Visoko, Kids Club, UNA Klub

This week started off with a trip to Visoko, Bosnia. We went there to visit another team that lives their full time. The city happened to be having a big festival. We could barely walk any where on the main street because there were so many people. The family we visited have 2 kids, and it was fun getting to fellowship with both the kids and the parents while we were there. On the streets they have stands that sell what they call “palacinkas.” They are thin pancakes with a chocolate spread rolled up like a burrito (yum). It was cool to see another town in Bosnia, and also hear about how this family ministers there.  What was not cool was that Guy got sick from something he ate.  Walking around on a hot night and being in places that don’t have air conditioning aren’t always a good mix for hot, greasy food.  He got over it after a couple of days, but pray that God will keep us both healthy for the rest of our time here.

Palacinkas!

Visoko Festival

"Kids Bible Club"

On Tuesday we started another kids camp in Nova Gradiska.  Nova Gradiska is where half of the team of missionaries live.  There were about 20-25 kids there the first day, which was a lot more than they expected (only about 8 showed up the first day last year). Since the big youth group from VA left, Guy and I were able to interact more with the kids, act out the skits, and were able to make more connections. This camp was the same set-up as the last one we did here in Slavonski Brod, where we got to tell some of the stories from the Bible, sing songs, play games, and do crafts. It was a lot of fun getting to love on these kids and act out Bible stories. During craft time, Guy and I both had our small groups where we were able to learn their names and form relationships. This allows us both to pray for specific names to one day know Jesus personally.

Game time with the parachute

Guy with the kids listening to the story

My small group

Guy's small group

The girls in my group

The little boys loved wresting with Guy

                                           



Tuesday night we came back to Brod for a Bible study. Cindy, Melissa, and I (the girls that are staying until August from the youth group) did a Bible study with a couple of Croatian girls that they had met through the baseball camp. They both have never read the Bible before, so it is cool to see them so intrigued, even with the story of creation. Pray that as we go through some of the books of the Bible with them that God will open their eyes to the truth.

Guy and I actually got to stay in Nova Gradiska with a missionary couple the rest of the week as we did Kid’s Camp. They have only been in Croatia a couple of years, and it was amazing to see their passion and ideas for new ministries in order to share God’s love with the people of Nova Gradiska. Currently, through the organization that they are with, there is one church planted in Slavonski Brod and one in Nova Gradiska. Both churches have Croatian pastors and while we were in Nova Gradiska we were able to go to the pastor’s house and spend time with his family. It was cool to hear their story of how God brought them there and how they found so much joy in just allowing God to lead their lives.

Friday evening the girls and I met again for Bible study and had more good conversation. Guy went with our missionary leader, Garret, to a man’s house from the church to help move firewood. This time of year they collect and buy firewood so that it will dry out by the winter, so Guy was able to help to move the firewood and stack it to get it out of the way.  The man who they helped is an older man and is one of the few Croatians we have met that is deeply rooted in Christ.  He is always joyful and has a similar sense of humor that Guy has, so we (especially Guy) enjoy being around him.

It’s been really amazing to see God moving in the hearts of the girls that have come to the Bible study. Some are so curious and others even see their need for change. Please pray that God moves, because as much as I want them to see and know the truth, God is the one who opens eyes and soften hearts. Please also pray for Guy and Garret, they also are in the process of starting the same Bible study with some of the guys that we have met through baseball camp. Pray that God will bring them, and that he will also soften their hearts.

A group from the UK called Blessed arrived this weekend to minister here.  They have been coming to Slavonski Brod for a few years and have a good relationship with many kids here.  We love hearing them speak with their accents! Of course, they say that they love hearing our Southern accents.  We are quick to tell them that we don’t have accents and that we speak correctly J.

Roma UNA Club

More Roma children, so precious

On Saturday we were able to go with the Blessed team into the Roma village and do another “UNA Klub” with the kids there. The team acted out the parable of the lost sheep, sang songs, played games, and did some crafts. We were able to plug in wherever needed. It’s always a blessing to see the some of the same kids come to the camp each time we go to the village and for them to recognize us. Please continue to pray for the Roma people here in Croatia and that God will move their hearts toward him and away from worldly things.

We only have approximately 21 days left here and we are looking forward to what God has for us to do in this short amount of time. Next week we will do another kids camp and basketball camp with the Blessed team. Pray for kids to come out to play but also that through testimonies that their eyes will be opened to their need for a Savior.

My prayer is that one day all Croatians will be able to take hold of the promise that Jesus gives all of us in John 5:24.

            “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life.”