Building Bridges Together

Thank you for praying us through another summer. So much of what follows exists because of your prayer, your giving, and your trust in this work over ten years — a few days at our Faith Adventure Summer Camp that we won't forget in a hurry. But first, some context worth knowing.

The wider Tek Ura family, gathered for camp — June 2026.

A first baptism, on the same shore

Just weeks before camp, Durrës lost two of its ten-year-old boys, and a third was badly injured, in a drunk-driving tragedy that shook the whole community. Two of those families are core to us — regulars at our community meals, faces around the table at our church cells. So as we gathered at camp, grief was still very close to the surface for many of our Albanian family.

And yet over two hundred of us came together anyway — children, grandparents, wheelchair users, people with learning disabilities, our Albanian team, and UK volunteers who gave up a week of their summer. For some families it was their only holiday all year. For some children, it was the first time they had ever been in a swimming pool. Grief and gladness, side by side — and every one of them, uniquely loved.

For some children, their very first time in a swimming pool.

"I've lived here my whole life and never felt like I belonged anywhere. At camp, for the first time, I did."

— Arnoldi, community member

On that same shore, we celebrated a first baptism — Dafina, newly following Jesus, with others preparing to follow her into the water.

Joy on the Durrës shore — a baptism during camp.

A bridge, built plank by plank

Marking ten years, we made a deliberate choice: no platform for local dignitaries. The VIPs we honoured were the people of the community themselves — the families, the kids, the ones usually overlooked. On the final day, everyone painted a wooden plank with a prayer or a thank you, and together we built a bridge.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain."

PSALM 127:1

"I painted my son's friend's name on the plank. Now he's part of the bridge too."

— Xhoana, friend of a bereaved parent

Every plank carries a name, a prayer, or a thank you.

Building the bridge on both sides

This is also where we want to say something personal. A growing part of our role now is on the UK side of that bridge — helping partner churches see what structured, authentic mission involvement can look like, and especially opening doors for young adults to encounter mission that's real rather than staged. We're genuinely passionate about what Tek Ura can offer our wider Baptist family: a tested, faithful partner where a church, a small group, or a young adult can step into something costly and true, not just a short-term photo opportunity. If your church would like Dan or Annie to come and share this story in person later in the year, we'd love to hear from you.

"Going to Albania changed what I thought church planting even meant."

— Steve, young adult volunteer

None of camp happened because of a grant or an institution. It was entirely faith-funded, gift by gift — and that's how Tek Ura continues to exist, month by month, on the generosity of people like you.

"They were overflowing with joy and they gave generously, even in their extreme poverty."

2 CORINTHIANS 8:2

Looking ahead, together

A couple of things to look forward to together. This autumn, we're inviting everyone across our partner churches and the Council of Supporters — families, individuals, running clubs, anyone up for it — to get involved in the sponsored Run for Tek Ura in Tirana. More details to follow soon, but do start thinking about whether that's a plank you might paint. And after this summer, we'd love nothing more than to see young adults from across our partner churches come and be part of camp next year. Steve isn't the only one who could have his idea of mission rewritten.

Please pray for

• The grieving families in Durrës, and the community still processing this loss
• Dafina, newly baptised, and the other recent believers preparing to follow her into the water
• The growing church in both Tirana and Durrës
• Families met at camp who are still exploring faith
• Our Albanian team's rest after a full, emotionally heavy summer
• Churches across our network discerning mission involvement
• Young adults considering an At the Bridge internship
• Continued provision, month by month, for the work in both cities

Faleminderit shumë — thank you, truly. To every church, every Council of Supporters member, every quiet giver we may never meet in person: this story is yours as much as ours. Thank you for building this bridge with us.
With love and gratitude,
Dan and Annie Dupree · Tek Ura

Give

Support the work in Tirana and Durrës, month by month.

Run for Tek Ura

Register your interest for this autumn's sponsored run in Tirana.

Invite Dan & Annie

Ask them to share this story with your church later in the year.

At the Bridge internship

Young adults: come and be part of camp next year.