Hi Friends & Family!
I’d love to update you on my time in Macedonia before we say goodbye to Europe!!My squad and I are spending our last few days in Europe! We’re desperately trying to stuff everything we own into our small backpacks in anticipation for our new season! We’re anxiously awaiting our next three months in Africa!!
My team and I are so grateful to have spent the last four weeks pouring into the city of Stip, Macedonia! We volunteered at an evangelical church called New Life Church. Our ministry this past month varied from giving sermons five nights a week at various church services to working at a pregnancy clinic to praying with locals to ministering to drug addicts. The church we’re staying in is occupied by drug addicts and recovering drug addicts for the majority of the day. My team and I are learning how to shine light in uncomfortable situations and more about the goodness of God’s love for His children.
Overall, Stip is one of the most “run-down” places I’ve ever been (as mentioned in my previous blog). Most houses and buildings look like they may topple over at any second. It’s been an eye opening, stretching, and rewarding month with my team!
Here are some of the highlights of the month! —
This is our new friend, “Baba” (“Grandma”). My team and I got to pray over her and spend some time with her. Her husband died years ago, so she lives alone in a small one-bedroom house. She has fallen into the fire in her home three times and has yet to be burned. I asked her what he favorite thing to do is, and her response was, “Praying to God!”. She told us that she can’t afford a radio or television so she spends her whole day talking to God. What an inspiration sweet Baba is.
This month has been full of sharing testimonies and sermons. My team and I get to share five nights a week with the church community. This is a picture of me sharing a sermon on the book of Ecclesiastes at a local church service in a nearby village. Studying Ecclesiastes has been extremely convicting and insightful! I hope to share more on this in a future blog!
My team and I got to serve in a pro-life pregnancy clinic. This is the only pregnancy clinic in Macedonia. Abortion is the only form of “birth control” in Macedonia, so there are thousands upon thousands of abortions each year. My team and I got to help the owners prepare for an upcoming seminar by cleaning their office and putting together little gift packages.
During our time at New Life Church, the church’s “Revival” Seminars were going on. Basically, this time is used to reignite people for the Lord. After a six hour sermon, and a very stir crazy Claire, four young men invited Jesus into their hearts and two women rededicated their lives to Christ! This is one of the coolest things I’ve witnessed on the Race!!
One of our main tasks this month was preparing for a big city-wide event that the church hosted. The event brought in speakers from other countries to talk about whether or not God exists. The speakers spoke about how we know the Bible, especially the resurrection of Jesus is completely factual. Many people who identify as atheists and agnostic came with questions and doubt, and left with answers and faith!!!
My squad and I are now currently in Skopje, Macedonia spending five days debriefing our time in Europe and preparing our hearts for a new season – a season of red dirt and sun burns!! During this time, leadership from the World Race fly over form the States to pour into us. It’s a time of worship, prayer, and celebration! As we prepare for our new season, I would love if you would join me in prayer.
Prayer Requests – Month 5 on the Race comes with a lot of changes. For one, my squad and I will be traveling to Zambia (Africa) on December 2nd. Please pray for safe travels and some good rest on the plane 🙂 Month 5 also brings team changes. My current team has encouraged me, uplifted me, pointed me towards Christ, and laughed and cried with me more than I could have ever imaged. As we are grieving our old teams, please pray for smooth transitions into our new teams. Please pray for Christ-like eyes, open hearts, and lots of peace! Pray that God would prepare our hearts to pour out everything we have in Africa! Thank you so, so much!
Lots of Love,
Claire
