Our Humanitarian Service couple, Elder and Sister Snow from Colorado Springs, have worked for some time on a project to bring over 500 wheel chairs into the country. For a time, it seemed that we might never get them into Albania, since they were held up for months in Greek customs. But they finally arrived a few weeks ago, and we split them with our partners for distribution to the people who really need the chairs---about 100 went to the Albanian Red Cross, and the remainder went to Dr. Berisha's Children's Foundation (Dr. Berisha is the wife of Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of Albania).
Today, we had a small ceremony at the Mother Teresa Convent in Tirana, attended by Dr. Berisha and covered by national news media. Following Dr. Berisha presentation, Elder Snow made a short presentation about the church.
The Mother Teresa Convent is run by nine sisters, and houses and cares for about 40 elderly women. One of the nuns, Sister Lazarasti, is from India, and worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta before starting up the convent and elderly women's home here in Tirana about 19 years ago. She has the most cheerful countenance, and the warmest smile! Here are some of the wheel chairs lined up in the courtyard of the Convent.
This sweetheart, below the Mother Teresa painting, secretly picked away and ate the frosting along one whole side of this sheet cake--in addition to the wheelchair gift, they were celebrating Albanian Mother's Day (actually, Women's day) on March 8th (a holiday left over from the days of Communism, and not celebrated by many because of it's communist roots). The cake was part of the Women's Day celebration.
--Marty
Today, we had a small ceremony at the Mother Teresa Convent in Tirana, attended by Dr. Berisha and covered by national news media. Following Dr. Berisha presentation, Elder Snow made a short presentation about the church.
The Mother Teresa Convent is run by nine sisters, and houses and cares for about 40 elderly women. One of the nuns, Sister Lazarasti, is from India, and worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta before starting up the convent and elderly women's home here in Tirana about 19 years ago. She has the most cheerful countenance, and the warmest smile! Here are some of the wheel chairs lined up in the courtyard of the Convent.
This sweetheart, below the Mother Teresa painting, secretly picked away and ate the frosting along one whole side of this sheet cake--in addition to the wheelchair gift, they were celebrating Albanian Mother's Day (actually, Women's day) on March 8th (a holiday left over from the days of Communism, and not celebrated by many because of it's communist roots). The cake was part of the Women's Day celebration.
--Marty
3 comments:
Loved reading about your experiences, shopping sounds like a huge endeavor. Pam Bylund
Friends from the MTC, Elder and Sister Costley, serving in the Philippines, wrote and told us about your article. This is great. A hush came over the people as Elder Snow shared about Jesus Christ and His love of others, encouraging us all to serve and love others.
How awesome. It is so great to hear about all of the humanitarian projects you guys are taking part in. I celebrated Women's Day too! I didn't have any cake but instead went shopping for fabric to make myself a skirt!
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