"Don't cry Nikki don't cry. Wait until your gone…suck it up, don't cry"
Those were the words going through my head as our Serbian church family surrounded us girls to pray for us one last time. I'll admit, at one point in the prayer while the pastor’s wife was praying in Serbian, I looked up at the team, our amazing contact Lydia, her teenage girls who have become sisters to me, and the rest of the church family. It was at that point, when my eyes were no longer dry. It was in that brief moment that God finally answered my prayers as to why He had brought this specific team to this specific town, to these specific Believers. God wanted to remind me, and further show me, how insanely in LOVE He is with me. At the start of the month, I was unsure as to the purpose of us being in this country. I questioned Him and His reasoning. Most of the squad had remained in Bulgaria for the month, and although I enjoyed the unknown adventure that Serbia had already brought, I was itching to be back with the rest of the squad. I NEVER thought I'd ever visit Serbia, let alone spend a month of doing ministry. I know now that God wanted to remind me of His power behind Believers from different Nations, standing together and boldly proclaiming His mighty Name.
Romans 8:28 says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."(ESV)
Trust me when I say that this month, has been very good. No, we did NOT witness the dead being raised, or the lame walk again, or the blind given their sight back (I still fully believe I will yet on this race). But what I did witness, was something greater in a time of need, a time of joy and a time of hope. I was able to witness the start of a revival that is happening here in Serbia and although I do not know when a full revival will come, I know that it IS coming. Scripture tells us that it is through Romans 14:11, “'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God. 'This is what I got to experience during my in Serbia.
Often, on short term missions trip, we have this notion that we are going to ‘change the world’ in a week or two (or, in our case, a span of 11 months), but let’s be honest-WE are the ones who come back changed the most. I would like to think that God used me in at least one small way to change the world while in Serbia…but I know that the people who loved us, change my life in ways I will never fully be able to understand.
They taught me lessons on humility and Grace. I know I am a different (and better) person because of unexplainable JOY that Lydia had simply because she “has Jesus in my heart, so I have no reason NOT to be joyful”. I know I am (will be) a better youth leader for my youth back at home, because of Adrijana, Milly, Dina, and Ana because of their openness and love to hang out, laugh with (and often ‘at’). It is their willingness to take a chance to trust complete strangers, which has taught me to simply be me and allow God to speak Truth into the youth lives. Through the pastor and his family, along with another church family, I learned what it truly means to be hospitable and open your house. Both families served us in a way that only current, and former, World Racers will fully be able to understand and appreciate. They provided delicious home-cooked meals and offered us a chance to simply ‘be’ and relax, despite the fact that we didn’t even speak the same language. One of the families who opened their home to us, taught me by simply showing me, what it is like to be in a close relationship with the Holy Spirit. They spoke truths into my life, that there is no way they could have known without the Holy Spirit leading them. Thank you, for listening and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through you, to me. I am a better person for it. It was through an 85 year old lady, who still bikes many miles to church, that God showed me what it means to fully be devoted to Him. We didn’t speak the same language, but I have never heard a more powerful prayer prayed. I ask that you join me in praying for my Serbian Grandma as she is earnestly praying for her family to be saved. As a collective church family, they unknowingly supported, loved and lifted me up, through a time when my heart was hurting for the loss at home. Words cannot express how truly blessed this past month was.
I cannot finish this blog, with out mentioning a few of the locals and how they too, blessed us even though they didn’t even know it. Things from a teammate forgetting her wallet at a busy café, yet getting EVERYTHING (money and all) back in it days after, to an old lady giving us cookies simply because she ‘loved kids’, to a local neighborhood boy carrying out our rather LARGE bag of garbage for us, to the lady at the fruit market giving us free fruit and veggies because we reminded her of her daughter God was VERY present in our lives every step of the way.
Family, friends, my Canadian church family, supporters, and random people who stumble upon this blog, I ask that you leave a prayer in the comment section of this blog. Write it out, and pray it as you write it out. Prayer is so powerful and the best way to battle against the daily spiritual oppression I know they face, is through prayer. Pray Pray Pray!
To the small church of Pozarevac, Serbia, a million thanks. I am so grateful for my time with you and you will not be forgotten. From one believer to the next, know that I am praying for you and are holding you close in my heart. Stay strong, keep encouraged and hold on to that faith that you do have individually and as a whole. It is so very powerful. We may never meet again ‘this side of Heaven’, but earth will pass, yet we will be together forever in Eternity sitting at the throne of Jesus with one another and I know we will be hearing “You have fought the Good fight and have finished strong, well done good and faithful servant”
