The 5 concerts that Adrian Snell preformed in The Netherlands have been successful. People were able to relive the powerful message of Easter through the music of Adrian with the beautiful voices of the vocalists, the musicians and the choir. Adrian promoted the work of the Kennedy Foundation and the collection amounted to about 8000 Euro’s. Thanks Adrian Snell and all who were part of this event!
Adrian Snell and Nardi
Nardi Melesini singing along with Adrian
The Kenedi Foundation is pleased that the British musician Adrian Snell is again prepared to take up a collection during his Passion Easter concert for the benefit of this Albanian foundation. The five concerts on 24-28 March in several Dutch towns and cities will tell the Easter story in a musical way.
During the evenings, Adrian will also talk about his involvement in the Kenedi Foundation. Every summer the British musician visits Korce and uses music as a way to communicate with street children, the disabled and the elderly.
Nardi
Adrian will play some songs together with the Albanian musician Nardi Melesini. Nardi who was born in 1973, is one of the pastors and music leader at the evangelical church in Korce. He has a compassionate heart and a giving nature. Nardi writes his own worship songs and music. In 2008 Adrian and Nardi with an Albanian worship group made a CD. In 2015, Adrian recorded a pair of Nardi’s own music and songs. Nardi is also the chaplain of the prison in Korce and supports the families of the prisoners. Nardi is married and has one son.
The Passion
‘The Passion’ is one of the greatest works of the English songwriter and has influences from classical, modern and choral music. Through the songs the listener experiences the Easter story, with its various protagonists. It brings the alive the Easter story in a unique way!
The collection during the Christmas concerts by Adrian in December 2015 raised more than 6,000 euros. Tickets for the Easter concerts can be ordered through teh Dutch concert organisation Events4Christ.nl.
Football is in Albania’s favourite sport. Many Albanians regularly play football, including a group of (Roma) boys that the Kenedi Foundation support. The group of 10-16 year olds receive twice weekly training and have a weekly football match on an indoor football pitch.
The Dutch football club OWIOS donated the entire team tracksuits with children’s sizes to the Kenedi Foundation. Recently, these were distributed to the youth players who absolutely loved them. They even wanted to wear the new suits to school.
Additionally, there are new t-shirts, sports pants and socks for the teams on the way to Albania. It is lovely that these clothes are getting a new home over here.
In August 1995 Marleen van de Voorde exchanged her Belgium for Albania. Now, twenty years later, she looks back on her time in Albania. She experienced a lot of highs and lows, but her trust in God gave her strength to persevere and continue. This is an interview with an enthusiastic person.
The 55-year-old Marleen sees herself as a passionate person who likes to works towards a goal. “When I was little I wanted to be a nurse, nobody could dissuade me. Similarly later on, when I wanted to go into missions. With that in mind, I chose a wide medical training so that I could use this knowledge later in the mission field. Finally God opened several doors so I could go on mission.”
Sharing Medical knowledge
“Through Bible smuggling work I got in touch with the Dutch organization ‘Dorcas’. They asked me to join a pilot project to teach village nurses around the East Albanian city Korce. The integration and teaching were going well, but it was difficult for the nurses to transform and put the theory into practice, partly because my vision of district nursing, according to the Albanian authorities, did not fit into their task list. In the end I gave medical lessons through a nursing school to the new generation nurses. I did that until 2000, I was for some months out of the country when the anarchy started in Albania and gangs ruled the country. Finally I developed a home care system in 1997 by myself for the chronically ill and disabled. I trained the staff by myself through the Kenedy Foundation, an Albanian Evangelical aid organization with which I still work.”
Twenty thoughts about Marleen from her immediate colleagues:
always called, helpful, trusting and reliable, easy going, fantastic, doesn’t see borders as obstacles, hard worker, works with whole heart, Jesus follower, can say hard things with a smile, sometimes driven, little fear, loving, irreplaceable, single, strong yet compassionate, has vision without fear, Flemish Albanian, seeks what’s right and yet is merciful and caring.
Almost abandoned
“At the end of the last century, I tried to start a lot of things , but there was little progress and I felt alone. My ideals seemed impossible to reach. I was in a difficult period and I took a six months break. Actually, I wanted to give up, unless I could work with the support of a local church and I could work with Christian nurses. I did not want to compromise and then God provided wonderfully with three nurses! I entered the new millennium with renewed energy, thank God!”
