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.