God speaks to us in many ways. He often speaks to me through quiet times in nature. Many times, He has spoken to my husband through divine providence. How I love to hear God’s voice through scriptures, but especially when He arranges for me to find His special message where I never saw it before, and just at the right time.

This is what God did as I was first researching Albania and was still asking Him to make it clear if that’s where He wanted my family to serve Him. I learned that the Albanian people descended from the Illyrians, an ancient tribal Balkan people. My excitement grew as I also found that the southern portion of Illyria contained much of New-Testament Macedonia. Were we hearing the “Macedonian Call?” “Please, Lord, make it clearer to me,” I pleaded.

A short time later, I was reading Romans 15, and verses 19 through 21 really stood out to me, especially Paul’s words, “From Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Could Illyricum be the Illyria of Albania? It wasn’t on any of the maps tracing Paul’s missionary journeys, yet here it was, written in the scriptures. Further research revealed that Albanian legend maintains that Paul did indeed visit that country at the port city now known as Durres. And, yes, Illyricum was the Greek name for the Roman province of Illyria, now known as Albania. It was as though God pointed out Albania on a map and said to me, “Go here.” I was awestruck. Once again, God had clearly revealed the next step I was to take.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

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