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