During the time we were in Kosova, Eric, Steve & Roger formed the decorating team – Ian also was on the team initially, but went on to distribute aid during the second week).
We were given large pots of good quality white emulsion and used the gear that was on hand at the centre, as well as some we'd taken with us.
Apart from actually getting to the properties on some occasions, bouncing up the roads to Kralan in a very old and shaken-to-bits car, or in the minibuses, there were two main challenges. Firstly, due to the concrete and block construction (and other building technicalities about which I'm not qualified to comment!) there was often black mould growth around the ceilings and wall corners. This was usually covered satisfactorily. Secondly, heating in the properties was usually by wood burning stove. These had been taken out of the rooms before we got there, but constant use during the winter meant that, particularly round the flues, the stray smoke had left a brown deposit on the walls and ceilings that defied all attempts to cover it up despite several coats being applied. The overall effect though was to clean and brighten up the rooms substantially, so it seemed worth it.
The people were so very welcoming and hospitable, and we were plied with fruit based drinks, freshly harvested water melon, and developed quite a penchant for Turkish coffee! Often, the latter was individually prepared on a little primus stove - see the picture at the caretaker's house in the Gallery!
In some of the properties we visited, there were hardly any possessions, although most did seem to manage to furnish one room with a carpet, sofas and a television. Some also had a fridge/freezer of some sort although quite how these worked with the electricity going off on a regular basis, I'm not sure.
As to the colour? It was usually white when we got there, and whiter when we left! Result!!


Roger

Tortoises
One thing we didn't know about Kosova before we went is that tortoises (the type we used to have as pets years ago) live wild in the countryside. On one of our hair-raising trips up the rocky road to the school in Kralan, one strolled across the road in front of us. Our driver Xhaifa (pronounced 'Jaffa') stopped and collected it, and it rode on the dashboard (see picture in the gallery) or in the foot well for the rest of the journey, apparently quite unconcerned about this sudden change of fortune. Xhaifa spent all day feeding it cucumber and proudly showing it to everyone. At the end of the day it rode back with us to live in his garden.
Tummy Bugs
We pretty much all succumbed to a particularly nasty tummy bug during the second week. It was going round amongst the locals in Gjakova so, with our delicate western stomachs, we had no chance. We shared sympathy and Imodium and resolved that if we ever go back we need to bring many more packs with us. Please continue to pray for the health of the team as some are still not 'quite right'.
Trousers
What with the bug, the heat, the diet etc., several people lost weight and had difficulty keeping their trousers up! One of our men suffered the most and had several near embarrassing moments. In the end, he had to resort to using his dressing gown cord as a means of retaining his dignity!


Jean Wh

During the second week of our schools work I was able to take some time out to work with a 14 year old special needs boy. He is one of six children, receives no education and seems to spend most of his time sitting on the floor of the family home. He has virtually no verbal communication and bottom shuffles his way around the room.
It was a great privilege to be able to take sensory activities into his home and demonstrate their possible uses. We had great fun playing 'peep-bo' and 'what's in the bag?'. We also managed to encourage him to retrieve a ball from a box and return it to be rewarded with a sound he enjoyed. My interpreter was excellent and soon wanted to try some interaction for himself-he was a natural! At one point we had both parents, Grandma and our interpreter all joining in with encouraging noises! We finished our sessions with a parachute game which he thought hilarious, especially when lying underneath it.
We were able to leave the equipment with the family and I love to imagine all the children playing the game, possibly supervised by Grandma!
Another child was able to access the school activities in her wheelchair. A volunteer who works with physically disabled children in the UK was able to assist her. This little girl had a marvelous time, along with her mother and sister, making bracelets and necklaces amongst many other things. She also loved the parachute-good fun for all children as we know! Through an interpreter we found out that she had been so excited about coming to school she was awake long before her usual hour! I found this particularly touching- she was 9 years old and I believe that this could have been her first experience of school!
We are so grateful to the headmaster for directing us to these children. The authorities do not see the importance in education for all and he is open in his disagreement with them-he takes a brave stand.

Judith

Today while travelling in the van taking out aid to poor families in the outlying parts of Gkakove I was able to chat with one of the local pastors, Pastor Faton. He leads a church in Gjakove and works closely with SMILE. During the war the women and girls in his family fled to Albania to escape the marauding Serbs. He and his brothers fled to the mountains for safety, hiding in burnt-out and deserted homes and getting food wherever they could, eating only every other day. One evening Faton read a verse in his Bible promising that even if an army surrounded they would not be harmed. The next morning in the house where they were taking refuge, they were awoken by Serb militia brandishing machine guns and told to get up and go with them. They asked if they should put their shoes on but were told that they would not need them! They were lined up against a wall, and the machine gun magazines were loaded in front of them. The wagon which collected dead bodies drew up outside the house. As they stood against the wall Faton's brothers began to cry, but Faton was reminded of the verse which the Lord had given him the previous evening. At that moment the soldiers were distracted, perhaps by some passing UN soldiers, and Faton and his brothers were able to run for their lives. He knows that God preserved them from death, and testifies to the power of God's promise and protection. We are truly humbled by stories such as this.

Ian

Well, here we are into our second week, having said goodbye to Seb and Gordon.The temperatures are just as high (touching 40C today, Wednesday). The majority of our Newcastle group have been suffering with a tummy bug for the last 24 hours, so have been fasting and resting, but most of us seem to be on the road to recovery.

