I know that it has been a while since I last updated but I have been busy doing prep work for Vacation Bible School so my days have been full of cutting, ironing, and pinning hundreds of fabric hearts, writing lessons, and developing games. Vacation Bible School begins Thursday evening with anywhere from 120 to 150 children from all the Methodist Churches in Macedonia converging in the village of Koleshino then moving to the village of Murtino on Friday, moving to Monespitivo on Saturday and then all of the churches will have a combined church service on Sunday morning here in Strumica for the children to present what they have learned. I will also be giving a brief homily at this service focusing on the main theme of the week.
Our theme this year is "Where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Be in prayer for this event as it takes place because we are doing some new activities this year that the children have not done before, so we are testing it out to see if this can take place each year. Also be in prayer that the children who come will passionately embrace what their true treasure is and where it should be and be willing to tell others about it.
Another prayer request I have is for the special needs camp that will take place next week, July 14th-22nd in Ohrid. Directly after VBS is over we will be packing and leaving early the next morning to begin working with 90 children with social, developmental, and physical disabilities and leading them in Bible lessons, songs and participating with them in their activities. May we be able to keep our energy alive and going after VBS to give these children the same love, energy, and attention they deserve.
Because of all of these events I may not be able to update for at least two weeks so I hope you will understand. I hope all is going well at home in your ministry endeavours and I look forward to reporting about the joyful outcomes of these events when I return. Many prayers.
Loletuth
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Being Present
A week of whirlwind experiences have happened. Some are things that have occurred more than once, while others are new experiences. But in everything that has happened there is one thing that I have realized: every day that I wake up I have no clue as to what I will be doing that day. Typically this is a frustrating thing for me and one that I am surprised that I am dealing with so well. I have begun enjoying the fact that I have little control or even an idea over what I will be doing and who I will be seeing. That is not to say that I will forever want to live like this but I have noticed some interesting experiences that have come from me simply being faithful to living each day and/or just being present.
This past week I was invited to one of the youth's home. This young lady translates for me during youth meetings because she lived in the UK for a year and also studied English in the University in Belgrade, Serbia. One night we had met for a walk in the park and she began asking me about things that I missed from home. Of course I told her I was happy here, but that I missed some people from home and a few other things, including praying with some friends from seminary. The conversation moved on to other things and we separated ways for the evening. Just a few days later as I was passing by her workplace, she flagged me down to come in, where she invited me to her home a few days later. When I arrived at her home, I received the customary humbling hospitality that I spoke of in an earlier post and we sat in her living room/her bedroom to chat. Halfway through the conversation she brought up the conversation from the park and starting asking me questions about it. I answered her questions and when I got a chance I was able to inquire why she wanted to know these things. She simply said, "I miss praying with people too." They used to do it here among the youth and when she lived in the UK it was with a Christian organization so she was completely enveloped by pray and Christian love and service. She once again wanted the youth to have that time of prayer together and wanted to discover new ways to do it. My simple comment in the park has now turned into a prayer night for the youth, that we will be doing together. Of course I need her help for the Macedonian language aspect, and she is a very creative and passionate individual who is become someone who is challenging me while I am here. But, for the mere fact of being present and being honest, ministry is taking place in a way that I did not expect it to.
This is just one example of many that have been occurring. Most are not as large as this, but they matter in little ways and big ways. I am continually amazed at how God is working in these people and sometimes I feel like I get the amazing privilege just to be a spectator in all of what God is doing. Not of me is this taking place, but definitely of God and I am excited to see in these next few weeks what God will continue to do. May I learn to be ever more present in the days, weeks, and years to come so that God can use me even more as a worker in God's fields. One who sees what needs to be done and is willing to do it without question and without fear.
A couple of prayer requests:
Natosha arrived safely and is settling in to life here. Just remember her as she begins to learn about the people here and also begins to find her niche in the work that God is doing among the people and the church. May God use her and her gifts for the kingdom of God this summer in astounding ways.
Things will be quite busy over these next few weeks so my posts might be fewer between. VBS is next week and the week after that Natosha and I will be traveling to Ohrid to work with the special needs camp. Be in prayer for both of those ministries as they are in preparation and also as they happen. May God work among the people who are participating and who are leading so that great things can happen with great love.
Many prayers for you at home and I hope all is going well with you.
