From Kathy, With Love

A week ago we said goodbye to the Albanian women we had met and fallen in love with. Only God could have put so much rich experience into three short days! And, only He could have ordered our steps so perfectly from beginning to end of our trip.

I grew to respect and love Karen, Missy and Marlise in a deeper way throughout the experience, and while glad to be back with my family, I miss them. We laughed, cried, drove too fast on mountain roads, prayed, and loved others together. It was so rich!

But, for me, the memory that will endure and stand out most prominently is what I found out about Albania and the Jews from a woman attending the Erseke conference. She and I ate dinner together the first night, along with her mother-in-law, whom she introduced as Vera. That is what I called her the rest of the time, only to discover the last day that I was calling her “mother-in-law,” not her real name! We all had a good laugh when that was revealed…

I was told by this woman that during World War II, Albania not only harbored the Jews already in their midst but protected others seeking refuge from neighboring countries. Since returning home, I’ve discovered that there were 200 Jews in Albania at the beginning of the War, but the number swelled to 2000 by 1945. Almost all of them were successfully hidden and saved from the concentration camps by the Albanian people.

When I spoke the last evening of the conference, I told the story of three Jewish women: Mary, Esther, and me.  The theme of my message was “God’s Abiding Love – Doorway to Our Destiny.” Mary lived in a small town much like Erseke, with sheep wandering through, roosters crowing. She was a young, hard-working woman who said “yes” to God’s call on her life. Because of her obedience, the Savior of the world was born. Esther submitted to “beauty treatments” and became queen, but then risked her life to go before the king to save her people, the Jews.  Doing so, she rescued a nation.  Love for Israel and the Jewish people filled my heart shortly after I became a Christian in 1976. Imagine my delight and shock when I met my birth mother in 1988 and discovered I was Jewish! My story isn’t as dramatic as Mary or Esther, but through prayer I am seeking to fulfill my destiny, too.  

I thanked the Albanian women for their incredible acts of kindness during World War II and encouraged them to pray forIsrael now. When I did, the room erupted in applause. May God bless these people for their selfless bravery in the past and guide them into their destiny in the future.

I believe we will return to Albania and take others with us. How can we not, when we left part of our hearts there? Being with Gail and Doni and their precious children, the other members of the leadership team, the ladies from the conference; they are all so special! Much thanks and blessing to all who helped make this possible.

 A dear sister in Christ who Kathy befriended and ministered to in a significant way.

 Kathy working with Blerta, our translator to "rightly divide the word of truth!"

 Women from the leadership team showing off their new scarves gifted to them by the prayer team from St. Giles.  Each one was prayed over and a special note was written.  What a blessing to see their appreciation!  From left to right, Teuta, Beta, Monika, Gail and Ruthie.