We are sorry to not be posting more often. Our time at the homes where internet is available has been somewhat limited. On the other hand, we have been blessed to spend a lot of time with pastors, elders, and others from the Serbian and Roma churches here in south Serbia.
What a wonderful people! I am so encouraged at the tremendous faith we see here and the way God is working in and through the people here. For those of you who are unaware, the communist regime held Christianity somewhat at bay for many years. Christians could be arrested and certainly endure other types of persecution until the fall of communism. Therefore, Christianity is now in a time of growth and the churches we have met with here are doing a tiresome and tremendous work. They have welcomed us and treated us like kings and assure us we have been a blessing to them and an encouragement to them. They have told us that we have helped to refresh and energize them. Frankly, I struggle with how! In my view, I have been the one who has been blessed! To hear at how the faith of a few has weathered much difficulty and been the foundation to what is now a blossoming church has fed me many times more than I could possibly have fed them.
To those at Rolling Hills who know of our partnership with these churches and to others who may be involved in partnerships elsewhere in the world. Please, please, please know that your support and prayers and help is making a difference!!! Honestly, until this trip, resources and efforts spent by the church for missions and work abroad I knew was good but I don't "own" it in my heart. It was something that I barely gave passing thought to, to which I now am humbled. Our work as God's Church regardless of our congregation knows no geographic or political bounds. In the messages I have shared I have said that we speak a different language, we look different, we have different mannerisms and other differences but we serve the same God and it so very true! For me, as I have really reflected on that it has amazed me in earnest. He is at work in and loves all of us! I am so very thankful to have been blessed by so many of you with the opportunity to spend time here with these people to offer testimony, knowledge, prayer, and encouragement to these tireless servants of God. Thank you!
The reality of things here is very difficult for my Western mind to wrap around. Last night, Monte preached to a congregation in a Roma community that assembles in a church that has no roof. They have placed some half-sawn poles over walls of plywood and sheetrock and then covered the poles with blue tarps. They have worship music where the drum set has a hole the size of a basketball in the front of it and is filled with bath towels for I assume sound deadening. There is no pulpit or stand and barely any lights. The people wear ragged clothes and most of the children were only wearing worn-out slippers for their feet. Yet, the place was packed to the gills. I saw young children singing at the tops of their lungs in genuine worship and not just some...ALL. There were people who would spontaneously break into prayer aloud and lift their hands to the Lord. They all sang with such passion and love. People were even standing outside the "church" unable to get in and singing on the makeshift staircase. Probably less than 20 years ago few if any of these people knew Christ. And now, to see what God is and has done through these dedicated pastors and elders and leaders was both heart-warming and truthfully, convicting. Please, everyone of you, know that you are having an impact! The resources you give, the prayers you offer, and the work you have and continue to do is an amazing blessing to these wonderful people. From them and from me...THANK YOU!!!!
I have attached a c few pictures.
Monte preaching
The worship team breaks into song after the service
The church "courtyard" heading into the sanctuary
The Roma pastor and elders in Vranje
Pastor, elders, and youth leaders in Vranje
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