Albania via Vienna

Some of the first flights I took to Albania were with Austrian Airlines through Vienna. It didn't take me long to decide against this route as the return flights always left about 3 am from Tirana and my luggage never arrived at Heathrow with me. And as long as one booked ahead in plenty of time British Airways direct flight from Gatwick was much easier and cheaper, and you had your bags with you.

So it was with some cautuion that Ann and I flew this time with Austrian. We decided we would make a long day of it leaving Heathrow at 09.15 arriving Vienna at 12.35 but then enabling us to spend some time in Vienna city centre. Another reason was the BA ticket price. Some schools have just finished for the summer holidays as was evident the moment we stepped into the airport and consequently ticket prices are high. The flight queues were enormous swelled with hordes of children all flying off somewhere with their parents. Even though we were there early, eventually people for our flight were called forward as time was going and we needed to booked in.

All aboard and things went smoothly arriving on time into the very modern Vienna airport. We left some of our handbags at left luggage and caught the train S7 into Vienna city about 30 minutes, and then the undergroud U3 to Stephansplatz. It is like arriving in the middle of London only much smaller in scale. Groups of singing schoolgirls sat in large circles on the pedestrian areas with plenty of space all round them. Here is St Stephen's church.

Time for lunch and as Ann is coeliac this is not always easy to sort (sandwiches, pasta, cakes etc. are out) but McDonalds are a good bet and in the UK will put a burger on her bread with no mayonnaise without any problem. And so it was this time with a McDonalds hoving into view within a few paces of walking down Karntner Strasse. We were headed for the Wiener Staatsoper and a guided tour round the Opera House.

Come 3pm and we were separated into groups depending on language, German, Japenese, Italian, Spanish or English. Off we went on a most interesting 45 minute tour. My photos just don't do it justice. As some of you will know, parts of the building are original, like the staircase below, but other parts were rebuilt in the 1950's as a result of bomb damage from the 2nd WW.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the aspects that impressed me most was the behind the scenes, behind the stage storage space. It is huge, absolutely huge, enabling them to change scenery quickly. The stage itself can be lowered 10 metres to clear it and then be raised with fresh scenery in place.

After this a break was called for and I knew just the place. The Hotel Sacher is just across the road from the Opera House. It is famous in Vienna for the Sacher torte and I just had to have one with my coffee. Ann cannot enjoy such treats, she is coeliac remember! So cakes, pastries and biscuits are out unless made with gluten free flour. But Ann can eat the chocolate on top of my cake!

 

 

Time soon enough to retrace our steps and head back to the airport for our onward flight leaving at 22.20 arriving in Tirana at 23.50.

And time too to eat again this time at Henry's in Vienna airport and time for a snooze for Ann.

Not to be out done I found a good place to lie down! there are several of these chaise lounge in the airport lounges. All I needed was my own pillow and I would have stayed the night! (My grandmother used to say "Don't stand when you can sit, and don't sit when you can lie down." She lived to be 94)

And here is another good idea! In one area there is this artificial fireplace with cosy chairs round it. It looks so homely. I spoke to a lady with her son aged about 5. She said "Whenever we pass through Vienna airport my son insists on coming and sitting here." I am not surprised.

And then one of the joys of travelling is meeting people. This couple saw the chaise lounge and also thought what a good idea. We got talking and they are from Wanganui, NZ returung home after going to a wedding in Portugal. Later this year Ann and I will travel to see my sister in Auckland, NZ and so we talked about the sights we had seen in NZ on a previous visit. And who knows, tthis time we may get to visit Wanganui!

And so we arrived at Mother Teresa airport in Tirana, Albania just before midnight to be greeted by Iir Kochi from Elbasan and a waiting taxi. Now the last leg of our journey and finally we tumbled into the apartment, unpacked our cases and then fell into bed at 2am, just 21 hours after I woke up ready for the day.

Lots of love from Ken and Ann

PS Sorry we have not blogged sooner but have not had internet connection until today.

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Bother at the border!

