Shtepi

People keep asking if I'm "homesick" yet, but I'm not. Yes, I miss my friends and family, I miss my church and hearing a familiar language, and of course I miss Mexican food. My physical home here isn't luxurious or normal for American standards, but I love it. Emily and I were talking about why we love Kosova, and why despite the trials we feel welcomed here. We were reading a word study on the word "abide" that my dad sent me, and part of it was discussing the use of abide in John 15:5-10. In those verses Jesus is telling His disciples "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he that bears fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown way like a branch and withers; and those branches are gathered and thrown on a fire. If you abide in me, and words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be acted upon. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear fruit and so prove to be my disciple. As the Father loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in that love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have listened to my Father and abide in His love." The word abide means: to share the life of, dwell in, remain in, walk with, live in, and make a home in. Our homes are meant to be with Christ. So wherever He is will be my home. The physical building I live in or the place it is doesn't matter, I can take refuge with the Spirit. If we keep His words at home with us, He will be with us, so we'll never go without a place to call home. Emily and I really felt like that was such a blessing for us to know at this point in our lives. So no-I'm not homesick because I never left my home. I do miss everyone and certain things, but I love my home He's making for me here.

P.S. "Shtepi" means "home" in Albanian!