Habits Are Hard to Form but Easy to Break!
I was trying to give you all a break and not bombard you with information every day on what’s been happening on our MLO and also wanted others to tell you what they were experiencing to fill the void, and suddenly it’s been over a week since I last sat down and wrote a blog! Habits are hard to form but they sure are easy to break, because now I can’t seem to find the time, energy or motivation to put pen to paper!
Time has rapidly flown by! Our team grew to 38 and now has shrunk to 18, and after Friday will be down to 7. Just to scrape the highlights of what has happened I can tell you this: trust has been established at a deeper level, relationships have strengthened and Christ’s love has been noticed and seen as very attractive to those who’ve crossed our path!
For example, for the past 12 years I have been friends with Agron (Mouseman, the Sisak ice cream shop owner) and have invited him out to HiS HOUSE every year, but he never came. Our friendship has always been one of mutual respect, but was always at arm's length. This year with the addition of Taki (the Albanian member of our team) Mouseman took that step and came to the house last night! I was so overwhelmed with emotions and thankful he chose to cross the hurdle of trust. As we sat and watched Croatia play England in the Semi finals of the World Cup, we shared food and drink as well as some wonderful conversation. He asked about the team members and commented about how it felt like family here, how comfortable everyone felt around one another, and how the team made him feel so very welcome. At halftime I asked if he would like to take a tour of HiS HOUSE and he agreed! As we walked from room to room he couldn’t believe how big it was and how many people could sleep here. As we came to the end of the tour, Mouseman asked a question that no one in all of my prior house tours has ever asked me. He noticed that every room had a fish above it with a name and asked me why? I told him that they were named after Jesus’s disciples and that just like them, we follow Him as disciples! He smiled and then said, “David you really love Croatia and this is home for you, isn’t it?” When I nodded yes, he said “I can tell by hearing it in your voice and seeing how much we care!” That was a blessing to hear and a moment God intensified a relationship of trust!
For example, for the past 12 years I have been friends with Agron (Mouseman, the Sisak ice cream shop owner) and have invited him out to HiS HOUSE every year, but he never came. Our friendship has always been one of mutual respect, but was always at arm's length. This year with the addition of Taki (the Albanian member of our team) Mouseman took that step and came to the house last night! I was so overwhelmed with emotions and thankful he chose to cross the hurdle of trust. As we sat and watched Croatia play England in the Semi finals of the World Cup, we shared food and drink as well as some wonderful conversation. He asked about the team members and commented about how it felt like family here, how comfortable everyone felt around one another, and how the team made him feel so very welcome. At halftime I asked if he would like to take a tour of HiS HOUSE and he agreed! As we walked from room to room he couldn’t believe how big it was and how many people could sleep here. As we came to the end of the tour, Mouseman asked a question that no one in all of my prior house tours has ever asked me. He noticed that every room had a fish above it with a name and asked me why? I told him that they were named after Jesus’s disciples and that just like them, we follow Him as disciples! He smiled and then said, “David you really love Croatia and this is home for you, isn’t it?” When I nodded yes, he said “I can tell by hearing it in your voice and seeing how much we care!” That was a blessing to hear and a moment God intensified a relationship of trust!
On another occasion I was visited by two mothers from the new hockey club in Sisak, the one that is not recognized by the city. They came out to give me gifts and say thank you for the small amount of equipment that we have given them. I shared our desire to continue to help them and to get them included in the camp in the future. When we finished our time together I asked them if I could pray with them before they left. They immediately asked, “Now?” And I said I would like to but only if they felt comfortable. They said they would love to but that neither of them were religious and didn’t know how. They asked me how they could participate in my prayer. It was such a God moment, and to witness and be a part of their first communication with our Heavenly Father was another reminder of why we are here! God took that meeting and time of prayer for His love to be revealed and a seed to be planted. I know today that seed is one of curiosity and one day will become a seed of redemption! Those two ladies were ladies of peace and I will have them embedded in my heart forever! I never took a picture of them, but their images are as strong as if I had!
The relationships that have been built, the opportunity for several of our young girls to spend the night at other girls' homes, the influx of more and more people coming to HiS HOUSE as well as so many parents allowing their children to come out and spend the day with us are further examples of Christ’s love overcoming fear! When we first came to Sisak 13 years ago, there were rumors spread around that we were a cult that would take and steal children. Wow! How God has reversed that and brought His love to the forefront through the people He has chosen to bring here through the ministry!
The programs of ministry we are doing are still going strong and coming to an end: baseball and dance camps here in Sisak, football camps in Serbia, the food bank, the children’s library programs, Texas Carnival and SOS Children's Village have all been hugely successful in shining His love and deepening the desire to know Him!
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| Football Camp in Serbia |
Remember Jesus loves you and so do I!
HE DID IT!
David
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