wfn.org | Adventist Church Leaders Visit Kosovo

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

August 13, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventist Church Leaders Visit Kosovo

Pristina, Kosovo/APD     Dr. Bertil Wiklander, president of the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church's Trans-European Division, visited 
Pristina, Kosovo on July 18 together with Dr. Radisa Antic, president 
of the South-East European Union, and Pastor Slavko Tasic, 
president of the South Conference in Yugoslavia.

The journey was long and difficult from Belgrade, since many roads 
and bridges had been destroyed.  In some places, it was necessary 
to cross the river on a provisional pontoon bridge built by the 
military.

The visiting leaders were driven into Kosovo by Pastor Nikola 
Aslimovski. Aslimovski decided to remain with his family in Pristina 
during the conflict and, in so doing, saved the church building from 
destruction.  He and his family slept in the basement for two 
months with only bread to eat for a month.  

At one time, a paramilitary Serbian group knocked on the church 
door, but after some discussion they left the family alone.  The 
marks they left on the front door are still visible.  The Aslimovski 
family are now housing a number of ADRA (Adventist Development 
and Relief Agency) workers and assist with the program to help 
people back to a normal life in the local community. 

"ADRA is doing an impressive work under difficult circumstances," 
comments Wiklander.  "Four programs have already been funded by 
donor organizations: community services, education, water, and 
health.  Funding for an agricultural project is pending.  Thus, ADRA 
is preparing the schools for the children, so they can open in 
September; it provides shelter for the homeless (while the group 
visited ADRA's headquarters, British tanks stopped outside and 
loaded ADRA tents); mobile health clinics are in operation; and the 
water wells are restored.  The aim now is to provide at least one 
room for each family which will protect them against the cold 
winter."

Forty people from 10 nations are working with ADRA/Kosovo, and 
more are due to arrive in the near future.  Paul Dulhunty from 
Australia said, "The devastation and the loss of loved ones is still 
the thing that is most crushing.  Please, pray for us!" 

On his return, Dr. Wiklander commented on what he had seen.  "I 
was very impressed and grateful for what I saw ADRA doing in 
Kosovo," said Wiklander.  "We will now plan with the local church 
leadership for an evangelistic campaign in our church in Pristina in 
February next year.  The Trans-European Division has already set 
aside Global Mission funds for that important event.  Our dream is 
to see God's kingdom move forward-even in Kosovo."  [98/12/02]