Marti Denham of Lift Kosova writes…
Hello from Kosova,
We’ve been a little negligent in getting an e-mail newsletter out, the best excuse is that we had no computer at home to work on. That problem is solved as we purchased a used desktop computer. Usually when we start a letter we have had lots to complain about: the weather, the roads, the electricity, no water and more. We must give thanks to the Lord as some of these things have been improved and life is a little easier.
Yesterday afternoon we were on our way to teach English class and stopped in the village centre to buy some soda. Suddenly we noticed about 15 white United Nations vehicles lined up on the street and several UN police cars as well as Kosovar police cars.
We learned that investigators from the UN were in Krushk to obtain more information from the survivors of the massacre during the war in 1999. The information is to be made available to the prosecutors of Milosovic in the Hague. The UN vehicles made their way up to the top of a hill overlooking Krushk.
This same spot is where many families had gone as the Serbs were burning their homes on that horrible day almost three years ago. The Serbian police had discovered the group of people there, separated the women from the men, sent the women away, and then killed the men.
Several of the widows in our English class had to go up on the hill yesterday to reenact what had taken place there. It was a very difficult thing for them, and there were many tears. Needless to say, we cancelled English class, it didn’t seem so important yesterday afternoon. Next week will mark three years since the atrocities in Krushk. The widows will visit one another, go to the graves to weep, and then to the school for a program about the massacre. We are invited, as extended family, to join them. There is no forgetting here, the wounds are deep and painful.
We are beginning to plan for our visit to the USA and Canada in September of 2002. We are excited about one of the young Kosovar church leaders who will accompany us to the US. For the past year the Lord has stirred our hearts as we have watched the anointing on his life continue to increase. Allow us to introduce Driton Gashi.
Driton is 29 years old and ministers in Gjakova, Kosova. He was raised in a Muslim home but received the Lord at age 17, and was 1 of the first 3 Christians in Gjakova. He experienced persecution as a Christian living within a Muslim family, but his faith and changed life witnessed to his family and he has seen his mother, brother and sister come to Jesus.
When NATO forces began bombing Serbian positions in 1999, Driton remained in Gjakove for 11 days after the fighting began. Serbian police then ordered the family to leave their home and they fled to Albania finding safety in the refugee camps there.
Driton truly has an evangelist’s heart and loves to minister to the children and youth. He also serves as a worship leader and has just recorded his first praise and worship CD in his native Albanian language. Driton speaks English and has served as a translator to several ministry teams coming to work in Kosova.
We know you will be blessed to hear Driton’s message. He is looking forward to sharing about his country, his people and their great need for the Lord.
We are hoping there will be many invitations for Driton to share at churches and we will make a schedule for his visit to the US and Canada. This, of course, needs to be done very soon, so we are asking now for people to check their church calendars and let us know ASAP. We are waiting to hear from you.
Zoti ju bekoftk,
Don and Marti Denham
