Until now, we were in three different flats around Prokuplje so we had breakfast on our own. Today, we wake at our new location, a hotel in Temerin. This allowed us to share breakfast together. After breakfast we were picked up by Saša, the Roma pastor in Kucura and Gerben, a student here on a three week mission from the Netherlands. As we drove to Selenča to visit a Roma village we picked up Mirko, who leads several home churches. Saša started this home church several years ago. Initially he rode his bicycle because he did not have transportation. It took him about two hours each way by bike. There are approximately 25 houses in the Roma community there. There were more but some have moved to Germany in search of better opportunity.
As we entered, the children and adults gathered around. Marabeth told the story of Noah and the flood. Mirko played the guitar and lead the children a few songs, as did Saša, some of which we recognized the tunes and could sing along in English.
We walked 10 feet, from the front of the house to the rear where Saša showed us an open sewage pit. It is a huge threat of cholera and other diseases and he has a plan to get it cleaned. The sewage is being dumped by a septic tank company who empties its truck in a ditch created when the government constructed the new road nearby. The community has no trash containers so household trash also litters the area.
Saša spoke with the adults who were gathered, laying out his plan. He first challenged them to clean up the trash to show pride in their community. Then he would speak with the government to get a trash container for each house. He also plans to ask the government to fill in the sewage pond. If they will not, he will ask for papers (permission) to get heavy equipment to move the dirt. This will require private funding. Everyone was happy to see he was interested in helping them. The smell is horrific.
Next, Danijela invited us into her home. She is the leader of the home church. She has been a Christian for 14 years. The living room where 15-17 people gather is approximately 8 ft by 10 ft. Initially her house was only the one room with twenty people in her family living there. Recently they have been able to add two additional rooms. We talked with Danijela about the sewage pit, her faith and the church. Before leaving we prayed with her then loaded up.
We drove to Kucura to Saša’s house where we had a delicious lunch prepared by his wife Danijela (not the same Danijela as the house church leader in Selenča). A church from the Netherlands helped him acquire this house and helped build a large room addition where he can hold church. We visited with Saša until time for church. He showed us his garden, the two pigs he is raising, and his rabbits.
As church time approached, the room filled to capacity. There were approx 70 adults. Approx 12-15 children met outside with Marabeth and Slobodan. Slobodan is a Serbian who helps Saša with the church. With Rodja translating, LaJuana spoke to the church about the mission of Linking Partners. Then William delivered the message teaching from Job 1. It was well received.
As we dismissed, a storm was moving in so we loaded the van to deliver people home and us to our hotel.
I don’t know that a lot has been mentioned here about Rodja. Mr Greene first meet Rodja in the early days of his work in Serbia with Brotherhood Mutual. At the time Rodja was a youth pastor in the Novi Sad area. Rodja traveled with Mr. Greene all over Serbia searching for evangelical works. Rodja is a wonderful Christian who provides strong leadership in many areas as well as translation for us. I have grown to love his heart for The Lord and the Roma people.
Thank you for your prayers as our work continues.
