Hello,
We came back to Kosova and one of the worst snows in 30 years. We got near 5 feet of snow over a 3 day period. This shut down most forms of transport other than walking. We were without running water for 7 days due to freezing. The price of firewood, the main heat source in Kosova, has tripled since the snow fell.
Al was able to get out Wednesday and check on those whom we serve and are the most poor in the church. Most are huddling together to conserve supplies and heat. Those with the greatest need are staying with family as they can.
Having been in the U.S. for 3 months we have extra wood to distribute that was purchased last spring, to help see folks through the worst part of the remaining cold.
We hired two men from the church to dig out our road yesterday. The city is barely able to clean the main roads and ours is very low priority since it is a dead end with only 6 houses on it. Our neighbors could not understand why we would do this. They said, “you can get to the store on foot and you have the wood you need, why are you paying someone to clean the road? The city will clean eventually”. I told them because God sent us here to help and take care of others as well as ourselves. We need to be able to get the vehicle out to help those in need. Also I said these men, between the two of them, have 8 children to feed and neither have work. It is good for them, good for others we serve, and good for our neighborhood. One man, who lives next door and has had very little to say to me in 3 years, walked with me down the alley yesterday and I could tell he was trying to understand why I would do this. I know there is an open door coming soon to share Christ's love. He knows of our faith and is seeing it put to action.
We were finally able to dig the van out yesterday, Saturday, so we could make some additional food provisions for some folks.
One family of 6 has no wood or food. The road situation prevented us from getting even a wheel barrel through to the house. The husband hurt himself digging through the snow and can't move very well. We will dig more later.
We were able to get the van up to the next block over last night, where the mom and two boys were able to meet us to receive food supplies and a hot prepared supper. The van only got stuck once along the way!
A woman, who has been very faithful in the church and with the children's ministry, came today to our home. She has no work now for 2 months and is out of wood to heat her home and has little food. She is living with her parents to feed her son and herself. She came today to ask for help with prescriptions for her father who has cancer. The cost of his medication, which should be free from the government but is stolen by the pharmacists, cost 28 euro ($40) for 2 days worth of medicine. The doctors say there is nothing they can do for him. Our heart breaks for the lack we see and the greed that fuels it here.
We have a great need for another location for the Family Life Center. The facility we have has been outgrown for some time. The empty store we had been praying about has since been rented as a furniture store. We have found a large house for sale, nearly three times what we have now and in the area we are targeting. This property could provide the much needed space for worship services, the feeding ministry, the learning and skills training center and even some temporary housing as needed!
Please continue to pray with us for God's perfect will for this place, or another He would have for us.
Pray also for provision for the people of Gjakova and Kosova during this time of great need. Pray also for the families who have lost loved ones in this storm.
