This is the logo of an amazing project in the northern part of Tirana. It's Albanian for 'The Bridge' and is situated right by ... a bridge, over the river Tirana. It's somewhere in this picture, but the actual bridge is secondary to the symbol it gives to the project itself.
I started my sabbatical by teaching Tanzanian pastors and encouraging them to see themselves as a bridge for their congregations and communities. Here I am at the end of the sabbatical encountering the same symbol.
This is one of the directors and BMS World Mission missionary, Matt Gregory, outside the project's premises. Matt is a former primary school teacher, originally from Sheffield, and, with his wife Suzanne, has served with BMS since 2002. They spent eleven fruitful years in Lebanon before relocating to Albania in 2013. Suzanne is the headteacher of an international primary school in Tirana. They are a most impressive couple. We spent a lovely evening with them and their fantastic children, Seth and Esther, including a walk in the beautiful Grand Park near the centre of Tirana.
The nearest UK equivalent to Tek Ura are the rapidly disappearing Children's Centres, except Tek Ura is far broader in its scope and effectiveness. They minister to the community around the project's centre, a mixed community of white Albanians and the much discriminated against Roma, as well as other downtrodden minorities. Matt's remarkable team are all Albanian.
This is Xhina (Gina), a physiotherapist, in her treatment room. The children and adults she sees, more often than not, have multiple needs. She is passionate in her holistic approach. It's physiotherapy +++!
This is Ina, the project's social worker If you think social work is tough in the UK (and it is), it is really tough and extremely under-resourced here in Albania. A state social worker here has 75,000 children she is responsible for with a budget of... 0. She is it! Ina gets involved in the many families who walk in off the street in need of help.
And this is Megi, the fourth full time worker in the team. She is responsible for the educational needs that the project regularly encounters. For instance, a young man from the Roma community cannot read or write, but with Megi's help has made an excellent start. He wants to be able to exchange text messages with his friends.
In all of their highly professional activities this team aims to be excellent practioners, not only for their community but as a role model for local government which struggles to support needy members of their society. They are also a signpost to the limited local services that are provided. They speak up for those who find it difficult to find their voice and empower them in their daily living to make good choices. Together they form a bridge with Christ and his love as the foundation.
Two minutes walk from their premises is the remains of a Roma area, a whole street of which was washed away by huge floods a couple of years ago. Several years before, EU funds had been assigned to strengthen the river bank but was used too late. The homeless families have been rehoused in army barracks, a 'transitory' camp, unable to afford moving on. The remaining community have turned to Tek Ura for help, just one example of the importance of their work.
We leave eastern Europe this evening on the Durres to Bari (Italy) ferry, grateful to God for all that we have experienced in the last seven weeks. We return with a burden for the peoples of the Balkans and pray for all those who are reaching out with the love of God.
