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/

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Erseke Sights and Sounds

After I finished my Sunday afternoon blog I was ready to walk around Erseke. By that time everyone who was going had already left so I set out on my own (I was told it was safe here to be on my own). Sure, I was stared at a lot but I said "hello" to everyone I passed and most would at least not their head. I never felt insecure or concerned for my safety so I just took in all the sights and sounds.

World Cup Soccer "football" is popular here and men gather in bars and coffee shops to watch the games together. It's common to see men gathered on corners and in bars but not so common to see women or children gather. The woman's role, especially those of marrying age, is a domestic one so when you see them about they are usually coming or going from the market or taking care of a task. Albanians I have been introduced to are warm and friendly, and even though I don't speak Albanian, we kiss on both checks and embrace each other.

Generally speaking Erseke has an unkept look. Weeds grow untamed, buildings are in need of repair or are deteriorating, garbage accumulates in roadside piles and litters the sidewalks, chickens roam freely, roosters crow all day, and there are many smells - some pleasant some not so. In spite of, but more appropriately because of, there is a beauty and charm here that would otherwise be missed - the starkness of bright red poppies against a crumbling stone wall; dark gray clouds contrasting against the blue skies and bright green mountains that surround the town; a street in town lined with 100' highpine trees (we are at 3500'); grape vines freely growing all over town budding with new life; the crackling of thunder, the wind that blows a storm in, and the fresh scent the rain brings; the quaint medieval feel of times past. There's a realness here where the superficialness of our lives back home is gone. It's not about having the most expensive car, jewelry, or Coach purse. It's not about perfect hair styles or having a different and new outfit everyday or going to Starbucks to get the perfect no-fat, no-whip, sugar-free double espresso vanilla latte and then getting mad when your order isn't right. Being here brings everything into perspective as it's back to basic needs and really seeing and appreciating God's creation and beauty around us.








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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJuly 7, 2010 at 9:24 PM

    I love God's creation too: redwood trees and poppies and grape vines and blue skies and grey clouds too!!! I'm so glad you shared the pictures!

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