Zdrahvo! Just wanted to update you guys on the journey and what God is teaching me so far here in Tetovo, Macedonia. The journey here was a long one. 
In total we probably traveled closed to 40 hours to get from Atlanta to Tetovo building all kinds of friendships along the way. While the traveling was long this country is gorgeous. Macedonia is a beautiful country hidden away in the mountains of Eastern Europe. The weather and environment here reminded me a lot of Colorado and the glorious Rockies.
Tetovo is made up entirely of Albanian Muslims and Macedonian Orthodox… and one Christian family. The Rudd has been in the country of Macedonia for about 25 years the past 6 of which lead him to the city of Tetovo where he and his family have been pioneering the ministry field here in the city. While walking through the city it seems to be a fairly well developed city with a rich diversity in culture I was personally surprised to find that there wasn’t a single Christian church within the city. Tetovo, for the most part, is an unreached people group. It hit me in that moment that for the past 6 years this family has been working alone in this field building relationships and sharing the Gospel with those he does life with on the daily. I thought about the courage it must take for this family to continue to stay here and be fully dependent on God and trusting that he is doing something in this city, and then it hit me. While our team was out cleaning the local park with the Rudd and some of the locals Daniel, the eldest of the Rudd children (mind you he’s only 8) said “I’m not brave, I’m just compassionate.”
Being fearless, when it comes down to it, has nothing to do with being courageous, rather it a courageous heart grows from a compassionate heart. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul writes on the nature of love, not just romantic love as we often enjoy using this passage for, but perfect love. In verse 7 it reads, “It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preservers.” Love overcomes when you’re not sure how your story will end, love continues to hope when it feels like theres no light at the end of the tunnel, love endures when the journey becomes tiring and the road ahead feels endless. Perfect love casts out fear.
I ask that you would pray for this team and the Rudd family as we continue to minister and share God’s love with those around us here in Tetovo Macedonia. Thanks 🙂
