The Judd’s song, “You Are Loved”, has been a favorite of mine for a long time.  The words, “the world’s greatest treasure is to know that you are loved”, have a new meaning to me now. 

We recently returned from our last trip to Albania and Macedonia before our retirement from CBF this coming October.  We visited with friends, some we have known from the time we arrived in Albania in 1994.

Our conversations were full of memories we have shared together.  In some cases, their children who were just beginning school then, have completed their formal education, married, and some have children of their own now.  We laughed together as they reminded us of how we met and the good times we shared together.  We also cried, as we remembered the difficult days; days of conflict and war, the loss of loved ones, and other hardships we have faced together over the years.

We were reminded that we are part of their family, a witness that they have survived, and partners as we have ministered together – caring for others that were in need of knowing they are loved.  This is what our 33 years of living overseas has meant to us:  belonging to cultures that were once foreign to us, speaking languages that we struggled to learn, and becoming partners and family.  In short, we know that we are loved.

The rooftops of Albania.

The old castle in Kruja, Albania, where we lived from 1996-1998.

The Mosque.

Downtown Skopje, Macedonia; Albanian women shopping.

Poppies in the field.

Village setting – much like what we lived in in Albania.

This photo blogs comes from one of CBF’s retired field personnel, Shelia Earl. It will be part of a series of photo blogs by Shelia, documenting her experiences as a field personnel and travels now.