Life in Shkoder, Albania

* I was having trouble getting the photos to fit properly, so to see the full picture on your phone, you'll have to swipe to the right.

On May 15, 2023, our family came here to Shkoder. It is a small city in northern Albania. 

This is one of a few streets in the city that cars aren't allowed on. These few streets are very nice and draw any tourists that might be around. 

The very next day after arriving was our son, Isaac's, birthday. After eating out in Tirana for a week, we were excited to be able to cook. I knew that baking a cake would be a challenge, as I was doubtful that I would be able to find all of the necessary ingredients. I was right. It was a bit of a flop, but it tasted really good. 

For some things, like this package of baking soda, I took a picture of the item, then used Google Lens in my photo editing. I can choose to have it translated, and it does it within a second!

We have booked two rooms in a hostel for one month so that we can find a place to live. It has a kitchenette. 

I was happy to find oats at the store and be able to make oatmeal, which we had daily in the US.

I love the ease of cleaning up a compact kitchen. I am so impressed by this cabinet with an open bottom that has built-in dish racks! The utensils don't need their own drawer, they stay in this utensil holder with drains. 

My kids, who were used to country life, are getting accustomed to the ways of the city.

This sign on a gate to a house means, "For Rent." If the kids and I spot a sign like this while we're out walking, I take some photos and send them to Edward. This particular house pictured below, was already rented by the time we contacted them. Some things here are surprisingly overpriced. Rent is one thing that is very cheap! 

A common sight that we see both here and that we also saw in Tirana, is stray/wild dogs like this one hanging out in front of stores. Occasionally they're in packs. 

They are usually very mellow and quiet, but we are cautious. 

In Tirana, I was surprised by how many shops there were all over the city. They were all very clean and shiny. They usually specialize in something. This particular shop is in Shkoder. 

There are shops for everything all over the city. 

Apparently Shkoder is known by Albanians as, "The City of Bikes." 

Most shops in Shkoder are selling used items. It's almost like a citywide yard sale or flea market! 

Most of the shops put things out on the sidewalk. Many do not even allow people inside, it's almost like their storage or garage area. 

They have produce stores all over the place! Most of it comes from Shkoder or areas close by and is very inexpensive. 

We go shopping daily and load up on fresh fruits and veggies. We are enjoying it!

This good bread costs about $1.00 per loaf. We go through several a day. 

This isn't the greatest representation or photo of their ice cream options, but they have so many creative varieties and it is so good! You can get ice cream (akullore) for about $.40 per scoop with a cone! They also offer this at many pastry shops (patiçeri) which are also all over the place. It is a common sight to see people with a cone even in the morning! We have taken advantage of this special treat several times seeing it was out of reach for us as a family in the US.

The treats at these patiç(ch)eris (pastry shops) are usually between. $.50 and $1.50!

This is Shkoder's idea of Tractor Supply. I couldn't enlarge this photo, but they were selling their chickens from cages on the street. I noticed that the dogs and chickens are so beyond one breed, they don't look so good. It is such a contrast to the US, where people tend to value breeding certain kinds of animals. 

We are enjoying exploring the city, getting to learn the language, meeting people, and learning their customs and ways of living. 

You can check out our other works! If you like them, you can help us out by sharing our links on your social media accounts and asking your contacts to do the same! Thank you!

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To listen to different thoughts from Edward:

https://rumble.com/c/c-5501477/videos

https://youtube.com/@edwardcarlton?si=HUHHNoh5NX0hW-La

God bless you!

Our First Week Away From the US

We left Boston around 7:15 pm on Monday, May 8th. We had a 4 hour layover in Iceland, then a 7 hour layover in London before arriving in Tirana, the capital of Albania, at 11 pm, their time, 5 pm Boston's time. 

We tried to sleep on every flight, which worked out really well. We had enough sleep to get by, but were tired enough to sleep on every flight, and then to sleep well once we got to the hotel. We had two separate friends volunteer to come with vehicles to pick us up from the airport, and they gave us rides to the hotel.

