Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I pray that all of you had a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving!
All of you have probably heard about the devastating 6.4 earthquake in Albania. First of all, please be praying for those who have lost loved ones, homes and belongings. Our church in Duress has also suffered a great loss. Following is a letter from our Pastor Sotir. If anyone of you is led to help in financial support as well as your prayers, please send your contributions to the Macedonian Outreach and we will make sure that every penny will go toward the needs.
Thank you.
Vula Rushdoony
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From: Sotir Anagnosti
Date: November 28, 2019 at 4:22 AM PST
To: Vula Rushdoony
REPORT FOR THE EARTHQUAKE SITUATION IN ALBANIA
DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
Greetings from Albania!
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Albania early on Tuesday morning, November 26, causing several buildings to collapse. The death toll reached 41, while the fate of many others remains unknown. Volunteers and specialized teams have pulled 47 people alive from under mounds of debris.
47 have saved by the special action teams. We thank God for the 47 miracles and we thank all police and special forces of action teams. Thirty people were hospitalized.
Another 658 people have been treated for injuries. We pray for their soon recovery.
One of those killed was an elderly woman who saved her grandson by protecting him with her body.
Thousands of buildings have been damaged. Hundreds of people are spending the night in tents – or cars, fearing another tremor. Some 550 aftershocks have been recorded since Tuesday’s earthquake.
Thousands have been sleeping in tents and their cars, in fears of next big earthquakes and because 70 % of their houses are not to live in anymore.
The Albanian government announced the state of emergency and declared Wednesday, Nov. 27, a national day of mourning for the victims. Neighboring Kosovo, which has a large Albanian population, recognized Wednesday as a mourning day.
The people of Albania have shown great love and generosity.
The government of Albania has today declared a state of emergency in Tiranë, Durrës and Thumanë.
Our neighbor nations Greece, Israel, Turkey, Bulgaria, Rumania, Macedonia, Serbia and especially Kosovo have sent special forces to help Albania.
All festivities coinciding with Albania’s independence day on Thursday have been cancelled.
So the need for prayer and any help aid is very much appreciated by people of Albania.
The morning after the earthquake, as a church, we collected clothes from ourselves and Macedonian Outreach, (Mama Vula) and the members of the church and we gave to government for the people in need in Durres. (See photos)
ACCORDING TO THE REPORTS I GOT TODAY, AN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH IN DURRES HAS BEEN REALLY DAMAGED.
EVEN THOUGH THE EARTHQUAKE ALMOST DESTROYED EVERYTHING, THE WALL WITH THE VERSE FROM JEREMIAH 31:3 STANDS FIRM AND NO OTHER FORCE CAN CORRUPT IT OR DESTROY IT.
“I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE”
THIS PROMISE OF GOD STANDS UNTOUCHABLE. HE LOVES YOU, ME, ALBANIA AND THE WHOLE WORLD.
KEEP PRAYING FOR US!
PRAYER NEEDS:
I contacted the Secretary of Albanian Evangelical Alliance and he told me they need tents, Pampers for babies, blankets, and money to support 600 and more people they lived out. Most of the people are been helped from the government. Our churches are organized and we are not allowed to enter the camps with the people because of the emergency situation. At this time, churches are collecting everything that is needed and organizing the materials and food. 12 Christian families, members of our local church in Thuman are staying outside.
I contacted Pastor Fatmir and he said the need is financial to build the houses. This will happen after government control all the destroyed houses. So we need support for 12 Christian families to construct their houses.
Let’s pray for those who are trapped under collapsed buildings that the rescuers will quickly reach them!
Pray for comfort for the families who lost their loved ones.
Please pray for those who are homeless and will be spending the nights in tents!
Meanwhile aftershocks are continuing. One of them 5.4 Richter.
Thank you for your prayers and heart of love to donate for Albania.
The church in all world is praying for Albania.
With love,
Sotiri, Valbona and Debora
Dear family and friends:
Those of you that live in the area, are invited once again to our annual fundraiser “Tips for Change”. This wonderful couple, the Bartolettis, generously open their restaurant Gianni’s for one night, and donate all the tips plus 10% to The Macedonian Outreach. Please come join us if you can. Those out of the area, please pray for a successful event.
Thank you.
Vula
If you would like to use Yelp for reservations, click here.
Download flyer as PDF here.
On September 10-11, we visited our sponsored children in Skopje, N. Macedonia. We made these kids so happy on one hand but on the other they filled our hearts with a very special joy. It was so good to see the children come back from school with backpacks laughing, running, joking like any children around the world. I, especially was very happy to see these children in school, something that some years back was only a dream. Thank you sponsors for making such a difference in the lives of these precious children. Not only they are going to school but at the same time beautiful Christians are teaching them about the love of Jesus and how He loves them the same like every other child in the world. Blessings to you all. You know who you are!
“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”
1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 NIV
We thank God for clearing the way and for giving us the privilege to serve Him for yet another year. It is so beautiful to find the ones we left behind last year, growing in faith and encouraging and loving one another in the Lord.
It is just as wonderful to have friends and relatives from the US who join us in serving Him. With sadness we said goodbye to Theresa who was here and working very hard for over a month. Thank you, Theresa!!!
Our partners in Ministry from N. Macedonia, visited us on June 3rd at the Ministry Center in Litohoro, Greece. We are particularly proud of their son Alexander, who just finished his doctorate in Scotland, on Old Testament studies with emphasis on the book of Jeremiah!
On June 4th, we visited the Refugee Center in Thessaloniki bringing food and clothing
Clothing for our dear refugees in Thessaloniki
On June 7-9th, we went to Saranda, Albania where our Ministry partner Pantelis did a Couples’ Conference. On Sunday morning I woke up to the beautiful sound of church bells; a sound that was “mute” for over 40 years during the very dangerous years of extreme communism.
Pantelis, teaching on Sunday morning. The church in Saranda is right in front of people coming off the boat so when they see the cross some come in to worship with us. This particular Sunday, a Christian father and daughter from Australia came in to worship with us. It was amazing! Pantelis preached in Greek, our Albanian/Greek pastor Sotir translated Greek to Albanian and I had the privilege to translate from Greek to English for our Australian guests!
“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
John 10:16 NIV