Tirana, Albania, April 19, 1999 . . . Sunday we worshiped with 150 Christians here and it was a thrill to see faithful people that we first met when we came to this country to plant His church in 1991. The Lord is using them in wonderful ways to minister to the Kosovar. After visiting numerous relief agencies and government officials who are directing the refugee relief efforts, we met with the missionaries from four cities to listen to reports and help them formulate plans to be of greater assistance. All are actively assisting refugees in their cities and some have even borrowed money to help these desperate people. More then 365,000 refugees have already crossed the border and there are many still on their way. The atrocities they describe are unbelievable; men being hung up on meat hooks, children's throats slit because their parents had no money to give Serb soldiers who stopped them on the road as they were fleeing and walking for days without food and water. Sickness and death is everywhere and they are helpless to do anything about it.
We have visited camps, warehouses and schools where refugees are being housed and seen the meager rations of bread and milk they receive. They have only the clothes on their backs, no soap, no toiletries, no diapers, no sanitary napkins and sleep on the ground or floor in little family groups huddled together. Three or four hundred people are crammed into gyms with two or three toilets and often no showers or places to bathe. Head lice, fleas and roaches are everywhere and in one wear house we were told the scorpions come out of the ceiling at night in droves. There is no milk for babies or medicines for the sick and their numbers are increasing rapidly.
Q. Could I be of service if I went to Albania?
A. It is doubtful. There are no hotel rooms available, no places to
stay and your presence would simply slow our brethren down as they feel
obligated to meet you and take you places. You would probably just slow
the operation down at this point.
Q. I'm a health care professional. Can you use my services?
A. Perhaps in the future but not at the present time. There may be a
need for medical people later but the Albanian health care people have a
70% unemployment rate so the their government is asking that their
people be put to work rather then bringing foreigners in to meet this
need.
Yours for sharing the love of Christ with all while there is yet time
Bill McDonough