April, Hollis, Kristin and I received bouquets of flowers. They had been waiting over an hour for our arrival! We gathered in the tiny 15×20 room, all 35 of us in a space no larger than a dorm room. Worship fills the room as these beautiful people sing praises to their king, and we sit at a table prepared for one. A display of chocolates, chips, juice and cookies fill a table lined in their finest linens. All the families pulled together everything they had to purchase a feast for us. Just for showing up.
Just for being who we are, sitting with them and talking about Jesus.
The children were escorted outside by Roger (Sue’s husband) and the 3 other girls. Sue and I sat in on the bible study. A few men, 2 grandmothers and one brave girl sat listening intensely around Pastor Jifko. Some can read, most cannot. So they listened, hanging intently on his every word.
Jifko came to this village in 1998 and started building relationships with them. After a while he decided to show the Jesus film and share the gospel vocally. The response was shocking and encouraging as people were accepting Christ left and right. Wanting to get baptized and proclaim their faith publically. 10 years later, he’s sitting in their living room leading worship and having bible studies to disciple them and raise up leaders.
Sue leans over and says,
“That’s Milena, the girl I was telling you about.”
I had never heard about a Milena… I thought I’d inquire at home and love her while I had her in front of me. I interrupted bible study to invite her to sit with me at the table. Nothing can be done discretely when you’re the only American and everything you do has to be translated. She had been standing in the corner watching from behind. I just felt like I wanted her closer.
And, I think, so did God.
We had a secret study of our own in between her questions on scripture to Jifko. An hour or so later, Jifko asks if I would close us in prayer. Filled with the Holy Spirit, my tongue takes my heart and places it on the table. As I open my eyes, I look over at my tough, Serbian Papa Jifko and tears run down his face as he looks at me. In the 4 days of living at his house, I had laughed and joked with him so much… but this was a side I hadn’t seen yet. So filled with, it was flowing out his eyes. I felt his heart, and Gods, for these people in that moment.
After study, Milena and I failed a few attempts at conversation without a translator, and failed even more attempts at getting a picture of the 2 of us.
As we were leaving we handed out the bags we assembled a few days prior. Each family left with a bag of food essentials we had purchased with Roger and Sue, a book on Jesus, and hopefully a little more love than before we came. Milena walked me to the car with her arms wrapped around me the whole time. We couldn’t stop hugging each other. Sue translated as I asked her how I could be praying for her.
Courage she says.
Courage.
Then she whips out some English I didn’t know she had up her sleeve…
“I Love You.” She says.
I thought my knees were gonna give.
And yet, this brave girl is sitting among the men, at the feet of the teacher, learning everything she can about Jesus in the few short hours we have come to sit with her. Relentless after God. Thirsting for wisdom and knowledge. Not angry that this “God” would allow these things to happen to her. Purely seeking His face in the midst of poverty, rejection, fear,
As We drive off I yell out the window,
“I love you Milena!”
She replies, “I LOVE YOU!!!!……”
I feel really lucky that she loved me back after walking through tragedy most of us can’t even imagine.
Milena is why I am doing what I’m doing this year. She is why I have decided to give up my life and follow Jesus wherever He takes me.
I’m really glad He took me to Donja Bela Reka tonight to meet Milena.
