Travel with me to Albania

Where is Albania you ask? Officially known as The Republic of Albania, the nation is located in South Eastern Europe. The country sits across the Adriatic Sea from the heel of Italy with Greece as its south and southeastern neighbor. Albania is about the size of the state of Maryland with a population of 3.1 million people. Its per capita income is approximately $2,580 and more than a quarter of the population lives below the poverty level, making Albania one of the poorest countries in Europe. Often family members will work in neighboring Greece and send money home to provide for their families.

In 1967 the communist government created the world's first officially atheistic country when it outlawed all religions. It was ruled by the most repressive and isolated regime in Europe until 1991, when it became the last country to emerge from the communist regime. Since then the nation has struggled through years of political instability and ecomonic collapse. An outbreak of civil disorder erupted in 1997, followed by an influx of 460,000 Kosovar refugees in 1998. This increased the burden on the already deteriorating political, ecomonic, and social infrastructures. Today Albanians enjoy full religous freedom. and while the government is an "emerging democracy" maintaining infrastructure is extremely difficult, especially in rural areas.

Alongside Ministries International hosts the Crossroads Christian Camp in Erseke in southern Albania. The children and youth are introduced to Jesus Christ and loved on by Christians in a one-week camp enviroment that includes crafts, games, bible lessons, and a ropes course (don't we all love camp!). I feel very priviledged to be part of bringing Christ into the lives of these young people.

Excerpts borrowed from World Vision http://www.worldvision.org/

Monday, June 28, 2010

From Duress, Albania

After almost missing my flight from SFO, I met up with the Dundee Presbyterian team in Chicago, and we made our way to Tirana, Albania, the capital and only commercial airport in Albania. We are staying in a seaside city, Duress, just west from there for two nights. There's so much I'd like to write about that I've already learned about the Albanian culture but I can't get an internet connection so I emailed this post to Rod on my Blackberry and asked him to post it. I'll write more as soon as I can get an Internet connection.

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3 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 29, 2010 at 7:36 AM

    Oh! You got to Albania sooner than I thought!! I really look forward to any posts that you are able to make. Traveling Mercies!! Love, Tanya

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  2. UnknownJune 29, 2010 at 8:23 AM

    You are a brave soul. How truly scarey it must have been to miss your flight. Now that the worst is over, may the rest of your experience be happily memorable and rewarding. Thinking of you! Denise

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  3. UnknownJune 30, 2010 at 4:47 PM

    Hi Cathy! We miss you here at the house! I am so glad you made it there safely! I can't wait to hear what it is like at the camp!
    Love, Ashley

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