5/7/02
- Denhams help villagers with farming chores
- Don & Marti prepare to bless the village children with gifts on May 25th through Operation Christmas Child

5/24/02
- troubles getting Driton's VISA
- a new youth group in town
- looking forward to playing "Santa", and giving the Gospel message!

Hello from Kosova!

This is Saturday afternoon, a very beautiful day with sunshine and summer temperatures. There is a lot of activity here in Krushk e Madhe as the farmers are busy with their fields. We had a period of three weeks with rain and cold temperatures, the planting got a late start. This is Marti writing, and I must say I have hardly seen Don in the last week. He is busy from daylight to dark helping the farmers who still have not been able to replace their destroyed farm equipment since the war. Don has this old beat up tractor (ole’ Blue) and what was a nice new shiny red roto-tiller a few weeks ago. He has helped 45 farmers and the list needing help is still very long. He has such a heart to help these families that he just can’t say no. He did have to stop a while today as a pump on ole’ Blue broke and one of the front tires went flat for the second time in two days. Tomorrow we stop to worship our Lord, so Don will have a day of rest. Many of the people just can’t believe this guy from the US who is out in the fields. It is a good way to BE a witness for our Lord, and to show God’s love.

I was excited about one lady in Krushk who is a believer and wanted to begin going to church with us. The first Sunday she was to go along she asked us to pick her up at the bus stop on the highway. We looked for her but couldn’t see her anywhere. We drove through Krushk a second time, but no Shaha. Later, Besim our translator, talked with her. She said her husband will not allow her to go and her brother-in law has threatened to kill her because of the disgrace she has brought to the family. We will visit at her house for a kafe and be an encouragement through sharing something from God’s word. There is also another young Kosovar woman from Gjakovk who we can bring to visit her and that will be very helpful. We ask you to pray that Shaha’s circumstances will change and that she will be able to openly confess her faith and go to church to worship.

It seems a little late for sharing Christmas gifts, but if you live here in Krushk, its never too late, even if its May 25th. That is the date we get to distribute shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child to nearly 1000 children. We don’t know why its so late, but we will be happy to give the children 6-14 a little something special anyway. We do know God’s love is for everyday, and the gift of Jesus is for everyday! We will be able to do 2 short programs and are praying and asking the Lord for wisdom about what to share with the children in this Muslim village. Some of the young people from Gjakova will come, and our pastors Driton and Astrit will come with their guitars. We want to see the name of Jesus glorified in Krushk. Pray with us for the hearts of the teachers and children to be open to the word of God! We sense that God will give us a “gentle boldness”.

Yes, this is a busy time here and we know it is busy where you are too. It’s a good time to be part of the army of God, there is much work to do, the time seems short and the workers are few! When are you coming to spend a little time in Kosova?????

Zoti ju bekoftk,
Don and Marti

Hello from Kosova,
There are many things to write about, however this letter is mainly to ask you to pray for some needs here in Kosova.

We have started working on a US visa, with our young friend Driton, for his visit to the states in September. We were expecting that it may require some work, but it is turning into much more than that!

A week ago we attempted to go to Macedonia, to the US embassy. Driton was turned back at the border when he presented his UNMIK (United Nations) passport. Macedonia would not allow him to enter without a letter from the embassy saying he had an appointment, or a notarized letter of “guarantee” (not certain what is to be guaranteed) from a resident of Macedonia. We had to leave Driton at the border to find a hotel and we went on to Skopje. We went to the embassy the next morning.

Please remember that the conflict or war ended just a few months ago in Macedonia. Most of the people in the embassy are Macedonian and even though it is the US Embassy, the negative feelings toward Albanians and Americans is quite apparent. It did not go well, they gave us a letter to take back to the border police, but when we got there they would not receive it. Our friend Jacque got a letter of guarantee before she came back across the border. So, Tuesday we tried again.

This time Driton did get to enter. But his interview at the embassy did not go well, and he was refused a visa. Although his documents were in order, the interviewer said he failed to convince her he had enough ties to Kosova that he would return to Kosova at the end of his visit to the USA. As an American, I got to speak with an embassy officer, as it turned out it was the one who interviewed Driton. I truly felt like I was in a “foreign” embassy, not the US Embassy! Nothing changed at the end of our visit.

Now we have one other option, and that is to go to Albania and Driton will submit an application at the US Embassy in Tirana (According to the law, he can submit another application at any time). It is obvious the enemy does not want Driton to get this visa! PLEASE PRAY THAT GOD WILL GIVE DRITON THE WORDS TO SATISFY THE INTERVIEWER AND THAT HE WILL GET THE VISA.

Tomorrow morning, Saturday the 25th of May is our Christmas in Krushe e Madhe! We have made the arrangements to do a short program with the students before giving out the 960 gifts. We will have music and clowns and 3 young people from Gjakovk will share a little about our Lord Jesus. PLEASE PRAY FOR OPEN HEARTS, THAT GOD’S TRUTH WILL BE RECEIVED AND UNDERSTOOD!

The young Christian believers in Gjakova have started an outreach to the youth. They have had 2 evening programs, which include live music, games and drama. One of the local hotels donated the use of a lounge area for the first two meetings. We invited some of the kids in Krushe and 16 of them went. Don rented a van and took them to Gjakova and home again.

The widows and other parents are trusting us with their children, praise God for that! The kids had a good time, and heard about Jesus, too. WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD CONTINUE SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT WITH PRAYER AND FINANCES! HELP!! This is a busy time here, we have lots of news but it will have to wait till next time. We really need you to join us in prayer for these needs. We would love to hear from you!

Zoti ju bekoftk, 
      Don and Marti Denham