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The November trip to Kosova was planned in order to consolidate and round off the Leadership and Foundational training that had been taking place throughout 2006. Our aim has been that, through the training, we will be able to identify any potential and new leaders in order to further the work of the church as it goes beyond existing geographical boundaries.The foundation course work was there in response to the general need to provide good foundations and move people on to a mature Christian walk.
Eddie Gjoni, Russell and myself will meet in January to assess the value of the courses and what they have achieved in this context and then meet with leaders in Kosova to discuss the way forward from there.
It was also the first time that all the people who TCF support in the Balkans i.e. Tomor, Miranda, Eddie, Bukerije and Faton were all together.
The weekend content ran through Friday and Saturday with Eddie, Tomor, Miranda and myself contributing. All returned to their own churches (and nations) after Saturday and I stayed on in Peje with my travelling companion Ivan Hammond for the Tilbury church. Ivan's own valuable contribution was to make friends and also play the flute at the Sunday morning meeting.
We have in the course of the last two trips also enjoyed the hospitality of Randy and Linda Pyle - an American couple with 3 children living and working in Peje over the last 7 years. The run the 'Pyle Inn' a welcome and warm retreat for us as we minister. Randy is involved with many practical projects which support the community and the local church whilst Linda works with children and more particularly local women in helping them to grow skills that also give them the potential to earn money. I was able to bring some of the products back with me some of which are from recycled material. Amazing stuff!
Our American friends have also given us a greater insight into the locality and other Christians who are working there from all over the world. If you go you will find a warm welcome...
the Kosovans have their 'Flag Day' on the 28th November - patriotic celebration of all things Albanian. The red and black flag was out in prolific numbers, the joy was great as they have suffered under the Serbs for years. the protest were small (at the UN offices in Pristina because of their procrastination on independence). The concern here is that if independence does not come soon, the frustration will grow and boil over in some sort of response by activists and militants. Watch this space ....
The weather is usually against me ( you should know that I am one of the few from TCF who will 'suffer for the kingdom' in the winter months - what a hero) but this trip it was reasonably good with no freezing temperatures - in fact for two days we sat outside enjoying the local cafe culture as the sun blazed down! However we nearly didn't get off the ground, on the trip home,as fog was slowly besetting the Pristina airport.
Nevertheless, praise God for a mission accomplished, good company and hope for the future
John Peters
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