It was a little strange to take off seven days of work but it was considered really strange when the folks at Firehouse found out I would not be golfing, but was headed to Albania.

I joined three others from my church and headed to Bajram Curri (BC) and Skhoder, Albania for nine days. It was quite an amazing trip, my first mission trip ever. We were able to build a playground area with a basketball goal, volleyball and tether ball sets for the underprivileged kids in the BC community and visit an orphanage in Skhoder. But most of the time was spent with the American missionary our church supports and the local pastors and church members in these two areas.

The country is beautiful but so run down. The mountain ranges were stunning but the mountainside gravel roads with hairpin turns and no guardrails were a little scary. The people we met were so gracious, so proud of their heritage and their faith. I was humbled and blessed to have met them and spent time with them. I hope we encouraged them as much as they encouraged and challenged us.

It was my first mission trip but it will not be my last.