A is for Albania



This is Albania's flag

Albania is a small country that borders Greece, Macedona, Serbia, and Montenegro.  It has coasts on the Ionian and Adriatic Seas.  It is less than 45 miles from Italy. 

This country is very poor and one out of every three children dies of hunger.  Hospitals have very little equipment and medicine.  And the orphanages are over-flowing because parents can't even afford to feed their own children! 

The transportation consists of bicycles or wooden carts attached to either a horse or a donkey.   Every once and a while there will be a motored vehicle going down the street, but those belong to the very wealthy. 

Albania's history is very fascinating and consists of a dictator, Communism rule, and persecution of Christians and Muslims. In 1944 the country was taken over by Communists and was ruled by Enver Hoxha who banned anything to do with Christianity or the Muslim religion.  He outlawed the teaching of Jesus and God, prayer, and even banned the use of Christian or Muslim first names for the people's children! What a wicked ruler! 

In 1991 the Communists lost control of the country and the people established a new government, but their troubles didn't end there. In fact, in parts of Albania the struggle for life still continues to this day. Despite their hard times, the people are happy because they are now free to worship as they please and to tell others about their faith.  Please keep these people in your prayers.