Something To Think About!

What are you doing right now that requires faith? Are you comfortable or are you doing something that requires faith that God will bring you through?

Recently I posted this question on facebook.  I received a few comments, but that’s not why I posted it.  It was really to give us all something to think about.  The question came from a book I had been reading called “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan.  It was a really good book, and I recommend it to everyone.  You can view information and great videos at www.crazylovebook.com

That question really made me think.

Could I think of anything I am currently doing that required complete faith??

I believe that for the most part, I live a life of comfort… I only do what I have to and I don’t put myself in positions that may be uncomfortable.   Sure, there are circumstances where I must rely on faith, but am I doing it because I have no other option or am I putting myself in the position to rely on that faith?

I believe that God wants us to put ourselves in positions where we must rely on him.  He wants us to get out of our comfort zone and trust in him so completely that we will put ourselves in situations were we must rely on him to come through.  I have put myself in such positions before, but not as often as I should or not as deeply as I should.  When I was asked to start teaching the adult Sunday School class at church, it was completely God getting me through it.  There was no way that I could have lead the class it if I hadn’t had complete faith in God.  It was totally in his hands.  There are other circumstances in my life when I know God was in complete control or I would have never come through it.  But, I still ask myself and I encourage us all to look at our lives and decide if we are comfortable, or if we are really living by faith, letting God show us how he works and loves us.  If we deny ourselves being uncomfortable, then we are denying ourselves of a great blessing.  One of knowing the power and love of God.  I know I need to put myself in positions more often where I have nothing to fall back on but God.  God wants me (us) to rely on him, he wants to have a relationship with me (us).  What better way to do that than to get out of our comfort zone and take chances.  Whether it be in something we do that’s uncomfortable, or our careers, our finances(tithing), etc.  We MUST have complete faith and let God take over.  In Matthew 25, the parable of the Talents, God gave Talents to 3 men.  The first 2 probably got out of their comfort zone and traded the Talents and doubled what they were given.  The last one stayed in his comfort zone and dug a hole and buried his, maybe so no one could see or find it.  Is that what we do?  Do we bury our talents so that no one can see or find them?  Do we stay comfortable and never take any risks with the talents God gave us?  I’m guilty.  Ofcourse, I’d argue and say that God didn’t give me any talents, but could that be because I’ve not stepped out enough to find them.

Matthew 25: 29 says:  ²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

I wonder how many talents I never used that have been taken away? How much more could I have helped myself and others to prosper if I had stepped out more?

Psalm 1:1-3 says:

¹ Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
³ He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.

If we spread our branches and step out of our comfort zones, fruit will come in season and the things we do will prosper.  We may never see the growth of our labor, but God never promised we would.  He only asks us to obey and put complete faith in Him.

My prayer is for us to get out of our comfort zones for God.  To use our known and unknown talents that they will be fruitful in every good work.  And that we give Thanks to God for all seen and unseen fruits.

Pray Now

Taken from the Nov. 8 email publication of The Call

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, sixteen church members departed McGhee-Tyson Airport for east Africa. The travelers comprise the 8th team sent by Holston Conference to Yei, Sudan. The Rev. Jeannie Higgins, Sudan Action Team leader, wrote the following prayer for supporters to pray here at home:

CREATOR OF ALL, Author of all living things,
Thank you for writing us into each other’s story.
Thank you for giving us hands and feet
To serve alongside and walk with our neighbors.
Thank for you challenging us to love you by loving your people.
Lord, your children hunger for you.
We hunger for your mercy and compassion.
We thirst for your hope and salvation.
Nurture emaciated spirits.

We need the Bread of Life to fuel our souls.
Your people hunger, Lord.
Hear the prayer of the mother whose breasts have run dry,
Who holds a sickly child,
Praying for the miracle that we will keep her breathing.
Hear the prayer of the father whose back is bent
From working long hours for small coins
So that he might feed at least one open mouth.
Give her strength. Give him hope.
Hear the prayer of the young child
Whose parents were stolen by death,
Who hungers for education and drams of a future
In a place where the ring of death’s bell is far too familiar.
Hear the prayer of the faithful who love you, God
And who love your people.
Keep them dreaming.  Keep them near.*

And God, we thank you that you are already at work in Sudan.
Thank you for your watchful care of our missionaries and all those who
work on Your behalf; those who proclaim the
Gospel there and everywhere.
For our team who has just departed, we thank you for safe travel, for good health,
for victories that they will experience because of the work of Your hand.
We await with joyful expectation the news of the great things You are doing through
this servant team. Thank you for the great privilege to see where you are
already at work in the world and inviting us to work with You.

