Just a warning, this blog is a little scattered. Probably because my brain in a little scattered, trying to process the last month, and functioning on way too little sleep. so, just an FYI.
I'm sitting in the airport, about to leave Europe. I would gladly trade in my tickets and just stay in Macedonia, or anywhere in Europe really. I have fallen completely in love. I love the people, I love the culture, I love the beauty of it all. But sadly, I must get on the plane, fly back to America and finish school. (If you know me at all, you know this is a reoccurring theme in my life. I say with a sigh 'I can't, I have to finish school.') But I know God has an epic plan for me in America, just like he had for Macedonia.
Sometimes I forget, God can do really awesome things in Buies Creek. Small, no-stop-light-town which I (sometimes reluctantly) call home. God can work there!! I don't have to fly half way around the world to love on hurting people or encourage believers. God can (and has) change my life in little old Buies Creek. So even though I would gladly stay here in Macedonia, ....and even though I have to remind myself that spending July in Buies Creek will be great.... I am kinda excited to see what God is going to do this year at school.
All that said, I do still have a... whats the word? lets call it a curiosity about foreign missions. I say 'curiosity' because I'm not sure where it will go or what it will develop into. But I know I love missions, career people on the field, and now Europe. So we will see what is in store.
It has been a crazy, amazing month. I am truly touched by the people I met and lives I got to be part of.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Macedonia part 2
It has been a crazy but good two weeks! Our schedule has been packed with stuff (which is funny, because Macedonian's as a whole are not big on time or schedules). We have been going to the preschool 4 days a week and teaching them English. We do things like ABC's, hokie-pokie, head-shoulders-knees-toes, and Old McDonald. We go for about 40 minutes each morning. The kids are doing really great and Friday we are going to have a little program for the parents. We also sit and have coffee with the teachers after. Mandy, Ginna and Hannah have had some great conversations with them and started to build relationships with the teachers.
The team here has a coffee house we 'work' at 4 or 5 nights a week. Anyone can come in for free coffee. The name of the coffee house means "there is time", which is a really common phrase here. They have English classes, events every Friday, and just hang out. Please pray for the coffee house and the ministry they do there. Many people are hesitant to go into the coffee house because it is 'run by the Americans.' Pray that people in the community will be interested in the coffee house and the team here will be able to build more relationships.
This week, I got to go on an adventure to GREECE!!! Mandy, Ginna, Hannah and I got to go to Greece for the day on Monday. It took us about 4 hours to get there. We went into Thessaloniki and saw where they think Paul entered the city. it over looked the whole city and was BEAUTIFUL! We also went to starbucks, looked around in a book store, (I got two books. I'm such a nerd, I get excited about finding English books in Greece.) walked around the city, and then spent the rest of the day at the beach. It was amazing!!! The whole day was great!!!!
I'm sure it sounds like I'm not doing anything but I really am! :) I have been building relationships with people, serving the team here, and most importantly, learning. God had really been working in my heart. One of the biggest things God has been teaching me is, if something breaks my heart here, it should break at home too. There is a group of people called Romas. They go around begging for food or money. Often, they send their children to beg. This breaks my heart. But how often does my heart break for a homeless person in the States? There are few believers here, and the ones that are here are so hungry for the word and for encouragement. I want to sit all day with them and just be in God's word together. But at home, how often am I rushed to get my 'to-do list done that I forget to just sit with other believers. We have a friend here who is not a believer (many friends who are not, but one that stands out.) We were talking today about fasting in prayer for him, about 'warring' for his soul. I have lots of friends at home that are lost. I pray for them, but do I fast for them? There is so much hurt and darkness here, but there is darkness at home too. God is really opening my eyes to the hurt here, and at home.
I am also encouraged by the amazing things God is going here. The believers here are so excited to be believers! God is opening doors and giving us daily opportunities to talk to people. I am truly amazed by what He is going here.
The team here has a coffee house we 'work' at 4 or 5 nights a week. Anyone can come in for free coffee. The name of the coffee house means "there is time", which is a really common phrase here. They have English classes, events every Friday, and just hang out. Please pray for the coffee house and the ministry they do there. Many people are hesitant to go into the coffee house because it is 'run by the Americans.' Pray that people in the community will be interested in the coffee house and the team here will be able to build more relationships.
This week, I got to go on an adventure to GREECE!!! Mandy, Ginna, Hannah and I got to go to Greece for the day on Monday. It took us about 4 hours to get there. We went into Thessaloniki and saw where they think Paul entered the city. it over looked the whole city and was BEAUTIFUL! We also went to starbucks, looked around in a book store, (I got two books. I'm such a nerd, I get excited about finding English books in Greece.) walked around the city, and then spent the rest of the day at the beach. It was amazing!!! The whole day was great!!!!
I'm sure it sounds like I'm not doing anything but I really am! :) I have been building relationships with people, serving the team here, and most importantly, learning. God had really been working in my heart. One of the biggest things God has been teaching me is, if something breaks my heart here, it should break at home too. There is a group of people called Romas. They go around begging for food or money. Often, they send their children to beg. This breaks my heart. But how often does my heart break for a homeless person in the States? There are few believers here, and the ones that are here are so hungry for the word and for encouragement. I want to sit all day with them and just be in God's word together. But at home, how often am I rushed to get my 'to-do list done that I forget to just sit with other believers. We have a friend here who is not a believer (many friends who are not, but one that stands out.) We were talking today about fasting in prayer for him, about 'warring' for his soul. I have lots of friends at home that are lost. I pray for them, but do I fast for them? There is so much hurt and darkness here, but there is darkness at home too. God is really opening my eyes to the hurt here, and at home.
