Planning and Preparations

The first annual Roma Leadership Conference begins tomorrow in Novi Sad, Serbia. Please pray for a fruitful time together, and that we leave with renewed spirits in pursuit of great things! 

We started off the day with meetings...

Deep thoughts and big vision thinking with Paul from CRM.

LaJuana gets to meet a colleague, Marija, the first La Leche League Leader in Serbia!

Catching a cab on a drizzly day in downtown Novi Sad . . . 

And meeting with Nenad and Vesna of Nexus Novi Sad.

 

A typical Serbian dinner with family, followed by all pitching in to prepare conference materials.

Heading North!

Bright and early Tuesday morning, Rodja and I headed north. First stop, pick Jim up at the airport in Belgrade.

Mission accomplished! Bright and perky after almost 24 hours travel, everyone we see remarks on how he looks younger than ever! 

Next flying stop - we touch base with our colleagues at Bread of Life in Belgrade. It is always good to meet with Jasmina and Slavica, as our areas of service overlap. We have worked together on several projects, and they are a blessing to so many! Bread of Life focuses on three areas: Roma children and education, the elderly, and drug rehabilitation. They are also the central coordination point for the distribution of Christmas boxes which are collected by Samaritan's Purse. Even before we were involved with work in Serbia, many of us made the Christmas boxes a yearly tradition.

Next stop, Dane and Melita. In addition to pastoring First Baptist Church of Belgrade, they have a printing business. We catch up on their work -- home groups bringing new closeness and vitality to their church, and a home church for the Roma in urban Belgrade! We also purchase books for the upcoming conference, pick up more of the illustrated gospel for use with Roma children, and see a new illustrated book -- Pilgram's Progress -- that we buy for Marijan and Slavica to try out with their children.

And then it is on to Novi Sad, where I was first introduced to Serbia. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new! I have a treat in store. On Wednesday, I will meet with the only La Leche League Leader in Serbia -- a connection from my "real job." Later in the week, I look forward to time spent with Olivera and Biljana, who became friends during our first ESL classes in Novi Sad!

 

 

Natasha, Teodora and Jovana meet us -- oh, and Molly, the new puppy! Natasha has one of our favorite treats -- pancakes with Nutella! In the USA, we would think of them more as crepes -- and as extremely delicious. It was great to be able to reconnect with friends who have become family. We visit a while, then settle in for a good night's sleep before conference preparations tomorrow.

It's Tuesday, but more of Monday

My pictures were not cooperating to move over into photo stream, so I posted this quick summary of Monday night. Now that I am home, I am trying to fill in a few blanks.

Last night, it was well past dark when the goats arrived in Žitni Potok. We headed from the house of the man helping with the great goat round-up, to the house where home church is held. It is a humble home, warm and welcoming. The lights were so dim in the room, I could barely read my Bible.

The camera's flash makes it look bright, but it was quite dark. We shared scripture,  all seventeen 

gathered in the room surrounded and together they prayed for me. Beautiful! Before we left, we handed out more laundry detergent.   No one I know has ever been his happy over laundry soap! What a wonderful thing to be able to share!

We left Žitni Potok and headed for Dubovo. There we found Sasa's family well.

 

All in a day's work. :-)

Goats! And so much more . . . .

After promising an update on the goats, we returned to the hotel (imagine: hostel) to find the Internet out. Woke up this morning to Internet, so here is a quick version, and will add more details later. Can't be late to pick up Jim at the airport today!

The day starts out with a coffee and this hot chocolate! It is very cold outside, and snowing lightly in Prokuplje.

Now, the goats! The plan is to deliver, not baby goats like I thought, but we have found already pregnant goats, and will bless three families with these goats. In turn, once the new babies arrive (in about a week for this batch), and when the new ones are old enough, these families will each bless a new family with a goat, and so on! The goats are milk goats, and the cheese made from their milk is highly prized. Others working with us will transport the cheese to the cities for sale, giving a source of income to these Roma families.

The problem is getting the goats from where they are, very near the border with Kosovo, to the village in Žitni Potok. At first we believe that Rodja and I will be transporting them in Rodja's car. Then, that we will all four (plus the goats) go in Marijan's car, goats in laps, etc. maybe possible if all are newborn babies like the one a one, but they aren't! 

These are full-grown, pregnant goats! Two of them are carrying twins! 

One of the few cars in the village of Žitni Potok is a van, pressed into service to travel unbelievably difficult roads to the nearly deserted village - only 13 residents - on the border with Kosovo, to purchase the goats.

After the goats were returned to Žitni Potok, we proceded with home church. We met in a small, dimly lit home. Every seat was filled, and people were standing. The pictures appear much brighter than the actual scene was, because of the camera flash. Here, we sang and prayed, Rodja and LaJuana shared a word of encouragement, and Marijan shared a message with the church. Afterwards, an honor I can't even describe. Because I (LaJuana) am the face of your support in this village and others, these precious ones asked to pray for me (all of you). I stood in the midst of a group of people I love, as they prayed blessings and thanksgiving for the work you allow me to help Marijan and Rodja to do within their own country and people. I understood nothing they said, and everything they said. It was beautiful.

 

Please pray for their home church to grow, multiply, and reach others in this village and others. And thank you for the difference you all make in this village.

It's Sunday in Prokuplje

Wood heater in church

Handing out humanitarian aid - laundry detergent.

These young people are awesome! Faithful, diligent, with servants' hearts!

Many of the parents in the two services were attending for the first time. They left impressed, and promising to return.

Felipe. After church, hanging out with the youth. Right after this, we had an impromptu singing and praise time that filled the room with beautiful song, and all of our hearts with joy.

Check back tomorrow for the adventures of Marijan, Slavica, Rodja, LaJuana and five baby goats!

Roma Leadership Conference - On Our Way!

 

Munich Airport - Traveling Mercies

After several trips connecting through the madness of Frankfurt Airport, Munich was a calm, easy oasis on the way to Belgrade and eventually Prokuplje.

Onboard the final flight, a white bread sandwich. Really, really white bread!

Met at the airport by Rodja, we met with Samuil and then Saska. always new possibilities with Samuil, and talk of media outreach with Saska. catching up, planning, sharing blessings and what God is teaching us - just close, sweet fellowship with my brother Rodja on the drive south. And finally, arrival at Marijan and Slavica's, and the heavenly smell of roasted peppers. So delicious! 

A phone call, excitement, arrival - some of my dear ones, with new friends to meet! Pera, Stefan, and David arrive with friends they have brought into our fellowship. We had a wonderful time of hugs, laughter, sharing, and yes, singing! By request, my favorite, "Devla bičal to duho akana." My heart is full, being with these precious ones.

  

There is the promise of a full day on Sunday. Now, to try to catch a few more minutes of sleep and help this body acclimate to Serbia time.