While I was in Albania, I had it in my deepest interest to buy something truly Albanian. My goal was to buy something that I could keep with me most of the time and would remind me of my brothers and sisters in Albania. It would be a constant reminder for me to pray for them.

While in Albania we visited a castle. (You will see pictures of it soon.) In the main keep of the castle they had a small shop where they sold Albanian merchandise. Among the various items for sale I saw some very cool bracelets. I do not normally wear bracelets, but they were so cool I couldn’t pass it up. So, I bought one. This would be my authentic reminder to pray for my fellow-Christians in Albania.

As I began to wear the bracelet, I noticed friends of mine eyeing the bracelet with a sort of questioning gaze. I suspected that they were not used to seeing me wear a bracelet and were puzzled as to its validity. Although I was completely pleased with my new find, I saw a need to provide an explanation to the appropriateness and intrinsic masculinity of such a piece. I began to think about it and today I came up with the perfect explanation. This is definitely not a bracelet I am wearing. It is far too masculine and far too spiritual in purpose to be bracelet. The name that I gave it was my “missions prayer band.”

I have told a few people about the name, and I have received a variety of responses. Most everyone laughed initially. One person told my they thought it sounded heretical (jokingly) and said to change it to an Albanian Prayer Band. My brother called me a dork. However, I have had suggestions to buy large quantities and sell them to people as “missions prayer bands” for ministries all over the world. It could be a great industry. I think I am on the verge of the greatest development since WWJD.

Ok, enough talk and jest. All seriousness aside, it has been a great reminder to pray for the work that God is doing in Albania. It is accomplishing the purpose for which I bought it. But ultimately, may it be hearts of Christlike love that truly remind us to call out to our Sovereign that His glory would shine and that His will would be done both here and Albania.

this is “grace at work”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 5th, 2006 at 4:20 am and is filed under Albania. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.