Imprisoned for the Gospel?!

 

Hello World!!

It’s been a minute since I’ve been on here. I have stories upon stories that I am wanting to share…so much to express… but I am just going to get right into it!

Today, was my Sabbath- a Sabbath that was much needed! Over the past two weeks, a group of 6 girls and I went on pilgrimage from Durres, Albania to Vlore, Albania. We felt called to make this trek while being interruptible to do the will of God along the way. We had so many moments of prayer with believers and unbelievers, conversations with pedestrians, and God-given encounters with people who provided us with free food and lodging! We saw God move in tremendous ways and I can’t wait to share with you all that had happened!

But, before I go into all of that, I am going to tell you a testimony that happened to my friend, Jordan, and I today!

So, here we are in Tirana, Albania and Jordan, Kara (my fellow squad leaders), Lindsey (my squad mentor) and I are in an airbnb for a few days to prepare for a squad debrief that we have coming up as we leave Albania and head to Turkey (2/23).

Since my body was so tired, I was resting in the afternoon in my bed. At around 4:30 pm, I get a knock at my bedroom door. Therein enters around 5 policemen and our airbnb host. They start asking me questions about Jordan and why he was seen near the ledge of the 7th floor roof with his hands up. I looked at a video that a pedestrian had taken and it was of Jordan, hands lifted high and him sitting on the roof. This is a classic Jordan picture- hands up high unashamedly worshiping Jesus.

So I expressed to these policemen that he was likely worshipping and singing and that I did not have a concern about his well-being. But, they wanted to talk to him personally and proceeded to take us in for a more comprehensive interview and interrogation. So… now I can say that I’ve been in a cop car… for the first time… in Albania. So, Jordan and I end up squished in the back of a police car striking up casual conversation with the cops.

We enter into the police station, which happened to be the one that my whole squad walked by all of the time when we were in Tirana just a couple weeks back to say goodbye to our alumni Squad Leaders. It is funny that I would often wave and say hello (or, “Përshëndetje” in Albanian) to the policemen without having a thought in my mind that I would be sitting in that building myself, as a bystander to a situation like this.

We get brought into a room and begin talking with the police officer who had really taken an interest in our lives. For privacy sake, his name will be referred to as James. James is someone who professes to be Muslim but doesn’t actively practice. His wife is Catholic and he shared how he believes there is a God, and everyone who believes in one god worships the same god. So, Jordan and I asked questions, heard his heart, and did our best to love him well. Jordan and I both had a chance to share the testimony of Jesus Christ in our lives and how He is someone who has radically changed our hearts! Jordan and I were able to share some of our God-stories with James and a few other cops as they circulated through the office. While we had been sitting there for a while, the cops took a smoke and asked if Jordan smoked at all. He then had a chance to share how he was addicted to smoking for so long but how Jesus set him free from that addiction, cold turkey, and how Jesus had done that with so many other sin strongholds in his life. He explained how he doesn’t even desire those things of his past anymore and how he is a new person, a new creation, with a reason to sing His praises (hence, him on the roof) and live life with this radical love and hope in his heart! So many moments arose of just being able to share Jesus in a way that James would understand and appreciate, and I think that’s the beautiful thing about the Gospel; that Jesus is the only true God and yet reveals himself differently to each person! We talked about Jesus being our home, our friend, and our God. A couple hours past, and we’re beginning to see friendships sprout up from our conversations with James and other police officers, even to the extent that Jordan and I are planning to hang out with them in the near future! We were so well taken care of while in the police station, being offered water and food and also just laughter and conversation with the policemen who came in.

About 3.5 hours later, we go upstairs to meet with the detective, lawyer, and interpreter. At this point, the detective is asking questions like “why did you do something like this that is so dangerous?” Jordan responds with saying how he isn’t afraid of heights and wherever he goes, he loves to find places to worship Jesus, and so that is what he was doing. It was so cool hearing how they kept saying “Zoti” as they were writing the report. This word in Albanian means God. Although, “God” means a lot of things for people here in Albania, we know that Jesus is the One and only Savior and that His name was echoed through the hallways of that police station through our testimonies and lives of peace and hope this night.

