Brady's Blog

This week marks the halfway point of my adventures here in Albania and what a trip it has been so far. From the first three weeks of solid rain to two cats falling through the ceiling of my apartment the cards have at times seemed stacked against me. I am happy to report though that with all of the trials, I am loving the experience and am learning a lot about myself in the process. A part of me even wonders if this internship (that the Lord so graciously placed in front of me) is more for my personal life and personal progression rather than the work that I am doing. Don't get me wrong. I am enjoying the work that I do but as with every job it has it ups and downs. This has prompted me to think about my life's journey so far and where it is headed. The road before me is forking as I believe it always will. Though I felt like I was done making the big decisions of "What do I want to do when I grow up?" the Lord has taught me that it is good to have options and that ...

This past week I was trying to figure out what I was going to write about this week because it was been somewhat routine. Nothing really out of the ordinary. Since I don't have work on Fridays I was able to go out and about and found a great little bookshop that if I am not careful, I will spend too much money in. After returning home because of some rain, I spent time with my host family talking and watching TV (my favorite is an Indian Soap Opera...don't judge). Once their whole family got home, I was about to head out to grab some dinner as the rain died down when they decided to take me to one of their favorite restaurants. When I waked in this restaurant, I felt severely under dressed. My denims, t-shirt, and fleece jacket found themselves next to sequined mini dresses, ties, and pumps. Aside from the dress of the people my first paradigm about the restaurant came from my sense of hearing. I cannot recall a time when I have been treated to live music while I was eating...

4:30 am struck this morning and I did not hear it. Thunder struck at 4:34 am and I did hear that. After being jolted awake, the intense sound of rain on my window and the sound of the new leak in my ceiling made it nigh impossible for me to get back to sleep. In my frustration, I grabbed my iPad and opened a weather app only to find that rain was in the forecast for the next 10 days straight. At this time I was slightly annoyed because the only weather I have know since arriving in beautiful Tirana is rain. Though sleepless, I remained in my bed trying to relax until I absolutely had to get out of my bed for church. So complete was my temporary insomnia that around 6:00 am I again check the weather app hoping for a different result. Somehow in that short two hour span three of the next 10 days miraculously turned to an image showing some sun and no rain. The excitement of such a small victory was now to blame for keeping me awake. Even though it is only three days in the future and...