Albania and what's next!!

Hey everyone!! I pray you are doing well and are falling in love with Jesus more every day!!

DTS has officially come to an end! I’ve returned from Albania with a tender heart and smiles of what the Lord has done!  

To recap, I finished staffing a YWAM Discipleship Training School that began with 6 months of training in Kona, followed by leading a three-month outreach to Albania. We then travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, where we spent time debriefing—first with our students and then as a staff team—reflecting on all that God had done throughout this season. Then I returned home for a couple weeks to rest, spend time with friends and family and seek the Lord!

Albania 

We finished our time in Albania by hosting a gathering called ‘ignite’, where we gathered mostly young people for a night of worship, testimonies, the gospel, and ministry! It was a powerful time when we saw Albanians encounter Jesus, receive healing, and walk in new freedom! Watching lives be transformed right in front of us was an incredible reminder of why we go—to make Jesus known and see His kingdom come. 

After ‘Ignite’, we had our last week in the capital Tirana, where we connected our new friends to missionaries and churches there so they can continue walking with them and did the last of evangelism and prayer in this city. Then, our team took time for a field debrief in southern Albania, processing all that we had experienced while also enjoying moments of fun and rest. (I even convinced some of my teammates to jump into the sea with me in the freezing cold rain!) Then, with tearful goodbyes, we parted ways with our contacts who had become our best friends and travelled back to the US.

Albania holds such a special place in my heart. It was a place where the truth and stability of Jesus sustained me, where the beauty of the Albanian people encouraged me, and where I saw God making His dwelling among them, even though many don’t yet realize it yet. God is not finished with Albania! From street evangelism, open-air preaching and partnering with local churches, to hosting a gathering, God continually reminded us that He is pursuing the people of Albania.

This season stretched me in ways I never expected. I was challenged to trust God deeper, lean on His strength, and surrender in new ways. There were moments of exhaustion and uncertainty, but also so much joy—watching hearts soften, laughing with new friends, and seeing lives transformed!!

I caught another glimpse of God’s relentless love, His pursuit of people, and the way He turns even the smallest “yes” into something eternal. Even in the hardest moments, there was beauty. He is faithful in the struggle and present in the waiting. Albania changed me, and I will never stop being in awe of the God who calls us to go. I’m incredibly grateful for my team and all that we walked through together. It wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it. We saw young people encounter Jesus for the first time, had deep conversations with those searching for truth, and watched as God opened doors we could have never opened on our own. 

A couple of cool testimonies of the power of God:

• One night in Albania, my students (Max and Sophie) met an Albanian gangster named Donnie who hated Jesus. After sharing testimonies and the gospel, Donnie challenged them: “If my sick friend is healed, I’ll believe.” That night, surrounded by gangsters, they prayed over a man with a shrivelled arm and mental illness. God spoke—he would be healed in three days. Three weeks later, Max asked God for confirmation, and within minutes, Donnie called—freaking out, shouting, “I need your God!” God showed up in power, and the miracle led Donnie to salvation!

• At the start of outreach, one of my students received a call from his Mormon friend back home—a bull had completely broken his hand, and he was scheduled for major surgery. Believing in God's power, my student put the call on speaker, and as our team prayed for healing, God moved. Miraculously, his hand was fully restored, and the surgery was cancelled!

Overall we saw:

7 Salvations

30 Healings

73 Bibles distributed

1 Deliverance

500+ people heard the whole gospel!!

Praise God!!!

Heart  

In this season, God has been reminding me of the importance of seeking His face and allowing Him alone to satisfy me. The goal isn’t fruit, perfection, or even ministry itself—it’s Jesus. There’s power in shifting our focus away from what we lack and instead fixing our eyes on the presence of Jesus, which we will never lack (Psalm 23:1). The more we behold Him, the more we are transformed to look like Him. The goal is Jesus.

I am also reminded that God and His Word are unshakable because He is truth and perfection. And because I am rooted in Him—as His daughter—I cannot be shaken!

So, What’s Next? 

As I transition from outreach, I’m preparing to head to Amsterdam (I’m actually already here!!) for a Discipleship Bible School (DBS) with YWAM!! This has been in my heart for a while, and I am beyond excited to dive deeper into God’s Word. I believe this season will be one of growth and equipping, preparing me for what’s ahead in my journey with missions. 

This school will take me through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, giving me a deeper understanding of God’s redemptive story and how to live out His truth daily. In 3 months we will read the whole Bible! Though I grew up in the church and have read the Bible, I’ve never truly devoted myself to studying it the way I have with other spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, and intimacy with Jesus. This season is set apart for me to be deeply rooted in His Word, and I cannot wait to see how He speaks and moves! 

Prayer 

As I enter this next chapter, I would love your continued prayers and support! Specifically, please pray for: 

• Rest and renewal after an intense outreach season—that I would be refreshed spiritually, emotionally, and physically. 

• Financial provision for DBS, trusting that God will provide all that is needed for tuition and living expenses. 

• An open heart to receive all that God wants to teach me and a willingness to be transformed by His Word. 

The Lord has set a clear vision for me to serve in full-time, long-term missions, and I’m saying yes to following Him wherever He leads! As a missionary, I don’t earn an income, I cover all my living expenses, travel, and ministry costs personally. God has given me a target that I am contending for of raising £2000 per month to cover housing, flights, outreach, and now, my upcoming DBS. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with me financially—whether through a one-time gift or as a monthly supporter? Every contribution, no matter the amount, is an investment in God’s kingdom. If you’d like to give or hear more about what your support will go toward, I’d love to connect with you! 

I now have a UK missions account that gives me 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate!! (if you are a UK taxpayer). Which makes such a difference!   

Click here: www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/Oliviawarren   

To visualise- my goal is to be have every spot filled which will allow me to fully focus on what God is doing in front of me and my role in it!

I also want to take a moment to say THANK YOU—for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity. Your partnership has been such a blessing to me! If you feel led to partner with me financially in this next season, I would love to connect and share more about how you can be involved! .

God is moving, and I’m so grateful to be part of His work. I’d love to hear from you—how can I be praying for you in this season? Please feel free to share any updates or prayer requests—connecting with you always brings me joy!

JESUS IS WINNING!!

With love and gratitude, 

Olivia <3