Zdravo! Hello!
Well, here we are already closing in our first almost whole week in Macedonia. Everything about this country resounds peace and quiet. Unless the World Cup is on, then this city comes alive with every corner lit up with projection screens showcasing the game and crowds filling the streets until 2am. My team and I have been so blessed with this being first country. Culture is family oriented and hospitality is encouraged everywhere, so culture shock has been a ease this first week being welcomed with warmth.
We arrived late last Saturday night around midnight after a six hour bus ride from Sofia, Bulgaria. We were greeted by our ministry hosts, Josep and Beliana, pastors of Evangelical Church of Bitola. Beliana’s voice spoke familiar English with such comfort and sweetness that right away we knew we were home. Josep introduced himself with a heavy accent, few English words, grunts and belly laughs as he joked around with us trying to remember all our names. He ushered us into two small cabs (because the only cars driven here are smaller than mini coopers) and his own car and pilled our backpacks on our laps. The mysterious new city hid its beauty in the still darkness. Even in the light of the starry sky the city seemed exciting and harmless.
We stopped in front of a small gated front courtyard with a 3 story cement house on one side, a well in the middle and a 1 level finished off shed facing the opposite side. We walked into the house and gasped with relief when we saw a kitchen, living room, dining room, 2 bathrooms, and all of us having actual beds to sleep in. We couldn’t believe how well we had it off, since we are the first World Race team to stay in Macedonia. The next morning, after having the luxury of sleeping in and a morning off, we set out to explore the maze of tight streets and walls of ancient Turkish architecture. The summer weather here is similar to home, high 80s and 90s, except blue skies always and no humidity. A near by park was discovered and dubbed our gym for morning runs and workouts. Bitola’s central city is one long strip of shops and european cafes and where we were very early on introduced to the best gelato. So, its easy to say we are soaking in all the best this city has to offer while we can.
This past week, our team has been learning to break the habit of a timed schedule. Because there is no such thing in Macedonia. We do things when you show up and things happen on their own time. So we’ve learned a whole new concept on the phrase, “Hurry up and wait,” with our new friends here. After being introduce to the church’s congregation on Sunday, we have been initiated into the family, invited to lunches, prayed over and uplifted by their endless joy. These new family members are extremely precious and have already found a place in my heart. Not to mention, I have already been asked to marry several “single sons.”
Over lunch on our second day, I shared with Beliana my story and when she heard I was a designer of flyers and information, or a graphic designer, she immediately shared how she and her husband have been praying for someone to come to their church that could help in this area. God is AMAZING! More than amazing .. He called me from Rochester to Macedonia and has given a talent to help spread the Gospel in a language I completely DON’T UNDERSTAND! The past few days, our team has pulled together our strengths of words, graphics and google translate to make a flyer that will last well after we leave for this church to use to invite their city to church. Also, we created a flyer for English lessons we will be starting next week.
Our ministry this month will be days of street evangelism and inviting people to church. We have already made special relationships with many of the young adults in the church community that have helped us meet and love on others that need Jesus. Most in this city, about 90%, have their hearts wrapped in Orthodox legalism. Pray for freedom, understanding and opportunities to continue to teach the Gospel. Pray for our opportunities to build more relationships with our English classes we’ll be holding for the next two weeks as well.
As always, thank you for reading, supporting, loving, praying, and being.
Much love, Kirst
