Cultural Lessons From the Redhead

Welcome to cultural lesson number one. Keep this in mind the next time it is 100 degrees and you are without an air conditioner. Did you know that Montenegrins believe that sickness can be traced to two distinct causes: drafts and not wearing house slippers?  They will not let you keep 2 windows, a door AND a window, etc. open at the same time. For example, if it is 100 degrees outside, you will only be able to roll down one window in your car.  No more. Another example: you can open one window in your room, but only if you close the door first. I badly misinterpreted this belief. I was assuming a closed door meant the same that it did in America: stay out! If I had followed my cultural expectations and “stayed out” every time the door was closed, I would never have had any opportunities to talk with my host family. It has been the little things like that that have been the biggest surprises for me.

I’ve had the opportunity to take pictures of the absolutely beautiful surroundings. Pictures could never do it justice, but I’ll share one anyway. Imagine gorgeous mountains plunging straight into a ridiculously blue sea, decorated by quaint towns made of stone. Above you find my favorite of the bunch. You can’t see Herceg Novi (where I am staying), but you can see the Bay of Kotor and the mountains.  You should be able to find this area on a map if you wanted to.

I have also had the opportunity to begin learning about the culture. Like many cultures, there is usually not a distinction between personal beliefs and cultural expectations/traditions. The dominant religion is Orthodox, but the majority do not attend any sort of weekly worship service . It is a big change from the “church on every corner” found in the bible belt.  Out of an estimated 40,000 natives, there are an estimated 5 believers in the area.

I'm looking forward to spending 2 more weeks here, but am afraid the time will go by too quickly! I hope all is well on your side of the world!

Kat has landed!

Zdravo (hello) from Montenegro! After around 24 hours of travel and over 30 hours without sleep, I have officially landed in Montenegro. By “accident” I had a 9 hour layover in Rome.  What a blessing to run into another American girl traveling on her own with an open afternoon! She let me drop my belongings off in her hotel and we ran around Rome for a few hours. This is a picture of us in front of the Colosseum. It makes the new Dallas Cowboy monstrocity of a football stadium look tiny and insignificant, especially since this was made without machinery. 20th century folks are such wussies. 

I have my own room at a house with a welcoming and hospitable Montenegrin family. And to answer the first 2 questions I always have, yes,  there is running water and working toilets! I was actually welcomed the first night by a rare Texas-sized thunderstorm that reminded me of home. The city I am in was built ON the mountain and next to a coast. It is absolutely breathtaking. I have spent the last few days walking around town, learning some language basics (serbo-croatian), learning more of the history of the region, and basically getting accustomed to the area. Next week I will begin to teach an intermediate and advanced English class. I'm looking forward to getting better plugged into the culture and meeting some of the native Montenegrins! 

More pictures and updates will be coming after I get a chance to take a few more pictures and have more time to get settled. PLEASE let me know if you have anything you'd like to know more about! Thanks for checking in!

Cucemo se! (Keep in touch)

And I'm off!!!

Okay..... I admit it. I used moving day as an opportunity to put a shameless "my-niece-is-cuter-than-your-niece" picture up, but I couldn't help it. Can you seriously blame me? Meet Karlie, born to the Moy family on August 14th, 2007. Although my brother and father did all the heavy lifting, Karlie helped us a lot on moving day by giving us a smiling face to come "home" to!

So... there you have it. On Saturday, I moved all of my belongings into storage until I get back on July 20th. I fly out of Montenegro  TUESDAY afternoon (yes, tomorrow!) at 12:15. Next post will be after I get settled in! 

In preparation of leaving, I want to share with you one of my favorite passages in all of scripture:

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ ALWAYS leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?" 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

Friends, I definitely do not feel sufficient for these things on my own. But, I DO feel sufficient by the work of Jesus in me. I know He has led me to take this trip, and I rejoice that His grace is sufficient for me and that His power is made perfect in my many weaknesses. (2 corinthians 12:9). May his light shine through me thoughout this trip and to Him be all the glory.

Blessings to all...

2 weeks!