In the powerful name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, we pray.  AMEN.

* From Like Breath and Water Praying with Africa by Ciona D. Rouse
Upper Room Books Copyright 2009

Who went to Sudan?

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, sixteen church members departed McGhee-Tyson Airport for east Africa. Here are the members comprising Holston’s 8th team to Yei, Sudan.

Rev. Stephen Burkhart, Elm Tree Parish, Kingsport District

Rev. Tony Collins, Loudon UMC, Maryville District

Rev. Lu Crandall, First Cleveland UMC, Cleveland District

Libby Dearing, Chattanooga District*

Rev. Randy Frye, Johnson City District

Rev. John Grimm, Aldersgate-Jordan’s Chapel UMC, Wytheville District

Steve Hodges, First Sneedville UMC, Morristown District*

Rev. Doug Jennings, Romeo UMC, Morristown District

Art Masker, Asbury (Greeneville) UMC, Morristown District

Mike Nichols, Chilhowie UMC, Abingdon District

Rev. Pete Perdue, Coeburn UMC, Big Stone Gap District

Sam Puckett

Carmen Raswiszer, Hixson UMC, Chattanooga District

Lori Sluder, Bearden UMC, Knoxville District

Rev. Melissa Smith, Fountain City UMC, Knoxville District

Rev. Larry Trotter, Concord UMC, Oak Ridge District

*Team leaders

Churches Reminded to Pray for the Persecuted

Churches pray on International Day of Prayer

Churches across the United States and around the world are preparing to “remember those in bonds” (Hebrews 13:3) on Nov. 8, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP).

Begun in 1996, IDOP is a day for intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted Christian communities worldwide.

“As our staff meets with persecuted Christians around the world, their first request is that we pray for them,” says Todd Nettleton, Director of Media Development for The Voice of the Martyrs – USA. “IDOP is a day when the collective Body of Christ joins together to answer their request.”

Some churches devote the entire day to persecuted Christians, while others hold a special prayer time during their regular services. It is estimated that more than 100,000 churches have taken part in IDOP activities since 1996, and churches in more than 130 countries have participated.

“Our persecuted family is not asking us to pray that the persecution will stop,” says Nettleton. “They’re asking us to pray they will remain faithful to Christ in spite of the persecution and pressure they face.”

Read the complete story at www.Persecution.com

You can also find The Voice of the Martyrs on facebook.

If you think the economy is bad in your town …

Unemployment in Hancock County may reach 20 percent by January. Here’s how Holston churches can help Jubilee Project reach out in the spirit of Christmas.

Jubilee Project pleads for food, blankets, and money at Christmas

By Annette Spence

SNEEDVILLE, Tenn. — Randy Hildebrant is breathless as he talks about the needs of Hancock County. The worry comes pouring out as he describes the economic crisis in one of Tennessee’s poorest counties.

“This county is at a very big crossroads right now,” says Hildebrant, youth ministry coordinator at Jubilee Project. “We’ve always needed help, but now we really need help.”

As Hildebrant speaks, teenage boys carry mattresses and food out to a waiting van.

“These people need security, and I am petrified that we’re not going to have enough to give when they come,” says Hildebrant, a United Methodist Church and Community Worker.

Between now and Dec. 5, Hildebrant will lead an ecumenical effort to help the people of Hancock County through the annual Community Christmas Bazaar. Last year, 2,000 people lined up at the old high school gym in Sneedville for food, blankets, clothing, and other supplies.

