“Lavdi Zoti!” (“Praise the Lord!”), exclaimed Fatima as she clutched the book to her chest. She had been looking intently at the cover illustration of Jesus and knew this book was something special even though she couldn’t read the English words.

Last May at our missionary retreat, I gave Brenda Mays a copy of the book Messiah by Jerry Thomas as a gift for Fabiola and Sonila. I thought their English was progressing so well that soon they would be able to read and discuss the book with Brenda. I knew it would also be a wonderful addition to their devotional library.

Imagine my joy when Brenda shared with me recently just how much Fabiola and Sonila have appreciated this gift and what a blessing it has been to them. During the winter months, they meet for their English lessons in the warm living room of Fabiola’s home. This is also her mother-in-law Fatima’s room. Before and after the English lessons, Fatima and Brenda chat in Albanian. During the lessons, Fatima sits quietly because she doesn’t know English.

Before a recent lesson, Fabiola and Sonila brought out the copy of Messiah, which they had been reading, and asked to discuss it with Brenda. Fabiola read aloud the message I had written for her inside the front cover, and Brenda could tell how touched she was, even after reading it many times before. After reading a few passages aloud from Messiah and discussing them, Fabiola put the book on the table. It was at this point that Fatima studied the cover illustration and then clutched the book to her chest.

Not being able to speak the different languages of our missionaries’ contacts has been frustrating for me. I would love to be able to communicate with my brothers and sisters in Christ in their heart languages. Therefore it is a wonderful blessing to me that people like Fabiola and Sonila are learning English. I look forward to my visits to Albania, even though they are not as frequent as I would like, as I feel a strong bond with Fabiola and her family. I praise the Lord for the positive changes that have occurred in their lives as they have grown in their relationship with Jesus. I pray for the time when other members of their extended family will also come to experience the abundant life Jesus promises to each one of us. Please join me in that prayer.

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