An exciting week!

It was a good week!

We had a very encouraging time with Pastors Daryl and Debbie Snyder from Vlore, Albania, who arrived Sunday evening.  They shared a great teaching with everyone Monday night and gave us some prophetic insights that helped ease some of the warfare we had been feeling.  Pastor Daryl took a special offering for Didarja, a lady in our church whose husband is in prison, to obtain one of the containers that used to be used at the village we worked in.  There is no cost for the container, but the transport fees would be 150 euro.  The offering totaled 84.90 euro.  That night I wrote a letter to some friends in Tulsa and they donated the remaining 65 euro needed.

Pastors Daryl and Debbie left on Wed. morning and we got back to our regular routine and getting ready for Kathi’s second of two women’s days.  Little did we know, God had some additional plans for our week.

We went to see the man who would do the paperwork about the container/ house for Didarja.  He is the neighborhood director of this particular minority area.  This is also the area where a lot of the children we have been ministering to live.  When we located him he was visiting in the neighborhood assessing damages.  The houses there had been flooded out during the night when the river overflowed from 2 weeks of rain.  They asked us to come and see each of the houses.  As we went, each one showed us how the water had come in a meter high and ruined food stores, clothing, bedding, cooking units, and other items.  Everything was wet and muddy, including wood.  The power had to be turned off to the area for safety reasons.  Some had been able to stop the water from coming in, but had little or no opportunity to dry anything out.  It was still raining and chilly.

Our hearts were broken for these families as we had no financial resources to help them, and more rain was forecasted for the next several days.  I told them that we are a small church with a Big God and we would pray for them and see what God would have us do.  I suddenly felt a warm breeze coming through this area and the rain stopped.  I later found out that Kathi, who was with a group of the women in the same area, had prayed that God would send a warm breeze to help dry out the houses and belongings.  Pretty cool right?  We left them without any promises other than we will pray.

As we drove toward home we saw Didarja walking to work. We gave her a ride and God started laying things on our heart.  She works for a bakery near the hospital. When we dropped her off the boss was there.  We decided to ask him if he could help or maybe give a discounted price on some bread.  He said he only had samunes.  A samune is a more expensive specialty bread that is very tasty and filling.  He asked how many we wanted and we told him 70. God moved on his heart and he gave us all 70 at no charge, AND told us to come back the next day and he would help with some other bread.  Kathi felt we needed to go to the vegetable guy and see what he could help with.  He said “what do you want”.  We told him there were 15 families who needed help and whatever he could do was appreciated.  He gave us 15 bags of potatoes, 15 heads of cabbage and a crate of onions at no charge.  Praise God!  The families were very excited to receive this food as they had not eaten since the day before.  The bread would hold them until they could make means to cook the rest.

Again on our way home, Kathi said let’s stop at the church who sells used clothes out of the basement, and see if he can help with some blankets.  He gave us 14 large wool blankets at no charge and said let him know what else he could do.  We were excited!

One of the other pastors in town found out about what we were doing, and asked what was needed.  I told him most of them could use some pallets to get their stuff off the floor so he went hunting.  He called later and said he found some but the man wanted them back as he had a deposit on them.  I told him the people needed them and probably would not return them.  The man GAVE 10 pallets and delivered them to the neighborhood within the hour NO CHARGE! This same church asked if they could supply some homemade soup and some bread to help feed these folks something warm.  We were able to use the new “Family Life Center” in that neighborhood to feed 45-50 people a hot meal plus juice on Thursday, with the help of several ladies from that church, and another 25-30 on Friday. 

Thursday, a couple local Christian organizations together donated shoes, clothing, blankets, mattresses, 100 kilos of flour and various other food supplies for us to distribute for these flood victims.  Friday morning we went back to the bakery and bought, at a discounted price, 70 more samunes to feed the neighborhood.

It is great serving the Lord and seeing the Christian community come together in times of need.

Kathi held the women’s day outreach for this area on Saturday.  There were several women that came from the neighborhood that we had not met before, along with those we had.  It was a time of fun and pampering which the women really enjoyed even in the midst of catastrophe.  They were blessed.  As Kathi shared the love of Jesus and how special each one is to Him, some of the women were in tears.

