January 17, 2004
Tom Bonner, missionary in Lushnja, Albania, reports that Altin Koçi, a new Christian in Lushnja, comes to the office almost every day to see if there is anything he can do to help. Tom says, “Last week, he asked if I would come and speak at his high school, and this week, he wanted to talk about starting classes for beginners in English so that more could come to know about Jesus. . . . It is so good to see his involvement and interest.
“When Orieta Llupo decided she wanted to be baptized, she went home and talked with her father about it. He gave his permission, but he also told her she could not be involved with the church because it would take too much time. She and I spent a good bit of time talking about what the Bible has to say about being part of the body, the family of God. I offered to go with her to talk with her father, but she said she wanted to try first to convince him to let her be involved.
“She came back in a couple of days literally beaming. I asked her what her father had said, and she replied, ‘Can’t you tell by looking at my face?’ She was baptized and has missed worship only once—when she was out of town for a wedding.
“One Sunday, I thanked her for being present, and her reply thrilled my soul. She said, “I don’t have any choice. I made a commitment to Jesus.’ Then she added, ‘I want to you to know I’m not trying to impress you with my coming. I want to please Jesus!’
“Does it get any better than this?”
