This month our main ministry is with Campus Crusades. We hand out magazines at four different Universities in Elbasan. We talk to the students about many things, and if they want we go for coffee with them on certain days.
This Wednesday October 19, was Mother Theresa day, so the schools were closed. Anna our contact took us to a soup kitchen that her cousin Teela works at. The soup kitchen serves the elderly, and the homeless one meal a day, which is at 12pm. The ages range from all over, from toddler, to the elderly. These are people who have no place to call their own, and live in a shelter, which other family members, or live in very poor conditions.
The big pot of soup!
Some more of the people we fed at the soup kitchen!
I had been waiting to pass the food out to the people. When I looked over at the children playing with each other, I wanted to capture their happiness. I asked if it was ok to take a picture and they said yes. Even though they are homeless they are so happy to smile for a photo. After I took the picture the children ran over to me, wanting to see their picture on my little screen. Seeing themselves lit up their faces, and they wanted more! They asked me to take one with their mother, with their grandparents, with their other siblings. It was a never ending photo-shoot, but I didn’t mind. What touched me the most, was when thee grandmother held my hand and pulled me in for a kiss on each cheek, and a hug. She started to cry thank you over, and over again. Telling me that she was very grateful for what I was giving her. This was all in Albanian of course, but I could just read it in her eyes. The happiness of seeing herself and her grandchildren on a camera had made their day. I could tell it has been a longtime since they have been happy, and I was so overcome with joy. Not only did I make them happy, but I made them forget for just a second their hardships they indoor every day.
The children of this family loved to have their pictures taken!
Another picture of the some of the children of the same family.
It never occurred to me that a tiny little camera could bring so much joy. I was able to give joy to people who have little to no worldly possessions. They have so much love in their hearts to give to others who took a photo of them. I will never forget this moment