The director of the community for these folks came to church with his brother yesterday. He said other than us, the Christian community, they had received 500 euro from the city-wide ministry for minorities.  That 500 euro served 25 families.   He said it was a blessing just to know someone cares for these people.  He also enjoyed church very much.  At the end of the service he had gone out and returned with a woman and her son.  When we asked about her coming, this man had met them while he was out and invited them to come in to rest a little and get warm.   She, of course, was welcomed and given attention by Kathi and Didarja.   Apparently he felt comfortable enough there to bring others in.

 We are praying for further support for these folks as there are still 13 families with desperate need.

Inside one house, the waterline form the previous nights' flood is still visible.

Everything is covered in mud, making cleaning up difficult and time consuming.

Clothes donated to families were a welcome relief from the cold and wet.

Each family was greatly blessed by what they received.

The swollen river flowing just feet away from the walls of several homes.

Blankets distributed helped keep families warm and dry through this difficult time.

Even as the water recedes, mud and filth is left behind, making for difficult clean-up.

The path the flooded river followed through the area, washing out houses as it went.

Standing water is present in almost every home.

Families affected by the flooding.

Everything is covered with mud, soaking wet and ruined.

Everyone is eager to help distribute the much-needed food supplies.

Even houses with multiple floors felt the affects of the flooding in their basements.

Provision donated by the man at the vegetable market; each a staple item for every home.

Donated Samuns to feed the flood victims.

November Updates!!

Hello friends and family! God has been keeping us very busy! There are many new things happening that we would like to share with you!

   As some of you may know, we recently opened a second church location in Gjakova. We call it “The Family Life Center”. This is a new adventure for us, and God has been showing us His great plans for this new location. Little by little we have been preparing this building for a training center for the Roma community where it is situated. From this location we believe God is leading us to train up families in kingdom living, hold practical life lessons for church members who are poor and under educated, and open a food distribution center. This building will also be a guest house for mission teams, a second children’s ministry location, cell groups, teen outreach, and soon a meeting place for weekly Church services.

     

Family Life Center

      When we first came to this building, it was a mess. The floors are unfinished concrete. The rooms were empty except for a few old boxes, a lot of dirt, and some not-so-friendly looking spiders that had moved in and taken up residence. Some of the windows and glass doors were broken and in need of repair. Much work was needed.

  

Main room for Ministry

    We are very excited about this vision God has given us and, we are working hard to get the ball rolling. Through your contributions we have been able to purchase enough carpet for one of the small rooms we are turning into a kitchen. This room is designed for fellowship, food distribution, and small, informal group meetings.  We are slowly adding to the amount of furnishings in an attempt to make this Family Center more functional. We do still need blessings and contributions to pay for more furnishings. We have been blessed with the opportunity to purchase many needed items for a very low price. Please be in prayer for guidance in how you may help support this vision.

  

Training for Worship!

In October we opened this new location with a second children’s ministry program. Since then, the number of children attending Saturday morning kids group has grown to well over 50 children between the two locations, and we expect this number to continue to grow! Each week, in addition to the large number of children ages 5 to 13, we see several teenagers who are milling about outside the gates, curious as to what their little brothers and sisters were doing. We see this as an open door for a youth ministry in the near future. Please be in prayer for God’s guidance in this area, as we are stretched for workers and funds.

Teaching Time!

Your contributions have helped support the children’s ministry through games, prizes, sharing the Word of God and the love of Jesus enabling us to touch many under privileged children. It is such a blessing to our hearts to see their smiling faces and receive their hugs and kisses every time we see them; even when we see them walking around town! God’s work through us has made a visible impact on their lives!

  

Annual Women’s Day Outreach!!

Preparing for the Women's Day!

 
Every year, Kathi puts together a special day for the women in the church, and as an outreach to their neighbors. Women are much under-appreciated in this culture, and a day especially for them is a very special event. On the last Saturday of November, and again on the first Saturday in December, we will be hosting our 3^rd annual Women’s Day outreach. These are the kinds of events we plan to host in the new Family Life Center. 

Queen for a day, dancing to the beat of the traditional tambourine!

 

The annual Women’s Days include a crafts project, food, games, prizes, and a time of friendship and encouraging, usually hosting 30+ women at one time. This is a great blessing to the women. We put together gift packs, from donated items, for each woman to take home, with some basic necessities such as soap and shampoo, as well as some small gifts they may not otherwise get due to lack of income. 

Craft time!

We are very excited about these special days, and ask that you be praying for wisdom and direction how to best minister to these women.

Women from different subcultures working together!

    

We want to thank you all for your continued support through prayers and finances! We know God has big plans for us in this place, and we look forward to what He will do next!

