We Live in a Time of Crisis

We live in a time of crisis, but still, Church is not in crisis, because it stands in prayer in front of God. When we were in crisis and didn’t have money to pay rent for space in Mladenovac, and other places, we didn’t even think that it will bring us new joy. I can’t say that we weren’t sad that we couldn’t have a performance. Presents are here, performance ready, but it wasn’t His plan. I waited patiently to see what the Lord has prepared for us.

When families can’t come to us, we decided to go to them! The idea was to prepare presents for all families which we planned to invite to the performance and to go to them.

We visited two families in Mladenovac, but we called children and parents to come in these two houses which we choose for persons of peace. Instead of performance we had Bible lesson which is good for Christmas spirit, and songs we cheerfully sang with children and parents, but most interesting was when parents listened to the lesson and verse we taught the children. As always, after the lesson we repeated what we learned – quiz, and I was surprised how the parents remembered the story and how much they could repeat. That day, Sara had birthday, and there were some relatives of her who listened to us and its repeating again what happened in Obrenovac, the children represented us in the best way. I could see on the children’s faces that they were happy and glad by what they heard.

In Baraques we had around 13-15 children, mostly teenagers. We had the same lesson which was interesting to them. Danijela taught it in such a good way that the children could feel just like they were there at Christ’s birth. On our way to Baraques, one person stopped us and asked to visit him and his family . What makes me happy is that we can’t spend just a few hours in Mladenovac anymore, but we need a whole day. They were thankful for presents and hats we brought them. After meeting in Baraques we came back to Sara on her birthday where I was clown. It was really nice with them, they look at us like a part of the family. Thanks to Lord for that attitude.

Plan for Obrenovac evangelization was to call all from Roma settlements on one spot where we’ll make performance, but God had better plan and we’ve been at Zoran’s home in the backyard. There was 32 children and few parents and some other neighbors. It was interesting that this time we have help from Elizabeta, who sang together with Kristijan and a few other girls who know all the songs. Also, they had a recital about Christmas. They asked us if we’ll have camp this summer, and faithfully I told them that we will, but just as we, they also need to pray for finance for making it. We have contacts with Zoran and his family also, and talked about his spiritual condition. We talked to his wife, they support us in our work, but there must pass more time and more visits until we can expect something more from them.

We visited Arandjelovac this month also, and we had children’s club and shared presents and we were sad because we are not able to visit them more times. We could feel that we are not there, children are spiritually down, and they need prayer and new strength. Two teens are studying in Kragujevac asked us to make regular teenage classes and they would bring others too. Parents told that they thought we gave up on club and their children, and that we closed club, but again, in faith, I told them it won’t happen. I talked with my childhood friend and then he knows it is true all we say but his mother doesn’t allow such a thing. I called him to come in our house, and that he and his family are always welcome. His son is seven and he’s always in club. His father was also once in club. I don’t know how much we will have opportunity to have it, because on 15^th February we need to pay for next 6 months, 50 euro monthly and 10 euro electricity. For past period we didn’t have money to pay for 6 months but we payed 3 months from our own tithe, but this time, we don’t even have that money. We pray for God’s help in that, we really wouldn’t like to close club of New Hope.

We continue our ordinary visit to Zemun Polje, including 3 families. We have meetings and we have watched the whole movie “Left Behind” and some others but comments after movie were interesting. On last meeting we had different schedule, we wanted to check their knowledge and we had quiz with rewards, and it was candies. It was nice to see how they do their best to win and I was surprised by their knowledge. Actually for some persons I didn’t know they know so much, there is potential. Today we visit them in their house.

Two couples accepted to have corresponding course, and when I called to check how it’s going husband was better than wife, although it is usually the other way around! Saturday, they were at our house, so work is growing. In Zemun is a lot of Roma people (you’ll see in March) a lot of people.

Here lives Danijela’s cousin and long time ago we talked to him about Jesus. He wasn’t much interested then, but now he’s married and has children, so we started house group at his house. And this time we gave them presents for Christmas and in his house we had Christmas lesson and song we sang, me and Danijela, that we showed to the children but I also saw parents singing. We called also his friend to come with his child, and it was great feeling when he said this is something different than what he heard before. It’s so nice, we proposed him to watch movie at his house, what we’ll do soon.

House group is in progress, we gather every Wednesday and Sunday. We have same number of people. Wednesday we worked on Acts, introduction and we are now continuing. Some things we have to repeat several times because the people can’t read and it’s hard to for them to understand but we do our best to be on their level and explain them. Thanks for all what you did. It was very good.

On Saturday we had a Bible conference in our church which was organized by us. There was around 20 people, and we called all our people from house groups from Belgrade. It was very good. They say because they could understand it was nice.

We visited Mirijevo during this week, and we had nice talk with family. Kristina and Boban are our contact there. Settlement is big and for now we are only who visit them. Government built 4 houses where now lives Roma’s and socially endangered people. This is great place for starting something very big. We plan soon, when the weather is better to make an action there.

We are thankful to God for: