Tirana our base of operations, has become our home once again.

Through fasting and prayer we have seen that God wants us to not move to Kosovo. The work here in Tirana continues and we are preparing to move into new phases of ministry.

Albanian Gypsy…. As we have said before the largest volume of white-slave-trade in the west passes through the ports of Albania, only 30 miles from here in Tirana. This is why we see it as so vitally important for these kids to come to know Jesus and His love before it is too late for them. PHH ray regularly for the children who live on and work the streets of Albania and similar cities throughout the world.

At the beginning of September Ellen sent out an appeal letter detailing the needs of the ministry to the gypsy children. For one year's rent, to feed, educate and do Bible studies we would need 12,600.⁰⁰ US Dollars. This will take care of 50 kids on a regular basis.

The kid's café (Your House) is becoming a reality! Praise God, He is faithful. This past week we were able to rent one room to begin the education and bible studies. Once more funds become available we will also rent an additional room connected to the present room. This second room is larger and will allow us to begin the feeding program and kids café. God is with us every step of the way. Some have said we could never find a place for the amount budgeted. I have been told we could not find a place in the area I was looking. God is always bigger and when it is His will, HE will prevail. We learned long ago not to listen to pessimists, but to keep our eyes on the promises of God. I have been called hardheaded or accused of not seeing reality. Reality is found in 2 Corinthians 4:18.

The things we cannot see are forever and what we can see is temporary. So, what we cannot see is more real than what we can see, feel, or touch.

In light of the attacks on the WTC and Pentagon, we have such an urgency to tell others about Christ and show His compassion to them. The harvest is truly white and ready. Look with your spirit man and not your natural eyes. Because of the relationships we have built with the children and the families, we now have the freedom to openly share Christ and Him crucified. We are members of the New Tirana Assembly of God, where we teach Bible studies and a discipleship class. This is the church that has openly welcomed the Gypsies and has been a great help to us in this ministry.

Albanians vs. Serbs and Albanians vs. Macedonians. These people have no understanding of Gods Word, or the truths it declares to mankind. They want freedom, they want homelands, they want economic stability, and they want peace. The Serbs and Macedonians fear the "wild" Albanians while the Albanians fear the Serbs and Macedonians and their oppressive past. These are real fears, wants, and needs. As Christians we understand that peace can only come through reconciliation with God through Jesus.

Repeating myself, what the peoples of the Balkans need most is JESUS CHRIST. That is why we have followed the voice of God to Albania. We know that one righteous man can turn the direction of a nation, and that with each praying Christian the effects are multiplied in their manifestation. Evangelism is important but of equally significant importance is discipleship.

We have been blessed to be used by God in discipleship here in Albania for seven years. We are so very happy to see the effects of that work and God's love beginning to make tangible changes in Albania.

We continue to use the gifts God has blessed us with to strengthen the Albanian Church and individual Christians, young men & women who want more of God, who want to go deep in their relationship with Jesus and want to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit at all cost. These are the people we pour our lives and giftings into. These are the people we labor with and walk to Gods throne with in prayer. Giving our whole lives, the joys and sorrows letting them see, touch and experience the life of a JESUS disciple "a Christian".

By direction of the Holy Spirit we have chosen to live in Albania, a nation where roughly 70% of the people claim Islam as their religion!

Within the Muslim religion "Islam" just as within the Christian belief there are a great number of people who are marginal believers. Just as we have people in America who attend church regularly but truly have no understanding of the Bible and Christian foundations. Within Islam very many Muslim people worship at the mosque but have no idea of the principals and teachings of their "holy book" the Koran. This is the case here in Albania. Ignorance is dangerous!

The world's religious leaders would have us believe that not true Muslims, but extremist fanatics are wrongly acting inhumanely in the name of Islam. That "they are not following the teachings of Mohammed and the Koran but their own radical ideas". However this is not the least bit true. The terrorist and extremist Muslims are the true and faithful followers of Mohammed and his Koran; the Muslim "holy book" and foundation of Islam itself.

Muslims are people and therefore NOT our enemy, but Islam is a false religion originated and controlled by Satan himself through a demon possessed man "Mohammed".

The Koran states clearly that those who refuse to believe and follow the teachings and rules of Mohammed in the Koran are to be killed. You and I are often labeled as intolerant fundamentalist Bible thumpers. WHY? Because we take the Bible at face value, we see it as God's word and act and live our lives believing it to be so. Fellow Christian Brothers and Sisters many Muslims deceived by Satan's lies do the same with the Koran! In much of the world today people take the Koran very literal to the point that to stand and renounce Islam and profess Jesus Christ, as Lord becomes an automatic death sentence.

This friends is not the tolerant Islam of the liberal press; but the true Islam of Mohammed and the Koran. A careful study of the Koran under the Holy Spirit's leading will show it as confused, cruel, immoral and even evil. Let's not be guilty of passing over a soul in need of salvation because he or she is Muslim.

Anna Beth came here in July with Rachel Sena and Jamie Gutzwiller. It was great to have her here with us although the time was much too short. Special thanks to Dale and Wendy McMillian whom Anna Beth lived with until July. Upon her return to Ohio she has moved in with the Burton Family. So she is with Sarah one of her oldest friends. We are grateful to all our Church on Fire family for caring for her.

1. Openness among the gypsy families & the school "Your House".

http://www.pobox.com/~albania

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