8 April 2026 | Tirana, Albania [Sarah Henke]
It began, as many mission stories do, with something small and easy to dismiss.
One ordinary night, Helena Linhares dreamed she was in a church in Albania. In the dream, someone approached her warmly and said, “It’s wonderful that you came to Albania. Will you return when you retire?”
For many people, such a dream might have faded with the morning light. For Helena, it did not.
Instead, the impression stayed with her so strongly that she shared it with her husband, Adriano Linhares. Together, the Brazilian couple sensed that this was not simply a passing thought, but the beginning of something deeper, a calling they could not ignore.
That sense of calling did not appear out of nowhere.
Since 2022, Helena and Adriano had already made an unusual commitment. Rather than treating holidays as time away from responsibility, they decided to turn every vacation into an opportunity for mission. Wherever they went, they looked for ways to serve, whether through distributing Christian literature, preaching or supporting other outreach activities.
“We committed to using our time to serve,” Helena said. “Since then, we have clearly seen God’s hand guiding us to places we never imagined.”
Still, Albania felt different.
They did not know the language. They were unfamiliar with the culture. They had no established network of friends or ministry contacts in the country. Yet, step by step, doors began to open. Resources became available. Plans came together.
Even then, one question remained: What could they actually do there?
As they researched the country, they discovered that Christian materials in the Albanian language were limited. Wanting to offer something simple, thoughtful and spiritually meaningful, they prepared leather bookmarks printed with John 3:16. Alongside the Bible verse, they included a passage from the Quran that points to Jesus as the Son of God, creating a gentle bridge for conversation in a country with a predominantly Muslim background.
Every detail mattered.
“The idea was that the person would feel blessed to receive the bookmark, while also being introduced to a clear and direct message about Jesus,” Helena explained.
When they arrived in Tirana, another challenge quickly became clear. How could they share their message without speaking the local language?
Their answer was practical and deeply prayerful.
Rather than trying to force conversations, Helena and Adriano chose simply to sow seeds. As they walked through the city, they left their materials in carefully chosen places, on benches, in restaurants and at bus stops, praying that the right person would find each one.
Then they waited.
“At several points, when we returned the next day, the materials were gone,” Helena said. “Someone had found them. Someone had taken them. For us, that was enough to trust that the seeds were being planted.”
But the most striking moment of the trip was still ahead.
Part of Helena’s dream had suggested that they were meant to move to Albania. At the time, this seemed far bigger than anything they could fully understand. Yet on their first Sabbath at Tirana Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, something happened that stopped them in their tracks.
Without knowing their story, Pastor Delmar Reis introduced the couple to the congregation and said, “They will live here in Albania.”
For Helena and Adriano, the words were not casual. They felt like confirmation.
Before the trip, they had prayed for God to show them clearly whether He was truly leading. Hearing those words spoken publicly, by someone unaware of their private journey, gave them peace that the Lord was guiding each step.
What they could not yet see was that their testimony would soon encourage others as well.
Among those moved by their experience was Natiéli Schäffer, Women’s Ministries leader for the Albanian Mission. Already burdened by a desire to see more women involved in mission, she found in the couple’s story a fresh sense of direction.
“I felt a calling to encourage Adventist women to step out of their comfort zone and be more actively involved in mission,” she said.
This confirmation came through several moments. A sermon about being a blessing to others touched her heart. Meeting Helena and Adriano, a couple who had chosen to spend their holidays in mission service. What had been an idea soon became a plan.
From that vision came a special programme for International Women’s Day called Blessed to Bless.
Held on March 7 in Tirana, Albania, the event brought together women from churches across Albania for a day of fellowship, spiritual reflection and practical outreach. During the morning programme, Pastor Euxhenia Bregasi shared a message based on the Beatitudes, reminding participants that God’s blessing is not measured by position, comfort or outward success.
“The Beatitudes show that God’s blessing is not measured by wealth or success, but by cultivating a humble, merciful and dependent heart,” Euxhenia said. “When we develop these qualities, they naturally overflow, allowing us to bless others.”
After lunch, the message moved from words into action.
The women divided into groups and went out into the streets of Tirana carrying flowers and cards with messages of hope. It was a simple gesture, but one filled with purpose, an expression of kindness meant to remind other women that they were seen, valued and loved by God.
For many who took part, the day left a lasting impression.
“It was a different kind of Sabbath because we were surrounded by women from other cities, as well as the well-organised programme and the message we heard in the sermon,” said participant Zhani Haveriku.
What took place that day was more than a well-planned programme. It was ordinary people choosing to respond when God invites them to serve.
What began with a dream in the heart of one woman crossed borders, touched lives and inspired a wider mission effort in Albania. It became a reminder that God often works through faithful steps and small acts of courage.
[Photos: Albanian Mission]
