 |
|
| |
 |
|
|
| Hope Enters the World |
|
“You all look beautiful today!” Besa Shapllo, Director of Mission Possible Albania tells about 130 women. The women have gathered together for a church meeting in the Hope Centre in the shanty town of Bathore. It is fantastic to see so many, expectantly waiting to hear again about the Lord Jesus and what he has done for them.
Less than 20 years ago, Bathore was a rural area on the edge of Albania's capital, Tirana. Today, there are at least 30,000 people living in a range of accommodation - from newly constructed cement houses to wooden shacks. Many have travelled to the capital city from the north in search of a better life. Sadly, for many of those who moved in the early 1990s, the search for a better life proved elusive and hope began to dwindle.
|
|
When Besa Shapllo of Mission Possible became aware of the plight of so many people, she began to visit the area with humanitarian aid, discussing with those she visited what their greatest needs were. This led to literacy programmes, children's clubs, youth groups, women's meetings, and Alpha courses, all being made available for anybody who wished to attend. Eventually a church was started, and it wasn't long before the small room was so packed that a second church also began to meet!
With the expansion of meetings and the huge demand from the local community, Besa managed to secure a building to rent in 2006 from which all the various programmes she was organising could be run. The pleasure of the local residents was made obvious, as Besa asked them for suggestions to name the building - it was the people themselves who insisted upon the name “The Hope Centre”.
|
 |
As winter fast approaches, high on the agenda is the need for food. Besa takes me to visit some family homes and it is heartbreaking to intrude upon private lives, knowing that this way of life is an everyday reality. The homes I visit are made of a variety of materials including planks of wood, cement, corrugated iron and cardboard, yet they seem to have two things in common - openness to the elements (every home is littered with buckets catching rain water) and an owner who takes care of, and has real pride in, their home.
Lindita (pictured below) has three children and no job. Her husband has a mental disability, but manages to get occasional employment. They moved to Bathore only two years ago, from another area of Tirana, and have secured for themselves a small three room home that has a door, but no glass in the window; another window has been bricked up. Their water supply is outside and only available for about an hour at 5:00am, their stove is a gas bottle with one ring to set a kettle on, and the family own only one bed. Lindita isn’t showing me these things, this is just her way of life; instead Lindita rushes around her tiny home to show me the second-hand chest of drawers she has been given, and the ancient tea set that takes pride of place on a shelf.
|
It does not take long to spot the water - rows of coke bottles have been carefully filled at five o'clock in the morning - ready to last the day. The food supply is less obvious. I know I would see it if it was there, as there is little in the way of cupboard space, but I cannot.
Besa is waiting for the Eurovangelism truck to arrive in Albania laden with Harvest for the Hungry Family Food Parcels. She is also looking forward to a financial grant for food through the “Sponsor a Box” scheme. In faith, they already have the winter programme displayed on the wall at the centre, showing the daily lunch programmes for children, widows and all those who would otherwise struggle to get through the winter. Unfortunately, I already know that there is not enough money this year to feed these people for the entire winter.
Ledia Ikonomi, Besa's 'sidekick' at Mission Possible, is in charge of the children's programmes at Bathore and is excitedly planning parties and events for the Christmas period. This will be a time when young lives will learn about Jesus, born into poverty, in a stable that would look very similar to many homes in Bathore. Yet it was from this lowly beginning that Hope entered the world.
Back at the church service, Besa turns to me and explains how these women are changing on the inside, as they respond to the love being demonstrated through the Hope Centre: “Three years ago they never smiled, look at them now - how beautiful they are with their smiles!”
|
| |
|
| How you can help |
Please Help
The Hope Centre needs our help to continue to serve the community of Bathore. This Christmas as we celebrate Hope entering the world, please remember this centre of Hope in Albania.
For further prayer requests please see the December Prayer Diary online.
You can also visit our Prayer Blog for immediate requests. Click Here. |
|
|
|
 |
 |
