Our Autumn Newsletter is now available.  You can read it on-line or contact the office on 020 7940 1370 and we’ll mail a copy to you.

Teenager Isma had to care for her siblings after her father abandoned the family, yet still found time to learn tailoring.

Isma was looking after her brothers and sisters for five years, ever since their father abandoned them. Her life was limited to staying at home caring for her siblings, and going to school.

Yet Isma had a dream. She wanted to learn to sew and become a tailor. She found time to make rag dolls, and dresses for her dolls. But she never thought she’d have the chance to really learn the art of tailoring. She simply could not pay for a course.

But a tailoring class was available to Isma: Mission Without Borders Albania (MWB) set up the vocational training with a local church. And it was free. So this was Isma’s dream come true! Now Irma has learnt how to sew. And she has successfully sewn her first creation – the dress she’ll wear for her school prom party.

‘This is the first of many dresses’, Isma shares shyly, but proudly. Now she knows that she’s doing something that will help her to build a better future. What’s more, she says, ‘I’m sewing – which is both useful and what I enjoy.’

MWB’s tailoring course in Albania has only been running a few months. Yet it is the center of attention in the small community of Katund Sukth. All the women enrolled are as enthusiastic and motivated as they were the first day the course started. They appreciate being able to attend the course, and through that they are receiving God’s blessing. This is one way they are learning about God’s immense and unconditional love for them.

Help more young people like Isma train their way to a better future: Give a give of vocational training

Needs turned to joy for children on a special trip to the seaside for International Children’s Day.

Thirty-eight children and ten mothers were taken away from their poor settlements in Durres and Sukth to have fun at one of Albania’s nicest and unspoiled local beaches. These children and mums are part of Mission Without Borders’ Family to Family program, through which they receive material, social and pastoral help.

On 1 June, to celebrate International Children’s day, MWB co-ordinators and volunteers from local churches arranged a variety of beach activities for the families. For some of the children this was the first time they’d been on such a day out.

They took part in sports, games and singing. They watched puppet shows and read Bible stories together.

All the children and the mothers were radiant with joy at the end of the day. They expressed their appreciation that activities such as these’bring some sunshine into our bleak lives’.

MWB is committed to improving the lives of families. We work in six countries across Eastern Europe to help parents build better lives for themselves and their children.
Join us by sponsoring a family.

MWB Albania is responding to some of the worst flooding the country has witnessed for decades. More than 12,000 people have been moved from their homes in north-west Albania. Although it’s a month since rains began, the emergency continues to be catastrophic. In the villages around Shkodra, boats are the only means of transport.

Volunteers at MWB’s warehouse packed bags and boxes with basic food, clothes and hygiene items.  Since before Christmas, trucks with MWB staff have distributed these to flood victims in the worst flooded areas.

Unloading goods from MWB warehouse, Durres

MWB is working in cooperation with local churches, local government and Albania’s Emergency Committee in the most damaged city, Shkoder, and part of Berat, south of Durres. These local authorities have expressed a sincere appreciation for MWB’s help in this critical situation. Local government leader, Zef Hila, stated ‘this is another testimony of the true character of this organisation that is always near the ones in difficulty.’

Interior Minister Lulzim Basha stated the situation around Shkoder was ‘critical’

Over 1,000 Bibles have now been distributed across Albania through Mission Without Borders.
Generous supporters have donated to MWB’s 50th anniversary celebration plans to send million Bibles to Eastern Europe. As a result, Europe’s poorest country is now spiritually richer with over 1,000 people reading new Bibles – many for the first time.
Albania is suffering a daily depreciation of the domestic currency with increasing prices. This threatens family life and could put even greater demands on MWB’s Albania social care programmes, particularly as we move into winter.
What better time, then, to reach many people with the life-nourishing word of God? People like Jani Gerco. He now has his own Bible, which he reads to his brother. ‘I have learnt a lot from the Bible’, he said. ‘I have learnt a lot about Jesus Christ, who fed poor people and healed the sick. Sometimes I read in the evening before I go to sleep. I like reading the Bible.’
And what a time to be giving hope to people like Ballkize. She lives with her children in a small house. ‘I read the Bible with my children. I have never heard about God before and it is very encouraging for my children and me. It gives us the strength to face our daily problems. So I read it when I go to the fields to graze the cow, or my eldest child reads it to me in the evenings. I am very happy to have my own Bible now. Thank you’.
PRAY:

•   for the Lord to open doors for the efficient distribution of Bibles
•  for more people to receive a Bible and learn about God.

DONATE  

To send more Bibles to Eastern Europe click here

Heavy rains have flooded out a considerable part of Albania, blocking roads, leaving many families homeless and damaging the crops and lands. Durres, Lezhe, Kruje and Kurbin are the most overly-flooded areas.

The Municipality of Durres sheltered some of the families at three hotels in town till the water will draw back. The national road from Lac to Shkodra, north of the capital Tirana, was blocked for many hours, creating long lines of cars. Several local roads were equally impassable. The Interior Ministry and the Emergency Staffs in the areas are gathered to take immediate measures to relieve the situation.

Si Jeni is a quarterly Christian newspaper sponsored by Mission Without Borders.   It simply translates “How are you?”   And it’s read by Christians and non-Christians alike.

Its great appeal is due to its variety of content and writing styles.

Both old and young write for it.   There may be articles by ministers from churches across Albania, or impressions of foreigners living and working for missionary societies in Albania.   All these different styles give the newspaper a freshness and make it more interesting, more human and lively.

We are very grateful for the hard work, co-operation and skills of all who make it what it is.

Summer is here and it’s time for Summer Camp!  It’s the highlight of the year for thousands of impoverished children in Eastern Europe.  

In Albania the camp takes place on the beautiful coast by the Adriatic.  In a pine grove, just by the beach, 375 children are accommodated in tents.   Not all at once of course!   Every ten days a new group of 75 children arrive.   Working in close co-operation with local congregations, these are the children we are able to help throughout the year.     Many of the children come from homes that are no more than shacks, often with an outdoor ‘kitchen’.   Their parents keep them away from school in order to help with work.   The parents themselves have known little else.   It’s now becoming a real fear that the majority of young people will grow up illiterate.

During Summer Camp there’s such a variety of things to do.   There’s sports and swimming.   Also there are competitions and creative activities to choose from.   In the evenings the entertainment continues.  The puppet show is loved by everyone.

It’s a happy time of fun and learning that the children will never forget. More importantly the opportunity to learn about Jesus could make this a truly life-changing experience.