Thursday, June 16, 2011

I slept in a bit today as we had planned, and after waking I showered and readied for the day. Breakfast was great, and we spoke a bit about our plans. The plan we decided on was to drop Emmanuel off at the playground for playing basketball, and that Marjan and I would go meet with some kids and families in a hidden-away village that is like a slum/dump. We took the motorcycle to be able to drive faster and get more accomplished. We took the kids cookies and candy and I shared a message for the youth (roughly 45 families live in this “village”) about forgiving each other as Jesus forgave us with the picture children's bible (the scene with Jesus on the cross and the others scoffing). The kids sang for me and I have video and pictures. Marjan has small groups of the kids over every week for food and to clean. They have been doing this despite not having the money to do it and pay their other expenses. This is Christianity. And you know what? God has been providing for them. They have been feeding these kids, like 70, twice a week. They have been getting them clothes and shoes and other needs. But more than any of these physical things, Marjan and his family has been spending time and showing love toward these other brothers and sisters who are “the least of these.” They are providing for those who can provide nothing in return. I don’t know many who do this. I don’t do this. Anyone can preach a Gospel message. It’s easy. But who will show such love as this because of that Gospel message? The brother who leads this "village" was in the church I preached at last month. He showed me great affection. Another brother who came with him was very touched and convicted to be baptized and was the following week. Praise God. I continue to find myself humbled (I’m not saying that as a righteous person, but as one who sees the vanity of my Christianity in many ways), and the book of James shows this as the proper response for those who are “rich” in this age. After we left, we dropped by the bank, and then we headed back to the apartment. But, we decided to stop at the house of a motorcycling friend of Marjan’s. Another friend was also there; two were not believers. We had coffee and some special fruit drink that the man had created from a flower he grows. Rain started pouring (it was good we hadn’t stayed for coffee with the village brother because we would have never made it home in the downpour (this man’s house is in the same neighborhood as Marjan’s)), and we went into the garage. Marjan is praying and hoping these men come to Jesus. They do good deeds, but they aren’t attached to the vine. The man whose home we were at and his wife go to Marjan’s church, but they don’t believe yet. After staying for awhile, we left for home. At home we cleaned up a little and then had dinner with Zoya. The kids were playing outside, having already eaten. After dinner I started working on these updates (the latter half of Tuesday until now). Also decided in the morning was tonight and tomorrow’s plan. I called Nicky to make sure that my schedule was relatively free, and planned to stay with Marjan and Zoya and the boys for another night, but this time we would head to Macedonia for Friday. We’ll come back late, and probably be home Saturday morning. I’ll travel back to Macedonia on Monday with Nicky. This weekend, I’m not sure what will happen. We’ll see as you and I pray and God works as we wait.