!), but only after I almost went with another driver who had me convinced by his wide smile that he indeed was there for us!  Praise God that Steffi knew our driver's name... Oni! 

Oni safely drove us to Pogradec along the Sea of Ohrid very near to Macedonia.  The trip via automobile took approximately 4 hours along some very bumpy incongruous roads.  We were taken directly to the Geiger home.. Arnold and Esther with their four children (ages 8 to 15 years) and coworker Isi.  They are from Germany and came to Albania to assist in the beginnings of Nehemia, a Christian help organization.  They have been in Pogradec since 1991, and it is undoubtedly the power and mighty Spirit of God through them who has accomplished much more than I could even begin to describe.  More on this later.

We arrived on Thursday evening, June 15th, and my first concert was scheduled for Saturday evening.  This allowed me some time to rest and get acquainted with the people, culture, and the area a bit.  Our accommodations were much more than I expected.  We were given our own room on the third floor of the guest house across the street from the Geiger household.  It had a beautiful view of Lake of Ohrid, and in the evening you could easily see the lights shining from Macedonia across the sea. 

The first evangelistic concert held on Saturday was a bit disappointing as the weather was rather unfavorable.  The location for the event was fabulous, being held right next to the lake at a convenient place where the people of the town walk by and gather at every night.  I was excited!  It was cold and windy which kept many people away... but the singing and testifying went on!  I opened with songs and testimony followed by an evangelistic message given by Waldemar Sardaczuk, the founder of Nehemia, an international mission organization. 

Sunday morning, June 18th I was blessed to join the worship team led by Redina ( Pogradec native).  I shared a few songs that morning prior to the preaching by Pastor Sardaczuk, and due to my luggage situation found my appearance far from my Sunday best.  I had to let go of all concern for appearance and trust God to move despite it all!  Once again, He presented me with an opportunity to be humbled and shown that people are changed through His Spirit not through the clothes I wear or the "do" I have!!  I just love this God who continues to shape and hone me.  Hallelujah and glory to Him!! =)

Sunday evening, we met at 6 pm at the Nehemia Church building to evangelize again.  It was much the same format, although I remained flexible with my song selection and amount of sharing depending on how the Spirit moved.  The music was used to prepare the hearts for the word given by Pastor Sardaczuk.  It was quite a treat to minister as a team with Waldemar Sardaczuk, because it reminded me so much of the times I did similar formatted ministering with my late Grandpa, Reverend Warren Campbell.  What a joy to continue the legacy with a man filled with a similar passion for the lost!!! 

Monday, June 19th was the second evangelistic concert at the lake site.  Praise God!  The weather was so much better.

Tuesday and Wednesday we had the meetings in the evening at the church building.  I know that many lives were touched during this visit, but the difficulty is that I was not able to converse with the people from the audience like I could in America, so the impact was not as easily identified.  Some did approach me with their very rough English or German if they spotted me outside of the normal crowd.  I am a person who tends to measure success on the feedback I receive, so not being able to easily interact with the onlookers one-on-one was a challenge.  I could see a lot in their eyes, but there is nothing like praying and sharing in the same language. 

I was especially blessed to be able to visit the children during my time in Pogradec.  I joined a mid afternoon meeting on Tuesday and taught the children some songs as well as sharing some of my songs from my CD.  They were so precious.  I have never ever had a group of children pray for me, but I can't say that now -- about 12 children gathered around me and prayed FOR ME!  I could not understand what they prayed to our God, but I know it was one of the most precious gifts I received in my life.  What a joy to witness these children loving God with fire and passion... I could hear it in their prayers!

I am not sure what night it was, but during the sleeping hours, the heavens were rocking!!  I mean this literally.  I love thunderstorms, and this was a thunderstorm like no other I have ever experienced.  I could tell by the length of time between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, where the storm was.  At one point we were in the eye of the storm, and the thunder crashed so loudly that Steffi sat straight up in bed thinking a bomb had dropped!  It was startling, and it caused me to marvel at the power and majesty of the heavens created by our God!

Much thanks and appreciation to Isi, Esther and Arnold who made our stay in Albania wonderful!  Esther can make the best meals out of seemingly nothing, and I praise God for such talent -- it was greatly appreciated!  Until next time, God bless and keep you Pogradec and all its missionaries.

Next stop, Netherlands.

Tammy Campbell
20229 N. 67th Avenue
PMB 177, Suite C4
Glendale, Arizona  85308
Phone: 602/321.5497
tammy@tammycampbell.com