I was sick and you looked after me.

Matthew 25: 36b: I was sick and you looked after me.

Being a missionary requires lots of flexibility. You never know when someone will need you but you are always willing and ready to go and help those in need. 

Arian & Brother Astrit

On Tuesday our brother Astrit from the home church in Kavaje had to have hernia surgery at the local hospital. He did not have money for the surgery so we were able to help him pay for the surgery with some extra funds from Kavaje. On Wednesday we were able to go visit him in the hospital. He was up walking around and met us at the door. We were so surprised! We were able to stay just for a couple of minutes but we prayed with him and encouraged him.

While we were at the hospital we visited another girl who is seven years old from the kids club in Kavaje. Her name is Klara. She is anemic and has lots of problems with her blood. While we were there she was on a pic line and receiving fluids and her eyes were very yellow.  She has been in and out of the hospital all her life. She was in Italy a couple of months ago getting treatment for her disease. They had to come back home because they couldn't afford to stay in Italy any longer. She needs to go back to Italy for an operation but the family doesn't have money for that now. Klara is a sweet brave girl who always smiles no matter her circumstances. Even though staying in the hospital is free, we gave her mom Mara a little money to help pay for food while she is in the hospital. We prayed with Klara and her family and gave her lots of hugs and smiles!

Arian, Mara & Klara

We are very thankful that God uses us to help others, pray with them, and visit them when they are sick. Please pray for Klara and her family to receive the money that they need so that Klara can get better soon! 

 

We believe that God allows circumstances to happen in our lives to bring us closer to Him, glorify His name and follow His plan!  Job 42:2- I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

 

 Now we are awaiting the team from McDonough Christian Church to come. They will be here tomorrow (Saturday)! MCC is sending a group of 10 people to help build benches, paint, and clean the building that we rent for the children of Kavaje. They will be doing ministry with us and seeing what God is doing here. They will also do a VBS for 3 days and do two youth nights. This is my (Stefanie) home church so I am very excited to see my brothers and sisters in Christ!

 

 Serving in God's love, 

Arian & Stefanie Kosta

How did you see Jesus today?

Arian and I in our nightly Bible study have started asking each other the question "How did you see Jesus today? " We want to make 100% sure that we are seeing Jesus every day. Jesus is alive and active but do you take the time to see Him?

Let me tell you how I have seen Jesus the past couple of days......

On Tuesday is Bible study at the church. Usually there is about 6-8 people who come. We continually invite believers of the church to come to the bible study. Today the door kept opening and more and more people kept coming in! There were 23 people in attendance! We pray that God used Arian to encourage the people and lead them deeper into the word of God! For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

On Wednesday we always visit the nursing home and children of Kavaje. This week we were very blessed to have Mac & Diane and Arian's cousin Nikolino with us. What an encouragement they were to us! While we were at the nursing home we always go around and greet and give a snack to all the people especially the ones who are sick and can't come to the service. One room we visited there was a woman crying and lying in her bed. Arian went to her and realized that she was crying because she could not get to her lunch. She had fallen over in bed and could not sit up. Arian sat her up in bed. She was still having a problem eating because her hands were not working very well so Arian proceeded to feed her lunch. When we left the nursing home I was so touched that I cried. The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:40 Yes, without a doubt I saw Jesus today and everyday serving with my husband in Albania! 

Peace with you and God bless! 
Arian & Stefanie Kosta

Lina's Birthday & Mac and Diane's arrival

Mac & Diane with Lina on her Birthday

What a great week of serving the Lord! On Wednesday we went and picked up Mac & Diane from the airport. Mac & Diane served here for two years. We are very glad that they are here and will help us in the ministry. The will be staying for almost a month. Mac & Diane are a great encouragement to all of the people in Albania! I am very excited to have someone here to speak fluent English!

On Thursday we went to the house church in Kavaje. There is a new girl there named Dorina. She has been Jehovah Witness.  She gave her testimony about how she has been walking according to her plans and now with the help of God she is walking with God and His plans. She also read some beautiful poetry that she had written. We thank God for working in lives in Albania!

Arian works very closely helping two girls Lina and Sabina learn more about the bible. They have been studying the bible together for a little over a year. The girls are growing in their faith and their knowledge of the bible. Lina's birthday was on Friday and we were able to celebrate with her for her 12th birthday. Lina is very excited about starting school on Monday but she didn't have money to pay for books. The church bought her a backpack and will be purchasing her books for her as well. 

Thank you for your continued prayers for us! Please pray that more people will grow in their faith. We also have another prayer request. FCC Charolettesville, Va.  has graciously given us $5,000 to purchase a mini van to transport people in Kavaje. The house church has gotten too big and we have been given the use of a building on Thursday afternoon. The only problem is that the church is not near to Drita's house. Once we started looking for a mini van we realized the ones in our price range were 15 years old and not in good shape. Pray that the funds will come to raise another $5,000 to be able to purchase a mini van for the ministry of Kavaje.

Zoti te bekofte! (God bless!) 

In His service, 

Arian & Stefanie Kosta

Mission work even during sabbatical

After our wedding on August 19th, Arian and I went on a sabbatical or second honeymoon. We went for 7 days to Pogradec, Albania. It is a beautiful city with lots of parks, trees, and right on lake Ohrid. Then we went three days to Struge, Macedonia. We had a great time of relaxing and spending time with the Lord. While we were there having darke (lunch) one day, a man came into the restaurant and only had money for something to drink. He looked very tired and poor. Arian spoke with the waiter and he said that the man was a hard worker and that he came in often and didn't have money for food. Arian and I decided then that we would buy the man something to eat. Ministry never stops it is a life long calling no matter where you go.

Another day we were walking down the street and a girl came asking us for money. Arian started to ask her questions about her family and did she know Jesus. We told the girl that we would give her some food but no money. We also told her about the church in town. We pray that every life we touch leads people closer to Jesus! Let your light shine!!!



I was inspired by God and I will share a story with you. When I was sitting in Struge, Macedonia eating dinner I looked into the canal and I saw these little fish. They were swimming against the current as fast as the could. The fish that would stop swimming would get pushed down the canal with the current. As I continued to watch the fish they didn't move. They were swimming but for many minutes they were in the same spot the whole time. The current was so strong that it seemed as if they were stuck in the same place. Many times in my life I have been stuck like these fish. I have been trying my hardest to get ahead in life but no matter how hard I try I am still in the same place I started. I am positive that God doesn't want us to give up! He wants us to continue to swim against the flow of this world, temptation, and sin. Maybe we will never see the immediate affects of our ministry but we believe that God waters the seeds that we plant. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up! Galatians 6:9

In God's amazing Love!
Arian & Stefanie Kosta