Albanian ReflectionsPhilip Evans - 11 Oct 2010
Following the end of the Second World War, as the rest of Europe sought to rebuild, in this west Balkan country a veil was lowered and for an entire generation Albania closed it's borders. No-one was allowed to enter or leave as Albania organised itself into a hard-line communist country under the leadership of Enver Hoxha.
It's been 19 years since the liberation of Albania, and as we pass through the border from Macedonia we're immediately confronted by old military pillboxes, over 750,000 of these virtually indestructible concrete bunkers were built across the country during the time of Enver Hoxha to prevent people from leaving or entering the once communist land, today they are an ever-present reminder of Albania's recent history.
This unique country has changed a great deal in the time since its liberation. It sits in the corner of the Balkans with an interesting cultural mix between east and west and has few obvious cultural connections with its neighbours. A friend tells me over coffee in Tirana, the capital city, that the Albanian worldview is a mixture of Atheism, Communism, Islam, Animism and Materialism!
My wife Anna and I moved to the Balkans 18 months ago and this was the last of the countries in the region to visit. Albania is probably the most mountainous & possibly the most beautiful in the Balkans, I was impressed with the warmth of the people wherever we went; even the police were friendly when they stopped us for 'massaging' the speed limit!
5 of us from the Glasnost communities in Macedonia were on a 4 day road trip to the mountainous southern region of Gjirokastra to visit friends of 24-7 Prayer, Daniel and Monika Reichert. Passing through Tirana we met the coastal road at Durres and drove south. Olive trees lined the roads as civilisation faded away and after 2 hours on perilous mountain roads, the village of Memaliaj appeared in the distance alongside the Vjosa river.
Originally from Germany, the Reicherts live in Memaliaj, a small village of 3500 people with their team mates Fred and Eva Ryter from Switzerland and Rakela, an Albanian from a neighbouring town. They moved here during the summer of 2009 to develop a focus on:
- Discipleship-orientated schools.
- Strengthen the believers in the region by offering conferences, seminars, hospitality and counselling.
- Invest in the young generation (children and teenagers).
- Meet social and spiritual needs in society.
- Send missionaries into other countries.
We were privileged to be there as they finished their Prayer Room and we prayed together for the town and region whilst they prayed for us in Macedonia. Sunday morning we shared stories and thoughts on prayer at a small church in Gjirokaster (the home town of former dictator, Enver Hoxha).
Daniel has lived in this region since the age of 21, returning only briefly to Germany during civil unrest. Monika grew up in the Congo as the child of missionaries and they now have 3 very adorable young children, Sofia (5), Olivia (3) and Leon (4 months).
Fred and Eva are an older couple with an incredible story; they were divorced for 10 years before they had a new beginning together. Read the story of Fred and Eva Ryter, it will blow your mind and encourage you. As Alpin commented: 'That's redemption.'
Please continue to pray for the team and for Albania in general. The growth of the church in the early days has slowed and many cultural/family traditions are holding people back from experiencing the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.