Thanks for checking out my blog! I can't believe how long it has been since my last posting! I also can't believe that I leave in LESS THAN 2 WEEKS!

To update- all the needed financial support has been raised!!!! Praise the Lord! A big thank you to those that donated, prayed about donating, or just prayed-you are HUGE blessing! As I mentioned earlier, I hope and pray that you feel like a part of this ministry. Without you, this trip would not be possible!

I officially fly out of Dallas on June 10th. I will be spending around 3 weeks in Montenegro and 5 days in Thailand. If you are wondering why I am spending more time in Montenegro, it is because they have some specific ministry needs for the summer and an easier housing set up. I arrive back in Dallas on July 20th. 

Because of flight arrangements and the challenge of coordinating transportation/schedules  to the different areas, I will also have an opportunity to take a few "tourist" days in the midst of my stops in Montenegro and Thailand. Basically, I changed 4 hour layovers into 2 day layovers. I will be having extra stops in Rome (not overnight), Athens, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles. No support money will be used for this part of the trip. It added no extra cost to the plane ticket, and I will be paying any additional costs out my own pocket. If you know of anyone in these areas, I would love to meet up with them!

"Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:30-31

 The last few weeks have been very hectic for me, and it doesn't look to slow down any leading up the departure date! I praise the Lord for the way he has given me energy, the ability manage the schedule, and good health.  I truly don't believe there is any other explanation as to how smoothly the last few weeks have gone. As the old saying goes, "If the Lord calls you to it, He'll see you through it."

Thanks for checking in- I appreciate all of you! 

FAQ's!!!

1. Where the heck is Montenegro?

Imagine Italy as a boot. Now, put spurs on the boot and you kick Montenegro.

And for those of you that saw the last James Bond movie Casino Royal (if you haven't, I strongly recommend it!) NO-that is not what Montenegro is really like. But, I wouldn't necessarily mind it if I happened to run into David Craig.... :)  

2. Why would you want to go to Montenegro?

I have always felt the Lord calling me to serve overseas. In the past, I had an interest to go to China, but I was convicted that my main reason for interest in China was because of friends around me who wanted to go there rather than God's specific leading to that country. While I didn't have a specific place or a culture I was interested in, I did have the desire to go overseas to a group of people that have a very little Christian population and no established church (an unreached people group). The Lord had also given me the specific desires to go to a warm mountainous area and use the gifts he's been given me.

This conviction/realization happened when I was at the orientation program at PIONEERS this past January. The next day, the team from Montengro was there, recruiting for "an outdoorsy person who could get involved in a local music school and be involved in athletics." My heart just about beat out of my chest. I spoke with the team leaders afterward and we really hit it off. I plan on spending the majority of my time in Montenegro ministering with the missionaries that are stationed there now.

3. Why Thailand?

Like Montenegro, Thailand is a warm, mountainous area and a need for workers. They also have a very large international school in Chiang Mai for English-speaking families.  I love to teach and I feel that the Lord has gifted me in teaching, and I could be a full time teacher in Chiang Mai. I will be taking a short survey trip (4-5 days) to see the area, look at the school, meet the missionaries stationed there, and experience the culture.

4. How can we get in touch with you this summer?

By emailing me at katmoy@gmail.com, posting on this blog (yay, class participation!!!!!), and/or facebook stalk me.

5. How is support raising going?

This has been an overwhelming process for me, but in a good way!  Thank you to all of you that have given financially and prayerfully. Without you, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. I hope and pray that as I send updates that you will be able to fully understand how you are as much a part of the ministry as I am. I am an extension of you.

I am still in the process of raising financial support. It is difficult to know exactly how much as been raised do the the delay in having it sent directly to Florida. Once I get a final word, I will let you all know!!!

6. What is this PI organization you speak so kindly of?

PI is a Christian missions sending organization. They focus on teaming up with the local church to send missionaries to unreached people groups. They do not financially support missionaries, rather, they help you to organize to go, provide accountability, follow up, etc.

7. When will you be gone?

School for me does not get out until June 5th and I have a rehearsal on July 20th. My specific flight plan has not been finalized. I am looking to leave on June 10th or 11th and return on July 20th.