My first week on the World Race.
We arrived in Sombor on Wednesday the 11th at around 8pm. (fun fact: There is a 6 hour difference between Virginia and Sombor, Serbia; so noon in Virginia is 6 pm in Serbia)
We were welcomed by our host and several of the church members we will be partnering with this month. Our host set my team up in a part of the church called the Coffee House. The ministry this month is more focused on the relational aspect and intentionality of getting to know the locals. Staying at the Coffee House and being able to invite locals over in a culture that lives on coffee has been a blessing.
We have a running shower, of which I plan to enjoy while it lasts. If I hadn’t mentioned before, my team is called the Anchors, which includes 4 males and 3 females. The three of us gals get to share a room, while the gentlemen get the honor of sleeping in the living space area.
A typical day in Sombor, Serbia can look like:
8:00 wake up….Shower, read, pray, devotion, eat, etc.
9:00 prayer walk throughout Sombor
***this is my first time participating in prayer walks, which has been interesting. We
partner up, change partners daily, and each partner adds a new perspective
10:00 Ministry time- focusing on church renovations
13:00 prepare lunch
14:00 lunch
14:30 free time
18:00 Ministry time- focusing on relationships with locals
21:30 dinner
24:00 bed time
It seems as though the meal times are a little different here, and understanding that the times are later than I’m used to has really been a struggle for me, which gives me an opportunity to work on patience and self control.
Tuesday through Saturday are our work days. The relational aspect of getting to know the locals has been more difficult since their school has started and they may not get out of school until 6:00pm.
Sunday’s are rest days. So instead of working on manual labor, we relax until church at 6:00pm. We invite locals to join us for coffee, to chat, or just hang out beforehand at around 4:30.
Monday’s are Adventure Days.
We have already gotten to know some of the locals really well that have met previous World Race teams. Some of the locals have been open and vulnerable with us to share their stories. One young gentleman has been willing to pray and have discussions about Jesus, and he is very open to sharing how he does not fully accept this man named Jesus because “he has not seen him.” I appreciate his honesty, but if you all could pray for this young gentleman’s heart to continue to soften and be willing to hear the voice of the Lord, that would be great! His openness and vulnerability may have come about in our first week because of the continued work of this ministry host as well as past world racers laying the foundation and groundwork in the people here. So please also pray for the continued endurance of the ministry host, the groundwork that is being laid here, and for the Holy Spirit to move.
It has been interesting, this first week is all an adjustment, of getting to not only know the locals, but also getting to know my teammates. We are all different– a chaotic group of blending and mixing genders, music, personality, opinions, and knowledge. We are learning from each other while still learning each other. We are the body of Christ and all working members. I’m still trying to learn my place in this mix of individuals and yet being one unit. What is my place in this setting, in this ministry? My hope is that over the next year, I can learn my spiritual gifts….and acquire even more. An overflowing from above and a downpouring to below.
