Bauke & Evie Deelstra

We want to share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Albanians.

In November 2019, the Deelstra family moved to Albania. Together with their daughters Marije, Naomi, and Febe, they live in a village between Tirana and Durrës. The family was sent out by European Christian Mission Netherlands.

Evie’s dream is to establish a residential community for adult Albanians with intellectual disabilities. This group is often not given the opportunity to live a dignified life. They are frequently hidden away and discriminated against. When their parents die, there is no one who is willing or able to care for an adult with a disability. That is why such a residential community is so urgently needed. To make this dream a reality, the Drita Foundation was established. For more information, visit www.drita.nl.

In addition to their work for the Drita Foundation, Bauke has an online video channel called Rruga (www.rruga.al). Through this channel, he wants to inspire viewers to discover who Jesus is and what He has done for them. Check it out and subscribe to see how online media can bring people closer to God!

In their local community, Bauke and Evie organize activities to make the love of Jesus visible in practical ways. Albania is a predominantly Muslim country, and many people are not familiar with the redemptive work of Jesus. The Deelstra family’s ambition is to bring about change in this area and to make the love and hope of Jesus known throughout Albania.