This month the Lord has placed my team and I in Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia. We are partnered with Novi Sad Christian Fellowship Church and living in the rooms they have so generously provided for us upstairs. We are blessed to have mattresses to sleep on, hot running water for showers, normal toilets, and a fully functioning kitchen with a market right next door so we can cook all of our meals.
Our ministry is simply building relationships with people. I. AM. SO. EXCITED. We have made a lot of friends so far! Our schedule was wide open when we first arrived, so we decided to split into teams and do a prayer walk around the city. Praying not only for the people of Novi Sad, but also seeking the Lord’s guidance for how He wants to use us in this place. Needless to say, our schedule has quickly filled up! Hallelujah!
We have befriended a middle school girls Zumba class, as well as their instructor, and are now regularly attending their dance class and hanging out with them. (Yes, I’ve been dancing and yes, I look like a fool).
Our first night here we met a woman in the church who told us about her organization Fokus. Last week we had coffee together to discuss partnering with her on an event. Not only did we plan a really cool conversational English workshop at the university for the next week, but she also poured into our whole team with her spirit, wisdom, and heart. (My Spirit was dancing after our conversation and it wasn’t just the caffeine)!
Every Saturday there’s a group of youth, Royal Rangers, who meet at the church for life lessons, a little bit of Jesus, and games (think Boy Scouts meets Awana). It is so much fun! So for a couple of hours, we hangout with them and have a blast learning along side them in this month’s first aid series!
On Sundays we split up for church. Two of us go to the youth service, while the others go to the main service. Last week Kelsey and I got to hangout with the youth (their lesson was AMAZING). We joined in on worship, I gave my testimony, and Kelsey attempted to teach the kids the Church Clap. It was a ton of fun!
This Sunday we knew we had to pick two different people to go with the youth and one person to give their testimony during the main service. It was a tough decision, but during a prayer walk the Lord convicted me – why not ask the One who placed us here? He knows best, duh. So Friday morning we sat in our meeting room as a team and asked the Lord. So now I am giving my testimony during the main service tomorrow… yikes.
Janele has also kicked off weekly team Bible studies! Y’all, the Lord has given her an abundance of wisdom! I am constantly baffled by the things she says and feel so incredibly blessed to walk along side her and call her my teammate!
Tomorrow (Sunday) before church we are going to have a Bible study with the youth girls! They are really excited, though we may be more excited. Ha.
Coffee shops! If you know me at all you know my coffee addiction. But actually coffee shops are a fantastic way to meet new people and build relationships with them! We went to the university the other day to pass out flyers for our English workshop and honestly just wanted a place to sit in and drink water. We ended up asking a student on campus, and ended up in a contemporary, modern, rustic coffee shop! We walked upstairs, exhausted, and plopped down on this bench/couch thing ordering all the coffee and water. After relaxing a while our waitress ended her shift and the new one rounded the corner in excitement. AMERICANS! What? She was super excited to meet us and to speak English with us. We have since been back to the coffee shop and hung out with her a little plan to hangout with her more!
The Lord has truly been present all around this month in our ministry! We couldn’t be here without Him!
And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 4:19
In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
-Philippians 4:12-13
