Day Three - Businesses and The OM Team

This morning we went to see several businesses that were started by or received funding to expand by OM. The first was a metal fabricator. He was doing very well with his business and when we got there was negotiating a deal with a church to do all the metal work for the building. About a year before, he had been running his business 7 days a week with little time for family or work in the church. He had been struggling with how to make balance. It was fun to share my experience and having the similar struggles. He shared with me a word he received from God which was “the ending is near and do more.” a similar word that I received from God 5 years ago, and why I am currently in Albania looking to pursue this work. He asked, “Is it possible to have a business and still do God’s work?” - The struggle of the Kingdom Entrepreneur. We are all called to do God’s work, just in different ways. If we seek opportunity and are faithful with our calling as Christians, then the answer is, Yes. do business God’s way.

I am excited to step into this role and work along these businessmen in this struggle of impact and work. This is the discipleship that I know is my role. Not as an evangelist, but as a teacher to those newer in the faith.

Next I met Lorenc, an Albanian who had lived in Kosovo as a UN interpreter. He is also a serial entrepreneur who has his hands in several projects. Some were doing well, others not so well. His main business was a 3.5 hector (a little less than 9 acres) farm growing mint and hay. Farming here is so inefficient. Rarely mechanized or used for anything much more than self sustainability. He talked about the bee business that would help both with the crops and generate additional income. So, that is where we went next.

OM had created several bee businesses. Some were for pastors and others for small farmers. One of the pastors lost 1/3 of his hives over the winter because it was too cold. We have much colder winters in Illinois, and I wanted to reach out to people I knew who were bee keepers there. There is may be opportunity simple “technology” from the first world. We just need to create a model for this.

The final business I saw today was a very small tire repair shop. OM had just helped with a $2k loan to buy a truck tire machine to expand his existing business. The man is a single operator and has the contract for the large milk factory just down the road from his shop. While we were their he made his first payment of his loan. Exciting to see this program in work.

I’m beginning to see more of the beauty of this place beyond the lack of modern comforts I am use to. And this brought us to our meeting with Joe from Germany. We were able to discuss our biggest concern about our move to Albania - Our kids. It wasn’t much of a comfort talking with Joe. He has been here for 8-10 years and his kids were very little when they arrived. There were concerns, and there is definitely a lack of extra-curricular activities and options for kids. He encouraged us to express our fears with the kids; that we are afraid they will hate their new life, hate us for bringing them there, or worse hate God. This is not a decision we are taking lightly. And, there are many who have not followed through with a call to action from God out of fear. This is the first time I have actually felt that fear, and pain of loss for our children, and what they will be giving up.

That night we met the team. They are an awesome, fun, and lively group. I felt like I was back in a high school Campus Life Club. It is encouraging that the group is close and amazing that you have people from all over the world working for one mission – reach the unreached and build the church.

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