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Leilani took a year [br]from studying at her university
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to become a student missionary.
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She knew she wanted to serve overseas
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but didn’t know [br]where God wanted her to go.
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I was just looking for a position [br]I could teach English
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in a country that I had never heard of.
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So I prayed to God, [br]asked him to give me a place
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I had never been to.
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Now I’m here, and it’s [br]the best decision I’ve ever made.
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Leilani was nervous when her plane [br]touched down in Albania.
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But now, just one month later,
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she’s discovering [br]both the joys and challenges
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of being an Adventist Volunteer.
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She’s volunteering at this kindergarten,
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which is run by the humanitarian [br]organization ADRA Albania
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in cooperation with local church leaders.
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The school was started with the belief
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that investing [br]in the community’s education
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will create happy, [br]healthy children and families,
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contributing to a stronger society.
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I’m the kindergarten ESL teacher.
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I teach three classes, [br]and all of them are in English.
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Her classroom is bursting with energy
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as the kids engage in fun activities.
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Being a volunteer [br]is not always simple or easy.
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Leilani has had to adapt [br]to a new language and culture.
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When she arrived, [br]she couldn’t speak Albanian.
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And then I come here [br]and I don’t understand anything,
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and everybody’s translating for me.
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Another challenge is being so far [br]from her family and friends
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in the United States.
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But the loneliest times [br]have only reinforced her trust in God.
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My spiritual life [br]has definitely become stronger
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just being here for a month.
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I didn’t even expect it.
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God is there every single day.
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I came here, [br]and my first day here I was like,
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"What am I doing here?"
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But through this whole process [br]you can see God.
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And so just being here I’m like,
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"Whoa, You do have me, [br]You do take care of me."
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It just shocked me. It’s pretty cool.
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It’s actually really cool to know
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somebody’s watching out for you.
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Please pray [br]for Adventist Volunteers like Leilani,
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who have accepted God’s call to serve.
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You too can visit AdventistVolunteers.org
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to see a list of current [br]volunteer opportunities.
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Thank you for supporting [br]the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work
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around the world!