Thursday morning

The dawn was sunny this morning with no clouds that I can see.  That means it will heat up today, I think.  For the last week we have had dark clouds dumping buckets of water then moving on, leaving gentle breezes, flitting clouds and a comfortable temperature.  Other than the fact that the clouds seemed to time their downpours with my excursions, it has been quite pleasant.

Recall that I spent Thursday and Monday with Ida teaching three ladies how to make the beaded necklace project I have.  It seems that word has spread, and our attendance at beading class doubled to six on Tuesday - with three children.  (Yesterday, I purchased some coloring books to give those patient children an activity.)  Two ladies brought their finished necklaces in, and we exchanged them for five to do for pay, to be done Monday.  What is a fair wage?  It sees that if they work sewing shoes all day (recall our spring visit where one shoe fetches about 10 to 15 cents), or in a factory, that they can clear about $2 a day.  We have tried to find a fair wage, but one which allows us to price our product reasonably in the US - our potential market for the time being.  Hopefully, we have done so... and the widows say they think it is fair. 


Then back to the Stephen Center to meet Theresa Weaver, a missionary from Florida who has spent quite a bit of time in the north - first Shkroder, then B-Currie (where we went to church last Sunday).  She is helping a young girl with hearing problems, and we lunched together.  We were looking into what skills the ladies in the villages/north have, and are there any that can be translated into products for export.  Well, they basically crochet and knit, according to Theresa.  Ok, then, can we use that?  It seems they can duplicate just about anything we give them - so, perhaps!  Unfortunately, weaving seems to be falling by the wayside.  So, this arena needs more work.

Then a short rest (30 minutes) and back to Bathore for a widows' meeting.  We piled into a taxi (five women and a little boy) and headed out to meet at Chamila's bar (next to Ida's) - another coffee, worship (beautiful viola and women's voices - familiar music and lovely words), then my testimony and a talk by a woman who is a psychologist teaching at the local university speaking on child abuse - physical, emotional and sexual.  The widows were extremely attentive, and it seems that she hit a chord with a few.  Migena and I talked about resources if one (or more) of the widows come forward with a problem... Migena has it covered!!

Migena and Ida - with few resources - obviously have a heart for these women.  While there are many widows in Bathore (Ida said about 150... I wonder if that is a little low), and they cannot serve all of them, they have decided to share their own resources and lives with 40 or so.  Without fanfare, they give these ladies (and their children) friendship, advice, respect, food and dignity.  They truly are the feet and hands of our Abba in action.  Migena started this on her own without a mission covering and without the support (initially) of her pastor or church - just the urging of her Abba.  Ida closed a successful shop to relocate to Bathore - about 45 minutes from her home - to be closer to the women and to befriend them.  They are both listening to the words and promptings they receive from Him, and they are obeying.  Oh, that the whole family would do that... it would be a movement that would amaze the world!  And, be unstoppable.

Finally, home to dinner and a shower.  It had been a busy but exciting day.  Wednesday, I left Ida alone in her shop so she could get a little work done.  Her day is normally punctuated with friendly greetings as people pass by as well as others looking for some work to be done.  So, Ida, even without me, has an unpredictable time - making it hard to get her contracted work done.

This is the "before"

The ministry center

And the "after" - a classroom

Wednesday, I was invited to give a craft at a girl's club with missionaries for the Roma.  Perhaps you remember Krystal, Marcella and Julie - three families who are missionaries to the two tribes of Roma that live near the "river".  We spent some time at Marcella's house last visit, and this time we thought we'd teach the girls how to crochet during girl's club at Krystal's house.  So, there was some prep to be done - with loads of "liquid sunshine" to compliment it, and in the afternoon we  left for Krystal's.  It was nice to have a somewhat lazy morning after all the activity.

A second, larger classroom

The "factory"

The "factory"

You would not believe what this team of missionaries has done!  Right now, Krystal and Don live on the first floor of a house on a rather large piece of property which once housed a factory for making road tiles (?) during Communist times and perhaps served as an armory somewhere it in its past.  There are mountains of gravel, and several abandoned cement buildings, with all the equipment they contained pilfered.  One of the outbuildings has been outfitted for ministry by Don (primarily) as he taught the local young men how to do carpentry, plastering and so on.  You would be amazed at the result!  And, an attempt to begin a business making fire pits for patio use.  Kyle is hoping to help in efforts to train the locals and begin a self-sustaining business whose primary purpose is training - and sharing the Gospel not just in word, but also in deed.

Krystal, Julie and Marcelle visit women, have kids' clubs (originally one club, now THREE!!), try to develop relationships and garner trust.  Here, the older girls meet for a time of art (coloring), Gospel stories, treats, craft and games.  There were about 10 or 12 yesterday, Albanians and some from both tribes.  These groups rarely intermix - except at Krystal's house and the ministry.  And, here I found Fatiana - the Roma girl we spent time with on our last visit!  And, she remembered me!

Girls here marry at around 12 to 15 - by 16 (in one tribe) they are old maids!  The young wives must stay at home for a time as they serve their mother-in-law and their husband's whole family (including the other daughters-in-law).   So, we discussed the possibility of teaching two of these young marrieds how to make purses out of plastic bags - thanks Liz and Jennifer!  We'll see what comes of that.  Krystal, Julie and I discussed ways we could support their ministry... they asked for prayer!  They need faithful prayer warriors - the enemy is so busy over here! 

Right now, Krystal and Don have been recalled early to gather financial support.  Please pray for these faithful servants - that God would make their fundraising successful beyond their wildest dreams (so they can fund the ministry center above, for one), that they would be encouraged by the their siblings in the US, that others would catch the vision, and that their efforts would be blessed in Tirane... to God's glory!

Oh, and the greatest news of their ministry!  They have been working to plant a church - which is beginning to take root - and while I am here, they are having not only their FIRST BAPTISM (of five) but it will be PUBLIC - what an idea.  Praise our wonderful Abba!  Hopefully, I will be there.

Well, enough for now - please do uphold these two teams of selfless brothers and sisters in their ministries - that the enemy would be held back, that the worldly resources would pour in, that the Word of our Abba would continue to shine in these neighborhoods!  These siblings of ours surely work with "the least of these"- the forgotten, the disposable.

Mirupashen!