Church at Vlorė                                              Church at Fiėr

We were also blessed in April by the visit of Dr. Carl Mitchell and his wife, Frankie. Dr. Mitchell is a professional psychologist, educator, writer, lecturer, and long-term foreign missionary. He presented three lectures at the local university, where he was warmly received by the administration, faculty, and students. Another lecture, on parenting, was given for the community at our study center. We were thrilled with a large attendance, including a group Ellen Walker brought down from Tirana. On Sunday, Dr. Mitchell spoke for our worship services in Vlorė and again in Fier. The Mitchells also went with us to Orikum to meet the principle contacts in our efforts to establish a congregation in that city. It was a great blessing to have the church portrayed so positively to the university and to the community. We have netted some good contacts and have now begun Bible studies with three university students. It must have been a tiring trip for the Mitchells -- he spoke six times in three days. We are most grateful for the service to the cause here in Albania by this fine Christian couple.

Later in the month a group of teenagers came on Saturday morning and we carried out of the garage all the sinks and tables from camp. They filled the courtyard in front of our apartment -- the two sink units for the latrines are each 12 feet long. We cleaned, sanded, and painted all morning. It was good to see how involved these kids are in helping themselves through all the activities of the church. Later the boys set up some tables in our classroom and the girls set out boxes of pizza. They all ate and laughed and enjoyed each other. There is hope for the future of this country in the spirit of this young generation of Christians.

We have always heard the streets of Hell are paved with good intentions, and we fear this may be true. Shortly after we began meeting in the grade school in Orikum, we purchased some fluorescent lamps for the room we are using. Before we could install them, the government extended the hours of power outage, making lights in the classroom irrelevant. We felt terrible about the boxes of lamps stacked unused, since we couldn't even drill the holes in the cement ceiling without power. Three weeks ago a German company began delivering 24-hour power with funds from somewhere. We cancelled some of our Bible classes and worked hard to install the fixtures. While I was at the top of the ladder, a man came in, looked around and said, "This room has no lights." My thought was, "Fella, just what do you think I'm doing up here with the drill in my hand?" After two hours of drilling and wiring, we discovered what he meant. That particular classroom had no power in the lines. Before the school could get that problem sorted out, the Germans lost patience with the Albanian government and withdrew. Now there are some very nice-looking fluorescent fixtures in that classroom -- who knows if anyone will ever see them lit!

Such is life in Albania! Such is it like trying to bring any kind of light to this sin-darkened country. Pray for these needy people. Pray for our endurance.

Your servants for Him, Virgil and Jackie

May continued what has been an unusually rainy spring.  The hills and fields are green and covered with an amazing display of wildflowers.  But May is also the month of our annual retreat for the churches in Vlorė and Fier.  We prayed for sunshine and were blessed with a beautiful, warm spring day.  This year we met on a small, wooded island in a coastal lagoon near Vlorė, at the site of a thirteenth century monastery.  We were joined by a family from our church planting efforts in Orikum, so from our three groups we had 150 people.  Sitting in the field in front of an 800-year-old Orthodox chapel, we worshipped our timeless God.  It was a great day -- sharing a picnic together, fellowship between churches, games and visiting, and finally the obligatory inter-city tug-of-war.  "Our side" always wins!

There are many opportunities here for involvement and service.  One organization, The Heifer Project, has joined other international groups seeking to collect the thousands of military weapons still in the hands of civilians.  This group is giving away livestock as an incentive.  A delegation came from America to tour Albania and we were asked to host them at a morning coffee reception in our study center.  Jackie baked bundt cake and banana-nut bread and we prepared Turkish coffee for the five Albanians and 'merican coffee for those who prefer to drink their coffee rather than chew it.  Our initial motivation was only to please our contacts in Orikum who have been so supportive of our Bible camp efforts and church work in their town.  But we were pleasantly surprised to meet the Americans, who were obviously thrilled to have an American-style coffee break.  It was a real blessing to visit with these people -- farm folks really are the salt of the earth!  The couple who came from Arkansas operate a ranch where Harding University has built a mission training site.  What a small world! We thought we were doing something just to promote our church efforts here, but God blessed us with a wonderful visit with some very good people.

The Lord continues to bless the teaching efforts here.  This month four precious young women were baptized into Christ.  Aurora Merjo, 20, and her younger sister, Dezdemona, began studies last summer with Juanita Mansholt.  We visited in their home, continued Bible lessons with them, and they became active in our church youth program.  But traditional Muslim family ties held them back.  During one youth meeting, we prayed specifically for the teenage Christians in Albania.  At their next private Bible class, Aurora said she felt hurt and left out.  "We are Muslim teenagers.  Who prays to God for us?"  While we conscientiously avoid militant badgering of non-believers, it is critical that they hear that "salvation is found in no one else . . ." and that Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me."  Eventually the fellowship and our efforts at "speaking the truth in love" won out.  The girls invited their parents and a large group of friends to witness their baptism at a Friday afternoon teen meeting.

Jonida Mehmeti, 17, also began studies last summer with Juanita and continued to study with Jackie for the last nine months.  She, too, was baptized at a youth meeting this month.

Aurora Rushiti was waiting for her 13th birthday, to become the final member of her family to accept the Lord.  She joined both her parents and her two older sisters, as her father baptized her this month.  It was a special thing to see the look of love and pride in the eyes of her parents.

We are truly blessed by these new Christians, all of whom have been for some time part of our activities here and now are fully a part of the family of God.  May His blessings be on them all as they continue to learn and grow in Christ.

