By SAVANNAH ROGERS
Contributing Writer

Two refugee families fleeing their war-ravaged homes in Kosovo will soon be starting their lives anew in Peachtree City, sponsored by Braelinn Baptist Church.

Remzi and Mona Topalli and their five children ages 3 to 14 should arrive within the week, followed shortly afterward by Skender and Ajtene Bilalli, their three children ages 2, 4 and 6, and Mr. Bilalli's mother, Zelihane. Mr. Topalli served in Kosovo as a police officer and detective, and Mr. Bilalli is a furniture assembler.

The families will arrive in Atlanta exhausted, having traveled possibly 48 hours by airplane from refugee camps in Macedonia. As with other Kosovar refugees, it is likely they will be wearing the same clothing they had on four months ago when they were forced to quickly abandon all they owned and escape for their lives. Some families have arrived with no baggage; carrying only a plastic bag of snacks they were given on the airplane.

As sponsor, Braelinn Baptist Church is committing to help these families in every aspect of resettlement for the first three months, then continuing as friend and advisor as the families enjoy self-sufficiency. Each family has the choice to either make a new life as residents of the United States, or to return to Kosovo after a year or two and rebuild their homes with money they have saved.

Braelinn Community Services, a ministry of the church, is securing housing and furniture for the families, as well as jobs, vehicles, English language classes, clothes, and meals for the first month.

"Braelinn Baptist Church is seeking to build a faith community of help and encouragement to families in our area," said John Hamblen, the church's pastor of fellowship and caregiving and executive director of Braelinn Community Services. "Our mission is to meet needs, share Christ, change hearts, change lives."

Donations of furniture, lawn equipment, vehicles and golf carts are still needed, and monetary gifts would be extremely helpful, a spokesperson said. Braelinn estimates it will take about $10,000—$5,000 per family—to pay for deposits, first couple of months' rent, and other needs that are not donated. To help, call 770-487-6691 ext. 5121 and leave a voice mail message. Braelinn Community Services is also requesting donations of shelf-stable foods to stock its food pantry.

The Topallis and Bilallis will be joining at least three other Kosovar refugee families who will have resettled in Fayette County through other sponsor churches, including Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Providence United Methodist Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. English as a Second Language classes specifically for the Kosovars are already being held each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at Holy Trinity.

Braelinn Baptist's refugee resettlement team is working through Christian Council of Metropolitan Atlanta, a regional office of Church World Services, and the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Missions Board. Throughout each year, these organizations resettle refugees from around the world in the Atlanta area and are always looking for church sponsors.

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