Read the complete article at:  The Call

HOW TO HELP:

The Community Christmas Bazaar is most in need of:
* nonperishable foods
* new or used/clean blankets and other bed linen
* new or used/clean children’s clothing
* money

Call Randy Hildebrant at (423) 733-4195 or e-mail jubileecenter@hotmail.com. Write checks to “Jubilee Project” with “Christmas” on the memo line and mail to: Jubilee Project, P.O. Box 657, Sneedville, TN 37869. Or, make your check to your local church with “#661, Jubilee Project Christmas” on the memo line.

IMT Monthly Profile – Kosice Mission Station, Slovakia

Kosice

The city of Kosice is the second largest city in Slovakia and is situated in the eastern part of the country. The Methodist Church does not have a congregation in this city but started mission work here in a part of the city called Tahanovce. It is the youngest neighborhood built around the year 1985. Today, there are around 23,000 people out of which 30% are children younger than 18. The mission work of our church started four years ago and the main target are children and teenagers. The employed worker we have here is Maria Skrivankova, who is not a pastor but has a heart full of love for marginalized children. She organizes workshops for kids 3-4 times a week. A Bible study takes place once a week and once a month they have a club “Girls only”. Maria sees the importance of building relationships with these kids and through these relationships she is trying to lead them to giving their life to Jesus. Gospel is told in every meeting.

Last week the work in Kosice moved to a new dimension because we started regular Sunday worships. We were not able to find a place to rent for this activity in Tahanovce, so we started working in a different neighborhood Nad Jazerom. We are hoping to reach out not only to children but also adults in the coming months. Pastors from surrounding towns where we have established churches are going to take turns in coming to Kosice and preaching here on Sundays. We pray that this new effort brings fruit and people find their meaning of life in Jesus.

Read the complete article at http://gbgm-umc.org

St. Martins

Hi!   Everyday after breakfast we would leave the hostel and walk several blocks to the church and mission center.  Most of the days were dreary and cold and we walked in anticipation of what God would have us do this day.  The only store we passed on the way was a book store.  All the books were in another language, everything but English!  I felt very lowly and inadequate being in a store where I couldn’t read!  I love to read!  I did find a beautiful book on Michelangelo that I wanted to buy.  ha!  It was 212 euros!  Which is around $300!  I love Michelangleo and one of my dreams is to visit the Sistine Chapel while I am still alive and well!

OK, so I just looked the book up on AMAZON and it is $126 here.  Things are really expensive there!  Especially books and paper items.  So, I feel better that I can read this and it is within my reach. haha.  I’ll try not to covet it too much.

Most of you know that I love art and love to draw and share and have many things flowing in and out of my head all the time.  Well, before we left on this trip I was studying Martin Luther and the Reformation period.  Martin Luther did not favor art being used in the church.  Now I know why.  We visited St. Martin’s Cathedral.  In the USA we have nothing to compare St. Martin’s Cathedral to and the enormity of this building is overpowering and overwhelming.  Just standing beside it makes one feel like an ant.  Well, I love the way God works things out and puts people in our path at just the right time.  That night we also had dinner at the Bratislava United Methodist Church.  I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Lenka’s father, who is a Professor at the University in Slovakia.  He used to be theUMC DS of Slovakia and now he teaches theology and religion.  He has even preached at St. Martin’s Cathedral!  Imagine that, me getting to talk to him one on one!  I enjoyed that time so much that I told him I would love to take one of his classes.  I am so hungry for this type of knowledge that I cannot get enough.  ( is this a hint from God that I am to go to school?)   He explained to me that the cathedral was built that large to show how man is to be small before God.  He also said that the shape of the building was in praying hands.  And you know what? It is!  Ok, so it may be evident to everyone else and sometimes it takes me awhile to get it, but when I get it, I get it big.  This one little piece of information gave me a new outlook on Cathedrals, art, etc..

When I was inside the Cathedral I was amazed at the amount of adornment that was in it.  I mean it is all over the place. Statues, gold, carvings, monuments, more gold, jewels, paintings, ironwork, stained glass, etc..  It is dripping with it.  Seeing it has changed my perspective a bit and it has helped me understand where Martin Luther was ” coming from.”    It was the most breathtaking thing I saw on this trip.  I could have sat there for hours, soaking up the history, the art, the sermons of the past.  It is unexplainable.  In this picture you can get an idea of the size of it by looking at the background of the city of Bratislava behind it.

