We have a balcony with spot for a hammock. Air condition when it gets a little too hot to be comfortable. A bakery (several actually) within a five minute walk from our apartment that have delicious pastries. There is a washing machine and internet right here at the apartment. There are ice cream vendors everywhere and the ice cream is inexpensive and delicious. We have been able to order pizza and watch the World Cup two times and had coffee for breakfast every morning. Our hosts Remi and Debbie are incredible amazing, and have done everything they can to make sure that our every need is met.
Really I am not even sure that I am on the World Race. Thanking God for all His obvious blessings this month!
We are spending this month in Belgrade, Serbia. This is a country where Eastern Orthadox is the main religion. Saint Sava Cathedral, the biggest in the city can be seen from our apartment. The people here know religion well but they don’t know what it means to have a relationship with God. Words like missionary and mission trip don’t mean anything to them.
That being said, they are incredibly friendly people.
Our ministry this month is evangelism. So what does that mean? We get up in the morning, have devotions as a team, and as we go about the rest of our day we talk to people in the effort of building relationships with them. We have started to get to know Anna at the bakery down the street. One evening a few of our guys played a pickup basketball game with a few people in the park, one of the guys turned out to be our neighbor across the street and we have ran into him several times since.
One evening in the city center we even had a woman, Khumo came up and start talking to us! She had just married a Serbian man and moved here from Botswana and was looking for something familar. She saw our host Debbie and wanted to meet her. Debbie is from Ghana and so they share a similar skin color. Black people in Serbia are not a common sight. The conversation flowed, we got to share about the church outreach that we are taking part in Saturday nights, and there are plans for a follow up coffee date. Let me just say…that was not a coincidence. Two of very few black people ending up in the same place at the same time? That was God preparing these meetings in advance. Our short time here is already full of good stories of God at work.
Please be praying for more opportunities like these, for open eyes, ears and hearts. Divine appointments. For courage as we continue to step out of comfort zones and ask for new levels of boldness. And for the connections already made as we follow up with them and continue to build relationships with them over this next month.
