….and the boys want to be men.
Today I went to a village near Elbasan, Albania. Our church contacts go every Saturday to bring games, songs and the gospel to the children in this village. The children range from ages 4 to 16 ish.
As soon as we get there and hand out the hoola-hoops and soccer balls the girls and boys split up to play. As I am watching the boys, I am taken aback at how aggressive they are with each other. They kick the ball at each other’s faces, they throw rocks at the basketball hoop, and they tackle and hit each other. It makes me sad because I wonder how home life is for them. There is obviously a lack of attention and discipline and they desperately need something to channel their anger and energy.
playing games with the village kids
Then, an older boy pulls up on his motorbike. The older boys flock to him and stop playing soccer with the younger boys. Now there is a line of boys on the fence watching all the other children play.
You can tell they want to play.
You can tell they do not want to “look so cool” all the time.
You can tell they want to listen in on the Jesus talk.
You can tell they just want to let go and be a boy again.
But their culture and their peers seem to be telling them they cannot.
Status and outward appearance are more important…even if inside they know there is something more than this. Ellona(pictured at the bottom of this post) was asking one boy about God. Yes, he believes there is a God, but he also thinks that God is very far from him; that He is not involved in his life. So she told him that she would be praying that God wouls come near to him so that the boy would know how good God really is. He said, “Ok, I am open,” and then went to join his friends on the fence.
The ladies and I left the village a little discouraged. They wondered why they kept coming when the children just want to play games. They don’t seem to care about the message of God. I did my best to give encouraging words to Tila but then God gave me His words, which were far better:
Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
The moral of the story is this: we never know the impact we are have on someone but at the end of the day, only God can change hearts. These amazing ladies keep going every week to minister to the children—and that alone speaks value into their lives. They are doing good and bringing light into this dark part of their city. They are not giving up and I know that God will provide a harvest for them. Please keep them in your prayers:
You can pray energy, rejuvenation and vision for these relentless women.
You can pray that God provides godly men to step in and lead with them.
You can pray that the children are accepting the message…and ultimately a relationship with Jesus.
From top, cloclwise: Keta and Kristin; Tila teaching the Bible, and Ellona on her birthday. These women and two other girls (Sara and Cindy) go to the village every week.
Be encouraged about God’s work in Albania. The small churches are doing big things for God’s kingdom and I am honored that I got to be a part of that for this past month. Thank you for going with me!