It towers over the city.

I am fascinated by it and am very blessed to have this amazing experience with all of these team members!

Our time here was short and we all loved seeing it.

I thank our God for being a HUGE God and for showing me that He really IS in control of everything!

Standing in His grace,

Donna

To view more of Donna’s thoughts on the trip, visit her blog at http://godw1nz.wordpress.com

Home Sweet Home!

Hello all!

I am writing here from the sweet, sweet, comforts of HOME!  My studio..aaaaaahhhhh!  We arrived safely onto  US soil last night and made it back to Carroll County safe and sound!  Thank you Lord!   Today my mind is going a million miles an hour and I have much to process.  I know that all the team members feel this way.  It is so hard to put our thoughts into words.  We did not do what we thought we were going to do, and that was to build a playground.  We did even more!  We built lifetime relationships with our brothers and sisters , 4000 miles away, across the ocean.  I never knew what family really meant until I left the comforts of my familiar surroundings.  Let me explain.

This amazing group of people, who I didn’t know, came together to form a family in a foreign land.  When I was homesick and missing and my family and familiar surroundings, they came together to console my heart.  Many of them probably don’t even realize that they did.  They were my comforters, as well as team members.  They pointed me in the right direction and kept me on the straight and narrow path to God.    I learned to rely on God to get me through these moments.    I also had to encourage my children, via email, to focus on God also.  There were people back home who were constantly lifting up my kids, checking on them, calling and praying for them.  This is called the Family of God.

God has spoken to me time and time again about how we are all ONE FAMILY, SERVING ONE LORD, whether it is here in Carroll County or there in Slovakia.  I was able to experience the almighty hand of God at work, even over the miles and separation.  That’s the wonderful thing about GOD, He REALLY IS EVERYWHERE!   I have a new perspective on international missions and I feel like there will be more of these stretchings and groanings in my future.  As hard as it was to be away, it was the most fulfilling thing God has ever asked of me.  God showed me how to keep my focus by using others as His instruments.   I experienced the selfless and sacrificial love of mission work.

Being on a team with others is like working a complex and interesting puzzle.  Each of were challenged by certain issues, people, our surroundings, fatigue, weaknesses in ourselves as well as the previous communist regime.  Each of these things is a piece of the puzzle and often times the puzzle doesn’t come together until much later.  Today I see that God was teaching me about selfless love.  I used to use the word unconditional, but I think selfless explains it a whole lot better.  We take ourselves OUT and put others in.  I saw this in many ways in different people.  On all the plane trips home I saw this servant attitude in the stewards that took care of us.  The plane was huge and we were on it for 9 hours!   (Phew, am I ever glad that is over!)   There  were 4-6 stewards serving the passengers.  It was a constant form of selfless love.  They did it with pride, with integrity and with joy.  Each steward had an expression of joy and happiness in her countenance.  I found it fascinating.  They served us 2 meals and 2 snacks. or was it three meals? Either way, it was a lot of going up and down the aisles keeping people happy.  They did it with a willing heart.

I also experienced this same servant  attitude from the people in Slovakia.  When we would leave our rooms in the morning we walked down 84 stairsteps to the dining hall.  Anna, the woman who always took care of us, served us with a huge smile and twinkling eyes.  She reminded me a lot of one of our own church members who is always willing to serve and love in whatever capacity she can.  This is how Anna was.  Like the woman who wiped Jesus’ feet with oil, she was feeding us from the heart.  Each one of us grew to love Anna and this morning I have missed her smiling eyes and face.  I don’t think I will ever look at coffee the same way again.  She couldn’t speak English and we all learned that “KAVA” meant coffee.  Every morning she would come in and say, ” Kava?” and we would all raise our hands and she would bring it to us.  Piping hot with sugar and milk.  Anna got me through the hard days when I was missing home.  I would hug her and she would just squeeze me to pieces.  A few times she even kissed my cheek and touched my arm.  God knew.  He always knows who we need and when.  He knows who will teach, who will rebuke and who will stretch us.  He makes all things beautiful and perfect in His hands.  The hands of Anna were perfect in her selfless servanthood to us.  One of our team members suggested that we leave her with some flowers our last morning there.  So, we went shopping and picked out a beautiful Christmas cactus.  She served us our last meal at lunchtime on Wednesday and we presented her with the gift.  Oh, she was so very, very happy and pleased.  I know she loves us by her actions and reactions.  No words were needed.  Her love for us was felt.  I wish I could have brought Anna home with us because as I write this there are tears in my eyes at the thought that I may never see her again.  God willing, I will.  God is in the relationship building business and He can do it through our willingness to serve Him with our whole heart, body, mind and soul. No words needed.  God is a VERB.   AMEN!

