June 3, 2002, Tony Humphreys, Prestatyn, UK

Beyond the Iron Curtain

Image Caption: Eddie Jones of Heart and Hands international looking back on his recent trip to Albania and the disputed teritorry of Kosovo

Eddie Jones of Heart and Hands international looking back on his recent trip to Albania and the disputed teritorry of Kosovo

Submitted

Freedom erupted as missiles of peace exploded over the skies of Berlin, and the wall fell to expose a commune of continental proportions frozen in time. A united Berlin was wired around the world, the spotlight of a vast revolution that forced many, unprepared, states away from the relative security of the hammer and sickle. Albania, a former Soviet state on the shores of the Southern Adriatic, decades in the unrelinquishing grip of the iron fist, was thrust overnight into the big, wide world. An agricultural state, with little industrial diversity, decayed and severe social problems ensued. The world took a sigh of relief as the cold war ended, but as the west settled down to peace and prosperity, Albania and other former Soviet states spiralled into turmoil. One of the first westerners in after the fall of communism was Eddie Jones, founder of Heart and Hands International. Working with the children, Heart and Hands sets up christian run orphanages and over three years trains local staff to continue the work. For the street kids, the organisation takes over disused buildings and converts them into centers that provides food, education, rest and recreation for some of the most vulnerable in society. Through out the nineties, Heart and Hands took not only practical help, but christianity amongst a deeply divided country, torn between muslim domination in the north, to a Greek orthodox culture in the south. Amongst this violent split christianity has flourished. Friendship and "Gossiping the Gospel" has reached far and wide. Christanity growth is at an unstoppable rate, yet there are very real moves to return the country back to the former regimes. Already the government is obstructing aid agencies at every turn, notably with a third extra import tax, resulting in over £10,000 (GBP) duty per delivery. Five lorries twice a year per orphanage and the cost approached prohibitive. Increasing barriers are also placed in the missionaries' path resulting in colossal mental pressure. All this does not deter Eddie "If it was not for the Lord on our side, we would not go." And again they go, a mission is planned for the coming October, with a short visit into war-torn Kosovo. "Recently, nine families have been beaten by the [provincial 'Kosovo Liberation Army'] KLA." Hearts and Hands intend to work with the street kids in Kosovo, in a similar set-up to that across the border in Albania, and again spread the word of God. However, the political situation has remained lethal since the intervention of NATO in the crisis last year, "[this trip] is much more dangerous, were talking crescent country, not cross country." Even after a shooting a couple of years ago Eddie continues his work. The results of the work are beginning to show. After years of emigration into the European Union, many scholars touched by the organisation are determined to stay, and work in their community, slowly taking over from foreign missionaries. A critical mass is in sight.