Albania

Thank you for helping in Albania through your prayers. Once again the Lord has done amazing things. Grady—an Oregonian whom I met in India—and I were the only foreigners on a team of about 40 Albanians. We were working with Campus Crusade for Christ in a discipleship camp targeted at college age students. Our daily routine for the three weeks we were in the coastal city of Durres was classes in the mornings, evangelism on the beaches in the afternoons, and praise sessions mixed with traditional dancing (picture below) and fun times in the evenings. About eight first time decisions were made at the beach and students dramatically enriched their walk with God.

Albania is 47 miles across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. Here is a location map:

This is a old country and language dating from before Greek times. I am told there are some 20 million Albanians living around the world but only 3.5 million live in Albania due to the poor economy. One of my hosts shuddered as he told me of the brutal repression of communism that lasted until 1991. Sadly, 60 percent of the national budget was spent during the 1960's through the mid-1980's on bomb shelters to save the people from the imperialist Americans. As a result of unfounded fear, the national economy was destroyed while the countryside was littered with cement and rebar. Here is a picture of today's impoverished youth playing on yesterday's ruinous bunkers:

Albanians are gregarious, hospitable people. I can see why God is bringing many of them into his kingdom. The Christians I met are beautiful examples of Christ-like servants. 70 percent of the general populous are traditional but largely non-practicing Muslims.

Above are some of our Albanian team members: Bottom row: Lorana, Eddy, Aronjni, Tony, Gentie- Top: Zona, Ella, Delia, Neta, Don, Erma, Alma, Basie, baby Veronica, Gentie, Mirela

In this picture Tony had just broken his foot during a soccer game and spent the rest of our trip in a cast.

As you can see the beach was ridiculously crowded, mostly with Kosovars on holiday. Several were led to the Lord including these two girls sitting on either side of Monica who was used for the harvest:

I was able to preach/teach six times including three times last Sunday that included a church of all woman and children meeting in a widow's home. Men are culturally not allowed into a widow's home and so none could attend this lady's house congregation.


Sleeping quarters were a little cramped but it helped us really bond. We slept like hamsters; when one stirred all the rest shifted a little and went back to sleep:

Albanians have a superstition of the dreaded evil-eye curse from malicious passersby. Therefore a child's toy is hung from some houses to distract the curse away from the home. Outside of Christ, we all tend toward goofy beliefs.

Here is Grady suffering for Christ during beach evangelism with an interesting choice of candidates. This girl rejected his offer of Christ so according to Matt 10:14 he shook the sand from his sandals and went swimming.

Below is a picture of Amre who often translated for Grady and me. I was able to counsel with her about moving past a deep pain caused by an American boyfriend. He heedlessly said intimate things that in Albanian culture equate to engagement. Her parents granted permission for the marriage. Because he was a seminary student in the States, Amre trusted her heart to him not realizing that in his mind he was still in an exploratory dating mode. Traditionally, Albanians do not date without intent to marry so when he called to say he was moving on to another girl, Amre was devastated.

Through prayer we were able to help Amre see what every Christian must eventually learn experientially: no human can complete and fulfill us; that role is reserved for Jesus only. It was difficult to see this daughter I adopted in Christ with so much pain and it frustrates me that fellow Americans can be so culturally-centric that they travel the world spreading pain, nevertheless I rejoice to see the new depth of love between Amre and the truest Lover of her soul: Jesus.

Thank you all for your prayers, they have resulted in more brothers and sisters around the throne for eternity and more rewards to celebrate with our King. Thank you for your love and participation in the gospel.

Phil 1:3-6

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.