Loletuth
This past week I was invited to one of the youth's home. This young lady translates for me during youth meetings because she lived in the UK for a year and also studied English in the University in Belgrade, Serbia. One night we had met for a walk in the park and she began asking me about things that I missed from home. Of course I told her I was happy here, but that I missed some people from home and a few other things, including praying with some friends from seminary. The conversation moved on to other things and we separated ways for the evening. Just a few days later as I was passing by her workplace, she flagged me down to come in, where she invited me to her home a few days later. When I arrived at her home, I received the customary humbling hospitality that I spoke of in an earlier post and we sat in her living room/her bedroom to chat. Halfway through the conversation she brought up the conversation from the park and starting asking me questions about it. I answered her questions and when I got a chance I was able to inquire why she wanted to know these things. She simply said, "I miss praying with people too." They used to do it here among the youth and when she lived in the UK it was with a Christian organization so she was completely enveloped by pray and Christian love and service. She once again wanted the youth to have that time of prayer together and wanted to discover new ways to do it. My simple comment in the park has now turned into a prayer night for the youth, that we will be doing together. Of course I need her help for the Macedonian language aspect, and she is a very creative and passionate individual who is become someone who is challenging me while I am here. But, for the mere fact of being present and being honest, ministry is taking place in a way that I did not expect it to.
This is just one example of many that have been occurring. Most are not as large as this, but they matter in little ways and big ways. I am continually amazed at how God is working in these people and sometimes I feel like I get the amazing privilege just to be a spectator in all of what God is doing. Not of me is this taking place, but definitely of God and I am excited to see in these next few weeks what God will continue to do. May I learn to be ever more present in the days, weeks, and years to come so that God can use me even more as a worker in God's fields. One who sees what needs to be done and is willing to do it without question and without fear.
A couple of prayer requests:
Natosha arrived safely and is settling in to life here. Just remember her as she begins to learn about the people here and also begins to find her niche in the work that God is doing among the people and the church. May God use her and her gifts for the kingdom of God this summer in astounding ways.
Things will be quite busy over these next few weeks so my posts might be fewer between. VBS is next week and the week after that Natosha and I will be traveling to Ohrid to work with the special needs camp. Be in prayer for both of those ministries as they are in preparation and also as they happen. May God work among the people who are participating and who are leading so that great things can happen with great love.
Many prayers for you at home and I hope all is going well with you.
Loletuth
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
She Told Me Her Name
This has been an amazing week of experiences. The group from England is here and we spent most of our time working at the Miss Stone Center, but we also went to two villages and they put together a program to lead for the children at the churches. On Tuesday we were at the village of Monespitevo and they were leading the children on a lesson about Daniel in the Lion's Den. Of course, local children heard that something was going on, so during the craft, a group of children were seen peeking through the gate. Jo, one of the people from England, invited them in and all of a sudden we had almost double the amount of children and only two translators. At first it was chaos as we tried to get the children situated and started on their craft. Two young girls came to me and I realized that they were too young to write the Bible verse on the craft. I tried to tell them who I was in Macedonian,but they were too shy to answer me, so I began to copy the bible verse on their craft in Cyrillic. Halfway through writing the verse I recognized a phrase that one of the girls was saying. Yas suhm Adriana. My head immediately came up and she was looking at me and I realized that she was talking to me, and she told me her name. She then proceeded to tell me the other girls name and asked for mine. Although this may seem to be a minor event, it was huge for me. I recognized a Macedonian phrase and did not have to think about what it meant, I just knew. Not only that, but I could answer her back in Macedonian and could even understand more of what she was saying. It was a very joyous evening for me.
This experience has given me a little more confidence to try and speak more Macedonian to the people around me. I have realized that since then, more people are willing to talk to me in English and will even help me a little in understanding more Macedonian. Language is very important to Macedonians because it sets them apart from other cultures and contributes to their identity as a people. The people here seem to respect me for just trying to learn it. Not only that but I can now ask and understand a person's name, which is also extremely important to identity as well. The people here are proud of their heritage and their history and learning more of who they are, even their name and language, is important to them.
Reflecting on this has made me think about how important identity is for me and for others around me. I am very proud of my name and the history behind that as well as where I come from. Loletuth and Kentucky are a way for me to explain why I am the way I am. I also think that the fact that I am Methodist also contributes to my identity. It is common here for people to say what church they go to, especially if they hear that you are working in one. For them, the church you attend is part of your identity, even if it is not part of your actual life. This concept makes me think of what identity in Christ actually means. For most of the people here, it is what church you belong too, and not the way in which you live. There is constant bickering between the Protestants and the Orthodox over which church is better. Often times you wonder if many of these people understand that in essence it truly does not matter, it is how deeply you live for Christ and not what church you attend. How much of my identity is defined by what God is doing in my life and more importantly, how do I express and live out that identity for others? It is this question that I must answer myself and also what I should to understand about others as well. To seek to learn their identity not just by their name, place, and language, but by who they are in Christ. Of course, this requires me to love them no matter the cost.
