August 5, 2002
On Sunday morning, July 14, the Church of Christ met in Lushnja for the first time in centuries. Twenty four people assembled for worship: five Americans, five Albanians from Tirana, one from Kosova, and thirteen from Lushnja—including Anila Gjyla, a WEI student who was baptized about a year ago. Bill Morgan preached, Artan Xhaferi interpreted, and Erik Qirjaqi waited on the Lord’s Table.
The next morning, the new WEI teaching facility in Lushnja opened its doors to students. A team of four Americans (Bill Morgan, Clayton Ogier, Bob Threlkeld, and Bob’s daughter, Robbie) and three Albanian girls (Albana, Annie, and Kela) began teaching thirty or so students in a summer campaign.
About four weeks later, Tom Bonner arrived, ready to work as a long term missionary, and the campaign ended with a party. Seventy people attended this party.
Bill Morgan served as Master of Ceremonies. Many of the students who received their diplomas that afternoon had brought their parents, brothers, and sisters. Bill introduced Tom Bonner as the man who would live and work among them, and Tom received a warm welcome.
Kela Sofa, a young Christian from Tirana, will serve as Tom’s secretary and translator for the next six months. (In the picture above, Kela is standing in the back row on the left.)
Please pray for Tom as he builds a strong church in Lushnja and as he directs the WEI teaching program in that city of 80,000 people.
