A winding path through a narrow valley led us to a small town within the snow-capped misty mountains. A crystal clear emerald river flowed from the east to the south side of town. Rocky dirt roads wove past stone homes, businesses, and cement mansions. Children roamed the streets playing games as elders watched from sidewalks and stone porches. On the outskirts of town, an elderly woman sat crocheting socks while reminiscing the events of the day with her lifelong friend. In the distance farmers began their trek from the fields to home with their cows nose to heal pulling wains of the days small harvest.
Memaliaj, or Middle Earth as our dear friends and guides Gandalf and Samwise (Saimir and Geni) revealed, is one of the most beautiful places I have encountered on our many journeys around the world. While the beauty of this quaint town is innately evident in the creation that surrounds it, the church within it holds remarkable beauty as well.
Daniel and Monika focus their ministry on being the heart, hands and feet of Christ. They are the Paul and Barnabas of southern Albania. Their heart is to encourage and empower the local church within their own community and nearby communities. While their focus is evangelism and discipleship they have seen and responded to the specific needs of the community. In recent years, a mission home has been built for the youth, and there are plans to begin a ministry to the blind within their community.
“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkein
As the sun set over the western mountains and changed the clear blue sky to shades of sapphire and royal violet, Samwise and Gandalf took us on a journey through the Misty Mountains. A journey only us hobbitses with a taste for adventure could fathom.
God gave me New Zealand in Albania. God shared with me his dream of New Testament discipleship-centered ministry in a small mountain town. God brought me to the Misty Mountains, and whether or not I go Back Again? Well, only God knows, but that small town in the valley of snow capped mountains with the river running through it will always hold a dear place in my heart. Sometimes it takes less than 48 hours to form family, and that is all we needed.
Please read more about Daniel and Monika’s ministry here:
http://www.newdimensions-albania.org/en/new-dimensions-team/daniel-and-monika-reichert.html
Prayer:
Daniel and Monika’s ministry
For the Church Geni pastors
For the community of believers through Albania to continuously be strengthened through unity in the Spirit.
Fundraising:
I am $2,700 away from the final deadline. If you feel led to come alongside me financially in God’s work through the World Race please follow this link:
