Skopje Day 6

Friday started with a trip to Matka. Lake Matka is a man-made lake created by damming the river Treska. It lies in a steep ravine and canyon of the Treska Valley and is very breath-taking. We took boats up the river to a cave. We got to go into the cave (complete with many bats) and hear stories from our guide about all the discovery and research that is going on in this underwater area. Very fascinating!

After a nice lunch by the river, we went back to the Education Center to get ready for our last session at the ministry site. The intention was that we would have a "showcase" highlighting all the things we had learned for the week. The girls who were in Mandy and Angie's dance class performed "Shackles", the puppets did their thing and our men wrapped up the week by talking to the parents and kids about the choices we make in life.

Thank you for all your prayers. Continue to pray for the work that was done this week. That it would continue to bear fruit for our Field Reps. Pray that the Roma would come to a saving knowledge of Christ.

Pray for us as we travel. Pray for Sarah as she returns to Germany. The rest of us will have an overnight in Vienna. Also pray for Amy as she returns to Florida.

Day 5 Skopje Macedonia

Wow! What a day! Today was our last full day of ministry. It was hot. It was BUSY. It was PRICELESS!

Todays observations:

1. Andrew Basic and Marc Chewning are having birthdays. So...we thought we'd send a message from the other side of the ocean.

2. Exhausted World Changers can sleep anywhere at anytime.

3. Nutella is goooood!

4. Matt can drive in a different country and not wreck!

5. Music transcends every culture and if you repeat it enough times they can sing it even if they don't speak the language.

6. There is nothing like the love of a child.

7. Crew Chat is fun!

8. Water games are good when the temperature is 96 degrees.

9. THERE IS NO ONE LIKE OUR GOD!

Tomorrow is our showcase where the children will show their parents what they have been learning all week. Pray that we hve a great turn out and that we will be able to have fruitful conversations with adults.

It will also be a day full of emotion as we say good-bye. This is going to be really hard.

Day 4 Skopje Macedonia

Today was filled with much of the same ministry activity. Many of the children are really getting attached to the participants and we are already anticipating how hard it will be to say goodbye!

When we approached the playground today there were already tons of kids waiting. The crowd that beats us there in the morning is getting bigger and they keep pouring in all day long. It is hard to get a real grasp on numbers.

Last night during worship, Sarah said our experience was much like Jesus' experience. Where ever Jesus went there were always crowds wanting to be near him and to touch him--even if it was just the edge of his clothes. They were relentless in their pursuit of Him. That is exactly what this experience is like. If your arms could hold 50 children, they would want you to do it. There is no bottom to the depth of their need and/or desire for love.

Today we said that "serving" is one way you demonstrate love to another person and it was amazing to see how many children started helping us at clean up time. They picked up trash, helped us load our car and wanted to help carry our chairs all the way back to the Education Center where we eat and rest.

Thank you for all your prayers and enjoy the pics and videos!

Terrific Tuesday in Skopje!!

Another beautiful day in Skopje! The weather has been GREAT compared to the 101 degrees the day the team arrived. We have been blessed! There is always a nice breeze and some shade to find.

The Roma children love the participants so much that a group of them have found out where we hang out in the morning and at lunch. They stand at the gate and beg for us to come out and play. While this is heartbreaking for some of us, we keep them away to protect the rest and health of our team.

Our day is broken up into two sessions. A morning session where we do large group activities, puppets, participatory songs, games and one-on-one play. The afternoon is craft time, dance lessons, art lessons, some music lessons, sports and games. We also paint some fingernails too!

We took a count today and we are averaging 100 kids in the morning and 120 in the afternoon. A lot of these kids join us for both sessions. They leave the first session holding up four fingers showing that they know what time to return in the afternoon. So picture this....kids running away with four fingers in the air yelling "Chao" and blowing kisses!

Enjoy pictures and video!
Be Blessed!