Off we set with Edi and Renato in the children's work minibus, a smooth road and blue sky. Soon we arrived at the Nehemiah Centre in Pogradec where we will hold our Youth Camp at the end of July, with Liam our youth pastor. We met Elona Canallari who deals with the administration of our camp and confirmed the dates. It gave Lydia and Catherine the opportunity to see where the Youth Camp is held. Then on again, through Drilon a quiet beaautiful spot where a small river runs into Lake Ohrid and then to the Albania-Macedonia border. Quiet, very quiet. Probably the quietest border crossing I have ever been to. Just one other car and a couple walking through the border. Getting out of Albania was no problem, getting into Macedonia was a problem for Edi and potentially for us. The passport check was okay but they were checking the vehicles and the Police were unhappy with a broken window in the minibus that was taped over with plastic. Something that would be perfectly okay in Albania, in fact pretty normal. After giving Edi a hard time for twenty minutes whilst we sat patiently waiting and praying for them to make their decision as to what to do with us, they finally agreed to let us proceed as long as Edi fixed the broken window in Ohrid, else he would not be allowed out of Macedonia with his vehicle back into Albania. They produced a written order for him saying he must get it fixed and giving him permission to proceed only as far as Ohrid. I was relieved, as there were no taxis that could have taken us and frankly we would have been stuck. But on we went and then stopped for a short

break by the lakeside. Photos above with Ann, and below will give you some idea. It was totally calm, a beautiful blue sky and warm.

On the other side of the road I spotted these 2CV's and thought this is where they must come to die!

On to Ohrid where we went to the bus station, bought our tickets for the 3pm bus and then went for lunch by the lake. Life has it's compensations and this was one of them. We were seated under a tree looking towards

the lake about to tuck into a lovely fresh Shopska salad, with village sausage and chips. The tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce are all fresh and locally grown and strawberies are already in season here.

Then time to get the bus, say our farewells to Edi and start our 3 1/2 hour journey to Skopje. Sasha met us, took Catherine and Lydia to their hotel and then we went to their home as Ann and I were going to sleep in Sasha and Marija's bed. A cup of coffee and a sit down in a comfy chair, then time for us all to eat down town and then home again by 10pm ready for a brief nights sleep. The alarm was set for 2.15 am but I awoke at 2. Showered and shaved, cases packed and the taxi arrived soon after 3 with Lydia and Catherine already on board. Straight to the Alexander the Great Airport for our 5am flight, and now as I write this we are on the WIZZ air flight to London Luton. An excellent, enjoyable, fruitful, friendship building and tiring time. But I would do it again!

Love from Lydia and Catherine, who have excellent, positive and thoroughly enjoyable companions to travel with, Ann and me.

Ken

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Korca church workers meeting

On Monday at 6pm we met with the men and women who head up the various ministries in the church. Buildings here are built for the summer heat, so high ceilings, tiled floors and heavy curtains to keep out the light and thereby the heat. But in winter and even now in spring it works against them so that rooms are cold, sometimes very cold. So the sob, the wood burning stove, has pride of place at their Sunday meetings. Here we are gathered round the sob, but it is not lit, so as you can see, people are wrapped up against the cold.

After introductions, we asked them what issues they faced and after suggesting a few things to them the conversation and the questions flowed. Dealing with growth in the childrens work, communication amongst themselves and with volunteers, gathering volunteers and looking after them and planning ahead were some of the topics we covered. In the photo below are l to r Daniella, Vile and her husband Fredi,

then Vaso, Toshca, married to Daniella, Kostika and Olsi one of the Elders.

And finally Olsi again, Julia and Renato.Renato is one of the Elders and runs their bible teaching class.

 

We met the people in the bible teaching class and all of us prayed and prophesied with them. They are a group who are new Christians and are being taught the basics of the Christian faith.

So after a great time with them for two and half hours it was time for them to go home and us to go and eat. Back to the hotel restaurant that was already crowded with what seemed to be an office party. And on the menu was something I have not seen before. Half way down the page is "Grilled or fried locust". And you and I thought it was only eaten by people like John the Baptist! Perhaps I should have it for breakfast!

 

Lydia and Catherine and Ann are now tucking in to their breakfast as I write this now on Monday morning. Breakfast over, it is time to pack our cases and be on the move. Edi is kindly taking us in their childrens work minibus to Pogradec, past the Nehemiah Centre where we will have the Youth Camp in the summer, over the border into Macedonia and onto Ohrid. There we will get on a minibus and head for Skopje. So a day of travelling, but the sun is shining and God is with us.