Serving Christ with all my heart,

Donna

NOTE:  For all of those who do not know, while in Slovakia this blog  was written by Donna Godwin.  You can also view her blog at http://godw1nz.wordpress.com

October 20, 2009 Workday

Hi!

Tonight we are at the Backpacker’s Hostel having dinner in the restaurant here. It feels like we have been eating a LOT! We keep reminding ourselves how much we have worked and walked since we have been here.

We spent some time with Pastor Brian today on one of our breaks and he was asking us questions about our church. One of them was how we thought the American Methodist Church was different from the Slovakian Methodist Church. We all answered differently from our own perspectives as church members, lay speakers and leaders of the church. The most interesting thing was how Pastor Brian shared a part of his life’s story with us. Each day we have worked, one person from the team has been asked to give their testimony and one person from the Slovaks have been asked. We have all really enjoyed this special time together. It has been a time of seeing how we are one in Christ Jesus and seeing the power of God at work in each others lives. This has helped me to see, and believe, that we are ONE body serving ONE Lord. I know I keep reiterating this, but it is important that we, as fellow believers, understand this.

One of the questions that has been raised is why do we spend so much money to come on a mission trip to a faraway land when we can spend it at home? It is a complex question with a complex answer. Speaking for myself, when I said “YES” to going, I took a HUGE step of faith, one of trusting in God, trusting that what I was hearing WAS God. If I had turned the trip down, I would not have experienced the power of our Almighty Father in Heaven. Right from the first phone call to today, God has been in control of my every step. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “ For I know the plans I have for you….”

Believe it!!!!! God has grown my confidence and trust in HIM, which has drawn me nearer to Him. God’s whole purpose is to have a relationship with us, one of love. It has to be a willing love, not a love that is forced. That will never work. THIS is one of the reasons why we do these mission trips. We get out of the comfort zone of our homeland and we get to EXPERIENCE GOD in a new way, one that is unique and different than at home. This entire trip has been about building relationships…with each other, with our Slovak brothers and sisters and with Christ Jesus, the true love of our lives, our One and Only.

When Jesus died for us, it was a selfless act of love. It wasn’t easy, it was sacrificial. We have each had to make sacrifices to be on this trip, and while being on this trip. Not only that, our families have had to sacrifice as well. Things have happened that were unexpected and some of those things have not been easy. I have seen the love of Christ at work among this team and the Slovak people. Our sacrifices have brought us together as the family of God. God has been speaking to me about His selfless love. I have been made aware of how selfish and spoiled I am as a human being as well as an American. If I had never taken this trip, I may not have seen that at this time. Being honest with oneself is never easy, and the wonderfully amazing thing about God is that he is GRACIOUS! He loves me anyway and he continues to mold and form me into what He wants me to be. I thank our loving and precious Father for His own act of selfless love towards me, as well as every person on this team.

Psalm 139 says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and we are! I have seen that this week among this team! We have some amazing team members who work very well together and it is evident that God put this team together for this mission. It has not gone as we expected, but better than we expected!

I said earlier that we had been walking a lot, well we have been climbing a lot of stairs also! Our room is on the 3^rd floor of the hostel and with no elevator, we have gotten a lot of exercise! I have guestimated that we have climbed 2336 steps this week. There are 84 steps in all. When we leave in the morning we go down 84, back up 20 and out the door. When we come in at night we go up 64 and then when we go out for dinner we go down 64 and back up 64. So my estimate maybe a little off, but you get the big picture! It is a lot of steps! I am not even including the steps to the church sanctuary or down to the mission center. So I am sure with all of that it is more like 3000 steps! When we went sightseeing we estimated that we walked about 5 miles that day. Everyday we walk somewhere and it is always a fast walk. I thank our God that He ordains each and every step!

