Hello! My name is Karis Gaponiuk. I’m 23 years old from Vero Beach, Florida, USA. Some things about me are that I love music, travel, chocolate, and coffee! I am a sailing coach by profession, but my heart and passion is for missions, worship, and discipleship.
God brought all my passions together beautifully over the past couple years to lead me to the beautiful country of Albania.  I am currently living in Durrës, Albania, as a full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission. During the time I did the YWAM Discipleship Training School here in Durrës, which ran from January to June of 2023,  I felt God calling me back to be an active witness to the work He is doing in the country of Albania. I  am excited and preparing to plant myself long term in this community, serving this nation as long as the Lord intends!
We at YWAM Durrës are an international group of Jesus followers who live and serve communally on our base. We believe that God is bringing revival to the nation of Albania, and that God intends to use the historically strategic city of Durrës to bring about His work! We also believe in training, equipping, and raising up the young generation of Albania and also the world.
We run 3 Discipleship Training Schools a year, as well as a Discipleship Bible School. We also pour into the community  through English clubs, youth meetings, working with local schools, prison ministries, home visits, investing in local churches, and other ways. We also host church and YWAM teams from all over the world who join us in these ministries.
Currently, I am a student in our ongoing Discipleship Bible School, and I hope to continue working with DBSes here on base in the future. My main role here on base has so far been to work with our DTSes and the worship ministry. It’s such a blessing to be both witness and part of God’s work here, so I'm excited to see what this next season looks like for me, post-DBS!
Your prayers are so crucial; please be supporting in prayer - for myself as I serve this nation and the international community here, for YWAM Durrës as we seek to walk in God’s vision of revival in the Balkans, and for the nation of Albania to respond to God’s work.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions! If you would like to receive my newsletters, just send me a message and I’ll send them your way!
God bless you!
Karis