Deaf Patients "Hear" the Gospel at Albanian Clinic

OM International

The "clinic" is in Diana's bedroom and the "waiting room" is the hallway. But since the clinic's opening in 1994, almost 3,000 Albanians, children and adults alike, have come for free hearing tests and to determine if they need or are eligible for hearing aids. More than just providing testing and hearing aids, the clinic is also a ministry of the Disciples Church in Durres, Albania, which was planted by Operation Mobilisation in 1992.

Diana and the two Albanian Christian women that comprise the clinic staff provide a spiritual aspect to their clients, whether they are the patients or family members. They share Bible stories to children through sign language and provide counseling to mothers with deaf
children. "We try to explain why God allows these things and that God has a purpose in their children's life."

Diana became a Christian in 1992, after having attended the Disciples Church for almost a year. She is one of the first Christians in a country where religious freedom wasn't allowed until 1991. Desiring to serve the Lord, but not knowing in what way, Diana prayed for an entire night in August 1993, asking God to show her where to serve Him. She waited seven months before the Lord answered her prayer.

Enter Lois Mullaliu, a trained speech and language therapist who worked with OM at the time. Lois was in contact with Richard Livermore of the Hard of Hearing Christian Fellowship in England, which donated audiology equipment to OM in order to test hearing. Lois said she didn?t know who could be trained to use the equipment. "I prayed for the right Albanian to approach who might be interested in developing a ministry to the hard of hearing."

Even though Lois knew Diana, she wasn't sure where Diana's gifting lay, but "God put her in my mind?she was technical, committed and caring." Lois asked Diana if she wanted to try to use the equipment to help people. In remembering the conversation, Diana commented: "I don't know why she came to me, but I knew it was from God. I saw the need because this service didn't exist."

However, there were significant barriers to overcome. Diana didn't speak English and the audiology equipment manuals were in English. Lois translated them into Albanian in order for Diana to learn how to operate the equipment. And Diana wasn't officially trained. But, for two years, she used the equipment in the makeshift clinic in her apartment to test and fit Albanians for hearing aids. The clinic thrived because there was--and still is--no other facility in Albania to provide this service.

In 1996, Diana traveled to the Hard of Hearing Christian Fellowship to attend the first of two training courses for certification. For the next two years, Diana continued working at the clinic, gaining critical practical experience and then went back to England in 1998 to finish the formal training. Returning to Albania, Diana was a certified audiology technician and then officially opened the "Hapu" hearing clinic in Durres. Hapu is the Albanian word for "be open," and was taken from Mark 7:34, where Jesus healed the deaf man.

Gezim Kurshumi, a deaf Albanian Christian man, was an answer to prayer for the clinic. He initially went to the clinic to get new hearing aids, but once he discovered that it was a Christian clinic and operated by the church he was attending, he wanted to get more involved. So, Gezim, who has some hearing and also reads lips, "translated" the Bible stories into sign language for the children. Although Gezim came to church for almost four years, he says he didn't become a Christian until he attended a special church service for deaf people, where the Gospel message was "signed" for them. "This was the first time I understood what they were talking about,"says Gezim, who radiates the meaning of his name: joy.

Since 1994, when the Hapu Clinic first opened, Diana says about 500 Albanians have received hearing aids, mostly children. At first they were given free, now there is a small charge of about US$6 for a pair of used hearing aids. Working as a volunteer with the clinic until 1997, Diana now receives financial support from groups and individuals as her sole income.

The clinic is open three afternoons a week and has about 20 clients each week. Diana said that they have been in contact with doctors throughout Albania and receive many referrals from them. Hapu, in return, refers patients to medical doctors if they are unable to provide the proper treatment. Diana has trained two other women to operate the equipment and is hopeful that one of them can go to England and become certified, just as she was. The women also pray that the Lord would provide finances to move the clinic out of Diana's apartment and into a proper facility, with sound-proof rooms, to further enhance the service.

Regardless of where the clinic is housed, Diana says they will continue to maximize the service by providing an oasis to talk with people about their problems, give them Christian literature and to pray with them. "I know we are healing people like Jesus did."

Note: The Hapu Clinic operates on financial donations. If you would like to donate to this worthy ministry, please contact the Operation Mobilisation office in your home country and mark the donation: For Albania Hearing Clinic. Donations of used hearing aids and batteries are also needed and can be sent to: Dane Hanson, Koenigsbacherstrasse 73, 75203 Stein, Germany, 49-7232-317390. When sending hearing aids or batteries, it is important to write the following statement on the Customs Slip: "Used hearing aids/batteries as donations; value not more than 50 Euros." Otherwise, the materials will get held in the Customs office.

Credit: OM International
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