Albania Earthquake Update from Pastor Sotir

Letter from Pastor Sotir of Albania
(Our partner in the work in Albania)

The Earthquake

On 26th of November 2019 Albania, located in south-east of Europe, was hit by an earthquake. The damages had been a lot, 51 people lost their lives. It was something new for Albania. We had never experienced that kind of situation before.

The Evangelical churches came all together to help the people in need. By helping people in need we share the love of Jesus, we hear their words and we create also relationship. Through us, we wanted to show the only hope in Jesus Christ. What we are doing is showing them that Jesus Christ is our rock and hope.

Many families live in tents.

A lot of houses are damaged and they are unlivable. We are praying and trying to find permanent solutions to help the ones in need in this difficult time. One great way to help them is by getting a container for a family. The winter is cold and it makes it very difficult for little kids to sleep out in the tents and it is not easy for the old, sick people. A container is more comfortable, it keeps people warm and is not flammable as a tent is. A container would really help a family and they will always be grateful.

We have provided in 5 villages:
ISHEM – 2 container homes
MARIKAJ – 1 container home
KLOS – 1 container home
THUMANE – 2 container homes
KOMBINAT – 1 container home

7 CONTAINERS THROUGH MACEDONIAN OUTREACH to the families as well as food for those families. WE WANT TO THANK THE MACEDONIAN OUTREACH FOR CONTAINERS.

Some families were very poor. Some with many children. One of the families had a sick child and we prayed for it in name of Jesus.

We, as a church sent clothes, shared love of Christ with people.

I want to share with you two stories from two families for whom we provided a container house: for the family of Ramazan Beça in the village of Patin of the Klos Administrative Burrel.

The first one is Beça family. Their house was damaged by the November 26 earthquake and was classified by engineers as unlivable house. The Beça family case is a delicate case, where besides the fact that there are major economic problems, one of the children of the family, Biselda, only 20 years old, has very many special needs. Now Biselda has a home where she can live a normal life like all her friends. Ramazan Beça’s family has a container home that fulfills all living conditions.

Earthquake damage in local homes

Earthquake damage in local homes

Pastor Sotir among the container homes

Container home installation using crane

Pastor Sotir with Beça family in front of their new home

The second one is in Thumane, Thumane is the center village of the earthquake. In this village we gave two containers. One of these containers was given to mother Dilo. She is 80 years old and her house was destroyed. She is paralyzed, but I didn’t know that. When we planned to go to her house, it was a rainy day. This meant that it was impossible to go there, but we went. We told her that this container is a gift from some brothers and sisters from USA AND ESPECIALLY FROM MAMA VULA WHO IS LIKE YOU, A WIDOW.

I asked to take a photo of her and she told me: “Give me one minute to brush my hair. I want to look beautiful.” When we left she was very happy, and we were happy, too. God bless Mother Dilos.

Mama Dilos embraces Pastor Sotir

We are thankful to our LORD JESUS, AND TO YOU MACEDONIAN OUTREACH, AND YOU MAMA VULA for the privilege He gives us to serve Him and to reach some of the needy people. Please read Matthew 11:28-30.

Letter of gratitude from Albanian Evangelical Alliance