Kosova was a long month.
Our first week at Fellowship of The Lord’s People in Prishtina, had our squad in an evangelism conference where we met people from all over Europe (and a few from the US!) We went nonstop to different cities over the small country of Kosova, where Islam is the primary religion at 96%.
Yet culturally, many may say they are Muslim, without practicing. I found it quite similar to being a Christian in the south. More of a cultural, family, or community thing – rather than a relationship with Jesus.
Islam has been the primary religion of the area since the Battle of Kosova (which gave the country it’s namesake). Before Illyria, where modern Kosova is now, was one of the first places the gospel was spread.
Our team worked with a church family in Odessa, Texas – and we fell in love with them!
Before the month began I was exhausted. I had reached the point where this wasn’t fun anymore. Living in community was hard. I just wanted to close myself in my own room, with my own bed. It would be so much easier if I could go home, eat what I wanted, spend my time the way I wanted, and be around the people I wanted.
You don’t realize how easy it is to escape by yourself until you can’t.
Or how much you rely on your independence, until you can only rely on others.
Yet, that’s where the Lord meets us. That’s where he answers us: when we can’t seek anything else.
After our evangelism week, where we stormed the streets of Gjakova and Prishtina, my team worked in the kindergarten owned by the church. The kindergarten provided funds for the church. Most of the children there were Muslim or nominal Muslims.
I loved them.
The kids would cry your name when you walked in the room and would eagerly bring you along to show you what they were playing or working on. I spent time with the 6-year-olds, who would call me Cassie “for my small name” or Cassandra “for my big name”. They would remember everything I told them. EVERY DETAIL.
We stayed in Prishtina longer than any other place this year. And man, leaving those kids were some of the hardest goodbyes.
Our Kosovar church, taught me about endurance. Of the long road. They truly cry out to God every time they get together, because they have no other options.
I’m praying for that kind of faith.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. Please pray for my parents as they make their journey to Romania to visit for a week. During their visit, they’ll partner with the Romanian church my team is here with.
As always, you can see more photos at cassandra-dunning.com or view my albums on Facebook HERE.
