Steve Stamatis

Return to Albania Home

STAMATIS STATUS

As we continue to stride forward with our plans to relocate to Albania we are constantly aware of the importance and necessity of this endeavor being a partnership and the impossibility of it succeeding as a solo enterprise. It is so obvious that no one person’s God-given capabilities can function well enough to develop and operate this school of biblical training in Albania. As each week passes and so many of you commit in one way or another to using your gifts for the benefit of this enterprise I am so encouraged and deeply grateful for your expressions of love, confidence and faith.

We are deeply grateful and humbled by the continued generosity of so many of you that have provided the necessary funds for the projector and most of the funds for our trip to Albania. Yesterday Deborah and I began seriously pursuing tickets since we were able to confirm some open dates on the calendar. We were beginning to feel discouraged at the high prices and lack of available seats on flights to Europe. We found a travel agency that caters to missionaries and they had two flights available. One leaves in two days. And the other leaves June 20th but would not return until July 14th. That would be too long. So, we are scurrying around making preparations to leave Friday for a twelve day trip to Albania.

There are several things we want to accomplish on this trip:

1. I want to visit with as many of the congregational leaders as possible in the nine different cities. We want to personally confirm to them our plans to begin the school this September. For the school to succeed we need to develop a good working relationship with them. They will be our primary sources from which we will recruit students within Albania.
2. I want to visit with the students that have completed the application process and encourage those that have indicated interest in the school and have requested an application. I will try to answer any questions they may have and assist them in completing the process.
3. We will be looking for apartment locations that will be most convenient for transportation and easiest in assisting us in our adjustment to this new city.

As I have mentioned, we have received funds to cover most of our expenses. This is where we currently stand for our trip leaving June 3rd and returning June 14th:

Two roundtrip tickets $2,600.00
Food and lodging in Albania 400.00
Transportation in Albania 200.00
Total Needed $3,200.00

To date, God has supplied, through you, $2,500 of the needed funding for this trip. That leaves us lacking $700.00 to have this trip paid for. We need assistance to help defray the remaining costs of this trip. If you or someone you know would like to contribute towards these needs you can send the funds to: c/o Bob Seat, Adams Boulevard church of Christ, 3700 SE Adams Boulevard, Bartlesville, OK 74006. Please earmark the funds for the Stamatis Albania Survey Trip.

Back on May 14, 15, 16 we made a trip to Bartlesville, OK to meet with our sponsoring congregation – the Adams Boulevard Church. We were able to meet many of the members at various venues and I was given the opportunity to share our plans for the school in Bible Class and during the sermon time in the worship assembly. We came away feeling blessed and thankful that we are partnered with this congregation in our work in Albania.

I have been spending quite a bit of time lately converting the text of my class materials into power point presentations for when I begin classes in September. I believe this will enable me to more effectively communicate the material. I am also hoping it will assist the students in their listening to and learning the material that will be taught in English which is not their native language.

I have no doubt that God is blessing this enterprise as we move towards developing the school. Obviously there is effectively no school without students. Simply by word of mouth and the excitement and desire of Christians and congregations in the Southeastern European region (the Balkans) we are compiling an encouraging number of definite and potential students.

I am providing the names of those that are at different stages of the process of becoming students in IBIA. I provide you with these names, not so we can beat our drum, but in order for you to begin praying for the specific names of these individuals as they embark on an experience that will without a doubt drastically affect their lives, the life of Christ’s church in the region, and their communities, cultures and nations.

*Besnik Balliu Durres, Albania
*Anamaria Botis Oradea, Romania
*Bledi Valca Tirana, Albania
*Skender Kola Durres, Albania
Elvin Xhimitiku Durres, Albania
Ray Wheeler Unites States
Agron Sinani Vlora, Albania
Skender Mejdiaj Oricum, Albania
Driton Mallaku Prizren, Kosova

*Accepted Students who have completed and returned their application and references.

There are now a couple of individuals whose names I do not have that have requested and received the application forms from Bledi Valca - an enrolled student. They are from Elbasan. It is amazing that we will likely begin classes with students from four nations and six of the nine current congregations in Albania. What a good and awesome God we serve.

That is all the news we have for now. Thank you again for not only standing beside us, but also for your participating and sharing with us in this great adventure for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Please pray for us during our expedition.

With gratitude and affection,

Steve and Deborah Stamatis