Feeding More Than Hunger

“They will never forget the love of God they see here...”

At Mission Without Borders’s Soup Kitchen in Lapraka, Albania, elderly people and families living in poverty are invited to come every day for a filling lunch. Not only do they enjoy delicious, home-cooked food, but they become part of a warm Christian community where they find a home from home.

The elderly people and families who come to MWB’s Soup Kitchen are people without support in life; people who face overwhelming challenges that they cannot face alone.

Alma, who works for Mission Without Borders as coordinator of the Soup Kitchen, said, “Many of the people living in poverty here are originally from the north of Albania, where life is very difficult, and this church that we partner with was the church that opened its doors to meet their needs. The meal is what brought people together, but in the community here, they had the opportunity to get to know Jesus. They are very open to the gospel.

The vulnerable elderly in Albania often depend on soup kitchens for a healthy meal
The vulnerable elderly in Albania often depend on soup kitchens for a healthy meal

 

“We prepare, serve, and distribute warm meals here every day; we also deliver various goods to the homes of the people who come here and provide support when they need it. We organise Christian meetings and group prayers for them too.

“This support and warm atmosphere positively affects people’s health and their lives ingeneral. They show interest and satisfaction in the Bible studies, and their spiritual lives are continually improving.”

Fitor Muça is the pastor of the local church in Lapraka that partners with Mission Without Borders. Various members of his church volunteer at the Soup Kitchen every day.

He said, “At the Soup Kitchen, we see families, older women, elderly people, people who are divorced and widowed, parents who have health issues. The food project is a big help.

“People come here from the north of Albania to find jobs and a new life, but they’re not prepared for life in Tirana. They don’t have the qualifications to secure jobs. Some do find work but it’s very low paid. We support people here who have very little and who have no opportunity to get the money to meet their needs.

“Because of this project, they’re very blessed and they’re served high quality food. They would just have no way of eating food like this without our help. They have stew, vegetables, rice, pasta, food they enjoy. Food that I enjoy myself. The favourite would probably be the traditional Albanian food, such as meat cooked with onions.

Staff prepare hundreds of meals to feed those in need every dayStaff prepare hundreds of meals to feed those in need every day

“Some people have grown up in the Soup Kitchen. We have an older boy who started coming here when he was just two years old. They will never forget the love of God they see here, actions more than words.”

Give a gift today and support progrms that help feed those that are hungry formore than food. Together, we can reach out to vulnerable people in Eastern Europe with God’s love – and demonstrate the reality of his faithfulness to people living in poverty.

Those that don't have much are thankful for the meals and community the soup kitchen offersThose that don't have much are thankful for the meals and community the soup kitchen offers.

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