We ended up making friends with all of those who we talked to including the lawyer, detective, policemen and interpreter! We ended up talking with the interpreter after the investigation report was complete. She shared how Jordan could have been imprisoned for three days because of the pocket knife that was found on him but because he was American and there were no other concerns about his behavior, they had decided to let him go. We then shared how it is simply the favor and grace of God as to why he is being let go!

She then asked us if she could inquire about our personal lives… she proceeded with a huge smile on her face: “when did you get baptized?!” Out of the blue, a question was asked that I could have never planned nor prompted! WOW, okay God!!

Jordan and I then began to share that special moment in our lives when we were baptized. I shared how I got baptized when I was around 12 years old, explaining that this decision stemmed from having a personal relationship with Jesus. I felt compelled to publicly declare how I had been changed by Him. I explained that it wasn’t a religious duty but rather an expression of the love I had received.  She then opened up about how she is a follower of Jesus and that she was really happy to hear that we were too! She shared about her family and how real her faith is to her! It was such an encouragement for all of our hearts, and we plan to keep in touch long past this night.

We left the detective’s office, with laughters, smiles, and the message of Jesus’ salvation being shared in so many ways and in so many forms. At the end of our experience, we were smiling ear to ear, laughing, exchanging social media accounts with the policemen and other staff, and just being overjoyed that what took place this night was an act of God. The Good News is worth singing about, sharing, and publicly declaring! Jesus is worth the constant reiteration of our testimonies, since He’s the One who wrote them in the first place!

I shared with James- that whether imprisoned or not (lol), whether in church or not, whether hungry or not, we are content in everything. We are content and filled with unexplainable joy because Jesus is our home, and we have Him inside our hearts. We don’t need to have anything in this world, nor be in a certain place to experience His presence- He lives and speaks and He is all we need!

A couple Scriptures I was reminded of while going through this experience:

• Acts 8:26-40: This is when the Ethiopian Eunich asks Phillip to be baptized in a body of water, simply as they were riding along the road. This was spurred on JUST  because the message of Jesus’ sacrifice hit the heart of the Ethiopian man and there was not a reason in the world that he should wait to proclaim the hope of Jesus in his life! This is the Scripture that we talked about with the translator, our newfound sister in Christ! Why wait to share with the world such a GREAT message of hope!!??
• Acts 16: 25-36: This passage is about Paul and Silas singing hymns and praying while imprisoned. And about at midnight, an earthquake shook the prison, the prisoner shackles were broken and the prison doors were opened!! This Scripture just became more and more real as we stepped into the prison and the favor of God rested upon us tonight. It is written in the Bible, that as the prison guard awoke to see Paul and Silas still remaining in the jail, he trembled with fear and “fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.” His whole family became saved, baptized, and they all CELEBRATED and REJOICED! What a message of REDEMPTION, HOPE, and AMAZEMENT! It is true: we were not imprisoned, shackled, or persecuted for our faith, thank the Lord. But, some are. This is even more of a reason to pray for those persecuted for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even while we don’t know what it is like to be imprisoned for our faith, this Scripture hits a little closer to home now. Jordan exemplified an unashamed, undignified faith as he stood for Jesus, arms lifted high (literally and figuratively)! I am believing for the Gospel to be shared like WILD-FIRE in this police station in Albania! I am praying for souls to be saved and for them to come to the realization of how life with Jesus is life-changing and it begs a celebration!!

Jordan and I all but skipped out of that police station, filled to the brim with a rekindled fire within us! What a blessing to have been able to share the Gospel through an experience as wild as this! God really doesn’t waste any moment or situation.

It is true! I pledge to be a person who is unashamed of the Gospel of Christ. We may look foolish to this world… but to God, not so much! (“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18).

I could never thank you enough for all of your prayers and support!!

I hope you know that I am praying for you guys regularly and am believing that God is moving in WILD ways in your neck of the woods. Be encouraged… GOD IS ON THE MOVE!