Kosovo Final Day - Tying up Loose Ends

Through the Roof's Wheels for the World team are in Kosovo from the 17th June to the 26th - Linda from the team is sending in reports and blogs as time and internet connection allow. Check back here, Follow this link to read other blog posts from the Kosovo 2015 trip or visit Facebook for more.

Today has been all about tying up loose ends, and reflecting on our time here so that we can learn lessons for future 'wheels' trips. For all of us it is with sad hearts that we are leaving, as we have become so close to our colleagues here. Kosovo has got under our skin. It's such a special place - a brave new country trying to move forward and put the past behind it, and its been a privilege to be a tiny part of that. It's amazing to think that only just over a week ago we arrived here, and how much we have learned. We pray that our trip has had a positive lasting impact in the provision of wheelchairs and education. God bless and protect our new friends, and all our clients and their families.

Kosovo Day 8 - Into the Mountains!

Back in Gjakova, with reliable wifi, We can tell you about our visit up into the mountains at Boge. On our journey there we were able to visit one of SEED's (our Kosove partner) building projects where a house is being built for a family of 10 who live in 2 rooms. A second home, a demolition site, was also visited today where work has also begun on one of our interpreters homes - here a family of 5 have been living in one room. The costs of these projects by UK standards is small, approx £5000 and £3000 respectively, but of course immeasurable for these 2 families.
The mountains were awesome and incredibly beautiful. We were able to take stock of our time in Kosove and gained a real sense of peace. We enjoyed fellowship and prayer, and also celebrated Ray's upcoming birthday.

Kosovo Day 7 - Paying Off!

Today we have had a day of more home visits and of seeing some of our efforts pay off! We have had to be quite creative about some of our solutions when clients have had complex needs, which has required teamwork to problem solve and fabricate. One example of this has been with a 14 year old boy with severe Cerebral Palsy who was unable to achieve a sitting position no matter how we tried. His Mum just wanted to take him outside, and most of all wanted him to be comfortable. She had already rejected a buggy, and a standard wheelchair, so we needed to try something else. We felt sad yesterday when we left their home, but prayed we could find a solution.

Returning to our base in Gjakova we discovered we had a wide reclining wheelchair and we set to work lengthening the base, built very extended sideguards, and then added some soft and brightly coloured cushions. We delivered it today (it went through the door of the house with only millimetres to spare) and soon we had a comfortable child and a very happy Mum as can be seen in the attached photo.

There have been many other innovations whilst adapting footplates, making moulded backrests, and fabricating chest supports out of all sorts of things, but the funniest has to be our admin desk which is made from a wobbly decorating table and an old walking aid!

Kosovo Day 6 - Back to Gjakova

Monday saw us back in Gjakova, and the day was all about sorting out the stock we had left, and doing some home visits to those who couldn't make it to the distribution centre. We had 3 teams out and about in the morning, whilst Jill heroically sorted out the remaining wheelchairs. Alison and Ann went to a clinic nearby and then visited the monastery. Helen, Pip and Andy went to see 2 men at their homes, and Linda and Rob went to see a child and a young woman. It's a very special situation to be invited into homes, and we feel privileged to be there to try and help. The day had its challenges as we were faced with some difficult and unexpected problems, however teamwork won through and hopefully we achieved meaningful results.

One of the photos today shows that young woman that we visited. Her circumstances were heartbreaking. She was being helped by her in laws as they had funded her surgery and were assisting with her daily care, but this was a huge drain for them both financially and emotionally. There was no money left to continue her care, and relationships were strained. The woman was a mum of 2 small children, and her illness was preventing them from having 'cuddle time' together. The case was complex but we were able to supply a wheelchair, teach some basic exercises, provide wound care, and give the family confidence. We have also been able to arrange some long term support through the Smile centre which is a huge blessing. The family also accepted prayer and a bible.
Pray for all these families, and for us to find appropriate solutions for them.

Kosovo Day 5 - A Day Off

This morning we walked to the 'Family Church' to celebrate and praise together by singing (loudly) in both Albanian and English at the same time. 'The Splendour of the King' has never sounded so good, and it was very moving!

Afterwards we went into the hills above Gjakova to visit the graves of those who lost their lives in the war. Many of our Kosovan colleagues lost family members during this time so it was very poignant for this trip. A great lunch followed looking down over the town.

This evening we have entertained our wonderful Kosovan team at Aferdita's home. We shared supper together, and played games making each other laugh. Many of our team are young college students who are not only excellent interpreters, but so willing to rise to help with anything we require. We have been told that there is not much to laugh about in life here, and so our aim for tonight was simply to let them relax with us and have fun. It's been a great day!

Kosovo Day 4 - Rahovec

Through the Roof's Wheels for the World team are in Kosovo from the 17th June to the 26th - they'll be sending in reports and blogs as time and internet connection allow. Check back here, Follow this link to read other blog posts from the Kosovo 2015 trip or visit Facebook for more.

The beginning of our 3rd distribution day (in Rahovec) was testing for us all as we had a large and restless queue of customers waiting for our attention. Alison organised everyone fairly, kindly and competently, and soon the whole team was pitching in to problem solve, and help. Our early clients were mostly older children with severe cerebral palsy and complex seating problems, and who sadly had never had any therapy treatment through their short lives. It was heartbreaking to see each family struggling with such difficult circumstances, and we all prayed hard that we could do our best for them with very limited resources for their needs. There were some amazing solutions reached with integrated team work, and we sent home some very happy and excited parents and children with hope of having an easier family life.

