Albanian Widows
August 13, 2024
Follow me into the lives of the Albanian widows and abandoned women. Without their husband, they are ‘claimed’ by his family to stay with them, cook, clean, care for all children, and whatever else his family asks. Her children are ‘claimed’ by his family. Should she want to leave, they keep her children. For the love of her children, wanting to be with them, she accepts work, often abuse, and loss of all freedom.
She is not allowed out of the house except on Monday, market day, when she buys food. Secretly as Christians, some churches have ‘Monday church’ for these women.
Offering this woman a way to independence changes her world. Simple skill–tailoring. Big result, learning that God loves her–during tailoring class.