Lushnje

Albania is full of many wonderful cities.  Each has its own unique scape and feel.  Lushnje is one of the cities that I visited while in Albania.  One of the church plants is there and now the House of Hope is also in Lushnje.  

Lushnje is a humble place.  It is home to many farmers and is mostly country compared to the capital city of Tirana, Albania.  I met some of the most beautiful and sincere people while visiting there. Lushnje is a prime location to share the Gospel of Christ and lead people in finding their Savior.  

Today, I want to share one of the largest financial needs that I saw while I was in Albania.  It was heartbreaking to see people that were so hungry for God and followers of Christ that were so dedicated to living out the Gospel of Christ without the necessary tools to make this happen.

I have included some pictures that the pastors of the church in Lushnje were gracious enough to allow me to take while I was there.  The reason I am showing these is not to bring despair, hopelessness, or shame to anyone in this country, but I am showing these to you so that you can put eyes on a true need that this church has.  The walls are full of mold, the floors are completely unstable, and the building itself is basically about to fall down.  

On a positive note, the land is owned by the church and land is most of the time more difficult to get than a space to use.  I want to make very clear what the need of this church is so that you can be praying for God's provision and if anyone is able to help- now you can see firsthand what the need is.  Because the building itself is beyond the need for repair and must be knocked down and rebuilt, it's estimated that the cost for this would be over $100,000.00 to receive all permits and rebuild the structure suitable for this church to meet in.

This hasn't stopped the current congregation from meeting each week there.  They have met when the water inside has flooded below the knees of everyone and the pastor has preached and they have worshipped under these conditions.  They meet each and every week in the midst of the mold that will have a negative effect on their health.  They take the children outside of the building for children's church because the floor in the children's ministry room is collapsing and is no longer safe for even a child's weight on it.

This church needs our help.  They need a new building and honestly, they need it sooner rather than later.  People are coming to Christ even with the building falling apart, but the church in Lushnje cannot continue do what God has called them to do under these conditions.  

There are only 39 days left of 1,000 Miles for Albania.  I started this year with an Audacious Faith of what God can do and now I feel as if I am ending it with an even more Audacious Faith of what God is going to do!  Share this story, share this vision, share this journey, and let's help the church in Lushnje together!

 

Comments

[Amy]

I'd love to help in some way... Could we do a race to raise funds? Not sure how much we can raise doing one... but it'd be awesome if we could... Or perhaps we could do an art/craft sale & have people at church create stuff & sell it and let the proceeds go to this... We could do meals & sell tickets... There's definitely ways we can do things to raise money :)

[Mande]

Amy, you are so sweet! Yes, to all or any of the ideas you mentioned. God has big plans and I know they will continue even after 1,000 miles is finished... the need will still be great and I want to continue to help!

[Amy Eaton]

Yay! Keep me in the loop, I'd love to help in some way :)