Today we finished up projects and goofed around from time to time. It was a relaxing day! Ty, Beth, and Roger worked on the bicycle rack. They used recycled iron to construct a bike rack for the garage. It is still being constructed and it will look awesome when they get it done! It has taken a lot of planning, cutting and welding. A great project to keep Pastor Ty out of trouble! I know it will look awesome when it is completed!

Larry finished up the bench in the yard and it looks great. The yard looks wonderful from all of the weeding and trimming, as well as getting that iron fence down! That has made the yard look so much more open and spacious. The kids will love it there when they gather to play! The rooms inside are all clean and organized, as well as the garage. The biggest job of all has been the cellar and it has also been the most challenging, physically. We worked in one accord, like clockwork. I am amazed at how well we worked together since we didn’t know each other or ever work together before then. It was a definite “God Job!” We are the “ Bucket Brigade.” We are leaving our mark on this place with a clean cellar and 10 buckets with our names on them. “Never forget…” the fun, the laughter, the comraderie, the singing, the work and the Holy Spirit. Mickey has spent the entire trip in the cellar and he is devoted to cleaning the walls with clorox and getting as much done as possible before we leave. It is nearly done and I know the Slovaks are happy! Please keep this space in your prayers, ask God how they should use it to serve Him.

I know this is long for a blog post and I have one more thing to share…

When we got back to the room tonight ( I forgot to mention that I am back at the hostel in the room now…) Anyway, when we got back to the room we had devotions, as we do every night. Tonight was a little different as we did a footwashing. This was the first time I had ever experienced a footwashing. It was very powerful for me and I cried as I saw one team member after another wash the others feet. As we washed, we thanked them, told them how we felt, whatever was on our hearts at the time. It was one of those moments I will never forget. A defining moment in my walk with Christ. It is hard to put into words.

Tomorrow we are sleeping in and then packing up, doing last minute shopping, and then having our last meal with the Slovaks. It will be bittersweet. Our time here has been so amazing and we will all carry the people here in our hearts forever. We will also help spread the Slovak joy to America! Thank you Team and thank you Lord Jesus!

With love from Slovakia,

The Mission Team

Monday, October 19, 2009

We arose to a sunny morning and a wonderful breakfast at the hostel. Anna served us, as always. She is a sweet lady who takes care of us at meal times. We have all grown to love her. We communicate by sign language and a lot of goofy gestures and laughter. She understands that we love her. I look forward to seeing her sweet smile in the mornings.

We went to work today outside. Mickey and Janet worked in the cellar clearing the brick and cleaning the walls. Sena & Lisa worked with Gabi in the garden, weeding, trimming and cutting things back. Larry and Josh worked on bench construction in the yard while Ty, Roger and Beth worked on cutting angle iron for the new bicycle rack. I worked on sanding and painting some small tables that we found in the cellar.

One of the new things we have experienced is the locking of doors. When we leave the hostel we lock the door to our rooms. Then we exit the building through a door and through a very large and heavy iron door. It is rather ornate and beautiful but you know it’s purpose is for security. When we leave that door, we exit another huge gate, also for security. We walk down the narrow street, past the corner bookstore and a paper machine and then a series of other buildings, all seeming to connect. We enter the huge wooden door that opens to the court yard of the church building. This is the driveway, yard and garage area. When you shut the door you close off the street traffic and noise. If you have to go into the church office, there is another gate, another door, another lock. Same thing for the church sanctuary. At home we simply unlock one door and go inside. Not here. I am told that this is the way most European countries are and with this being my first visit, I am trusting that this is correct. We have felt perfectly safe the entire time we have been here. The only thing we have heard has been the occasional drunk on the sidewalk late at night. Our room is on the third floor of the hostel and we have an awesome view of the castle outside our tiny windows. The windows lead to the roof and we leave one of them cracked open at night for some fresh air.

