A team of 9 high school students from Toledo Christian School, 5 adults and Pastor Bill McGinnis of Calvary Church, Toledo, OH went to Fushe-Kruje, Albania for a week-long trip of social ministry.

They spent their mornings interacting with the local high schoolers through workshops on relevant topics. Despite it being Spring break, between 50-80 students showed up voluntarily each day. On Saturday, they concluded their time together with a few sports games, Americans vs. Albanians, and on Sunday, some of the local kids came to church to say final goodbyes to the team.

Afternoons were spent with the little children of the Grumbullimi community, which Calvary has adopted the past three years, taking them through a few days of Bible lessons, games, coloring and general interaction. These children were thrilled to spend time with the team smiling for pictures and proudly displaying their coloring masterpieces. The team also prepared and handed out about 40 food bags to the Grumbullimi families containing enough flour and oil for at least a week’s worth of bread. The week was finished on Sunday with the team attending the local church in Fushe-Kruje and performing a drama.

Many thanks to these students who sacrificed time and money to come be a blessing to strangers on the other side of the world. They were a truly impressive team of compassionate, upbeat teenagers who will be missed by all the local kids they touched and are welcome back anytime.