On a mission from God!

Patricia, of Shire Gardens, was one of a party of nine from the New Life Church in Stand Lane who travelled to the troubled country for a nine-day stay this summer.

"We went to meet and help the people. We are hoping to establish a strong link and help them build a church," said Patricia, a former nurse who now works at Asda.

The first sight that greeted her eyes after collecting her suitcase from Tirana Airport was a woman with a child in her arms, begging.

"We were told not to give her anything because if we did, many others would approach. It was very hard for us not to give," said Patricia.

A two-hour coach drive through the mountains took them past the roadside graves of those shot by bandits to the town of Fushe-Arrez whose population of 5,000 is completely cut off from the outside world by the snows of winter.

"My first impression was one of squalor. The sheep grazed on the rubbish tip and chickens walked around aimlessly. Poverty showed its face and the flats that the people lived in looked like they should be pulled down before they fell down," said Patricia.

"When Albania was under Communist rule it was clean, but when the Communists fell in 1990 so did the health and safety."

Food at Patricia's hotel was basic and sometimes the kitchens ran out of food. Still things have improved. These days there is electricity and water around the clock.

Visits to churches were obviously a prominent part of the trip. They were small but so well-attended that the congregation had to take it in turns to have a seat. Surprisingly churchgoing is one of the main activities of the town's youth. Meeting the teenagers gave Patricia the chance to learn more about life in Albania. After high school for instance, all boys have to join the Army for a year.

One little boy gave Patricia his bible as a gift.

"He insisted I keep it, and I felt a bit uncomfortable but the pastor assured me that the boy gave it me because he wanted me to remember him."

Later she attended a prayer meeting in Albanian and English.

"I had a very special time with the children there singing songs. They were fascinated by my little battery fan and each wanted a hold of it.

"The children are all so uncorrupted. I just wanted to bring them home with me. We all felt the same."

One of the most enjoyable events was a picnic with the children in the mountains.

From Fushe-Arrez the party travelled to Puka, a strict Muslim town where the women are only allowed out to shop at certain times.

Patricia met a pastor there who discovered God in 1996. The pastor told her that as a child his family was so poor that if they found an empty Coke can in the street they would bring it indoors and amuse themselves by pretending to drink out of it. Only wealthy people could afford Coca Cola.

The pastor gave her a tour of the museum showing her ancient musical instruments, beautiful traditional dresses and photographs.

One of the most unusual buildings the group visited was a school that is now a shrine. The school was founded in 1936 and was the first ever school in Puka.

"A man called Migjeni set it up. He died when he was only 29. He may not have lived very long but he worked wonders and was much loved. The school is now closed and has become a shrine to him."

Towards the end of the visit the group went to a children's holiday camp at Leshe on the Adriatic coast.

"It is run by a Geordie called George. The children stay for a week at a time, staying in tents, playing games and performing concerts. At the end of the week George organises a prize-giving ceremony and I think every child got something."

Besides giving the children much-needed enjoyment, George goes out with shoe-boxes, which people in England have filled with supplies, and delivers them to the village children at Christmas like Father Christmas!

"The whole trip was a very worthwhile experience and I am determined to return and help the people build a better life," said Patricia.