All of the vehicles here are very compact and crammed into parking spaces, some of them are parked up on the sidewalk, kind of precarious and at any old angle. Seems strange to we Americans who park in our designated spaces. Gas is around $5-6 a gallon and gas stations seem to be few and far between. But I may not be noticing them because I am not driving. Driving…wow! What a treat! Zip, zoom, weave, beep, need I say more? Public transportation is bus and the train and we have not taken either. Most people seem to walk everywhere. I can see why. We have each had our own experiences at riding with one or two of the pastors here!!!

Tonight we are eating at this nice restaurant next to the Crowne Plaza in downtown Bratislava. The food is good and we came here to try to get on WIFI, but as I write this we are unable to connect. We are all tired and in need of some serious sleep! The team has been working very well together and we hope that our projects will be completed tomorrow, Tuesday. We would all like to be able to rest on Wednesday, get packed, say our goodbyes and prepare for the trip home on Thursday. We leave Bratislava at 3:30 am for our flight in Vienna. We have all fallen in love with the people here and would like to bring them back to America with us, but there is much work to be done here in the church, in the city and in the country. We have been busy building godly relationships and we have all found that these people are like our family. We are all one body, serving one Lord, Jesus Christ.

Please keep the people of this country in your prayers as they do the work that God has put on their hearts. May they hear Jesus when He says, “ Follow me.”

With Love from Slovakia-The Mission Team

Sunday, October 18, 2009

This is our 5^th day here and we had the opportunity to worship with both of the church congregations that are here in Slovakia. Pastor Josh Kilbourne preached at the church in Bratislava and I did some live art during his sermon. Let me recap…

We all ate breakfast together at the Mission Center, which is next to the church. Sena, Lisa and Janet went with Pastor Brian to the church in Petrzalka ( which means city of no god.) They got to hear Brian preach in Slovakian, with a translator. There was a praise band and about 40 in attendance. They also had communion together.

Josh, Larry and I stayed in Bratislava and worshiped with the people here. Josh delivered the message while I had the opportunity to draw during his message. But before the service even started I felt the presence of God in the music that was being practiced beforehand. One of the songs we sang was “My Savior, My Jesus…Shout to the Lord.” Our praise band at home sings that and when they started playing it I was thanking God for His hand upon this service. I was a little nervous about drawing and God used this time and song to calm my nerves. It worked! I thank God for being so gracious!

Josh gave an awesome message and neither of us looked at each other or what the other was doing until it was all over. I was in tune with Josh while I was drawing and I kept nodding my head in agreement as he gave the message. The drawing and the message were one and the same. Jesus said “ Follow me.” When Josh finished his message and sat down he said he nearly wept when he looked at the drawing. Josh’s message, the drawing and everything we have been experiencing is all in God’s hands and plans.

We all gathered back together at the mission center for lunch. There were 17 of us there and one thing that I recall Lenka’s mother saying is that “ we are one family.” God keeps speaking to me about this and it is one of the most important things I have learned while on this trip; that we are one body, serving one Lord. No matter what our differences are we are all created by the same God, under the same sun, on the same earth, serving the same Lord. “ We are the body of Christ at home and here in Slovakia.”

Our sightseeing today was to go see the Devin Castle ruins in Devin, Slovakia. The ride there was short and we did a lot of weaving in and out of traffic and I commented that I did not want to drive in Slovakia!! haha! When we arrived at the castle we were all in awe at the size and enormity of the castle ruins. We saw the remains of a 4^th century church, a hand built well, the ruins that have been found on the premises along with the walls that are left standing. It was an awesome view from the top. We could see the fertile landscape for miles along the Danube River. We noted that the river was flowing along rather rapidly. When the Iron Curtain fell people tried to cross the river thinking they could make it, but they couldn’t. Many people died trying to cross the Danube. The castle was an awesome sight to see and I am glad that we all had the opportunity to see it.

We ate pizza for dinner and then came back to our “home” for the night. We have been having a lot of laughs as we recap the events of the week. We are all tired and now it is time for bed! Goodnight until tomorrow!