It was a bleak and drizzly night, and the road conditions were bad, but we have become accustomed to the ever-present mud of Albanian winter. What we still haven’t learned to enjoy is the damp, bone-chilling cold from which the un-insulated, mostly unheated concrete homes and buildings provide no relief. Perhaps if we wore the coarse, scratchy, hand-knitted wool long underwear that many Albanians do, we would be a bit warmer. But that would only swap one discomfort for another.
This particular evening, we were on our way to meet Zaku, his wife Eli and his brother-in-law. It wasn’t unusual for Zaku to invite us places, but this time he seemed more intense, as though it was especially important to him that we come.
Zaku is the son of an imam. He is the man who courageously announced at his father’s funeral that Sean was his very good friend, a Christian missionary who would soon start a church in our city. We wondered if he was catching any flak from that grand announcement. He had repeatedly asked us to train his daughter in our faith. Sean had agreed each time. Recently, when the topic had come up again, Sean had added, “This church is not only for your daughter, Zaku.”

Becoming a Christian had never entered Zaku’s mind. Islam was not something he chose. He was born into it. It was his heritage. It was the faith of his father, whom he had respected and loved deeply. As much as Zaku admired Jesus and what he knew of our faith, as close a friendship as he’d had with Ben Shupe and now with Sean, this man, whose last name means imam, had never thought about becoming a Christian—until now.

It had been several days since Sean had nudged that thought into Zaku’s mind. Now he had asked to meet us this evening, not at his home as usual, but at a hotel restaurant. Had he been pressured by the Muslim community or maybe by his own extended family? Normally, Albanians don’t make big decisions without first discussing it with their family. Family honor is extremely important to them. Zaku was a strong man, a natural leader, but was he strong enough to face that kind of pressure? And wouldn’t a decision to be a Christian be viewed as dishonoring his father’s memory? Would it destroy his influence in the community? Had we moved too quickly?

Zaku and Eli’s friendly greeting warmed us on that chilly evening, yet we weren’t sure what to expect. We exchanged small talk over our herbal tea, then Zaku announced, “I am going to quit smoking!”

We were very happy about his decision, but we knew how difficult it would be for him to quit his three-pack-a-day habit. Sean had been there himself, many years ago.

Zaku seemed to sense that Sean was holding back a little in his congratulations. He spoke more forcefully: “Did you hear me? I will quit smoking! And when Zaku says he will do something, he will do it!”

Sean smiled broadly at his friend’s determination. “That’s great, Zaku. I will help you all I can. And God will help you!”

“Yes,” Zaku grinned. “He will!”

“And something else,” Zaku continued, growing serious. “You are on God’s road.” His eyes were locked intently on Sean’s. “I want to walk on God’s road with you! And not only myself, but my wife, my son and my daughter. Not only them, but my mother, my brothers, their wives and their sons and daughters! We will all join you!”

We were stunned with joy. Before we separated that night, Zaku and Sean made plans to read the Bible and pray together each morning.

Just as he said he would, Zaku quit smoking. Up until the day we returned to the States on furlough, he read the Bible and prayed with Sean almost daily. We hope he has continued to be faithful without Sean.

Zaku volunteered to take care of our pets and our home while we are away. We have kept in contact, and Eli has admitted that they miss us so much, and they cried when we left. They asked us to give their love to the Shupe family, and they sent a gift for them. We are grateful for Ben and Amanda’s ministry to this family, which has paved the way for our friendship.

We deeply miss Zaku, Eli and their family and other wonderful families in Albania who have become close to our hearts. We eagerly anticipate our return. Please pray for these families. The enemy of souls will certainly attack them. Pray that God’s holy angels will surround them and protect them from evil. Please also pray that we will have good health and financial support and whatever we need so we can quickly get back to Albania. And join us in praising God for what He is doing in people’s hearts in Albania and all over the world.

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