|
|
|
|
Greetings from Tirana! A month and a half ago we sent a picture update asking for prayer ahead of several ministry events here. Thank you for praying and for the messages and notes of encouragement we received from many of you. We felt God sustaining us in so many ways, no doubt in part because of your prayers. We wanted to give you another picture update to recap the past month or so and share a bit about what God has done. It’s been a full but amazing month!
Life slows down quite a bit here during the month of August. We’re thankful for the opportunity to rest a bit and regroup while gearing up and planning for a new ministry year this fall. We look forward to sharing more in our next update about some ministry opportunities on the horizon.
As always, thank you for your ongoing partnership with us.
Bekime,
|
|
|
|
A team from our home church, Crossway Milwaukee, arrived at the end of June and helped put on a VBS for kids in the neighborhood surrounding our church.
|
|
|
|
We were thrilled to be able to pour into these kids for a week! Last fall we had a lot of kids attend our Sunday morning outreach consistently but then not return after Christmas. Many of those kids we “lost” came to this VBS and we were so thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with them and their families. We are also thankful for the momentum the VBS has given our church going into the fall when we resume our Sunday morning outreach.
|
|
|
|
We had an action-packed week with group games, singing, English lessons, and Bible time. The kids also divided into five art groups each day that included piano, guitar, drama, painting, and arts and crafts.
|
|
|
|
It was such a blessing to have our kids be able to participate in the VBS! Jude learned some guitar; we were short on translators so Olivia helped out by translating for the craft group; and Liam had fun being a helper for the week.
|
|
|
|
The week’s theme was “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Here a member of the Crossway team is explaining the Gospel through a “magic” trick. The kids gasped when the red cross was placed in the dirty water and the water became clear again, representing how Christ’s death on the cross cleanses us from our sins.
|
|
|
|
We capped off the week with a celebration church service showcasing everything the kids had learned. We had amazing turn out from the parents and many said they are excited to start sending their kids on Sundays starting this fall.
|
|
|
|
The team was also able to spend significant time getting to know the members of our church through meals and coffees together, a women's Bible study/craft night, our church's weekly Bible study, and of course with traditional dancing!
|
|
|
|
A few days after the Crossway Milwaukee team left the plan was to head to the coastal Albanian city of Durres with a team from Crossway Bristol, another one of our supporting churches. If we could give Balkan ministry a tag line it would be, “Plans change so be flexible!” Long story short, the location of the English camp this team came to help with was moved at the last minute from Albania to Skopje, Macedonia next door.
|
|
|
|
Jeff was able to join the team in Skopje for most of the camp, while Meredith held down the home front with the kids. The purpose of the camp was to advance the long term work of a local team of Albanian CRU staff by hosting English classes and more generally developing relationships with Albanian Macedonians.
|
|
|
|
Please continue to pray for the ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. This people group is very close to our hearts. Efforts to make substantial headway for the sake of the Gospel among the Albanians in Macedonia continues to be difficult work. Please also pray for the existing workers among the Albanians in Macedonia, many of whom face loneliness and discouragement.
|
|
|
|
Immediately following the English camp in Skopje, we headed about 45 minutes away with our church family for our annual four day church retreat.
|
|
|
|
We had a wonderful time worshipping, opening God’s Word together, playing games, swimming, and eating amazing farm fresh food.
|
|
|
|
We, as a couple, had the opportunity to share with the church about the importance of regular bible reading. As a result of this talk, most of the church is together going through a month-long Bible reading plan.
|
|
|
|
Thank you for praying for our kids this month! They were such troopers and followed the Balkan ministry tag line well (remember? “Plans change so be flexible!”) We've had the opportunity to do some fun summer activities the past few weeks and spend some good quality time with them.
|
|
|
|
In the midst of all the busyness we've kept Barrett Academy going! The kids have (for the most part) had a good attitude and we've been accomplishing many of the goals we set out to meet. We’ll continue for a few more weeks and take a break before school starts up again.
|
|
|
Please do not post this information electronically, whether by email, on the internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
|
|
|
|
HOW TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY: If you would like to make a contribution to our ministry, you can do so by:
- Visiting this website.
- Phoning in your donation to WorldVenture's Receipting Department at 1-800-487-4224.
- Emailing WorldVenture's donation inbox at giving@worldventure.com.
HOW TO KEEP IN TOUCH:
- Email us at jeffandmeredith@gmail.com
- Follow our "Barretts in the Balkans" Facebook group. It's a private group, so email us for an invite.
- Interested in sending us mail the old fashioned way? Our mailing address here is:
K.P. 119, AEP
Jeff and Meredith Barrett, Box 66
Tirana, Albania
ZIP 1057
IMPORTANT UPDATE TO OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS:
Our mission organization, WorldVenture, has moved locations. If your monthly gifts are submitted by credit/debit card NO ACTION IS NEEDED.
If you send your gifts by check, please begin sending future gifts to the address listed below for WorldVenture. Thank you!
WorldVenture
20 Inverness Pl E
Englewood, CO
80112-5622
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