Love from Lydia, Catherine, Ann and me.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Childrens Workers Workshop in Elbasan

Ann and I are here in Albania again, this time with Lydia Harris-Lane who leads our childrens work at Kerith, and Catherine Felgate who is also on staff and helps Lydia. The church in Elbasan lead by Ilir and Rudina Koci asked us to help them develop their childrens work. Lydia came out 2 years ago so now it was felt it was good to come again. The Workshop was held last Saturday morning and the photo shows Lydia with Arjan Emini translating. I know Lydia has done something similar to this in Lithuania but this time there were between 40-50 people from at least half a dozen churches. Many of these were known to me and Ann, but there were many new faces. 3 churches from Elbasan were represented, and others from Tirana, Kruje, Cerrik and Korca. So a really good crowd who really enjoyed what Lydia and Catherine had to say. Afterwards they spoke of how they had been challenged and benefited from what they had to say.
Afterwards we had pizza together and questions and answers flowed and new friendships made.

Here are some of the girls from Korca who came. In Korca they gather 80 children on a Sunday morning whilst their main meeting for adults and teenagers is in the late afternoon. And just to prove that we are here, here is a photo of us with them.

Whilst Lydia and Catherine were speaking Ann and I were meeting with Nerila Qoshku and her cousin Bresilda both from Librazhd. They are both at university in Tirana and finish their studies this summer. Nerila has applied to come to our Academy. Please pray that her visa application which she will make at the beginning of July will be sucessful.

In the evening we had a meal together with Ilir and Rudina and talked about their church and the childrens work in particular. On Sunday morning Lydia and Catherine looked in on the childrens work and I spoke at the meeting. It was good to see that new people had joined them since we were here last December. Then straight afer the meeting we got on board a furgon, minibus, and headed straight to Korca.

Two and half hours later we arrived in Korca and booked into the hotel on the outskirts of the city where we are staying. No one in the church has a home big enough to take two of us let alone four of us, so we stay in a hotel.

Edi and Artina who lead the church here met us at the hotel and we had coffee together and caught up on news.

After catching up, we then headed off to their church which keeps growing numerically. It is such a joy to meet up with so many people that we know from meeting them at our Youth Camp year after year and then on the occasions when we come to Korca. The Korca band has played at our Youth Camp the last 2 years. I am sure some of our youth will recognise Elvis on the drums and Geni on the bass guitar.

And below, is Vaso leading the worship with his wife Madeleine and Xhulio on the violin.

I spoke at the meeting and then afterwards after many farewells we went for an evening meal with Edi and Arta and their son Michael.
Today, Monday, we have a break. Lydia has not been to Korca before and it is Catherine's first visit to Albania so we thought it will be good to show them some of the Korca sights. Korca is considered the cultural capital of Albania. Here was started the first school in Albania for boys and then girls, and Korca declared itself an independant Republic in the 1920's in the days after the Ist World War, that paved the way for Albania becoming an separate nation no longer under Ottoman rule.
Now we are off to the church workers (leaders) meeting and another good time with a great group of people.
Love to you all and please pray for safe journeys. Tomorrow we are up and on our way back over the border via Ohrid to Skopje the capital of Macedonia. It's all go!
Ken and Ann

Posted with Blogsy

Hurmë and people

One of the other fruits in abundance at this time of year is hurmë. In English we know it as Sharon fruit or Persimmon. They can be yellow in colour through to red or orange colour as below. They are the size of a large tomato and have to be bletted before they can be eaten. That is to say they are left until they appear to be over ripe. They begin to appear bruised or even going bad, but they are not. This is the time to eat them. You can eat them whole or cut them open and then eat the insides with a teaspoon.

On Saturday afternoon we want to Librazhd to meet the young people from the church there and speak with them. We have seen this group grow from from 5 to over 30 in number with several of them now at University in Tirana. Here is Ann with Erlisa who leads the group, and then photos of some of the youth. Our young people who have been to Youth Camp over the years will recognise many of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Then it was back to Elbasan to meet the young people at the church there who were practising their items for the Christmas meetings.

On Sunday morning I spoke at the Elbasan church and then some of the children rehearsed their parts for the Christmas meetings.

 

 

After this we had lunch with another family Ilir and Donika, Daniel and Lysania.

Then a meal in the evening with the church leaders Ilir and Rudina, when we talked through many things including their plans for next year and their request for us to help them develop their children and youth work.

Today, Monday, saw us having coffee and lunch with a couple from the Newfrontiers Bedford church, Ron and Sue, who have been here for 3 months helping the church. We caught up with Arjan in the afternoon and then with Blerim and Rudina with their daughter Amaris.

