Forty-four years ago this month ten-year-old Berti Dosti arrived in Lushnje after having already lived in six homes as his father had been moved all around the country by the Albanian Army.
He was probably hoping for some stability, but even Berti did not expect in December 1967 for this medium sized industrial, lowland town to be home for the next 44 years and the base for his amazing Christian ministry.
Lushnje was the also start of a lifelong friendship with a neighbour’s boy, Ladi, who would keep cropping up throughout Berti’s life when help was most needed.
Although the nine-year-old was a year younger than Berti they soon became close friends, especially as Ladi had a large house with a big garden, ideal for football and hide and seek.
They didn’t go to the same school, but as soon as Berti returned home, he dashed out again to play in Ladi’s garden.
Berti and Ladi lived close to the town’s most famous and historic house, pictured below, where the Congress of Lushnje was held and which is still open to the public today.
It was there in 1920 that an historic vote was taken by the Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox members for total national independence, the first town in Albania to do so.
The Congress of Lushnje set up a Council of Regency, which led to the founding of modern Albania.
In Lushnje, Berti finished his primary school education and started his four years at secondary school, where he became interested in electronics and radios.
Being the son of an Albanian army officer, he had a privileged upbringing as the military had a higher than average salary and a better house than many.
Berti lived in a two-bedroomed house with a kitchen, good furniture, TV with Albanian programmes only, and a fridge.
As an officer, his father had some perks, including uniform, boots and shoes and some free groceries.
Berti was fortunate; many thousands of Albanians had a much tougher time.
Although Berti moved away from Lushnje for military training the family kept the house there and for Berti it was always home.
Even when he married Tatjana they started their new life together in the family home as the army had allowed Berti to keep it when he had finished his military training and as his father had already moved north to the capital Tirana.
Lushnje was where their two children, Alta and Dorian, were born and brought up and where Berti and the European Christian Mission helped found the Way of Peace Church there and The Victory School.
Berti and Tatjana are still in Lushnje today, although they are now living in a pleasant flat overlooking the town park.
If you want to find out more about Berti’s story in God’s Secret Listener, published by Lion/Hudson/Monarch, email John@jbutterworth.plus.com for a signed copy at the special Christmas price of £6 including posting within the UK.
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