Our Little Church

In 1992, just 2 years after collapse of the communist dictatorship, the work was started by Church of the Nazarene missionary volunteers. The Gorre church was organized in 1995, and Pastor Landi has faithfully served since 1997.

Although he lives in a nearby village and not in Gorre, Landi has invested much effort over the years in getting to know the villagers. One reason for starting our pre-school and housing it in the church complex was to help parents and others feel comfortable coming onto church grounds. Apparently, early on, the church became known as a church just for young people, and adults felt it was not a place for them. In addition, the Orthodox tradition of most people in this area was severely and brutally squelched under communism. (Albania was the first country ever to officially declare itself an atheistic nation.) People who lived in that era are not used to practicing their faith or speaking of it. They appear to be comfortable with calling themselves Christians but not actively practicing their faith.

Because of the pre-school, people are now more relaxed about setting foot on church grounds. Unfortunately, we remain a tiny congregation (by US standards), and only a handful of people attend Sunday services. But God works in their hearts, and they try to reach out to the villagers by special programs and providing food and other necessities to the very poor and needy.

There are many nearby villages, and some have (or had at one time) their own similar small churches. A few believers are scattered around. We asked about gathering these faithful together in one village church. In the US, we think nothing of traveling miles to a church we love. But in rural Albania, few people have their own transportation, so even a couple of miles is a difficult distance. The church, therefore, must go to them, rather than expecting them to do the footwork.

Accordingly, Landi has just begun to work on a dream he's had for years to serve in another village. On Friday afternoons he holds a class there for children of all ages, introducing them to the Bible and God's love. The combination of lively teaching and fun games is drawing 25-30 children weekly. Children who have not lived under the fear of communism seem to be more open to the Gospel than their parents and grandparents, and they are the future church in Albania.

In this same village, Juli plans to offer English classes for a group of interested women, who may be open to Bible study at the same time. Will a church eventually form there? Only God knows. But we do know He continues to capture the hearts of people all over Albania, and for that we give Him praise!

WE'RE BACK IN GORRE

Shume shume ftohte! That's "very very cold" in Albanian. We have arrived safely back in Gorre after 2 weeks at home in WI where temps bottomed out at -40 F. Since the cold seems to be a hot topic in much of the world (nice break from all that global warming talk) this winter, we thought we'd share a bit of our experience with Albanian cold.

While outside temps typically fall nowhere nearly as low as they do in WI, this year it seemed to begin with a day of snowfall (the first time in at least 10 years here in Gorre!) Unseasonably low temps (30's & 40's daytime) were coupled with several days of long power outages. Buildings here are constructed of concrete and ceramic tile with no insulation or central heating. Power outages obviously render electric space heaters useless. So interior temps soon matched outside temps in our apartment, and we could frequently see our breath inside. Layers of clothing, afghans, and gloves were our wardrobe. One night, when Christmas cookies had to be baked for a church party, we resorted to rolling them out in the bedroom---the one room we try to keep heated.

It was quite a shock for those of us used to entering a house where all the rooms are warm, even if it's -40 outside. Here people generally heat one small room with a space heater, and that's where the family congregates for the winter.

Schools and public buildings are not heated either. Thankfully we acquired enough heaters for each pre-school class, and the children and teacher gathered around its warmth for lessons, huddled up in their winter jackets.

As soon as we left WI last week, temps there rose into the +40's. And we are enjoying daytime highs in the mid-60's here now. The apartment still retains its winter chill, but spring is in the air. Gardeners and produce growers have planted tomatoes and peppers in their greenhouses, and the longer daylight hours are one of God's special blessings. In all things we give thanks!
for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come. Song of Solomon 2:11