Chapter 1: Formation

The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet. And whither then? I cannot say.

Once upon a time there were four men, whose lives God had designed from eternity to weave together for the sa1vation and blessing of His people among the Albanians.

We hope to teU the story of the Mission which they felt led to found truthfully and interestingly. There have been good times and blessings, and there have been tria1s and heartaches, even tears. It gives us pleasure to recount God's goodness to us, and it gives us pain to turn our minds over old controversies, wounds and disappointments. As the story unfolds, we hope you will understand why we have adopted the shape and practices which characterise us today.

Albania is a place of fierce spiritual battle, and it is not the plan of this small book to by-pass the difficulties so as to present you, the reader, with a naive, triumphalist narrative. We want you to know about the past years of our Albanian involvement, and we want you to pray with increased feeling for whatever ongoing work God may be pleased to allow us to do: to rejoice with us when we rejoice, and weep with us when we weep; so that this writing may be an instrument in forging a bond of love, understanding and commitment between us all.

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In alphabetical order the four men are as follows:...........

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