This month a wonderful group of Christian women from Texas hosted missionary women in the Balkan area in a much-needed week-long retreat -- "Come Before Winter."  It was a great blessing to all who attended.  We were very disappointed that none of the young ladies translating for various congregations in Albania were granted a visa to attend the conference, which was held on the Greek island of Corfu.  It was a great time of spiritual and physical renewal.  We are most grateful for the spirit of love and service that produced this conference.

Jackie needed that time away.  We are desperately trying to complete the preparations for the Bible camp next month.  We lost over a month in anxious, endless meetings with obtuse individuals and various government offices, all with conflicting claims of jurisdiction over the field we use in the mountains.  This game has gotten very, very old!

In the midst of all this hectic and trying activity, we are drawn on by the words of our Lord -- "inasmuch as you have done this for the least of my brethren, you have done it for me."  We are grateful for your faithful partnership in this ministry.

            Your servants for Him, Virgil & Jackie Jackson

Brethren,

This is our new brother in Christ, Albert Shahini, age 40. (the same age as my son!) He is going to be a real asset to the church here. He is a colleague of Luan, my "Andrew", who was baptized by Art last summer. Luan just keeps bringing more and more men for me to study with. He is not ashamed of the gospel. A real example for me and he has been more than a brother to me in Fier.

Albert Shahini                                   Luan Hassenbeliu

Continue to pray for the harvest in Fier. We held our first Sunday service in Zharrez, a village near Fier, where there are 12 Christians. We had 9 in services including 2 non-Christians from Fier and 4 from Zharrez. There was a wedding in the village that kept most of the regulars away, unfortunately. They are mostly young in the faith and need much teaching and encouragement. Lord willing, we will give them what they need to grow in maturity.

Love in Christ,

Doug
 

Brethren,

The church in Fier is pictured here in October, 2002. Look forward to a bright future in this city of white fields to harvest.

Bujar Mallakaj, a Christian of less than 1 year at the time of this photograph, is preaching. Bujar is from Prizren, Kosova. He served as a translator for Doug. Bujar would love to read your mail of encouragement at his email address, b_qielli@hotmail.com

Brent Parr is the young man from Marrietta, Oklahoma who will be here for two years. The other man is Luan Hassenbelliu, who has been our "Andrew", as I have reports before. He has been amazing in bringing so many of his friends, mostly adult males. God has used him in a mighty way to make our mission here productive for the kingdom.

space	Luan Hassenbelliu & Brent Parr		Bujar Mallakaj, Preaching	space

Brent received his Masters degree in telecommunications from the University of California in Davis earlier this summer. The church in Davis is sponsoring him in Fier. The church in Fier, however, is under the oversight of the Spicer Street church in Kennett, MO.

The city's, 80,000 people, main industry is oil. Most people are employed in the oil "enterprise", as they call it here. It is all State owned and in very poor condition. All of the equipment and technology is very old. The resource supply is sufficient to meet all of the domestic needs, I am told.

God bless you as you continue to serve Him in a meaningful way in the world-wide kingdom.

Love,

Doug
 

October 11, 2002

The church in Zharrez is in the village near Fier where Doug Smith and Virgil Jackson are holding services on Sundays.

We had 37 people in services in the village of Zharrez near Fier today! (Oct 13) Praise God. Most of them said they did not have a bible in their homes. There is MUCH work to do here in Albania and around the world. God is still asking, "Whom shall we send and who will go for us?". Where are the Isaiahs who will say, "Here am I, send me"?

In service to the kingdom among the Albanian people,

Doug
 

Zharrez, October 20

We had 48 in Zharrez services on Sunday, 12 more than last week. The schoolroom was almost full, but always room for more kids. We taught them some songs, "Jesus Loves Me" and "Wonderful," in English. They love it and the message will get into their young hearts. Brent is relating well and adapting simple messages for them. Praise the Lord for his faithfulness in providing people who will listen in this part of the world.

                              

Brent & Krisi

Gary Leading Singing

Assembly in Zharrez

The Zharrez church attendance is growing by the "dozen". Last Sunday we had 48 in attendance. Brent taught a lesson on the Prodigal Son. These young people listen intently to all we say. They are very well behaved and are learning some English, as well. Through songs we are teaching them about Jesus.

 There are NO churches or mosques in the entire village. There are over

Greetings,

We had only one baptism yesterday, but it was a joyous occasion. Fatmir, whom I had studied with almost every day, finally was convinced that it was time. He had been a Mormon and struggled with the truth as he saw it from scripture. The Holy Spirit was able to convict him, however, and now he is a brother in Christ. Another man who was ready was hindered by Satan, convincing him that he had to stay on the job that day. Brent will continue to encourage him, as he is ready. The other man and his son agreed to wait until they had studied more. It was a big encouragement to the church here, as well. About 15 people came to welcome Fatmir and the singing, etc. was an encouragement and a message about the brotherhood in other cities. Bill Morgan is here teaching leadership classes so he read a scripture for us.

The  man, Toto, in the pictures is a lawyer that Brent is studying with. This is the second time he has come to baptisms. He will be ready soon, I am sure. A very nice, humble man.

I leave for the airport in an hour and a half, so will spend the night in Vienna and be homeward bound tomorrow. I shuffled stuff in the two suitcases this morning and weighed them to get them both just barely under the weight limit. I sure hope I don't have to open them! Just have to carry my computer case and my camera. Will check the other two through to PDX.

This will be my last communication to you until I arrive in PDX, on time, hopefully.

Anxiously yours,

Doug
 

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