Starting the day with this little gypsy beauty running into my arms will always be one of my favorite memories from my time in Serbia.
Back story: I got to spend this past week in Nis, Serbia with Team Vivid. On their way to Serbia, Vivid felt the Lord calling them to stop in Budapest, Hungary for a few days. They couldn’t explain a rhyme or reason as to why, but were obedient.
During our time in Budapest, we stayed at a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Base. There, we met a man named Marko who is from Serbia.
As we got to know Marko more, God pressed it on our hearts to find out about his home city and church in Serbia.
Marko shared with us a lot about the Serb culture – like how 98% of Serbs identify as Orthodox but less than 1% follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He raved and raved about his little church in Nis, Serbia that carries the heart beat of the gospel in a country that emphasizes traditionalism more than relationship with God.
He shared the gift his church has of meeting people at whatever stage of life they are in and building relationship with them. (And it is so true!) His church intentionally invites every person they meet into sharing life together, which creates an avenue to show and speak out the truth of the gospel. They do this by partaking in different community activities as well as inviting locals to their own activities. One program they’ve started,“Talk,” invites people interested in improving their English to meet at church, sit around tables, eat cookies, drink tea, and speak to each other in English. A similar program they offer teaches teens and young adults how to play various instruments for free. Their only agenda is to build relationship with those that come. Walls are broken down in the hearts of visitors as they learn church does not have to be a fancy building where everyone comes with their best self, but its a cozy place where believers are free to exchange real life.
As Marko shared more and more about his church, we just knew Jesus was calling us there. We reached out and they welcomed us with open arms.
Right before we headed to Nis, we took time as a team to pray about what the Lord had in store for us there. We asked him to highlight any activity or people group, anything on His heart.
As we listened, Jesus gave me a picture of kids in a poor community. At first glimpse, the picture made it seem like I was back in the chaos of a neighborhood in India. The kids reminded me of some of the street kids I played with during my time there last July. That was where the Lord grew my heart to be so big for street families.
Before I shared what the Lord showed me, another girl on the team shared how God told her our time in Nis would include some kind of children’s ministry. *Cue first round of butterflies.
Once we got settled in Nis, we met with the church team we were working with. They shared the different opportunities they had for us each day we were there. They mentioned a gypsy/Roma family, or family displaced from India, they minister to a little outside of town. *Cue second round of butterflies
We got to meet up with this gypsy family a couple of times while being in Nis. When we arrived at their home the first time it felt like I was right back in India! The family lives in a little compound of four or five homes, that is overcrowded. It looked just like the picture the Lord gave me!
Although the parents of the kids do not identify as Christian, the church keeps pursuing relationship with this family and the parents allow the uncle to take their kids to church.
Our time together included sharing our favorite dance moves with each other, them teaching me how to pronounce the same three Serbian words over and over and over again, running around to find someone who could translate our conversations, and lots and lots of giggles and hugs.
We also got to piece together conversation with one of the eldest daughters, Violeta. Violeta is 18 years old, and desires so greatly to go to school but has never been allowed to go because of being put in charge of the children. Violeta also frequently suffers with really bad headaches. Ten years ago, doctors discovered a tumor pushing on her brain. They gave her weeks to live. Ten years later, she is testifying to us about God’s gift of LIFE and the way He is working for us even when we may not see it.
It never ceases to amaze me the things Jesus will do to make sure we get to the one. The way He will bring a group of girls to Budapest, Hungary to meet a man from a tiny church in Nis, Serbia. Or the way He’ll give one of the girls a picture of children in a poor community to make sure the girls take the opportunity to meet with the gypsy kids of the area. All so we can speak life into, giggle with and simply love on the ones His heart beats so deeply for.
Never underestimate the little steps He takes to get you to His big plans.
I’m still just $580 from being fully funded before going home in one. month! (How crazy!) The Lord has been so gracious in showing off His provision thus far. All prayers and willingness to financially joining this journey would be SO appreciated!