I am also encouraged by the amazing things God is going here. The believers here are so excited to be believers! God is opening doors and giving us daily opportunities to talk to people. I am truly amazed by what He is going here.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Macedonia
It has been a really long time since my last blog...like a year. oops. But, I'm now back in the blogging world, with an update from Macedonia!!!
I've only been here 4 days, but I 'hit the ground running' so it feels like I've been here a lot longer (but in a good way). I am living with 2 girls named Ginna and Hannah. They are journey-girls with the IMB. They have a cute little apartment here in Ohrid. They are here working with an amazing family, the Davises(Brian, Mandy, Kate who is 4 and Thomas who is 2). I have also got to hang out with some of Hannah and Ginna's friends. A lot of the young people here speak at least some English. They learn it in school or pick it up from watching American movies.
One of my favorite things to do so far is go to coffee. This is not like American's idea of going and glupping down coffee and chatting for 15 minutes. Here, coffee is a time to sit with one another, talk, laugh and just be. Coffee (in a home or out at a coffee place) last from and hour to 3 hours. The other night I went to coffee with Ginna and Hannah and 2 of their friends. We set by the lake, drank coffee, laughed, and watched the sun set. It was awesome!!!!!!!
I've been to two parties, one birthday party and one "half-graduation". Here, they have a big party when someone is 14 or 15 and half way through with high school. The family has a party, then the daughter or son go off to a prom-like-dance. The party was really fun, although I was completely lost. My new, English-speaking friend who was sitting beside me, got caught up in the conversation and forgot to translate. :) So I just smiled awkwardly. But I still had a blast!!
Today we had church at Brian and Mandy's house. It was really awesome to worship and be in the Word with them. Hannah translated what Brian was saying, so I got the gist of the message, but it was amazing to know we were all worshiping the same God, even though I couldn't understand what was being said. After, we set and talked and had coffee.
I've kinda learned my way around, sort of. The town (Ohrid) is a mix of tones and tones of stores, cute places to sit and have coffee, and homes on the huge hills/mountains that surround the town. The sidewalks are stone. Its so beautiful!!
I can not wait to see what else God is going to teach my while I'm here. I am already so amazed by everything I have seen. Some things have already broken my heart, and some things have made filled me with such joy all I can do is praise God. I am in love with this place and with God!!!!!!
Things I have learned the past 4 days.
1. Be completely fearless when crossing the street. Things like rules of the road, speed limits, the side of the road you should drive on, stop lights, etc..are just suggestions, not enforced rules.
2.wash dishes really fast. Hot water is in short supply.
3.Electricity is half price on Sundays.
I've only been here 4 days, but I 'hit the ground running' so it feels like I've been here a lot longer (but in a good way). I am living with 2 girls named Ginna and Hannah. They are journey-girls with the IMB. They have a cute little apartment here in Ohrid. They are here working with an amazing family, the Davises(Brian, Mandy, Kate who is 4 and Thomas who is 2). I have also got to hang out with some of Hannah and Ginna's friends. A lot of the young people here speak at least some English. They learn it in school or pick it up from watching American movies.
One of my favorite things to do so far is go to coffee. This is not like American's idea of going and glupping down coffee and chatting for 15 minutes. Here, coffee is a time to sit with one another, talk, laugh and just be. Coffee (in a home or out at a coffee place) last from and hour to 3 hours. The other night I went to coffee with Ginna and Hannah and 2 of their friends. We set by the lake, drank coffee, laughed, and watched the sun set. It was awesome!!!!!!!
I've been to two parties, one birthday party and one "half-graduation". Here, they have a big party when someone is 14 or 15 and half way through with high school. The family has a party, then the daughter or son go off to a prom-like-dance. The party was really fun, although I was completely lost. My new, English-speaking friend who was sitting beside me, got caught up in the conversation and forgot to translate. :) So I just smiled awkwardly. But I still had a blast!!
Today we had church at Brian and Mandy's house. It was really awesome to worship and be in the Word with them. Hannah translated what Brian was saying, so I got the gist of the message, but it was amazing to know we were all worshiping the same God, even though I couldn't understand what was being said. After, we set and talked and had coffee.
I've kinda learned my way around, sort of. The town (Ohrid) is a mix of tones and tones of stores, cute places to sit and have coffee, and homes on the huge hills/mountains that surround the town. The sidewalks are stone. Its so beautiful!!
I can not wait to see what else God is going to teach my while I'm here. I am already so amazed by everything I have seen. Some things have already broken my heart, and some things have made filled me with such joy all I can do is praise God. I am in love with this place and with God!!!!!!
Things I have learned the past 4 days.
1. Be completely fearless when crossing the street. Things like rules of the road, speed limits, the side of the road you should drive on, stop lights, etc..are just suggestions, not enforced rules.
2.wash dishes really fast. Hot water is in short supply.
3.Electricity is half price on Sundays.
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