Albania Team 2004 -- First Report

8 Oct. 2004

Hello All--
Chas Wilson, David Hill and I made it! We had a long but uneventful flight from LAX to Washington DC to Vienna, Austria to Tirana, Albania.

We were greeted by Eli Mema and Desi Mema our good friends from our last visit. Today (Friday) we checked into our rooms at the Stephen Center where we stayed last year; David and I showed Chas around town; and took a quick trip to His Child, the orphanage in Tirana. The orphanage now has 42 children from babies through 17 years old. Last time we were here, there were 26 children. It is an amazing organization. There is no way to describe the love in this house as David and others care and love on these children. This orphanage truly is a family with older children taking care of the younger, and most of all everyone simply attending to each other. We distributed tennis balls to the kids, turning the home into a mad house for a while. You will see the pictures of these children. They are a delight. In this little corner of the world, without any fanfare, a small group of people reach out to children simply because they are called to do this as followers of Jesus. It absolutely humbles us to watch these people simply give because it is the right thing to do. Again, I am overwhelmed.

We have been up too long. We are off for a good night sleep.

For the team, with gratitude for your prayers and support

Kurt Fredrickson