Albania Team 2004 -- Final Report

14 Oct. 2004

- Hi All -
It is Thursday night...our last night in Albania. Chas, David and I are amazed that the time has gone by so fast. The time has gone by too fast. We really are not ready to come home.

This country and its people capture our hearts. I continue to be surprised by the contrasts in this country--traditions and progress, advancements and limitations, an expanding western influence, as well as some strong folk influences, elements of modernization, and then a man walking a sheep passes by the Stephen Center where we sleep.

This is a country quickly moving into its future. The challenges are great. The church is attempting to learn how to exist in this changing culture. It is all very exciting.

I love this country. Our Albanian Team...those here this time, as well as those who came here before, love this country. We don't have words to express what we experience here, or what this country does to us. Once again we will try when we return.

Today it rained very hard in the morning. David and I went for a walk before breakfast anyway. It is fun to watch the city come alive...students off to school, business people off to work, the markets opening up--fresh fish, eggs, warm bread, newly slaughtered cows, sheep, goats, chickens you can take home and slaughter yourself (very fresh!)

We ate breakfast, and we dropped Chas off at CCL where he worked hard all day on computer issues with great success. It is difficult to work on computers when the power goes off without warning, and can stay off for hours if not days.

Ele, Desi, David and I went to Kruja to do shopping. We returned to Tirana...David taught the last of his PowerPoint classes. Then all of us went out for our final dinner in Tirana. We are very sad to be leaving.

Tomorrow, Friday, I lead the last devotional session at CCL, then we are off to His Child to say goodbye to the leaders, then a meeting with Memli Mema to talk about the church in Iba. At 5:00 we hop on a plane to Vienna and the beginning of our journey home.

Thank you for your prayers and your support. So much of what we do is a ministry of encouragement. The pastor of the church in Peqin where I spoke to the youth group, was amazed that "our brother would travel all the way from America to speak to us. So children, open your hearts to what God has to say to you through him." Over and over, we have met wonderful people who serve the church in Albania. If we have given them just a boost of encouragement, some strength to continue the work they do, additional hope that God truly does reign and the future of the church in Albania is bright, then we have done well.

All of you through Dare to Dream contributions, through other finanicial suport, through your prayers and your thoughts, are apart of this venture. Thank you, and blessings to you.

See you soon! For the team in Albania, Kurt Fredrickson