Our week after Debrief has been what we’ve needed – relational and restful. We have stayed in Kamenari, Montenegro, a small fishing town. During Alex’s stay at the hospital local pastors Joel and Nicola Baker with Husso and Devla, went and prayed for her. This created relationship that God wanted to bring together. During our prayer time to figure out where God wanted to lead us we all got; go with the local pastors. God worked it out and we were giving a place to stay with Devla and Husso. Since being here it’s been super great.
This week has been a much needed week. It has allowed allowed us to finally slow down and begin to grow as a team. Alex falling and fracturing her lower back really put a spin to our first couple weeks. Being closer to Alex we have been able to see her. This has been super great. It only feels full when all 5 of us are together. Everything slowing down has giving time for us a team to share our testimonies, laughs and simply get to know each other. We have been able to grow in our chemistry and culture as a team. We’ve started to set our disciplines up and it’s just been great. The beautiful thing though is since the beginning of this time God still made a way to create what He wanted to. We wanted our plan but He did His and showed us His goodness and faithfulness in an unfortunate event. I think we all individually have grown a lot with the Lord and it’s been great to get to know each other deeper and start living and walking as the Church.
Since being in this small town ministry has been so relational. Oh wait… that’s what Ministry is! Loving God and loving people! For His glory and our good. As Team Boundless we have prayed, read, encouraged and laughed. So good. God also led us to this truth and idea about “loving the people that are in front of you.” We felt called to love on the neighborhood. What this has looked like is hanging out with Joel and Nicola. It’s also looked like hanging out with Devla and Husso. By hanging out with these two couple we came across some other friends like; Dug, Evan, Steflana, Stefan, Valentina, Mike, Rochka, Ivana.
Joel and Nicola have been Missionaries in Europe for over 34 years. They have shared with us stories of the revivals in Czech and other countries. Joel has taught and shown me the passion to believe God wants to go move even in the darkest and hardest places. Europe has been a very hard place for people to experience the gospel but hearing their stories bring hope. Joel and Nicola have helped lead many home groups in this area. Devla and Husso are the people we are staying with. Hearing their testimonies have been… Life giving. Their story is all about how they had everything and lost it all but in Jesus they have found everything. They owned a restaurant, had connections everywhere, had lots of money. Their life was full but when the war happened in 1992 they lost it all. No water, no food. Everything costed super super high. Most of her family came to their care. Mrs. Devla said, “it was only through the grace of the Lord and his faithfulness that we made it through.” This has created such a thankfulness and gratefulness in their hearts. They are so joyful and thankful for all the little things. It’s truly infectious. But, Devla’s story really started when she was in the hospital and some woman told her, “Lord is One.” Up to this point Devla had a Muslim background and really a confused understanding of why are their so many “god’s.” After hearing those words, Devla said she couldn’t shake them and it stirred something. The War began and things were tough. Eventually she was invited to a church gathering but never went. When things got hard she went to the bathroom on a regular Sunday and God said, “Stop what you’re doing and go to church.” She went and everything changed. She said, as soon she heard the music tears began to fall and I felt healing begin in me. I heard about Jesus and my life was changed. Mrs. Devla said after that service she began discipleship with a woman and began to forgive those who hurt her. Her brother and sister were killed in the war, and all the other tragedy that happened. She had forgiven them because Christ forgave her. It’s truly genuine and life changing what happened to Devla. You can now see it on her face and all that she does. She’s thankful. There’s too much to tell in her story but this is what has stuck out with me the most..
- I had everything, I had nothing and both times I was unsatisfied and lonely. When Jesus found me.. It all changed. He was the missing piece.
- I was forgiven so now I can forgiven.
This week has been just simply a sharing of time with God and people. We met Stefan and Valentina through Devla. Stefan has autism and he’s somebody that God said, “love the people in front of you.” So we have played much basketball with him. He doesn’t talk much but he smiles and his mom has been overjoyed. With this leading to love those in front of us we have cleaned Mrs. Devla’s house. We have learned to love each other within our teams. It’s truly been a blast.
One of my favorite moments was Sunday morning church. We worshipped Accapella and it was actually very sweet. This little home group lifted their hands and began to sing off-key and it was wonderful. I didn’t know the language but I just began to sing my own song. Then after this moment we began to share testimony after testimony and check this out… Steflana’s ankle was completely healed during our testimony time. She said your guy’s stories and faith healed me. This was a beautiful moment for me. One of my desires for the WorldRace was that I wanted to see healings. Early on in the Race, Mrs. Karen Dilbeck, shared with me what do you want to see? I said healing. I said I believe in it and I know people who have but I haven’t personal been a part of it or seen it. She said be ready to be faithful with the little. So even though I didn’t see it, I was a part of it! And thank you Jesus! I’m being faithful to celebrate here and be thankful for this amazing healing.
All in all, this time in Kamenari has been great. Watching movies on a projector screen. Staying up way too late talking about our worst moments and fears. Learning how to walk using a cane with a bad ankle.. (oh yeah.. I rolled my ankle pretty bad) God has worked on my pride with that. We had an endless amount of food at the barbecue.. the meat kept coming and coming.. But this week I’ve learned the benefit, life and purpose that friendships bring. God wants us to walk as Jesus did and as Paul shares with us..
“With a mother’s love and affectionate attachment to you, we were very happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our lives—because you had become so dear to us.”
1 Thessalonians 2:8 TPT
**Pray for us as we head into Serbia and Bulgaria for a week and then fly out on the 8th for Asia.
