Since I arrived in Macedonia on Tuesday afternoon I have seen and experienced many new things. I moved into the third floor of the Methodist Church in Strumica (pronounced Strumeetza) where I quickly learned that one of my duties will be to ring the church bell on Sunday mornings since the rope to do so is located on my balcony. I also began to learn my way around the town, especially discovering where the city park is and where the ice cream stand is, both of which are important things to learn since a stroll in the park with a cone of ice cream is quite common on a warm summer evening.
I also traveled to Bitola in Macedonia where I visited the Methodist Church there and met the Pastor's wife and daughter who gave me a beautiful yellow rose when I left. I will probably be preaching at this church sometime this summer. I experienced a Macedonian high school graduation and had my first taste of Macedonian Shokata (soft drink made of elderberries). I also got to visit the location of the first Methodist mission place in Macedonia, that was founded in 1886 but was confiscated by the Communist government in the late 1940's and was never returned. All that remains is the gate that is now bricked in but the words can still be made out if you look close enough. Where a Methodist orphanage and hospital once stood now stands two run-down apartment complexes. I also walked on Roman Ruins in Bitola and stood at the top of a Roman theatre that once held orators and gladiator fights. All the while I learned about the history and the culture of the people that I have come to serve this summer and wondering all the while how I could do so.
I also traveled to Lake Ohrid and in two days visited 2 monasteries and 7 churches, two of which were located in caves. I walked on city roads that had been there for nearly a thousand years and walked on a fortress of a city that has been here for nearly 2300 years. I came within 500 meters of the Albanian border and could even see a village that was on the other side of the lake. I also watched an archeological dig taking place at the location of the First Slavic University, the place where Clement composed the Cyrillic alphabet. His grave was located in a church within the site of the dig. I watched peacocks strut around a monasteries grounds, learned how to filet a fish and laughed with a Macedonian woman as both of us became lost in translation. All the while, I was still being taught the culture, learning the language and having more of these people's history revealed.
This post probably seems to be a little boastful of all the things that I have done, but it is not meant to be that way. I merely want to show you some of the things that I have learned and experienced in the last few days and to try to give you a taste of the country that I have journeyed to. Upon my reflection while walking back from my sunset perch, I realized that I have fallen in love with this people not just because of what I have experienced, but because of what they can teach me. Though they have experienced centuries of conflict and upheaval, they still smile at me on the street and will still strike up a conversation with me in broken english and sometime even better english than me. They still have a thirst to discover something greater and though they are full of desperation, they are desperate for life and believe that this is still possible.
It is here that I feel called to this summer; to help the people see that life is still possible in the midst of this desperation and that their need for life can be fulfilled. I hope to learn how to show them that I love them and want them to discover the life that awaits them.
This has already been a long post but I do have a few prayer requests:
Pray for "Jack" a 24-year old Muslim from Kosovo who I sat next too on the plane from New York to Budapest. He was curious about what work I was doing and about the Christian faith in general. We had some good conversations but were separated when we got off the plane, so I did not have a chance to say good-bye, but he has been on my heart ever since.
Pray for Elena, the pastor's daughter of the church in Bitola. She has such a gentle spirit and a sweet personality. I liked her within moments of meeting her and hope that she might realize her own unique gifts for ministry.
Pray for Carol and Lee, the GMBM missionary and her husband. They are quite tired from planning a very good trip and need some rest to be revitalized for the coming months.
I am praying for everyone back home and appreciate your prayers and support as well. May you have wonderful days ahead and I look forward to sharing with you again soon.
In Christ's Love,
Loletuth
