Convoy of Hope/Europe recently ministered in Albania with the help of a team from Minnesota under the leadership of Pastor Dave Oler. Joel Van Briggle, AGWM personnel relates more on this trip to Fier, Albania where they met Pastor Fatjon and Miranda Kadiu of the “Good News Church”. They are the local partners in this Adopt-A-Community project. The goals for this initial trip into Fier were to develop and strengthen relationships, paint the church facility, paint two kindergarten classrooms, assist in two community projects, and do a makeover in one of the homes of a gypsy family.

Joel VanBriggle says, “We finished all but one small painting project that will be done by our next team. One particular workday, the team tirelessly painted all day at the church. Late in the afternoon, I led a portion of the team into the gypsy village to do a makeover of a three-bedroom home of a young man named Claudio. His struggling family lives in a simple home that he shares with his mother and siblings. His father is in prison, and Claudio was left as the sole provider for his family. He is the main pianist at the church, self-taught, and plays by ear. He became a Christian a few months ago. Though his family has yet to put their faith in Christ, he shares his faith boldly. In just over two hours, my team of seven completed painting the entire interior of the house. As we finished, the look in Claudio’s mother’s eyes, filled with tears, made it all worthwhile. It’s amazing how something as simple as fresh paint, mixed with God’s love, can restore a glimmer of hope.”