On review this evening, we all feel we have had a fantastically rewarding day. We have distributed 74 chairs over 3 days by seeing people face-to-face in centres, some home visits, and also by leaving some in the centres themselves with their own personnel for some who were unable to attend to see us. The team has bonded brilliantly, and we have seen lots of children, young adults and many elderly too. We have also shared our knowledge, love and prayers with all those we have worked with us. Tomorrow is a day of rest and praise celebrating with our new friends at their church, and thanking God for enabling us to carry out his work.

Day 3 Kosovo Trip - Prizren

Yesterday we travelled to Prizren for our distribution day. We were met by the enthusiastic centre team who wanted to work alongside us and learn as much as they could from us during the day. We had the luxury of a little more space to work in but soon we were full as the assessments and adjustments for wheelchairs began. The day offered a few challenges in the form of complex cases, and unexpected requests, but the team was so much stronger today and we were able to provide effective solutions. We were slightly disappointed that the numbers of clients we had hoped to reach was not as high as we had expected, however because the centre staff had become more confident we were able to leave some chairs with them for people who had not been able to travel to see us. A rewarding day in many ways, just not in the way we had planned for, thanks to God's guidance.

At the end of the day the 'Wheels team' went to explore the atmospheric old town of Prizren and enjoyed relaxing in the sunshine at a cafe, or a few of us climbed up to the old fort for amazing views over the city. There was a lot of fun, and laughter as relationships between us are really deepening to get us through the next few days.

Kosovo Day 2 - Our Reflections

'What an amazing day! After a fabulous breakfast provided by our wonderful hosts, Tim and Leta at Smile, we were ready and eager to set off for our first distribution. Our venue was the basement of the pastor's house in Gjakova, and we arrived to find it full of wheelchairs, walking aids, and assorted helpful items. The first hour was spent preparing ourselves, and meeting our Kosovan colleagues who would be assisting and interpreting for us, then the flood gates opened and our 'customers' poured in. There was no time to be nervous, and soon the place was buzzing with chatter, activity, and laughter, as we were able to provide wheelchairs, advice, prayer and love to those needing our help. We provided 18 wheelchairs today, some rather tricky to get right, but resulting from fantastic team work guided by God. We had hoped for more people to come to us today, but there is another chance for them to come next week. Pray that those who need our care will do so then.

Tomorrow we are heading out to Prizren for another day at a Handicos centre- watch this space for our news tomorrow!'

Arrival in Kosovo

Yesterday was a calm day of travel and a great opportunity for the group to get to know each other. We met at 7 at Gatwick (civilised by 'Wheels' standards!) to set off on our adventure. Three of us are rookies, who are feeling nervous but excited, and we have been greatly reassured by our experienced colleagues. We arrived late in Kosove to be warmly welcomed by partners, Seed including Ray, Aferdita and Luan.

This morning at the Smile guest house, our alarm clock was a cockerill and the sound of cow bells! Now its off to breakfast to find what has already become a close knit team. We are not sure what we will find today, and who will come to us for a wheelchair, but join our prayers in this as we prepare for our day.
Jill, Rob, Pip, Helen, Andy, Ann, Alison, and Linda

The Law of Undulation (Ros' Blog)

In his celebrated book The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis imagines an experienced devil writing to his young nephew Wormwood on how best to tempt someone away from God. It gives a rich insight into the enemy’s traps for which we, as Christians, need to be on the alert.

At one point Screwtape writes, “Has no one ever told you about the Law of Undulation?” He goes on to explain that, as creatures who are both spiritual and physical, humans are subject, in every area of life, to a fluctuation of enthusiasm and passion, and the spiritual realm is no different. He advises Wormwood, “The dryness and dullness through which your patient is now going are not, as you fondly suppose, your workmanship; they are merely a natural phenomenon which will do us no good unless you make a good use of it.” I’m sure all of us can identify with this. There are times when Jesus is the central focus of our thoughts and affections and times when we find ourselves drifting away from Him and unsure of how to return to our first love. Part of the problem lies in our forgetting the nature of God.

I know that if one of my children exhibited selfishness towards me, neglected to communicate with me and ignored my attempts to reach out to them, and then came to me for help when they were in trouble, my response would not be to say, “Well now you need something you’re happy to get in touch, aren’t you? What about all those weeks that you’ve ignored me?” Of course not. I would give them what they ask and be relieved and delighted that the relationship was restored.

God is a far more loving, forgiving and selfless parent than I am. So why do we forget that when we return to Him, no matter what is in the past, His response is not to scold us for our “undulation” but to welcome us with joy and unreserved affection?

One of the truly joyful and liberating things about being in relationship with Christ is that no disability can limit or disqualify you. Everyone has equal potential for growing in closeness and unity with Him, and being a worshipper who delights the heart of the Father. Like Mary of Bethany, all of us can open our most priceless treasure of love and worship and pour its fragrance all over Him. As I was thinking of this on my way into work this morning, the words of a Graham Kendrick song which I hadn’t sung for years came into my head. May this be the prayer of all our hearts:

To keep Your lovely face
Ever before my eyes,
This is my prayer,
Make it my strong desire;
That in my secret heart
No other love competes,
No rival throne survives,
And I serve only You.