Adopt-A-Child in Albania

Doctors, Dentists and Donkeys

You will recall that in June 2010 a small team of specialists from The King's Fellowship went out to complete the Adopt-A-Child Clinic facility in the moslem village of Kotodesh, Albania. Alistair Stirling of Ark Consultants (Highland) Ltd had designed it and the challenge was to have it ready for the Summer clinical evangelism campaign. Mission accomplished: Job done! The first (visiting) team to use it were blessed, and saw nearly 1 in 7 patients respond to the Gospel! The clinic has been in regular use ever since.

Fast forward to May 2011...

Tempted by warm spring sunshine Mark Hilditch, Elma Beaton and Heather Kennedy headed off to join team Two. The purpose of the trip was to provide basic medical and dental care to children in the Adopt-A-Child programme and their families. Lead by Christine Cocking, together with Paul and the Albanian AAC Dental staff, they supported the local evangelism team in outreach work by complementing the usual programmes with the gift of free medical and dental care, normally unaffordable to those in poverty.

The days were intensely busy with early morning devotions, followed by rough riding, bumpy journeys to different clinics held in the feeding centres in the mountain villages of Kotodesh, Katjel, Homezh and Rodokal. Once recovered from the journey, avoiding numerous donkeys (mostly alive, one dead) en route, the business of healthcare began. Elma provided high quality Dental Hygiene care, supported by Heather as Dental Nurse and Educator, while Mark provided GP care and treatments. Some 330 or so patients were seen in total. Poverty and a lack of basic healthcare gave rise to some fascinating health problems not usually seen in the UK, yet help was able to be given by the team. While patients waited to be seen, the AAC Evangelism team shared the gospel. 44 made confessions of faith over the week, and who knows how much 'seed' was sown...

The Albanian children, their families and the Albanian AAC team displayed an affection, love and appreciation which was overwhelming. Mark, Elma and Heather were offering a lot, but they got more than they bargained for in the Albanians' gratitude. Their demonstration of love, warmth and friendship in the face of hardship, challenged them as they thought of their usual work back home in Inverness. They were blessed to be a blessing and God will use their experience to mature and empower them in His love. After one very full week, the team departed for home leaving behind them the warmth of the sunshine and the Albanians......until another year?

For more information...

View more pictures of the team and their trip in the photo gallery.

For more information about Adopt A Child visit their...

Website: www.adopt-a-child.com

News blog: http://news.adopt-a-child.com/?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dcedacb9fcd99da%2C0

LWI’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/Adopt.a.Child or type in ‘Living Water International’ and look for the dove!