My Story

Hello! We are the family of Elio and are writing on his behalf. Elio is 18 years old, and his birthday is December 8^th. Elio has autism and is a special needs child. Children like him, especially in the village, do not have the proper care available. There are no special needs centers in the towns. It is something that isn’t even talked about. The government gives our family a monthly pension for the immediate needs of Elio but is not enough to cover all our family’s needs. Elio’s father cares for him when he is home and sometimes takes Elio to school. This allows Elio to have socialization with his friends that are his same age. In school, they do not have a specialized program for Elio, so while he does attend school, he will not be able to pass any of his classes. Most of the time Elio stays at home watching TV. He also likes to color when his family can provide the color books for him.

Elio and his family live in Katjel. There are six people that live in the house, to include his grandparents, parents, and a sister. Elio’s grandparents receive a pension from their agriculture job. They help the family by feeding the cow and working the land. They collect alfalfa and other food for the cow. Elio’s father works as a taxi driver. He transports people of the village to town. While it is some income, it is a short drive, so he doesn’t earn much. We own land in the village and use it to plant vegetables, wheat, alfalfa, corn, and other plants. We use this food for our own needs and the needs of our cow. Having the cow also helps Elio’s family by means of selling the calf that is born, and providing milk, butter, and cheese for our own needs. Elio’s mother stays at home and takes care of him and the household chores. Because of Elio’s needs, someone must always stay with him, so the family takes turns to care for him. His sister also helps with chores around the house by cooking and cleaning.

Our family is very thankful that Elio is part of the Adopt a Child program. The food package is very helpful to the family. Elio’s mother and grandparents take turns coming to the church activities. They are grateful to the program for all the benefits and care. God bless you!

Edited by Carrie Gipson

Missionary, Adopt a Child Albania