The last day

Due to my blasted illness, this last day promises to be quite busy!  So, let's get started!

To pick up from yesterday, Thursday was in Lushjne.  By the way, does anyone know the history of Lushnje?  It's quite interesting... but for another day.  If anyone knows, then fill us in by writing a comment!

Hard at work at IPA

Vitoria, first to finish top

Huma and Donna - all done!

A seamstress and Donna

Friday was the day to place the sewing machines.  Remember I told you that the "Action Packer" that Joe had checked was yet to arrive?  Well, it still hadn't (and hasn't yet), so we went to the International Protestant Assembly with two machines.  Lisa is the new women's minister, and she met us there with her version of the current virus (I'm not the only one with this cold!), and slowly, as happens in Albania, people began to show up.  We had eventually about seven or eight women - all interested in having one of those pillows!  Actually, two... each kit made two.

Huma was from a village where Donna is planting a church.  I understand it was the first time she had ever used a sewing machine.  Huma was determined to finish the pillow cover, and finally did... 5 1/2 hours after we started!  For the others who didn't finish it all, we are heading back today to give them the final instructions.  It sounds like the staff there will be using those machines exactly as I had envisioned - praise God!

Friday night, after all that sewing and a brisk walk home, I was tired!  I had to prepare for Saturday.

A wood heated meeting room

Children on the playground at center

The upstairs play room

Migena with some of th

Saturday was not exactly a sewing day, but rather one to investigate a center in Bathore, a mission called GlobalCare, to see if we could help in some way.  Under the tutelage of Avis, this center provides a meeting place, child care, and other services to the surrounding poor neighborhoods.  Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting Avis, she chose two women who are being helped by the center for me to meet. But first, the center... an upstairs play room for the kids, complete with equipment to climb on... a playground out front for outside play... a large sunny meeting room which could accommodate sewing someday... a few offices and crafts for sale.

Nixhmije, her children, mother and a worker from the center.

The first woman was 29 year old Nixhmije with five children ranging in age from about 2 to about 10 years old.  She had attended school until the 8th grade, and was married at the age of about 16.  Her husband spent the last few years of his life in a bitter depression which eventually led him to commit suicide almost four years ago by hanging himself.  He was found by his daughter, Lula, then about 1-2 years old.  Nishmije currently lives in a rented home with her mother and father (who has had a stroke and is partially paralyzed).  She has worked at sewing shoes in a factory, but was fired when she had to stay home with a sick child.  Her oldest son wants to be a cook, and her younger son an engineer.  They live on about $50 every other month from the state and some handouts from her brother who still lives in the village.  Despite their poverty, they were gracious and served us a drink and candies, as is the Albanian way.

Piece work - 13 cents a shoe

Vera and family

Vera is 21 years old and has two daughters, one of whom is in school and doing well.  She currently lives with her three brothers, mother and epileptic father in a house the family owns.  Until recently, their house had just two rooms.  The center helped to add on two additional rooms, an indoor sink and a bathroom.  She was married at about 16, arranged by her uncle, to an Albanian construction worker in Greece.  He died of an "attack" almost four years ago when she was just 1 month pregnant with her second child.  Her education is to the 2nd grade; she can read, but can't write or do arithmetic.  Currently, her mother and she do piecework... hand-sewing those beautiful Italian shoes - so think of that the next time you buy a pair.  They receive 13 Lek (or about 13 cents) per shoe. 




Well, these are sad stories and my heart breaks... but what can we do?  That was my next question.  Well, both women would like to learn to sew, and Migena has a friend in Tirana who is willing to teach them.  But, they need sewing machines.  So, off to the sewing machine store.

One of his favorites

We'll see him again!

So, you think you just find the nearest Singer dealer, right?  Well, not so fast... there are none.  At least, if there are, they need to do better advertising because nobody knows where they are.  So, we went to a fellow who repairs machines, and asked what machines he had.  He had some reconditioned Pfaffs.  So, we bought it - and one for Dori and her church.  Kathie had actually left money to do that as part of her ministry.  You don't just ask the price, though, you  must barter otherwise everyone feels cheated of the entertainment.  So, you hem and haw, ask a lot of questions, and finally come up with an agreeable price... probably higher for me than it would have been for an Albanian.

Then to Dori's for lunch, again to the repair shop to get Dori's machine fixed, a smoothie at the Stephen Center, then church with Alban and Dori (Alban translated for me - he does such a good job).  My cough was returning (remember the "night air"?), so hightailed it back to my room, and dropped into bed.  Sunday was church at IPA, then a day of rest.

Well, you are now up to date.  I'm currently putting on my running shoes... it promises to be a marathon today.  See you soon!