Update 4

See pictures Below!

It’s hard to believe this week is already over.  We saw some wonderful things during our 6 days here and have made some great new friends at World Vision and in Albania.  There was 1 local worker, Lonny, who left an impression on the team.  He was the eldest laborer from Lac and also the smallest standing at 4’9” but he outworked even the youngest laborer.  While the rest of the workers would take their breaks, Lonny would keep working.  Every time you looked his way he smiled back at you.  Our team really enjoyed working with the local volunteers.

We completed the playground on the 3rd day.  That afternoon the team joined several of the World Vision staffers to take a tour of the Saunderbeg Castle.  After dinner we visited an orphanage that is run by a local pastor.  Alexander and his wife have 5 children of their own but house and take care of 20 additional orphans from Lac.  The children felt instantly comfortable with us when we arrived with Flora, who is from W.V., but also spends most of her free time ministering to the orphans.

Day 4 was spent making some final adjustments to the playground border.  In the afternoon we met with the mayor and were greeted like celebrities.  He thanked both W.V. and the KIDS team for their gift to the children of Lac.  He was truly impressed and grateful when he learned that Godfried, Steve, and Michael all spent their own money and took time away from their families to do this.

We spent the rest of the afternoon touring St. Antonio’s Church, a mountain-top church that millions of people go to it each year for prayer and healing.  It was originally over 700 years old but was destroyed by the Communists when they took over Albania.  It is now being rebuilt as a replica of the original building.  That evening Pastor Alexander, invited us back for dinner.  Then it was back to the hotel to prepare for “pay day” tomorrow.

Day 5 – Dedication Day – and what a celebration it was!  Because of the steady rains, they moved the celebration into a building next to the playground.  It was packed with children, dignitaries and those who helped in the project – both from World Vision and KIDS.  A local TV station was there to capture the excitement.  After the Mayor spoke, the Country Director from World Vision shared some remarks and I briefly shared about KIDS and asked God’s blessings on the children of Lac.  Some of the kids ran out in the rain and began playing on their new playground – THE FIRST PLAYGROUND IN THE CITY OF LAC!  The rest of the children remained inside and had a program of singing and dancing for their guests.  Those who were outside playing didn’t need to be taught a thing.  The laughs and screams of joy were no indication of the uncooperative weather because it was now sunny in the hearts of the children of Lac. 
 
Thank you for making this dream come true for the thousands of children in Lac and for helping bring hope to very impoverished area of this part of the world.

For the team in Albania,
Mike Young
Kids Around the World

Update 3
Because it rained most of the night, the clay dirt we’ve been working in made even standing a reason for a few laughs!  But it didn’t hamper the great attitudes of the team. The local people from Lac were somewhat surprised we were planning to continue to work in the rain but when they saw us working they began to pitch in as well.

By the end of the morning the border was put into place and most of the playground was completed. After lunch we began mixing and pouring the concrete. By 3:30 pm the concrete was finished and we were taping off the playground in an effort to keep the anxious children off the equipment so that everything could set properly. The highlight of the day was when everyone began trying to get the mud off their boots. Eventually, they figured out the easiest way was to soak their boots in a 55 gallon drum of cold water. When it came time for Godfried to clean his boots, rather than take them off he just stepped into the drum of water as Steve VanScoy and Michael Paniuski bent down and cleaned his boots for him.  Everyone there was enjoying the moment and the cameras were clicking away!

It has been such fun working with the team, the local workers and our local partners at World Vision. We have been blessed by their hospitality and kindness. There have been some questions from some of the locals asking why people would come here to do this and not get paid.  We are looking forward to the dedication when we can explain to everyone in attendance just why we do this!

Tomorrow the team will spread sand in the morning and then we are off on a tour of southern Albania.  Thursday we will plan to finish spreading sand and finalize the last few details of the playground in preparation for the dedication ceremony on Friday morning. Thank you for your prayers.