“There were just three nurses falling from the sky”
Many stretch
“The twenty years that I have worked over here has been a big learning time for me with a lot of ‘stretching’. That means that you often need to adjust expectations because things change. I never expected that I would lead an organisation, because I have a hands-on mentality. A good foundation on which you can build is hard to find here. And if there is a base, it is quite crooked. I’ve been here for twenty years, but sometimes I still do not understand things. Sometimes I am a bit naive. As a foreigner, you never know, communication is sometimes hidden behind veiled language. Sometimes it makes the work and living here quite tough.”
“A foundation upon which you can build here in Albania is hard to find”
Faith gives strength
“My faith in God has often given me direction as I stood at crossroads. I have experienced the power of Biblical words and the Lord Jesus is what I live for. On the field, you are dependent on God. I would have died ten times, if God had not protected me. Sometimes it’s just like Peter who stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus. Then you know that you should look at Him, or you drown. God sees the big picture and there are many miracles that have happened.”
“I would have died ten times, if God had not protected me.”
Fundamental principles
“Although I quickly felt at home in Albania, it was also a great challenge and at the beginning very primitive: twice a day access to running water, lots of power cuts in the winter, … I expected that, after the fall of Communism, the country’s economy would change much faster. Over the years I have noticed that change happens slowly, because problems are fundamental and deep due to history, the economy and the absence of God during communism. Romania, for example, is much more accessible for economic growth.”
One of the positive fruits
“One of my proudest achievements relates to a sixteen-year-old severely disabled girl. I got the (grand) parents, after much insistence to be convinced of her ability, that their child is more than a ‘physical problem’. That girl has now written a poem book. Isn’t it great?!”
Ian Loring, the president of the Kenedi Foundation, gives Marleen a honoration award.
Building the retirement home
“The year of the construction of the brand new retirement home for me was a nervous period. The collaboration and streamlining between different parties and construction supervision cost me a lot of energy. A few years before, we fantasized about an old people’s home on the hill, but history has changed, and now, with the grace of God there is a finished retirement home built and operated to Western European standards.”
Future Picture
“My future is not clear for me. I have a mother of 83 years, who is home alone, and I want to be around for her when she needs me. God knows me and I try not to worry about this. The retirement home is full and currently I focus on taking care of the residents and the construction of a new wing to the nursing home to double the capacity, because that is desperately needed.”
Marleen’s message to future missionaries and volunteers:
“My biggest mistake was that I wanted to do too much and was not dependent on God who sent me. When you hear the personal stories of many Albanians, your first reaction is to think in terms of solutions. Therefore here are three pieces of advice from my side:: 1) Let yourself be guided by God in all situations; What do you address and what not, 2) Do not listen to others who are telling you what to do and 3) Do not be caught by the ‘urgency’.”
16-year old Ruth Nuevo left Bristol, England and travelled to Albania for a mission trip, together with 25 others; where they undertook social work and organisation at a football camp. It was her first time in Albania, to help the Kenedi Foundation and she’s sharing her experience.
Other girls at my age are traveling to the Costa Brava or Sunny Beach, but I chose another holiday destination. My father went several times on mission trips and I decided to follow him and experience another culture. Also eleven of my church youth group were joning this holiday destination.
Fundraising by playing guitar
I prepared myself with research on the internet, attended preparation meetings and personal fundraising by playing solo guitar in the mainstreets of Bristol to cover the project costs.
Emotional person
Before I came to Albania, I thought I would cry a lot, because I’m an emotional person. Also I had some thoughts about how the people were living here. I expected to get a culture shock. I have cried a lot, but the culture shock was less than expected. Inside the houses, when you hear the personal stories, it can be very upsetting but the city of Korce, looks good.
Orphanage
While others of the group organised football camps, we visited the orphanage daily with fifty physically and mentally handicapt persons. We had a good time together and did drawing, told biblical stories and had a few parties with nail painting and eating cake. It was a wonderful time.
Leave my heart
I’m going home to England soon, but I leave my heart here. Beni, one of the handicapped orphans gave me a picture of him with my father some years ago. This was a highlight for me to be at the same place where my father has been.
Thankful
This trip has changed my life definitely, and I am excited about how this will change me personally and my life in England. I’m thankful for the time I had here to experience Albania, help at the orphanage and the fun we had as a group.