1 00:00:06,520 --> 00:00:09,198 Leilani took a year from studying at her university 2 00:00:09,198 --> 00:00:11,148 to become a student missionary. 3 00:00:11,148 --> 00:00:13,478 She knew she wanted to serve overseas 4 00:00:13,478 --> 00:00:15,954 but didn’t know where God wanted her to go. 5 00:00:15,954 --> 00:00:18,754 I was just looking for a position I could teach English 6 00:00:18,754 --> 00:00:20,950 in a country that I had never heard of. 7 00:00:20,950 --> 00:00:24,086 So I prayed to God, asked him to give me a place 8 00:00:24,086 --> 00:00:25,495 I had never been to. 9 00:00:25,495 --> 00:00:28,444 Now I’m here, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. 10 00:00:29,635 --> 00:00:32,659 Leilani was nervous when her plane touched down in Albania. 11 00:00:32,875 --> 00:00:35,004 But now, just one month later, 12 00:00:35,162 --> 00:00:37,892 she’s discovering both the joys and challenges 13 00:00:37,892 --> 00:00:39,937 of being an Adventist Volunteer. 14 00:00:40,457 --> 00:00:42,537 She’s volunteering at this kindergarten, 15 00:00:42,537 --> 00:00:45,915 which is run by the humanitarian organization ADRA Albania 16 00:00:45,915 --> 00:00:48,260 in cooperation with local church leaders. 17 00:00:48,260 --> 00:00:49,791 The school was started with the belief 18 00:00:49,791 --> 00:00:52,030 that investing in the community’s education 19 00:00:52,431 --> 00:00:55,468 will create happy, healthy children and families, 20 00:00:55,697 --> 00:00:57,884 contributing to a stronger society. 21 00:01:11,332 --> 00:01:13,642 I’m the kindergarten ESL teacher. 22 00:01:13,642 --> 00:01:17,502 I teach three classes, and all of them are in English. 23 00:01:17,944 --> 00:01:20,104 Her classroom is bursting with energy 24 00:01:20,104 --> 00:01:22,342 as the kids engage in fun activities. 25 00:01:30,321 --> 00:01:33,444 Being a volunteer is not always simple or easy. 26 00:01:33,953 --> 00:01:37,066 Leilani has had to adapt to a new language and culture. 27 00:01:37,251 --> 00:01:40,115 When she arrived, she couldn’t speak Albanian. 28 00:01:40,341 --> 00:01:43,411 And then I come here and I don’t understand anything, 29 00:01:43,411 --> 00:01:45,524 and everybody’s translating for me. 30 00:01:46,199 --> 00:01:49,310 Another challenge is being so far from her family and friends 31 00:01:49,310 --> 00:01:50,740 in the United States. 32 00:01:50,740 --> 00:01:54,521 But the loneliest times have only reinforced her trust in God. 33 00:01:54,761 --> 00:01:58,721 My spiritual life has definitely become stronger 34 00:01:58,721 --> 00:02:00,525 just being here for a month. 35 00:02:00,525 --> 00:02:02,081 I didn’t even expect it. 36 00:02:02,484 --> 00:02:05,096 God is there every single day. 37 00:02:05,850 --> 00:02:10,360 I came here, and my first day here I was like, 38 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,680 "What am I doing here?" 39 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:18,583 But through this whole process you can see God. 40 00:02:18,583 --> 00:02:20,673 And so just being here I’m like, 41 00:02:20,673 --> 00:02:23,483 "Whoa, You do have me, You do take care of me." 42 00:02:23,483 --> 00:02:25,743 It just shocked me. It’s pretty cool. 43 00:02:25,743 --> 00:02:27,742 It’s actually really cool to know 44 00:02:27,742 --> 00:02:29,422 somebody’s watching out for you. 45 00:02:30,007 --> 00:02:33,113 Please pray for Adventist Volunteers like Leilani, 46 00:02:33,113 --> 00:02:35,525 who have accepted God’s call to serve. 47 00:02:35,915 --> 00:02:39,089 You too can visit AdventistVolunteers.org 48 00:02:39,089 --> 00:02:41,828 to see a list of current volunteer opportunities. 49 00:02:42,665 --> 00:02:45,925 Thank you for supporting the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work 50 00:02:45,925 --> 00:02:47,367 around the world!