 The hotel and their workers were very nice. It had just opened two months earlier.This was the kids and I having breakfast in their restaurant the first morning. They went out of their way for us. Albanians really like Americans.

This is the gated street entrance to the cute little house that we have rented in Tirana.

The courtyard was filled with treasures!

I was surprised to find ivy on the walls, honeysuckle, roses in several colors, and an orange, olive, and lemon tree, all bearing fruit right now.

If you look on the left, there is a guest house in the back. 

Below is the entrance or mud room. 

 We can put our shoes in this piece of furniture. Albanians don't wear their shoes in their houses. 

From the entrance room, you would walk into this central room. All of the rooms are off of this one. We might use it as our living room. 

 

The first room to the left of the doorway in the central room is the bathroom. We were without water for our first few days, so it made cleaning a bit of a challenge, as we were only using jugs of bottled water.

We're hoping to install glass doors for the shower. Most Albanian showers have no curtain or glass. They have a drain in the middle of the bathroom floor to catch all of the water.

The next room is the dining room with an attached kitchen. Not only does the couch seat many children during mealtimes, but it folds out into a bed that one of the kids uses at night.

There are places much more modern here. One thing we liked about this house when we saw it online was that it wasn't so perfect, as our nine boys are a bit rough on things. Hopefully they can help us to improve this home!

Next is the boys' room, with three beds and plenty of room for more. 

This next room is the one that Edward and I share with the three youngest children. It has a built in bookshelf that has books in several languages, including Italian, French, and Albanian. I love French, so I am hoping to read some of them. The window faces the front courtyard.

Lastly is this room on the front of the house where Edward and one of our sons ripped up the flooring that had been laid on top of tile, trapping moisture. 

All in all, I love that in the midst of the city, my kids have an outdoor area to play in that locks with a key from the inside and outside, so my little ones can't wander out, and no one can wander in. 

As much as I really liked the house online, and I do believe that it has great potential, the house is very musty and is in need of repairs. Edward got a dehumidifier today and hooked it up just before we left today for the next month. We're hoping that it will help as there is so much moisture in the air inside this concrete house. It had been unrented and closed up for three years.

The guest house has a bathroom, and it had a bed, which we brought into the main house. Edward is planning to set up his woodshop there in the guest house.

Update: To see what ended up happening with this house after several months, check:

https://faithfamilyliving.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-end-of-era.html?m=1

Although I had been here for a week back in 2004, I have been very surprised by the number of shops all over the city. Everything is shiny, fancy, and clean. There are lots and lots of cafes and restaurants. The shops usually specialize in something. 

It is currently Monday, May 15th and we are on a coach bus heading to Shkoder, a small city near the border of Albania. We have reserved a couple of rooms in a hostel for the next month. We plan to look for a house or apartment to rent there for the next couple of years.

These photos were taken on our ride there. 

Our current plan is to be in Shkoder three out of four weeks per month. We will try to start a church there, in our home. One week per month, we plan to take a bus back to Tirana to visit with the people that we know there, while Edward and maybe the older boys, get a lot of woodworking for his business done. He plans to ship his finished work to one of our friends back in Rhode Island, who will then ship out the pieces to individual customers in the US. 

Edward has a good handle on the language, which has been really helpful. We're all intent on learning the language. The kids and I had been taking Albanian lessons online for a year and a half with Eva, a woman from the church in Tirana that Edward had helped to start when he lived there back in 2000-2002. It was special to meet her and her family in person.

You can check out our other works! If you like them, you can help us out by sharing our links on your social media accounts and asking your contacts to do the same! Thank you!

http://iamonebook.com

https://www.patreon.com/WarePublishing

https://www.waredesignworks.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/waredesignworks

To follow us on Twitter and Instagram:

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To listen to different thoughts from Edward:

https://rumble.com/c/c-5501477/videos

https://youtube.com/@edwardcarlton?si=HUHHNoh5NX0hW-La

God bless you!

