Churches Inc in Kosovo -- Day 6
The Churches Inc team are hard at work in Kosovo from the 29th April to the 6th May, bringing a message of inclusion for disabled people, and working with the church and there to help communities welcome, encourage, and support disabled people. Please pray for them on their trip - we'll bring you blog posts from them as often as they're able to send them through. Here's the post from day six of their trip...
We can’t believe we are at the end of our week here in Kosovo. We were at the Family Church in Kosovo this morning where we were given a truly warm welcome. I was able to show a Power Point presentation “Does God love disabled people?” This led on very well into Mike’s sermon on the “Through the Roof” story. Mike’s blind friend Gezim, from Pristina, joined us this morning and read the Scripture from his Braille Bible. The fellowship really took hold of the message and the pastor said he was going to think about how his church could be more inclusive and another member said they were going to refurbish the church and would definitely include a lift (yay! Their church is on the first floor, up many stairs).
We felt that it needed just one church to get the vision of inclusion, and then to share that vision with other churches.
Many from the church fellowship are invited back this evening for a BBQ on the only day when it rained!
More when back in the UK
Churches Inc in Kosovo - Day 5
The Churches Inc team are hard at work in Kosovo from the 29th April to the 6th May, bringing a message of inclusion for disabled people, and working with the church and leaders there to help communities welcome, encourage, and support disabled people. Please pray for them on their trip - we'll bring you blog posts from them as often as they're able to send them through. Here's the post from day five of their trip...
This morning we joined the children at their Saturday club at the Gjakova Family Church. There were about 100 children, all very responsive. Alison did a parachute Bible story (the paralytic man) this went down very well. We left the parachute and parachute story book with them. Mike followed with an activity where he blindfolded a child and asked another to lead them. The children loved it.
The afternoon visit to Handikos in Rahovec was quite difficult in that the stories we heard were very sad and much the same as we’ve heard all week; lack of money for medication, little help with care for the disabled, inappropriate facilities and poor transport for clients, some who live 25 km away. On top of this the centre manager has Parkinson’s and his medication had finished. He was feeling quite unwell.
Mike was able to talk to 4 blind people, one of whom was a bit of a pioneer, “the grandma for the blind”, leading an organisation of 150 blind people. A great inspiration. We wished that others would have vision to set up similar networks to support each other.
We came away wishing we could do more but we identified a few areas that could be addressed by Ray who will go back soon.
Again, more requests for wheelchairs and walking frames. We heard too that wheelchairs are often left outside the home due to lack of space so they don’t last very long.
Churches Inc in Kosovo--Day 4
The Churches Inc team are hard at work in Kosovo from the 29th April to the 6th May, bringing a message of inclusion for disabled people, and working with the church and leaders there to help communities welcome, encourage, and support disabled people. Please pray for them on their trip - we'll bring you blog posts from them as often as they're able to send them through. Here's the post from Day four of their trip...
We started today with a visit to Handikos in Gjakova. About 40 people gathered, clients and staff and we sat round a large table to discuss their needs and issues. Many issues we had heard before: the lack of funding, the poor roads for wheelchairs, the cost of registering for disability pension ( 75 euros per month which many don’t receive even if registered) many have to take medication for various medical issues, for which they have no money. Save the Children is funding projects at Gjakova but are withdrawing in August. The staff say they cannot sustain the centre long term.
Alison was able to pray with one lady, then two others asked for prayer too.
This afternoon we met with two leaders from the Blind Centre. We were told that 44% of blind people in Kosovo are under 40 and 95% of them are the heads of their families with little or no income.
They work out of a very dilapidated, run down, building for which they could not afford electricity. We felt they had little hope of change and were ground down by the constant denial of help and support from the government having been promised help, which had not materialised. We discussed possible ways to move forward for the long term improvement of support for blind people.
After two hours of impassioned discussion we assured them that we would support Ray in any way we can as he continues to lobby for change on their behalf.
Churches Inc in Kosovo 2019: Day 3
The Churches Inc team are hard at work in Kosovo from the 29th April to the 6th May, bringing a message of inclusion for disabled people, and working with the church and leaders there to help communities welcome, encourage, and support disabled people. Please pray for them on their trip - we'll bring you blog posts from them as often as they're able to send them through. Here's the post from Day three of their trip...
Had a good morning at Prizren Handikos. About 30 people including staff. Very receptive of our visit. Good range of ages and disabilities. They shared openly about the issues they face, both physically and socially. More wheelchairs are definitely needed, especially for a young Six year old disabled boy who has no way to get to school other than mum carrying him on a bus. Another lady said her independence was hindered by poor roads from her home to the shops. She needed a proper pathway for her wheelchair. Two ladies had electric wheelchairs from Turkey but they are expensive.
We spoke about supporting each other and the great need for respite care which is non existent as no one wants to volunteer help but want to be paid for their services. We feel this is an area the church could be involved in. We hope to speak with pastors about this. Weather very warm today - lovely! It has been chilly up til now.
Tomorrow we visit the Handikos centre in Gjakova and a support group for deaf and blind people in the afternoon.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Churches Inc in Kosovo: Day Two
The Churches Inc team are hard at work in Kosovo from the 29th April to the 6th May, bringing a message of inclusion for disabled people, and working with the church and leaders there to help communities welcome, encourage, and support disabled people. Please pray for them on their trip - we'll bring you blog posts from them as often as they're able to send them through. Here's the post from Day two of their trip...
Wednesday
Today we visited the only special needs school in Kosovo. It specialises in teaching for the deaf. More of a fact finding visit than a workshop opportunity. It is a Bank Holiday today so only a few children in school. Very interesting for me especially (Alison) as my background is in this area. We met two lovely girls who are deaf. Both had been in main stream schools and chosen to come back. We were able to say why we were here and ask them about how they felt deaf people were included in society. They were both very positive about their lives. The school is doing a wonderful job.