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/

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Campership Check Presented

I was truly honored and privileged yesterday, just before we left Durres, to present Mark Stoscher with the campership check that many of you contributed to. I welled up with emotion (as I am right now as I write this) when I told him how much he and his ministry meant to everyone back home and that as I result $2725 had been collected for the children's camperships. I had no idea that so much would be raised, in fact I had hoped for a lofty goal of $1500 and all your generosity surpassed that! Mark welled up too and we hugged, breaking apart only because it was time to board the bus. Today Mark made a point of telling me how overwhelmed he is with everyone's kindness and he wants everyone to know how much he truly appreciates their support.

On a side note, back in mid-May Mark emailed me that World Vision's new office in Korce, which is about an hour away, called to see if they could bring 100 kids to camp this summer. Mark's words - "Last year World Vision sent 60 kids who came from remote Muslim villages near the Adriatic coast. Most of them had never seen a Bible before or heard of Jesus. But they were SO open. The first day, they did not know any of the songs. They did not know what prayer was. but by the last day, there were singing with their whole hearts and many of them were praying out loud with their group leaders and counselors. It was incredible to see. I got teary on several occasions, actually." When I talking to Mark today I made reference to the fact that the campership check will campership 109 children and so perhaps it would cover those 100 World Vision kids. He got a big smile on his face and said that World Vision is actually sending over 400 kids this summer!!! Isn't that so awesome? Think of the lives that are changed with just a one week camp experience. And you are a big part of that.
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownJuly 1, 2010 at 4:05 PM

    Hi Cathy: You are a beautiful, very descriptive writer and reading the blogs is almost like being there with you. Thank you for taking the time to share your adventure with us. You are so loving, giving and so very courageous. Your warmth and smile will go far with the children. It sounds like you are meeting every challenge with your usual grace. Stay well and may God continue to bless you and your mission there. Sheryl P.

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