December 19, 2002
Virgil Jackson reports that three people have been baptized in Vlorë. Joana Dëraj, youngest child of theDëraj family, was baptized on her thirteenth birthday. A large group of family and friends gathered to celebrate her new birth.
More recently, Skënder and Vera Mejdiaj, a couple in Orikum with whom Danah Nelson and Kay Banta lived last summer, have obeyed the Gospel. Skënder and Vera are the first adult converts in Orikum.
Listen to Virgil’s exciting story: “Skënder and Vera came to church services here [Vlore] this morning and were both baptized. Skënder asked to speak afterwards, and he talked about all the years he had spent as a commissar telling people there is no God. It was very moving to hear what he said. We’re trying to have a class at the school [in Orikum) on Thursdays. On Sunday, after church, we are doing an English class, as we promised those who came to register for WEI classes and knew no English. Some of them come to church first.”
Doug Smith reports that Benjamin (Beni) Cakrani, 58, and Ylli Benaj were baptized into Christ shortly before midnight October 31. “These [men] will be great assets to the Fier church as the number of adult men now increases to five. Brent [Parr] will continue studying with Beni and Ylli as well as eleven other men over thirty years of age. God has truly blessed the efforts in Fier the past four months.”
Rosalie Waymire reports that Vlorajon was baptized into Christ one evening, and Miranda Haxhinasto and her son Gerti were baptized the next morning.
Ellen Walker reports that two more people were baptized in Tirana during the month of October: Ardit Hamza, who studied with Sharon Saenz in 2001 and with Jim Fox and Wes Wolford in 2002, is now a child of God. Erika Haxhi, also, was baptized into Jesus on October 28, her twelfth birthday.
Praise God for the fruitful harvest that he is providing in Albania.
