Last night I had dinner with two of the caretakers and they were telling me how much they made last month. The amount they made last month is generally the average they make each month. After hearing how much leke they earned, I was simply stunned. These women work so hard. They love these children and it shows through their constant attention to their needs. The monthly wage for a caretaker at the orphanage comes to be about $250.00. Now divide that by 30 days= $7.50, now divide that by 8 hours a day= $.60. Basically these ladies are making ONE leke each hour!!!! The total amount the government spent to pay their employees at the orphanage came to a little over $4500.00. The average yearly income is about $5000.00 but these woman are making only about $3000.00.
Your first thought would be, well Albania is a third world culture so the cost of living coincides to the yearly imcome and everything sorta evens out. But that is not the case here. Because everything must be imported, the cost increases and prices are astronomical! These woman pay more for a jug of milk than they made in an hour! We were considering purchasing a stroller for a family with a 4 year old Down Syndrome boy but the strollers here run around $600!!!! The caretakers last night said they have enough leke to provide food for the table but nothing more. My heart hurt for these women. They deserve more but they continue on with smiles and servant hearts. They are such an example of perseverance despite the hardship of your situation! Pray that the Lord would provide and meet their daily needs and that they would understand and sense their needs are meet not through their efforts but through the grace of a God that loves them!
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- Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20
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August 03, 2008
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That's tough to swallow. The average income throughout the continent of Africa is between $1.00 - $3.00/day. It makes me sad, but like you said, we simply must pray that the Lord's provision is sufficient!
Posted by: adam barnett | August 03, 2008 at 03:09 PM
What would it take to help with the purchase of the stroller for the family?
That is really sad to hear their earnings. It also shows the love these ladies have for these children to give of themselves and not to receive much in return.
Oh! what LOVE.
Posted by: mom | August 04, 2008 at 08:05 AM
JEN! I am so proud of you for enduring your time in Albania. And doing it with such compassion for the people and the children! I absolutely have to see you when you return to the states and cannot wait to hear more about your how your heart feels for the nations. Love you girl!
Posted by: Amy | August 09, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Girl...where you at? I neeed to hear an update! Love you!
Posted by: Amy | September 01, 2008 at 07:33 PM