Today we all had to get up and get moving a little earlier than usual. This was the team’s last day to be with our brothers and sisters in the south. We stayed up late and packed so we could load up the bus this morning before departing for Zitni Potok where we would have a kids’ club meeting then head to the lake for a picnic and a baptism.
The kids’ club was a wonderful time. Niki and Daniel took turns playing the guitar while the children sang. There were around 50 children, but it sounded like many more as they opened their mouths and lifted their voices in praise to our Lord. I am always blown away by the vigor and passion with which these Roma worship. I long to have this kind of abandon when I sing. It is so refreshing and humbling at the same time.
Marabeth told the children the story of Samuel anointing the first two kings of Israel. She peppered the lesson with questions, each of which the children answered with gusto. After the lesson and singing had come to an end, everyone had some juice, and then we gave gifts to each of the children who were there: matchbox cars for the boys and hair bows for the girls, made by the ladies in Marilyn Calva’s class. It will never cease to amaze me how excited they get when we are able to share such small tokens with them.
After all the gifts were handed out, we loaded back up and headed to the lake for a time of relaxation, food, fellowship, and a baptismal service for the newest church leaders, Niki, Pera, David, Rade, Miki, and Vesna who are leading the home churches in Prokuplje, Zitni Potok, and Dubovo.
The original plan was for us to sing a couple of songs, and then I would preach a short sermon. We would then baptize the leaders and share communion together. However, when the leaders started to put on their baptismal robes, there were some Orthodox Serbs there who began causing problems and making rude comments about the “gypsy sect.” They were unhappy about the baptism and were acting like they were ready to fight. In order not to create a huge, ugly scene, we chose to do away with all but the baptism. Since I was not going to get to preach, Marijan invited me to assist him with the baptisms. I was overjoyed! It was an experience I will never forget, second only to baptizing my children and my parents.
On a lighter note, I remembered while we were at the lake that I had given some laundry to Slavica yesterday to do for me. When we arrived at her flat, it wasn’t dry yet. I was supposed to get it from the line just before we left, but due to a last minute change of plans with loading our luggage, I ran back to our flat and completely forgot to pick up my laundry. Since we were not going back to Prokuplje, I guess Marijan is the proud owner of several pairs of undergarments that will now never make it back to the United States. I do hope that I can find a store in Belgrade or Novi Sad where I can get some more. Oh, the joys of mission trips!
I want to take my turn to thank each of you for your continued prayers. Every time I have the privilege of being here in Serbia, God absolutely blows me away. Your prayers are literally being felt by this team and those to whom we are ministering. Thank you for your comments, which have been so encouraging. They are easy to leave just below this post, and we watch for them much as you watch for the blog posts.
I also want to say thank you to everyone who helped us get here. Some of you gave us money. Some donated items to sell, and others gave of their time. Your sacrifices will not go unnoticed, and I pray that God will repay your kindness and generosity a hundred fold. God bless you all!
