Why Vlorë?
Vlorë is a lively coastal city in southern Albania, home to about 100,000 people. Known as the birthplace of Albania’s independence, Vlorë’s local culture has cultivated generations of tough spiritual soil. Most people here are Muslim, with a mix of Sunni and Bektashi traditions, and there is a small Orthodox Christian community.
While Vlorë is modernizing quickly, many still hold tightly to traditional values. There’s a deep sense of community, but spiritual needs are significant and not often explored. It’s a city where relationships open doors, and where a real opportunity exists to extend hope and help to a welcoming but largely unreached people.
MEET THE HOSTS
Caleb and Haley Patty
Caleb and Haley live in Vlorë, Albania, but share a deep connection with Colorado, as well as Eastern Europe. Haley was born and raised in Colorado, while Caleb regularly visited extended family in the Denver area from the Czech Republic, where he grew up. They met as young teenagers, and Haley moved to Slovakia with her family later in high school. After that, they attended the same Bible college in Chicago, during which they were married. The Lord had softened Caleb and Haley’s hearts for cross-cultural missions together partially through an internship in Bulgaria during college. They didn’t expect the Lord to lead them to Albania eventually; nevertheless, they are serving their seventh year in Vlorë in the Lord’s strength.
Caleb and Haley are passionate about lifelong discipleship to Jesus in all its forms. They love camping in the mountains with their kids, Charlie, Jenna, and Wes, and sharing fun meals or delicious coffee with new and old friends. Caleb and Haley aspire to live unhurried, present, and loving lives in union with Christ, and they invite anyone to journey with them for a short or lengthy season.
Is Vlorë right for you?
- Ministry through a specialty cafe (hospitality, community events, relationship building, mercy initiatives, Bible study, prayer gatherings)
- Wide variety in relational ministry, both structured and unstructured (relational discipleship)
- Supporting local church programs (sports, youth, children, women, camps)
- Village outreach initiatives (kids, youth)
- High interest in creative community-building groups, events, and initiatives (art, language, outdoors, sports, etc.)