God Bless,

Al and Kathi Zickefoose

If you would like to support the work God is doing through Al and Kathi in Kosova, or if you are not yet on the newsletter mailing list and would like to be, please send your contact information to zotijubekoft@yahoo.com for more information.  Please send tax deductible contributions payable to: 

Heartland Christian Center, 1741 Oakhill Rd., Wooster, Ohio  44691 and write Kosova-Z on the memo line.

September Updates!!!

Hi,

 Just wanted to share our week with you and some testimonies! Our friends encouraged us to post what we actually do on a daily basis.
 Sunday: We picked up our friends in Prishtine to stay with us for the week.  We bought medicine for Hasimja, a lady in our church, who is pregnant with twins and had a bladder infection.
 Monday: We went to the home of a 14 year old girl who had 2 previous heart surgeries and the Dr. says she needs another. We prayed for her healing in Jesus name as the Muslim family joined in and agreed.  She said she felt something as we prayed. Follow up required.
Tuesday: We helped to supply medicine for Didarje for a severe kidney infection. We also took our visitors to see the location of the rebuilding a house project and while we were there we prayed for a little girl who had been hit by a car. Jerry and Diana, our visitors, have volunteered to lead the rebuilding mission team next year. We also went to talk with the owner of a house for a new Family Life center in the middle of the Roma neighborhood, and he agreed to our terms of renting. He is blind , only for now, and they said they felt very good about us and the sister said she saw something in Kathi's face that made her feel happy.
 Wednesday:  We emptied half our freezer to help Arton and Didarje with some food, went to Prizren, prayed over the city from the castle overlooking it. We then had a meeting with Besim's sisters. The one who verbally attacked us a few weeks ago apologized! God is good!
 Thursday: We had cell group with the Roma people in the church, and Jerry shared on work ethics Kingdom style. Afterward, Jerry and I met with the guys from the city.
 Friday: We met with Val and Howard from Samaritan's Purse for dinner. We all had a great time! Howard knew of a guy who may have a job for Arton.
 Saturday: We held our weekly Children’s ministry and also held English lessons for Arton and Berati. Later, we dropped our guests off at their destination for working with the medical team.  Danielle made the first paper bag apple pie of the season last night and we went delivering pieces of pie at 10:30 last night. Astrit was at work so we even took him some fresh milk to go with the pie. Drive by Blessings!
 Besim stays here on Saturday nights after riding the bus from Prizren to help with the children in the morning. He is learning many Spiritual lessons through "Hand and Foot". He has also become part of our family!
Sunday: Sunday morning was awesome. Strong Spirit of God there. Kath started praying at 9:00a.m. and service starts at 10:00. Those who filter in begin to worship and pray. We started with worship. Half way through the first song I noticed Beni at the door looking very depressed. I was standing in the back so I greeted him. He looked like he was having trouble getting in the door. I don't usually acknowledge those who come in late while worshipping but this time I did. He came in and I just put my arm around his shoulder. He rested his head on my chest as though he was so tired. I continued to worship and soon realized God had touched him and he was out! I laid him on the floor where he stayed until the end of worship. He said God was revealing Himself as the Truth while he was on the floor. He had had a run in with some Jehovah’s Witnesses whom had tried to confuse him but God has shown him the truth.
Worship time was great and we felt the presence of God in the church. I preached on Matt.10:7 and emphasized AS you go. After, we asked if any wanted prayer. A couple guys from the village came in late and asked for prayer. They have been on the fringes for some time and only came because they were sick and wanted prayer!!!!! God touched both of them physically and healed their ailment as well as giving them a word of encouragement about committing 100%. One of them said they felt a burning sensation in the small of their back. He hadn't realized Kath had her hand on him. Her other hand was cold.  Albert was having back trouble again for 3 days before service but after worship, he had been healed. We prayed for him and Violetta and they both felt God doing something physically. They asked for prayer, “just for fun" but received much more. God was showing them some areas of compromise they needed to let go of and we encouraged them in that. Kathi had a word about their relationship and how God wants to use them. They should be moving into town in 2 weeks, to the new apartment and out of the village. Oct.5th is the new date.
All in all God was faithful and blessed us greatly. What an honor to serve Him like this.
 Besim also stopped by in the morning before church to let us know Liza just had a baby boy #6!

God has been incredibly busy through us! We are excited to see what’s next! More updates coming soon!

Blessings,
Al and Kathi