first of all we would like to apologize that we did not send our regular news to you for March. This was because we had a lot of work the last two months and unexpected events happened as well.

Many of you know that, in the beginning of March, we were in Italy to take part at the National Council. We presented there the work in Albania and, moreover, we introduced the building project of the first Apostolic church building in the village of Stropcke. For this project of 1800mq of total land, which is ready since 2001, we have only 500mq available, which donated from Ardi. During the meeting of the Council we saw that the pastors became sensible for the mission within a short time. Between personal offers and other offerings from the churches, we had covered the total amount of money needed to buy the land. We would like to thank all our brethren and pastors, who are supporting the work in Albania. Our aims, before the end of this year, are to buy the land, to have the building permission and to find the money to start, next year, with the building of the mini-center. The idea of the mini-center is that of a building, where the church meeting room in the center, and on both sides, there will be some rooms for social work such as ambulance, kindergarten, etc.

In April we had the visit of Jacques Vavasseur (Ex president of the Apostolic Church in France), Jean Bottin and Daniel Delaune, who have honored us with their presence and have expressed the desire to help the mission in Albania as church, as well as humanitarian association. In fact, one of the reasons of their visit ,was to see how to invest a donation of the association "Le coup de Coeur", of which brother Jean Bottin is the president. They have decided to buy a store near our church in Stropcke and to convert it into a kindergarten and ambulance. In the future, we can sell this store and use the amount of money to cover the costs of the rooms of the mini-center that we will use for the same purpose. Moreover, they have invited us to visit the churches in France next year, and we are glad about this. Our best thanks for everything to our dear French brethren.

One other good news is that we have already created contacts in the village of Leshnica and, as soon as possible, we will start a work there for the Lord’s Glory. The problem is, that during this period we have only few co-workers; as a matter of fact Ardi, with the Bible School’s team – he is a part time co-worker there- are carrying on an outreach in some villages in the middle Albania. Rudi ( the boy who helps Luciana in the children’s work) has got a broken feet and, for some weeks, so he has to stay at home.

In some villages, during the children’s meetings, we have some problems with some boys who frequent the mosque and come to contrast us. Since the start of the conflict in Iraq, it is the affronts that they address us (we are American allied!!) who give us preoccupation. From this we can understand what the mosque’s heads are preaching and how dangerous this is.

Despite the problems, the work is going on well.

And now, another good news: On 7^th of September Ardi and Linda will celebrate their wedding. We are grateful to the Lord for these young couple that is a model of testimony. We hope that, as soon as possible, other young people can made this important step for their lives and for the church.

We would like to ask you to pray:

• Against the Islamic progress in Albania.
• For a spiritual and physical protection for our co-workers
• For the families that are in contact with us
• For the bureaucratic work necessary for the project in Stropcke
• For the opening of the work in Leshnice

We thank all of you, who together with us, are fighting in prayer, knowing that a day our heavenly Father will give the reward.

God bless you !!

Sandro, Luciana, Carlo & Ester