Perhaps I have placed too much emphasis on the language barrier and need to think outside of the box and find an even deeper way of communicating my identity and the identity of others. I can connect to others because I have put on Christ and can find others who have done the same. It is through this identity that we can find our connection and a way to communicate that is truly beyond earthly means. We have the connection of our identity in Christ. Not only that but I must try to find a way to challenge others to find their identity in Christ and to learn how that identity is far more revealing of who you truly are then even your name, place, and language.
I do rejoice in the experience of being able to begin understanding Macedonian, but I also realize this means that I now have to seek to understand who people are beyond that, and realize it is probably something I should have been doing all along.
A few prayer requests:
The group from England travels back tomorrow evening so remember them in your prayers as they travel and continue their ministry at home and abroad, because one of them is actually from the Caribbean Methodist Church studying theology. Their names are Dani, James, Jo, and Silbert, so that you can pray for them by name.
I have just found out this week that one of the youth has a life-threatening disease. Her name is Pavlinka and she is 18 years old and has just recently graduated from high school. This news was quite sad of me to discover because this young lady literally glows with the joy of God. She loves the church and many of those in leadership as well as me feel as if God could be calling her to pastoral ministry in Macedonia. Other people who have the disease that she has are not known to live past the age of 15 so already she is a miracle child. At the end of July she will be traveling to Austria to undergo a series of test to see if anything else can be done. Remember her in your prayers as she prepares for this journey with all hopes to recovery.
Natosha, the other individual volunteer, is scheduled to arrive late on Friday evening/Saturday morning. Remember her as she travels that she will remain safe and that she will arrive here with a heart ready to serve.
Many Prayers,
Loletuth
This experience has given me a little more confidence to try and speak more Macedonian to the people around me. I have realized that since then, more people are willing to talk to me in English and will even help me a little in understanding more Macedonian. Language is very important to Macedonians because it sets them apart from other cultures and contributes to their identity as a people. The people here seem to respect me for just trying to learn it. Not only that but I can now ask and understand a person's name, which is also extremely important to identity as well. The people here are proud of their heritage and their history and learning more of who they are, even their name and language, is important to them.
Reflecting on this has made me think about how important identity is for me and for others around me. I am very proud of my name and the history behind that as well as where I come from. Loletuth and Kentucky are a way for me to explain why I am the way I am. I also think that the fact that I am Methodist also contributes to my identity. It is common here for people to say what church they go to, especially if they hear that you are working in one. For them, the church you attend is part of your identity, even if it is not part of your actual life. This concept makes me think of what identity in Christ actually means. For most of the people here, it is what church you belong too, and not the way in which you live. There is constant bickering between the Protestants and the Orthodox over which church is better. Often times you wonder if many of these people understand that in essence it truly does not matter, it is how deeply you live for Christ and not what church you attend. How much of my identity is defined by what God is doing in my life and more importantly, how do I express and live out that identity for others? It is this question that I must answer myself and also what I should to understand about others as well. To seek to learn their identity not just by their name, place, and language, but by who they are in Christ. Of course, this requires me to love them no matter the cost.
Perhaps I have placed too much emphasis on the language barrier and need to think outside of the box and find an even deeper way of communicating my identity and the identity of others. I can connect to others because I have put on Christ and can find others who have done the same. It is through this identity that we can find our connection and a way to communicate that is truly beyond earthly means. We have the connection of our identity in Christ. Not only that but I must try to find a way to challenge others to find their identity in Christ and to learn how that identity is far more revealing of who you truly are then even your name, place, and language.
I do rejoice in the experience of being able to begin understanding Macedonian, but I also realize this means that I now have to seek to understand who people are beyond that, and realize it is probably something I should have been doing all along.
A few prayer requests:
The group from England travels back tomorrow evening so remember them in your prayers as they travel and continue their ministry at home and abroad, because one of them is actually from the Caribbean Methodist Church studying theology. Their names are Dani, James, Jo, and Silbert, so that you can pray for them by name.
