The Keswick Convention was nearly a disaster when Berti’s son, Dorian, who was due to accompany his dad as interpreter, was refused a visa by the Albanian authorities less than two weeks before the conference.
Where on earth was I going to find an interpreter who was in England, who could speak Albanian and who was free to come to Keswick at such short notice?
In the end I, together with the European Christian Mission, managed to find two people as neither of them could do the full week.
The first was 26-year-old Kerrie Abbott, who had been out in Albania for a year, had met Berti in Lushnje, was inspired by his story after reading God’s Secret Listener and even better was now back home living at Wigton, only 20 miles from Keswick.
Kerrie had become a Christian as a teenager, had read psychology and social work at university before working as a youth worker at her church in Carlisle and part-time for the Langham Literature programme to help provide Bible and commentaries for pastors and preachers all over the world.
Since going to the Ukraine as an 18-year-old, Kerrie pictured below with Berti at Keswick, felt God was calling her to Eastern Europe.
Last year she went to Erseka, in south eastern Albania, to study at the Bible School for a year and also to learn the language. While she was in Albania she went to Lushnje twice where she met Berti, who was so impressed with her CV, that he invited her to return to the Way of Peace Church and the Victory School to help with the children’s and young people’s work.
Now Kerrie is planning to do a three-month missionary course in the UK in the autumn before going out to Albania in January 2012 for two years, if she raises the necessary funds.
Berti said: “I was really impressed with Kerrie and thought she did an excellent job translating in front of 3,500 people after such a short time learning the language. I think she will be an excellent asset to the school and church in Lushnje.”
If you would like to support Kerrie financially contact the European Christian Mission on 01604 621092 or email the European Christian Mission at ecm.gb@ecmi.org
No comments:
Post a Comment