Three Days in Sombor

     The last three days Julia, Chad, and I have been in Sombor, Serbia, which is north-western Serbia. We are going to hold three different camps this summer. One of which will be partnered with the church in Sombor. So we went their to meet the church (which is just 20 members) and pastor Zoli who will be leading the camp. Also, we met an American missionary there working with Zoli. We were dropped off at the station and we were on our own from their.
     As we arrived in Sombor, Chad and I had to use the restrooms. As we left the bathroom, a gypsy lady came frantically running behind us yelling. Apparently, we were to each pay 30 dinar for our use of the toilet. It was quite a humorous interaction. It is so common to pay to use the public toilets. And on the topic of money, our budget for the three days was 100 dinar breakfast, 300 lunch and 200 dinner. 100 dinar is comparable to $1.
    Anyway, Julia and I stayed with Vicky, a Californian lady serving in Sombor. She is unrelated to JV, just here on her own. Chad stayed across the street in apartments with the pastor of the church and his family. It was very nice meeting her and living there as she was American. It was refreshing as we spent all day talking with Serbs not being able to communicate as much. God provided a bit of relaxation and comfort in food, rest and conversation in order to prep for camps!
     Furthermore, It is so incredible to see the body of Christ in this city! There was a family from Michigan staying at a retirement center within 100 yards of the pastor and Vicky, the missionary. The family was in Sombor to teach American football with a Christian organization. To me it was so crazy that in a city where they may be the only born again believers, God placed them all together to encourage each other. The family is only there for four months, but that was just the need that Vicky needed, support and love. The interns and I needed the same. So all of us had chicken fajitas to get a taste of home as Americans. The kids of the family were so sweet. There were three boys 16, 14, and 11 and a girl 7 years old. The family reminded me so much of my family at times. They are home schooled and will soon be missionaries in Bulgaria full-time. It was very encouraging and great! The boys were great examples of godly young men for youth in Serbia. They even helped promote camps even though they won't be coming.
     Basically we spent our time walking up and down the town square in the evenings when youth would be out introducing ourselves and passing out flyers for camps. It was very interesting to see responses. Some were eager to see what we were handing out and others appalled. Many spoke a bit of English. English is taught at age 6 through 8th grade here. So most all of the younger generation can at least understand a bit. In two nights we passed out 300-400 flyers. It was Zoli, Vicky, Julia, Chad, myself, the two missionary boys, and the help of a few youth from the church here in Sombor. Out of that amount Vicky said that we are hopeful for 2-3 students to go. So please be in prayer for numbers to surpass that goal!
    The flyers do not mention evangelism or God, just simply promote English. Camps are a tool to get to spiritual conversation. Our role as interns is to build relationships so that students come to church throughout the year.
     Tuesday night we spent our time hanging out in the basement of the church playing games, meeting youth. The pastor spent time talking with parents about camps while we played cards and other games. Before this, we were told not to mention prayer or God.  Non-orthodox churches like Protestant are considered cults. This is very new to me to keep my faith inward. We are to boldly proclaim the truths of Him. My role is to build relations in hopes of opportunity. Please continue to pray for these opportunities and open hearts. The whole three days was very thought provoking. I am used to boldly proclaiming Jesus' name. Here, even for the believers, there is so much persecution that they are not boldly making disciples so even the few there are, aren't sharing. I am so perplexed as this is foreign to my mind. I have such passion and joy I can't contain it!!! I realize though that the environment I have been raised in has helped build this boldness.
     Please be in great prayer with me as the first camp is July 1st. Final planning is happening and many students are starting to think about going or not. I know God will select those He wants to come, and I am praying for outrageously high numbers of outcomes!