ON THIS PAGE: Floods in Albania  /  Churches  /  Gospel Tapes and Aid  /  Children's Christian Literature

FLOODS IN ALBANIA

There has been severe flooding during January and February in North West Albania and Smile has been helping those affected. The flood affected the two main Western towns of Albania, Shkoder and Lezhe and it was the worst flooding seen in Albania for over fifty years. Rain and the melting snow are the root cause of the crisis and over 4,000 homes had to be evacuated. Berti (Smile Project Cooridnator), Smile Gapper Hannah and Career Breaker Linda have been sorting and packing blankets, clothes, shoes and toiletries etc. The aid is being channelled through KPEC (Kosovan Prostestant Evangelical Council) and has been transported to evangelical churches in Albania who are helping those in need. If you wish to help Smile's aid efforts in the Kosova/Albania region, please see our Donations page or visit our Just Giving site: www.justgiving.com/smileint/donate – please mark your donations "Kosova".

    
KPEC truck with aid bound for Shkodra and distributing to families

CHURCHES

During the Smile Step Out 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 Step Out 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

CHILDREN'S CHRISTIAN LITERATURE

BIBLE STORIES IN ALBANIAN AND ENGLISH
Smile teams have been distributing these books in Kosova and Albania. The church are delighted with the books, which they will use to minister to the Albanian-speaking Christians in the region. The books also help the children learn English at the same time. Please pray that this ministry tool will bear much fruit for the Lord.

These books are an additional part of our Gifts With Love scheme.