ON THIS PAGE: Churches  /  Gospel Tapes and Aid  /  Children's Books: Biblical Stories in Albanian  /  Treasures of the Snow Book

CHURCHES

During the Smile ministry trip to Kosova in August 2003, several members of the team visited Christians at Kukes in Albania, where they sang and shared testimony. This was our first mission trip to this country. Team members also visited a small Christian church in Bajram Curri, which is situated in the north east and most inhospitable part of the country. From Gjakove in Kosova to Bajram Curri is only a distance of 28 miles, but the journey takes nearly 3 hours as it is a rocky, dusty and challenging road. The North Albanian alps which surround the town are awesome and spectacular.

Our gap year students and ministry teams have regularly visited the church at Fushe-Arrezi where they have worked in schools and on young people's projects.

   
The entire King's Church congregation – Team member Steve (in pink) with church members – Fushe-Arrez

 
King's Church is in the centre of the town – Kukes Church – Members of the church at Bajram Curri

GOSPEL TAPES AND AID

The rural mountain area is very poor and we presented the pastor and church members with Gospel tapes and several wind-up cassette players which do not need batteries or electricity. These tapes will be distributed in the remote mountain villages, some of which are only accessible on horseback. We are very grateful to our friends at Language Recordings for their kind donation of these tapes and cassette players.

     
Wind-up cassette players – Bringing shoeboxes and aid to remote mountain villages

TREASURES OF THE SNOW BOOK

After two years of careful planning and translation, we are delighted that "Treasures of the Snow" by Patricia St John has now been published in Albanian. We have been working in partnership with No Frontiers to see this popular and enduring story of forgiveness distributed to the children in Albania, as well as in Kosova where they have seen such horrendous sights of brothers, uncles and fathers killed during the Kosovan conflict. As there are very few children's books in Albanian, we believe that "Treasures of the Snow" will be a powerful tool for local churches and Christians as they seek to reach out to the younger generation with the good news of the Gospel.

Our desire is to see this book in the hands and homes of as many children as possible but we need your help to achieve this. Would you or your church, Sunday school or youth group be willing to sponsor the giving of this book? For a cost of £10 we can give 3 books to 3 children. This book would also be the perfect gift for any Albanian-speaking children who live in the west.

   
Treasures of the Snow books – Team taking Children's Club on a picnic – Children's event at church