I have just found out this week that one of the youth has a life-threatening disease. Her name is Pavlinka and she is 18 years old and has just recently graduated from high school. This news was quite sad of me to discover because this young lady literally glows with the joy of God. She loves the church and many of those in leadership as well as me feel as if God could be calling her to pastoral ministry in Macedonia. Other people who have the disease that she has are not known to live past the age of 15 so already she is a miracle child. At the end of July she will be traveling to Austria to undergo a series of test to see if anything else can be done. Remember her in your prayers as she prepares for this journey with all hopes to recovery.
Natosha, the other individual volunteer, is scheduled to arrive late on Friday evening/Saturday morning. Remember her as she travels that she will remain safe and that she will arrive here with a heart ready to serve.
Many Prayers,
Loletuth
Saturday, June 14, 2008
A Pentecost Prayer
This is the English translation of a song the youth sang Friday evening to prepare for Pentecost Sunday, which is tomorrow (June 15th) on the Orthodox Calendar. It is a wonderful Pentecost prayer. I pray that it sets in the hearts of the youth who sang it and begins to form who and what they want to be in Macedonia and the world.
We'll walk the land with hearts of fire;
And every step will be a prayer.
Hope is rising, new day dawning;
Sound of singing fills the air.
Two thousand years and still the flame
Is burning bright across the land.
Hearts are waiting, longing, aching,
For awakening once again.
We'll walk for truth, speak out for love;
In Jesus' name we shall be strong.
To lift the fallen, to save the children,
To fill the nation with Your song.
Chorus:
Let the flame burn brighter, in the heart of darkness,
Turning night to glorious day.
Let the song grow louder, as our love grows stronger:
Let it shine! Let it shine!
By: Graham Kendrick
We'll walk the land with hearts of fire;
And every step will be a prayer.
Hope is rising, new day dawning;
Sound of singing fills the air.
Two thousand years and still the flame
Is burning bright across the land.
Hearts are waiting, longing, aching,
For awakening once again.
We'll walk for truth, speak out for love;
In Jesus' name we shall be strong.
To lift the fallen, to save the children,
To fill the nation with Your song.
Chorus:
Let the flame burn brighter, in the heart of darkness,
Turning night to glorious day.
Let the song grow louder, as our love grows stronger:
Let it shine! Let it shine!
By: Graham Kendrick
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Faces from the Past
Today, Carol and I cleaned out one of the other rooms where my apartment is to make room for the other individual volunteer that is coming in two weeks. As we were sifting through old church files, we came across some very old pictures. On closer examination we realized that these pictures were of the Macedonian Methodist congregations ranging from 1908 to 1928. We took a break from the dust filled room to just stare at these pictures. We found the Bishop who had come to see the church as well as the children and adult who made up the church. Some of the pictures we determined were of pastors and we were amazed at the way the people looked, how they sat, and most importantly, how they changed throughout the years.
To backtrack a little, yesterday I hiked with Lee, Carol's husband, to the Czar's towers on the top of the hill in Strumica. Not only is there a current archaeological dig there, but they are rebuilding the walls that once stood there and the place offers spectacular views of the Strumica valley. Lee introduced me to the archaeologist, Zoran, and he proudly gave us a tour of his most prized discovery, a 5th millennium B.C. dwelling. I was amazed as he walked us down the side of a canyon to where this place was and painted a picture of what the people who lived in this dwelling were like and how they lived. He let us hold pottery that had just been excavated and even cleaned a small piece of pottery at the site so that we could see and imagine what it would have looked like. I was being introduced to what a 5th millennium B.C. Macedonian may have looked like.
On the way back up the canyon, I found a shell casing. Zoran told me I could pick it up, and as I cleaned off the dirt, the year 1912 showed up on the case. "That is from the first Balkan War," Zoran said and then he gave me the shell. He wanted me to take it, not only because I had found it, but because he had hundreds of them from not only the First Balkan War, but the Second Balkan War, World War I, and World War II. Zoran then explained that because this hill does offer spectacular views of the Strumica valley, it was also a prized location for fighting during these wars as well as during the Ottoman, Roman, Greek, and prehistoric eras. At that, we continued our trek back up the canyon, but the shell casing was in my pocket and very much on my mind.
