Që ai mban të ardhmen

He holds the future

"How's all this corona virus stuff effecting you in Kosovo?"

I am so thankful to have received several messages like this. It is so kind of you to be thinking of me amidst all of the implications that this virus has on your life and the near future.

Thus, I'd like to update you on the current effects of this virus here in Mitrovicë, Kosovo.

By no means am I speaking with absolute authority on the state of the COVID-19 in Kosovo, especially as it feels as though something new is flashing across my screen every other minute.

• School: On Wednesday night, March 11th, the decision was made for all schools to close until March 27th. Until now, KLA's spring break is unaffected as it is scheduled for April 2 - 13. Teachers will be conducting online courses throughout these two weeks. Please pray for us (and other teachers and students around the world) as we all adjust. Pray that we would have wisdom to know how best to proceed to continue facilitating effective learning through technology.

• Confirmed cases: It appears as though this virus has delayed in reaching the country of Kosovo as the first two confirmed cases were announced yesterday, March 13th.

• Accessibility: The local shops, cafes, restaurants will be closed beginning Monday, March 16th. My roommate, Olivia, is currently in Prishtina (the capital), buying supplies we will need in the likely event that the grocery stores would also cease operation. She told me that there is a lot of mask and glove wearing in the capital. There will be no travel to or from Kosovo beginning March 16th.

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Among the slew of other articles, videos, podcasts, news alerts, presidential addresses, and Facebook posts that you and I have been reading, listening to, watching - I keep finding myself in the incessant tension between the thoughts: "this seems ridiculous" and "this is very serious."

I firmly believe that God is seeking to use this very strange time which has an affect on each person’s life to grab our attention and teach us something. Though we may not be certain what it is, God is looking to draw attention to His glory.

My heart grieves for my college friends (seniors, in particular) as they are being dispersed from campus with thoughts that may sound something like: "God, how can this be what you want for me? I was in a good place of growth here among my friends. Don't I deserve to spend my last month and a half of college with these people you have gifted me with? God, I've worked my tail off for my senior season and now it all means nothing? We had so many things planned!! What about this event, or that event? Weren't the chapels that you had planned going to challenge me and my classmates to live on mission for You and tremble in awe of You? God, this just doesn't make sense. I thought since I've worked so hard to reach this point, You'd be happy to reward me with the joy of time spent with my best friends in a place that is so special to us - a place and time in our lives that we will never get back. How can this be what's best? Do you know what You're doing, God?"

To which I believe our good, gracious Father God would respond graciously with something that may sound like: "This is always what I've wanted for you. Your growth is in My hands and I can grow you wherever and however I see is best for you. My dear child, you deserve nothing. What you deserve is death, but I gave you My Son so that you may not experience My wrath in death. I gave you My son so that you could live life to the fullest by My Spirit's power in you - so that you could show the world My glory and My strength in your weakness. Your hard work does not mean nothing. I am using this to prepare you for something else in life. You have many plans, but it is My purpose that prevails. Those plans were never a part of mine, I have something better. I do not rely on chapel services or speakers to challenge you and communicate My mission to You. I have given you My very Words. I will provide another way to grow you and form you into My likeness, one that has always been written in My plan. I know it doesn't make sense to you. My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. But trust Me - I work all things together for your good and My glory. Hard work or not, still everything that you have is a gift that you have received from Me. Why are you claiming it as if it is your own? Your friends, this place, this time in your lives - they are all a gift to you from Me. I know what is best for You. I have since before the foundation of the world. I know what I am doing. I am grabbing the attention of the entire world. I am reminding people that they have limits and I am the One in control. I am calling on those who have faith in Me to demonstrate the peace that I give them in times that are not peaceful and don't seem to make sense. I am offering My hope to a hopeless world through the words and actions of My people.”

Whether you are in college or not, you and how you once viewed your future have been effected by this unforeseen virus. You maybe have had thoughts similar to the grieving college student. I challenge you to consider what it is the Lord might be wanting to teach you and who He wants you to offer hope to in this time. We all feel the temptation to feel like victims when our futures as we see them are continually undergoing minor or major shifts. Take comfort that according to God’s faultless plan, not one bit of any of it has shifted.

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Quick story:

My friend, Fiona’s grandfather passed away earlier this week and she was planning to go home to Germany for the funeral. She was distraught with the decision — whether to go and pay respects with her family and be unsure of when should could return to Kosovo, or not go at all (before any travel bans were placed on Kosovo). She admitted that she is easily swayed by the opinions of others. As she talked with her dad through tears, I was able to just sit with and comfort her, listen, and give her tissues. When they hung up, we processed a bit, and she said “I think God has a plan.” I agreed and affirmed that while this is frustrating timing, it is no surprise to God and perhaps He is wanting to teach us something through it. She agreed to pray with me and thanked me again and again as we shared a long hug. We have been planning to attend Boom church in Prishtina this weekend and she said maybe that will help her with “all of this.” (The church has since been closed due to the circumstances... while it feels frustrating that God would close the doors of a church to a non-believer enthusiastic about attending, I am thankful that the church is not one with doors and a roof, but is composed of the people of God who can be the church to people like Fiona.)

Please pray for Fiona - that she would have peace of mind in her decision to stay in Kosovo. Pray that I would love and comfort her well and be a friend to her like Jesus would.

Thank you Lord, for using these unusual circumstances for doors of opportunity to speak Your Name and talk to You with people who are in desperate need of You. Thank You, God, for hearing us and graciously including us in Your work. May we be continually humbled before You. Amen.