For the team in Albania,
Mike Young
Kids Around the World

Update 2
Thank you to all who prayed for the materials to get released, our prayers were answered, and the Jesus Film Flannelgraphs were released from customs.  We stuffed (and I do mean stuffed) as much as could into Vatali’s little car and at 5:30PM we began what we hoped would be an 8 hour trip to our first training in Dinpropetrovsk.  Foreign travel is rarely dull and this trip proved no exception.  We tried to navigate around road hazards (to call them pot holes would not be right) the best we could, but like most of the vehicles we saw, we ended up having to change a flat tire and dented rim – TWICE.  The second one was at about 11:00PM and because we had already used the spare (which was now the 2nd flat) we had no other option than to pray and wait until a kind man stopped to help.  A couple of hours (and one tired but very helpful mechanic) later we were back on the road about 12:30AM.  We arrived at our host’s home a little after 4:30AM.   Just in time for a quick nap before training.  

At one point during the journey, Nadia (from Victor’s group and VP of Grains of Wheat Ministry) explained that she was not at all surprised by the difficulties we were encountering.  She explained that every time she tries to do God’s work in this most southeastern State of Ukraine, she is attacked like nowhere else.  She said this was probably the state that was under the most influence and control of the Communists, and the Christians there make up a very small percentage of the population.  But the three of us continued to pray as we drove (and waited) and God delivered us safely to our first destination.

Today’s training went very well.  Throughout the day we had a total of 19 teachers who participated in all or most of the day’s activities.  Their churches, representing an area of about 25% of this embattled State, have 398 children in their churches.  Like most training events, the training and materials were received with great enthusiasm and appreciation.  And also as is typical, each teacher who presented their “final exam” lesson tried to do a better job than the one before.  By the time the 5th teacher began, the bar had been raised quite high.  But she did not disappoint anyone.  This teacher, from the host church, was a pro from the start!  I began to get a sense for why Satan may not have wanted us there.  These teachers are a true threat to his strong-hold here.  With God’s power and their faithfulness, through reaching their children with Christ’s hope, they will make huge gains in brining an end to the alcoholism and atheism or unbelief that strangles these people and destroys their lives.  You can truly see it in the soul-less look in their eyes.  Please pray that today was the beginning of a new and victorious battle for the Kingdom! 

We are now on our way to the 2nd stop of this trip – Krasniyluch.  This was not the place we were scheduled to work in on Thursday.  We were supposed to be going to Donetsk, but they called Tuesday afternoon to tell us the church where we were going to be meeting had suffered damages from broken and frozen plumbing, and they cancelled the training.  (Remember what I wrote about the enemy’s attacks?)  So I asked Nadia if there might be another city where we could train.  She said, “No, it’s too short of notice.”  But she began to check anyway.  Apparently God had a different plan that we did – so on we go to Krasniyluch, Ukraine.  This is a very small village in the far southeastern corner of Ukraine – perhaps it’s a battle ground that has been waiting for some weapons?  Please pray that God will use us in a very mighty way to impact these people, and send our enemy running!  Thank you for being a part of our team.  From Ukraine…

For the team in Albania,
Mike Young
Kids Around the World

Update 1
After a days travel we arrived safely in Tirana, Albania and were met by 2 of our wonderful new friends at World Vision - Albania.  After checking into the hotel we walked the 3 blocks over to the city park where the playground will be installed.  There is an open area with some grass at one end, a dirt area with soccer goals at the other end, a building to one side and the playground area on the other side.  There are plenty of trees to keep the kids shaded when they play on the playground.  Considering the sub-poverty standard of living in this small city, it is a nice place for something bright, new and colorful. 

After we started laying out the playground, the local government workers who are also helping with the installation arrived so we all started digging the holes.  We marvelled at how meticulous these workers were.  Every hole was dug with precision and pride.  It was fun to watch them take such care in their work.  Before lunch we had all of the holes ready and the first 3 decks up.  We were also joined by a small group of high school students who are studying English - they were sent as part of their schooling to practice speaking English with us.  They were all too happy to help with the playground as well!

When school let out we realized what an incredible need there is for this playground here.  We were swarmed by kids from 9 years old up through high school.  Those that were not playing soccer were all over the playground area.  Their curiosity did not allow them to stay at a distance and observe - so we tried the best we could to use their energy in helping.  (Anyone who has ever asked a child to help shovel snow quickly realizes that often they create more work than help!)  And as much as we tried to keep them off the playground for their safety, it was a futile effort.  But it also hit home how much of a need this playground really is, and what a GREAT opportunity this will be for the people of World Vision to make a positive impact on the people of Lac. 

Thank you all for your prayers and support!  We could not be doing this without you. 

For the team in Albania,
Mike Young
Kids Around the World

Artist Rendering of Albania playground

Albania Team with local help