Seeing these pictures today, and how they changed as the years went by brought the experience that I had yesterday to a full circle, of how knowing the history of a people can open your eyes to what they can teach you. These people have been through so much. If you were to meet these people you would wonder how they could have such a violent past. But oftentimes, the violence is done to them and not by them. The pictures revealed the hardship of their lives. The faces grew more sad between 1908 and 1928 and the obvious hardships of war were obviously seen in their stature and clothing. But the church was still there, and the people were still having their picture made. In spite of all that was happening society moved on and the church moved with it. From the pictures and what I saw on the hill, it made me realize how truly this church here and the others around it has stood a strong test of time. From wars to communism to the current economic and social problems of the day this church has found a way to still be the church and to be the people of God. The church can and will endure with the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit and it is a privilege to serve in such a place that knows where to find hope when all seems lost. So, what have these people taught me most in these three and a half weeks that I have been here: that there is always hope, and even if that is all you have, it is always enough.
A couple of prayer requests:
On Friday there is a team of four people coming from Great Britain Methodist Church for 10 days. They will be helping with some of the upkeep in the village churches as well as doing street ministry in some of the Roma neighborhoods. Pray for safe travels for them and that they will be empowered by the Spirit in their work for the ten days. Also pray for me since I will be helping to host and direct them while they are here so I too will be participating in those projects.
Remember Zoran, the archealogist excavating the Czar's towers area. He was a gracious host to Lee and I, but did express some frustration. There is not much support, vocally or financially, for his work. May he receive support and help for what he is doing and be able to find some individuals who are just as interested in learning about the people who lived on the side of the canyon as he, his team, and Lee and I were.
To backtrack a little, yesterday I hiked with Lee, Carol's husband, to the Czar's towers on the top of the hill in Strumica. Not only is there a current archaeological dig there, but they are rebuilding the walls that once stood there and the place offers spectacular views of the Strumica valley. Lee introduced me to the archaeologist, Zoran, and he proudly gave us a tour of his most prized discovery, a 5th millennium B.C. dwelling. I was amazed as he walked us down the side of a canyon to where this place was and painted a picture of what the people who lived in this dwelling were like and how they lived. He let us hold pottery that had just been excavated and even cleaned a small piece of pottery at the site so that we could see and imagine what it would have looked like. I was being introduced to what a 5th millennium B.C. Macedonian may have looked like.
On the way back up the canyon, I found a shell casing. Zoran told me I could pick it up, and as I cleaned off the dirt, the year 1912 showed up on the case. "That is from the first Balkan War," Zoran said and then he gave me the shell. He wanted me to take it, not only because I had found it, but because he had hundreds of them from not only the First Balkan War, but the Second Balkan War, World War I, and World War II. Zoran then explained that because this hill does offer spectacular views of the Strumica valley, it was also a prized location for fighting during these wars as well as during the Ottoman, Roman, Greek, and prehistoric eras. At that, we continued our trek back up the canyon, but the shell casing was in my pocket and very much on my mind.
Seeing these pictures today, and how they changed as the years went by brought the experience that I had yesterday to a full circle, of how knowing the history of a people can open your eyes to what they can teach you. These people have been through so much. If you were to meet these people you would wonder how they could have such a violent past. But oftentimes, the violence is done to them and not by them. The pictures revealed the hardship of their lives. The faces grew more sad between 1908 and 1928 and the obvious hardships of war were obviously seen in their stature and clothing. But the church was still there, and the people were still having their picture made. In spite of all that was happening society moved on and the church moved with it. From the pictures and what I saw on the hill, it made me realize how truly this church here and the others around it has stood a strong test of time. From wars to communism to the current economic and social problems of the day this church has found a way to still be the church and to be the people of God. The church can and will endure with the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit and it is a privilege to serve in such a place that knows where to find hope when all seems lost. So, what have these people taught me most in these three and a half weeks that I have been here: that there is always hope, and even if that is all you have, it is always enough.
A couple of prayer requests:
On Friday there is a team of four people coming from Great Britain Methodist Church for 10 days. They will be helping with some of the upkeep in the village churches as well as doing street ministry in some of the Roma neighborhoods. Pray for safe travels for them and that they will be empowered by the Spirit in their work for the ten days. Also pray for me since I will be helping to host and direct them while they are here so I too will be participating in those projects.
Remember Zoran, the archealogist excavating the Czar's towers area. He was a gracious host to Lee and I, but did express some frustration. There is not much support, vocally or financially, for his work. May he receive support and help for what he is doing and be able to find some individuals who are just as interested in learning about the people who lived on the side of the canyon as he, his team, and Lee and I were.
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