Elona, a Blood Feud Widow (Albania)
Elona moved away from her hometown to a city of Northern Albania. It was no small thing to leave her family, but she did so to join her husband in pastoral service. They were living a happy life until in an instant, with one phone call, their beautiful lives turned into a nightmare.
Her husband’s uncle had killed a man, apparently in self-defense. According to a tradition in that area of Northern Albania, his family was now engaged in a blood feud with the family of the man who had been killed. Blood feuds are destroying families, forcing them into hiding as typically the killings continue until all the men of the family from six to 70 years old are dead (extended family such as cousins and uncles are included).
Within 24 hours of the call, Elona and her husband had to flee their home with their two small children. They begin a life of trying to stay hidden in places which seemed secure. Only 24 years old, the burden of living every day knowing her husband might be murdered at any moment was hard for Elona to bear. Additionally, as he had to stay hidden, it fell to Elona to try to help the church to function without its pastor. Since the church is formed of new believers, it was difficult for the members to know what to do as they had not yet been fully trained in the truths of the gospel.
After two months of hiding, they moved and only after that move learned that the other family had discovered their hiding location, but had arrived too late after they had left it. The church began to meet in their home, since her husband could not leave it. And, so Elona became responsible to be with the children when they went to school, be hostess for the various church meetings held in her home, and take turns with her husband guarding the house (one would sleep while the other kept watch).
An added feared for her mother’s heart, Elona feared for the life of her son, now nine, in addition to fearing for her husband. This went on for five years and during the entire time Elona and her family stayed faithful to pray for the killers and their salvation, knowing only God could change their hearts. It gave them an opportunity to start a ministry with the hundreds of families effected by blood feuds in that area.
Elona’s pastor husband was murdered on Friday, October 8, 2010. Now widowed, she will need to care for the needs of her two children alone.
Enkelejda, the Director of TWR’s Partner in Albania, writes, “I have interviewed them [Elona and her husband] for a series of programs and many secular TV stations are now producing programs next week using his story [to raise awareness about blood feuds] and my interviews are the only one with the pastor. Please pray that God will use this situation for good, and that as Christians we will give a different message and speak on the power of forgiveness.” Enkelejda, who attended the funeral this past Saturday, also asked that we pray for the protection of Elona’s son and for God’s comfort and peace for the entire family. And, of course, she asked that we pray for the people of Northern Albania to enter God’s kingdom through the price already paid for each of them on Calvary because, “Only a heart transformation [by God] can stop this evil tradition that is destroying thousands of families in Northern Albania.”
Click here to learn more about Project Hannah in Albania.
Read a BBC article about blood feuds in Northern Albania here.