Letter from Pogradec church 

Greetings from the saints in Pogradec, Albania! The church here would like to invite you to join us in spreading God’s word to the people of this city. There are several ways that you can participate in this work; each is important and challenging in its own way. The first option is a short-term summer mission, the second option is a short-term mission at a different time during the year and the third option is working as a long-term missionary here.

Long-term Work:

The missionaries who have been working here for a year are preparing to return to the United States. They will be departing around the middle of June 2005. Our hope is to find Christians who are willing to come and work with us and continue that which has been started by God. Our current tool for reaching the community, through English speaking missionaries, is conversational English lessons taught using the World English Institute materials. We have seen good results through this outreach, but encourage anyone who is thinking about living here for more than six months to endeavor to learn the Albanian language. The need to reach people who cannot speak English is just as great as the need to reach those who can. In fact most of the Christians who worship regularly with us in Pogradec do not speak fluent English.

Working with the church in Pogradec might include teaching WEI lessons throughout the week, teaching one-on-one Bible studies, teaching midweek scripture lessons, directing worship, leading singing (in Albanian, it’s not that hard), teaching Sunday Bible classes and various other good works. This list is in no way complete, and of course the church is looking for ways to better reach and serve the community. As a long-term missionary you will be helping to guide the church in this work.

Short-term Work (summer):

            Summer missions are what drive the WEI teaching method. Most of our students are more willing to spend time studying when they don’t have lessons to prepare for school. This means that the summer holiday is ideal for them to attend the WEI course. As a summer campaigner you would teach about eight students a day, and hopefully build friendships with those students and their families. Short-term campaigns last from two weeks to two months (We encourage campaigners to stay for at least three weeks of teaching.).

Short-term Work (other):

            If you cannot come in the summer think about working with us in the fall after the summer campaign is over. When the summer campaigners go home there are still students to teach and follow up work to be done. Your work would be the same as those coming in the summer, but you would have mornings open since the students will have returned to school and will not be able to attend lessons until the afternoon. This work will be even more important if there are no long-term workers from the United States. It will be very difficult for Xhumert (the Albanian missionary who lives and works in Pogradec) to teach all of the students that begin with the summer campaign. This short-term work can last from two weeks to two months (Again we encourage campaigners to stay for at least three weeks of teaching.).

If you are interested in joining us in any part of this work (physically or financially), or just want to know more about the work here please contact Kevin Morrill. Kevin has been living and working in Albania for about two and a half years. He and his wife, Allison, worked with the church in Durres, Albania for a year and a half before moving to Pogradec last January. He will help you in planning your stay in Albania and help you to find needed information.

We thank you for considering this work and we ask you to pray for our small group of Christians as we try to spread the Gospel to the city of Pogradec.

In Christian Love,

Xhumert (Albanian missionary) and Irena Nuro, Idajet and Lumturi Guri, Mimoza Kumbulla, Verxhil Mikta, Landro Terrolli, Kandita Hasa, and Kevin and Allison Morrill (US missionaries)

Contact information:

Kevin Morrill

e-mail: weipogradec@fastmail.fm

telephone (from U.S.A.) 011-355-83-24626

cell phone (from U.S.A.) 011-355-69-221-5585