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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