August 11, 2016
Fred Jewel, retired professor at Harding University, and his wife Alice, spent most of the month of September in Tirana, Albania teaching their WEI students.
On September 8, Fred wrote, “Things have gotten off to an excellent start here. After only two days, we have had a significant development. I’m excited to report that one of my WEI on-line students who has traveled an hour each day to come to Tirana from her home outside of Durres announced today that she had decided to be baptized.”
“Her parents are cultural, but not practicing, Muslims, a condition most common here in Albania. They will not be happy, but they will not oppose her. She said, “I am 22 and able to make my own decision about the most important thing in my life.”
On September 12, Fred wrote, “Meet your new sister in Christ. She is Dorentina (Dora) Hysa from Durres, Albania, baptized this morning in Tirana. Bledi Valca delivered a brief explanation of what we were doing, and why, in Albanian to Dora’s sister, brother, and best friend who attended the baptism. I then had the privilege of immersing her into Christ.”
“This lady/girl has such a pure heart and sweet disposition. After the baptism, we walked with our arms around each other’s waists to the restaurant 10 minutes away from the building where all of us present for the event had a celebration lunch; then we walked back to the building in the same manner. Her expressions of gratitude and affection were so sincere and continual; she didn’t want to let go of me. It was both an humbling and exhilarating experience.”
Fred is Chairman of the International Missions ministry at the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, the congregation that has sponsored Ellen Walker as a missionary in Tirana for more than twenty years.