Over the weekend we shared in some very special times of worship with local believers in churches in Gjakove and area. On Saturday we joined a handful of believers in the nearby town of Decan. We were warmly received and we were encouraged by their faith and hope that our presence encouraged them. On Sunday morning we divided into two groups and attended worship in Gjakove itself. In both cases there were not many believers, but the worship was vibrant and sincere. These are Christians who have endured many things, yet whose faith is strong and infectious. On Sunday afternoon, Roger and I went to "George's" church in Gjakove. There were about 20 believers, mainly children and young people. Some of these young people lead the worship and were very musically gifted, and there was a real sense of the presence of God. Fortunately a translator is present at all these services to translate Schip or Albanian into English for us.

The church in Kosova is young and fragile - there are about 1,000 believers in a population of 2.2m, and there are only 35 churches. 3 of these are in the capital Pristina, and most of the rest in the Gjakove region. Their faith in adversity has been an inspiration to us.

Ian

During our 2 weeks here we're visiting Krallan, which as Roger mentioned is high up in the hills. The road is rocky and has lots of holes, and we have to trust in our lovely driver Jaffa to negotiate the bumps and sheer drops at the edge of the road! The school accommodates children from the surrounding villages, some of whom have to walk for an hour to get there- we pass them as we arrive in the morning. We have been getting around 100 children each day, and we are beginning to get to know each other. The children are split into 5 groups according to age, and then they do 5 activities: craft, singing, learning English and 2 outside physical activities. We are lucky to have translators who help us to keep control of the big groups, who can be a bit of a handful! Any children who win a game get a small prize, and at the end of the week they will all receive goody bags with scarves and hats, a toy and a pencil and paper, without which they would be unable to start school.
The Director of the school is very appreciative of what we're doing, and it is a great honour to be called into his office for coffee- I'm still waiting for my invitation! He is keen to improve his school and cares very deeply about the wellbeing of the children and their families, some of whom are extremely poor. Right now his greatest need is for sporting equipment, and for a decent area for the children to play outside, as at the moment they have to play in the dust, stones and sharp weeds.
After a cooler weekend we return to the school today and we are attempting to tell the story of Jesus in 4 days!!! Many thanks for your continuing thoughts and prayers, without these we would not be able to keep going! Please continue to pray that the team can remain healthy in the heat, and for the children and their families who are still dealing with the aftermath of the war, and particularly the poverty it has brought to the area.
Many thanks!

Clare

Most of those in the Centre, including those flying home today (Seb included) went in three minibuses to the locall Roma camp - it's within sight of the Centre across several fields.
It was an amazing experience with, eventually, about 150 Roma children being entertained in one of the open spaces next to the 'camp'.
We formed three groups and sang songs ( 'If you're happy and you know it' in Albanian!), and played games (we taught them the 'Hokey Cokey'!). Interaction easier than you might think even if you don't know the language. The children were desperate to hold our hands, have their photos taken, and just be loved - it was a humbling experience amongst the obvious deprivation of these people who are regarded, for various reasons, as outcasts in the community.
Two of the local pastors and members of their congregations joined us, as did two of our 'usual' young interpreters.
After nearly two hours, we 'went walkabout' in the camp with many of the children in tow - The smile minibus went to various points and distributed aid, mainly in the form of clothing.
Back for lunch with much to think about..........

Roger

Prayer Pointers
Would you pray for:
1. Safety on the roads. Between the two minibuses, we have had four punctures in two days - three yesterday! Also the transport is very old.
2. The team as they cope with intense heat - it has been over 40 degrees. There is the possibility that the painters might have to do some work outside next week.
3.Schools Teams. We are working with about 100 children in the mountain village of Kralan.
a) There is a smaller team next week - pray that we can cope.
b) Praise God that we have had contact with 5 or so special needs children in the village. (a big breakthrough as these children are considered a disgrace) Give thanks that Judith is with us with her expertise and pray for her as she visits these children in their homes.
4) Painters Team. That they may be able to work where the need is greatest.
5). Giving Out Aid Team. The work is hard and the visits to the homes can be difficult through what they see and hear. Pray for Ian who will join that team next week.


Roger

It seems incredible that we have just finished only our third full day here - so much has happened.
In sending reports, we are somewhat hampered by lack of electricity. Every day has bought at least one power cut - the sound of our wind-up torches is quite something when we all get going! This is the first time when power has coincided with opportunity.
So - what are doing?
We have been divided into three teams.
Clare, Sue, the two Jeans, Judith & Seb are involved with a project up at Kralan. 30 minutes up what we would regard as a farm track.
The first day saw around 50 children. Today there has been around 130. The director of the school has opened up the building especially for SMILE work, and is very appreciative and supportive. The children are aged between 4 and 12. Today we have had a breakthough with dealing with children with special needs (God's timing that Judith is here!)
Ian, Eric, Steve & Roger are decorating. Three very varied sets of circumstnces so far - next week, we may be painting the outside of the school! Please pray for us (and the other teams too) in the heat which has been around 35 - 40.
Gordon Brown & Anne are helping to sort and hand out aid to famies in need in the local communities, and have seen many different corcumstances, including great poverty.
We are going to try and send one or two photographs from each team either later today or in the week.
With much love
The Kosova Team