We're Not Perfect, by Edward

     Have you ever heard anyone say this about the church where they assemble, " Well, we're not perfect"?  Have you ever said it yourself?  I have.  Sounds kind of cheap, doesn't it?  It is used ( though not always) to deflect any criticism that may be leveled against a particular assembly.  And yes, I know that there are no churches where every last thing is perfect, but there can be churches where the Lord has nothing negative to say.  There can be churches whose works are complete before the Lord.  Two such churches are mentioned in Revelation.

     “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death."( Revelation 2:8-11)

     “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:13-17)

     The other churches in Revelation were encouraged for the good they had done but were also censured, all except Laodicea; they were only censured and then exhorted to repent.  Jesus had nothing negative to say about Smyrna and Philadelphia. They were complete.  So, we have examples set before us that we should strive for.  

     If they could be complete before the Lord as an assembly, than so can we.  It's not like these kind of churches could only exist back then, in the first century.  They can exist today.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  Our individual churches can be churches that walk closely and lovingly with Jesus Christ.  We do not have to settle for, " Well, we are not perfect".  We can be that which He desires, but we have to choose to be.  

    

 We must each choose, individually, to put off sins from our own lives, to decide to not put stumbling blocks before our brothers, and to adhere to His commandments. Maybe we can then influence others to do the same and be complete, not just individually, but as a whole. 

You can check out our other works! If you like them, you can help us out by sharing our links on your social media accounts and asking your contacts to do the same! Thank you!

http://iamonebook.com

https://www.patreon.com/WarePublishing

https://www.waredesignworks.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/waredesignworks

To follow us on Twitter and Instagram:

https://x.com/AmyJoyCarlton?t=Ohwl7Pf5LhWSzYG40USr2w&s=09

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To listen to different thoughts from Edward:

https://rumble.com/c/c-5501477/videos

https://youtube.com/@edwardcarlton?si=HUHHNoh5NX0hW-La

God bless you!

An Overlooked Double-Standard, by Edward

Proverbs 20:10  "Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD."

    I have noticed that Christians more easily label someone a false teacher or false brother when the person who is being labeled is far away.  Far away as in, never met before.  Maybe the person is some popular "Christian" personality or some teacher in some distant church.  Maybe the person really is a false teacher or brother and is doing harm to the Church, but then when a brother nearby espouses some false teachings, he is simply misunderstanding scripture or it is said, " Well, that's your opinion".   

     Do you see my point?  When a person is close by we are more quick to be merciful or to tolerate a brother's misunderstandings or sinful actions, but when someone is far away, we are more quick to judge or condemn.  

In some cases, the person far away really is a false teacher and the brother close by really does just misunderstand something, but the opposite is also true.  Sometimes the person we are tolerating is the false teacher and the person that is far way, that we are condemning, really honestly misunderstands something and needs mercy.  

     I think this is understandable to a degree since we don't have a relationship with the person far away, while we do with the brother who is close by.  It is also easier to take a stand against a teaching if you do not have to face the person that you are opposing, while it is harder to take a stand against a false teaching, when the person espousing it, is someone that you love dearly.  

     The Lord is clear though, a double standard is an abomination.  A person is a false teacher whether far away of close by, and if someone needs mercy close by, than the person far away also needs mercy.   

     My goal in writing this is not to encourage you to start labeling every brother with a wrong notion a false teacher, nor is it to encourage you be merciful with and embrace the false teacher who is far away.  It is simply to encourage you to judge justly. 

You can check out our other works! If you like them, you can help us out by sharing our links on your social media accounts and asking your contacts to do the same! Thank you!

http://iamonebook.com

https://www.patreon.com/WarePublishing

https://www.waredesignworks.com

https://www.etsy.com/shop/waredesignworks

To follow us on Twitter and Instagram:

https://x.com/AmyJoyCarlton?t=Ohwl7Pf5LhWSzYG40USr2w&s=09

https://x.com/WarePublishing?s=09

https://www.instagram.com/waredesignworks/

To listen to different thoughts from Edward:

https://rumble.com/c/c-5501477/videos

https://youtube.com/@edwardcarlton?si=HUHHNoh5NX0hW-La

God bless you!