Now it is dark. Time to go and eat, then pack our cases ready for the journey home tomorrow.

Gezuar Krishtlindjet! Happy Christmas!

Ken and Ann

 

Posted with Blogsy

Catching up is SO important to do

Having seen Robert and Mira on Tuesday, Tomor and Miranda and Mira, Ida's sister and Ilir and Rudina on Wednesday we knew we were off to a good start on catching up with people which, especially in this culture, is SO very important to do.

Today Thursday saw us go back to Tirana by minibus to meet up with Niku and Tani, below. Their mother Elvera died of cancer in the summer, and Tani along with his father Shaban and Halil, another leader, lead the Bethel Church in Tirana. I cannot imagine what it must be like to lose ones mother at their age. I have just lost my mother, but my mum was 94 and lived a long and fruitful life. We had lunch together, caught up on news of the church and how they were doing personally and prayed for them.

Then it was back to Elbasan in time to catch up with Edi and Arta below, who lead a church in Korca. We had coffee together and heard all their news. Their church is growing with 130 on Sundays including children. They have taken on a further large room which they have divided in two for children and youth work.

Edi has recently been in Milan and met 3 church leaders there. He is hopeful that some of their youth together with some young people we know from Skopje, Macedonia may come to our Youth Camp in July next year. This could all prove very interesting when it comes to translation!

Another phone call and we went back to our apartment to meet Ilir Qelemeni and give him some presents we have brought for him and Donika and their children.

Tomorrow we will catch up with another family we love dearly, and then head to Librazhd to meet the young people from the church there. They are a great bunch and very close to our heart. Then return to Elbasan and meet with the young people from the church here that we support. We have brought out a laptop for the church and some money so that they can buy some guitars for the young people to learn guitar with.

Let me close tonight with a couple of Christmas themed photos, the lights in the main boulevard in Elbasan and a Christmas tree!!

Ken and Ann

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

It is December, so it must be oranges!

 

Ann and I are back in Albania again. With the death of my mother and Ann's father in recent weeks our time in Albania had to be put back until now. Usually we come in early November when it can still be warm, but December marks the start of winter as it does with us. The days are still sunny and bright but a cold wind blows from the snow topped mountains. But as it is December the orange trees are full of ripe fruit as with this tree in one of the main streets in Elbasan. The markets are full of fresh mandarins and oranges at 45p per kilo.

 

We flew in on Tuesday and met with Robert Cook who took us to his home in Lezhe where we met Mira, his wife, and their daughter Emily, and caught up on all their news. Then on Wednesday morning we caught the bus back to Tirana and met Tomor and Miranda who lead Victory church in the city. They took us lunch which we did not expect. Again it was good to catch up and to hear their plans for their personal lives and the life of the church. We hope Miranda, photo below, can make it to our ladies REAL conference in June.

We were joined by Mira, Ida Sinakoli's sister. Ida is an Albanian young lady in our church who many of you will know. Naturally, Mira was full of questions about her sister. Mira is engaged and plans to be married next year. Then to the furgon, the minibus, that brought us to Elbasan and to the apartment where we usually stay.

The evening was spent with Ilir and Rudina the leaders of the church we support here in Elbasan, having a meal together with them and their 3 daughters Sara, Eliada and Abigaila.

Like many families they are getting ready for Christmas. This is still a new venture for many here as Albania has for hundreds of years been Muslim and in communist times it was the New Year that was celebrated. Even now of course it is the commercial aspect of Christmas that comes to the fore as with these decorated Christmas cakes. Christmas trees and street decorations are now to be found in most towns and cities.

Now at 4.30pm, as I write this, the sun is going down behind the snow topped mountains. The sky is pink and blue, clear and cold. Stars are already shining. Darkness will cover us in a few minutes as there is virtually no twilight. And it will be cold. Homes here are built for the summer heat, not winter cold. Heating even in shops and homes are inadequate for the task. I once visited a maternity hospital here in Albania in winter. None of the wards were heated. Only the babies in their incubators were kept warm. The mothers slept in their clothes and coats in bed to keep warm. Now we must go to eat before the restaurant gets too cold and we shiver as we eat!

All our love,

Ken and Ann

PS The fruit available tells you the time of year. So oranges tell you it is December, September will bring grapes and October/November pomegranates and so on all through the year.

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy