Huge boulders were falling from the mountain ridge… rolling… tumbling and soon to destroy the city. Like a scene from a movie, everyone was running for their lives. I ran for my life to try and escape the rocks and boulders from falling on me. I was terrified and honestly thought I was going to die.
Then I woke up.
I have to say that Croatia is by far one of the most BEAUTIFUL places on earth. I’m not complaining that I get to serve God here for a month – being surrounded by the beach and the beautiful Adriatic Sea, but even surrounded by such beauty, its been one of the hardest months (or 2 weeks) for me since being on the Race. My first two weeks have been filled with a series of attacks that started with horrific dreams like the one above. Dreams driven by fear and chaos and me trying to gain some sort of control. Then it progressed to personal attacks on my heart. Feelings of hopelessness, loneliness, fear and anxiety swept in in full force. Hopeless about the future; wondering if I’m going to live the rest of my life as a singleton or is he out there somewhere; what job do I get when I return home? and where will home be? Then the lies went deeper and attacked areas of personal weakness. For the first time, I reached a point where I was ready to leave the race. I quickly identified the source of these attacks as spiritual and from the enemy, yet rather than fighting this battle in prayer – which is the right answer – I gave in and listened to the lies. The enemy won and I believed him. Doubt God. That’s basically what all the attacks boiled down to. i took the punches to the gut and gave in to defeat. Weak, alone, hopeless and depressed in the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen.
Well, I’m happy to say that God pulled me right out of that little pit and put my feet back on solid ground. He changed my perspective and reminded me how faithful he is, showed me glimpses of 
extravagant beauty and whispered to me to keep trusting, keep hoping, keep believing Him. He reminded me that fear and anxiety is sin, so rather than feeling sorry for myself or hoping for some pity from God – I now view fear and anxiety with the proper perspective. The enemy pulled the wool over my eyes. Well, now my shield’s back up and I’m choosing to not let the enemies lies have power over me because they’re just words anyway. His words have no power over me. But Gods WORD does. His truth sets me free and puts a new song in my heart and that’s what I’m having to cling to and trust despite how I “feel.” To hell with the devil. UGH!
extravagant beauty and whispered to me to keep trusting, keep hoping, keep believing Him. He reminded me that fear and anxiety is sin, so rather than feeling sorry for myself or hoping for some pity from God – I now view fear and anxiety with the proper perspective. The enemy pulled the wool over my eyes. Well, now my shield’s back up and I’m choosing to not let the enemies lies have power over me because they’re just words anyway. His words have no power over me. But Gods WORD does. His truth sets me free and puts a new song in my heart and that’s what I’m having to cling to and trust despite how I “feel.” To hell with the devil. UGH!
I’ve met some amazing people and have made good friends in my short time in Croatia. New Croatian friends like Neno, Matko, 
Dino, Suzanna, Tihomir and his wife Martina, Milos, Boris, Lutsia and so many others. I LOVE doing ministry at the Global Cafe where we get to build relationships in a very normal way. Life and ministry in Croatia has simply reminded me of what it will be like returning home to the States (if thats where home is). I may not go knocking door to door and preaching to people like I did everyday in Africa for 3 months, nor pray over the sick in hospitals and teach a classroom of Hindus like I did in India, or love on orphans like in the Philippines, or hang out on college campus’s like in Chiner, or meet Babushka’s or play with gypsy kids like in the Ukraine or Romania… BUT I will make friends and build relationship with people where ever I go and in whatever job I will have. My eyes have been opened to the world right under my nose. The race has awakened me to all the people I usually am too busy to talk to. 
I will need to be intentional and love the people around me at work, at church, in line at the grocery store and at the gym. 
This month has been a reminder of how ministry will look once I step back on American soil. It will be intentional. It will be listening to Gods voice and talking to the person God leads me to. It will be discipling and loving people around me, but in the natural setting of building a friendship. It will be picking up the phone and calling someone, sending out some encouragement, putting my arm around someone and taking their burden as my own, playing guitar hero with someone who needs company, bringing fire down from heaven in prayer for my family, or intentionally looking how to reach out to the forgotten, unloved and orphaned, right in the States.
Dino, Suzanna, Tihomir and his wife Martina, Milos, Boris, Lutsia and so many others. I LOVE doing ministry at the Global Cafe where we get to build relationships in a very normal way. Life and ministry in Croatia has simply reminded me of what it will be like returning home to the States (if thats where home is). I may not go knocking door to door and preaching to people like I did everyday in Africa for 3 months, nor pray over the sick in hospitals and teach a classroom of Hindus like I did in India, or love on orphans like in the Philippines, or hang out on college campus’s like in Chiner, or meet Babushka’s or play with gypsy kids like in the Ukraine or Romania… BUT I will make friends and build relationship with people where ever I go and in whatever job I will have. My eyes have been opened to the world right under my nose. The race has awakened me to all the people I usually am too busy to talk to. I will need to be intentional and love the people around me at work, at church, in line at the grocery store and at the gym. This month has been a reminder of how ministry will look once I step back on American soil. It will be intentional. It will be listening to Gods voice and talking to the person God leads me to. It will be discipling and loving people around me, but in the natural setting of building a friendship. It will be picking up the phone and calling someone, sending out some encouragement, putting my arm around someone and taking their burden as my own, playing guitar hero with someone who needs company, bringing fire down from heaven in prayer for my family, or intentionally looking how to reach out to the forgotten, unloved and orphaned, right in the States.
To describe what ministry has looked like in Croatia, I’ll let my teammates tell the story. Like the movie, Vantage Point, which flashes back to tell the story through the eyes of each character, I’d like for you to hear/read about some experiences of Croatia through the eyes of my teammates, mainly because I love my teammates and because they’ve captured these experiences beautifully…
Joel
describes some typical World Race experiences as we transitioned from being immersed in Romanian culture last month to our three day journey by train to Split, Croatia.
Tomina describes our location and the irony of living in a place called “Split” during month 9 of the World Race. The irony describes the divide that many of us are starting to face which deals with embracing all the amazing things God is doing on the Race, yet facing thoughts of home and whats on the other side of this race when 2 months are up.
Sarah
introduces some of the many aspects of where we live and our ministry through her series of photos of Split and the Global Cafe.
The team of missionaries we are serving alongside of at Calvary Chapel Split meet in the cafe for church. Cool huh! Pastor Tim and his wife Grace have a special anointing on them as they lead this team to break down the walls of religiousity and division and strive to unite the split among the people in this city. Lindsey introduces the local missionaries we work with in her blog.
I’ve met some amazing people here in Split, but Neno was the first Croatian I met and the most energetic person around. He’s quickly become one of my favorite people here because he brings life and energy in a room and when he leaves, you feel the absence of that energy. He has lived a full life and has many stories to tell. My teammate, Aaron, has invested quality time with him and captures the story of Neno.
We spend some of our time here by doing street evangelism. We really can’t complain because we’re surrounded by the beautiful Adriatic and the Riva is lined with palm trees, and people roaming the cobble stone streets. Summer tells a story from one of her nights of evangelism on the streets of Split.
