Getting Strength to Persevere

Albania | OM International

We used to meet twice a week with Roma and gypsy children aged six to seventeen, but it was hard to manage the group. Last October, some of the male leaders decided to take the older boys out of the meetings to meets, resulting in less chaos during the regular meetings with the other kids.

"I have gotten to know the boys better," says Jeff*, "and have started building friendship with a few of them. Since Albania is a male-dominated society, the older boys have much more respect for men, and so usually listen to what I have to say."

Jeff and his team started meeting the older boys for coffee once a week and play football with them once a month. "The football games were crazy at the beginning," remembers Jeff, "as fights would break out and boys would get hurt all the time. I have made some rules for them and now everyone seems to get along much better." 

Jeff is not sure how much longer they will be able to meet with the boys, but he prays that God would use them to make a difference in their lives.

Credit: OM International
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