I taught on "passion" this morning in church, a follow up on last Sunday's teaching on worship.  It was a wonderful responsive crowd, and I continue to be encouraged by the way we're growing in our worship.   This evening we had a long, drawn-out team meeting.  As exciting as it is to be doing God's work here in Sarajevo, the meetings and administrative stuff can be grueling.  Sometimes it feels like I need more grace to endure the meetings than to do the work of the ministry.

 

I don't know where to begin.  From the reports of the neighborhood children, Aldin's family has found an apartment.  Praise the Lord!  Otherwise today has been a big "people day." Our team met for one of those "cleansing times" when we bring our offenses to the table and seek forgiveness.  I appreciate the ways of the Lord who leads us in reconciliation and understanding.  Afterwards we celebrated by going to the zoo for "bumper car therapy" and bouncing on the trampoline.  My afternoon was spent with Adnan, Isko, and Alen, and then I went to the university to help celebrate Ismet's 23rd birthday.  His room was full of people, and we had a great time of laughter, conversation, and games.  Emir, (fifth year medical student), and I went for coffee later.  He's another young Bosnian who's lost his hope.  Without the money to continue his education he's being faced with the having to drop out of school.  Of course in America a young person could just find a job, (or a scholarship), save his money, and return to school.  But what do you do in a country where there just aren't any jobs, and certainly none that pay well enough to save up on the side?  "I am without hope," he said.  But at that moment God entered the conversation and gave me the words to speak.  I shared how Jesus had changed my life and how He has so faithfully provided for me over the years.  And we talked about how much God loves him.  (Emir is a non-practicing Muslim.)   At the end of the evening he told me the his hope had been restored.  We'll talk again in a few days.  Imagine...... in this young man's case, the future of his education is all hanging on one outstanding bill of $175.00. 

 

Wednesday, October 11, 2000:
Tonight we had a birthday party for Edis, who turned fourteen.  He had never owned a bicycle, so a few of us went together and bought him one.  We kicked the party off by praying for him, and then had refreshments, gifts, and games.  It was a great evening, and Edis was obviously blessed by the attention and affirmation of his church family.  No update on Aldin or his family, but I was out most of the day preparing for the party.  A simple errand  like finding balloons or a cake mix can turn into an all day adventure here in Sarajevo.  The evening ended near midnight with a policeman towing our disabled team van back home.  (You can see Edis & his bike at Recent Photos .)

 

Tuesday, October 10, 2000:
It was a chilly evening, and as I rounded the corner to Hangija Street I spotted fourteen year old Aldin standing with his parents on the curb.  This was my first introduction to Salih and Elvira, who's son is such a example of gentleness and good manners.  Exchanging histories, I enquired about where they lived.  Elvira hesitated. "We used to live here in this house, but we had to move out today."  "Oh," I pressed. "So where will you be living now?" "We don't have a place yet, but we'll find one soon."  My heart fell as I realized this little family of five had nowhere to spend the night.  I invited them to come home with me for the evening, but I could see at once  to receive such hospitality from a stranger, (an American, no less), would be more than their dignity could handle.  "I'm certain we'll find a place soon" Elvira assured.

 

Within minutes after I got home Samir and Zute knocked on the door with the news that Aldin and his family were homeless.  "Aldin is ashamed to ask you for help," they said, "He'll tell you they're OK, but they're not."  Just as I figured.  So we sent for Aldin and after a little questioning discovered they're on the streets with no money, no food, and only the pitifully small salary his Mom brings home from her nursing job. (I've been told a nurse's salary in Sarajevo is the equivalent of about $200.00 per month.  My rent is $250.00).  I offered Aldin most of what I had in my wallet, assuring him it was a gift from God - because He loves him and his family.  He refused, but his glistening eyes soon gave way to tears, as he accepted the gift, and bestowed a bear hug in return.  The cash will put them up in a hotel for a couple of days and buy a few meals.  But what then?  Please pray that this family will find Jesus in the midst of their desperation, and that He will begin to rebuild their shattered lives.  (Pictures of Aldin at "Recent Photos.")

We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving this evening with a traditional meal together and a time of expressing our gratefulness for the blessings of the year.  Then we all did the "chicken dance",  which seems to be a distinctly Canadian custom.  Earlier in the afternoon I had the pleasure of leading worship for a group of two dozen or so missionaries who had gathered at the church house for language lessons.  Coming together across denomination lines, I felt a special blessing on the unity we expressed in this fractured and divided land.  I had a sense in my spirit that our worship and solidarity were spiritual seeds that would one day germinate into a harvest of mercy for Bosnia.  This humble act of worship in the hands of Jesus would be like the tiny mustard seed, which grows into the greatest of all garden plants. (Mark 4:31) It was a blessed moment.

 

I teared up several times in church this morning as I looked into the eyes of our people to see the countenance of Jesus growing there.  It's amazing the difference only three short weeks can make in the lives of these young believers.  I had been wanting since last year to have the opportunity to teach the church on worship, and finally I had my chance today.  They were so eager and responsive, and I'd have to say it was a miraculous breakthrough at the end of the service when they broke out into shouts of joy and uninhibited praises.  Even when we closed the service after almost two hours they wanted more.  It's so refreshing to be with believers who are willing to linger in God's presence.  

 

Saturday, October 7, 2000
It was a cold and rainy day in Sarajevo. I was blessed to have the morning to myself for prayer, study, piano practice, and catching up on Email. Then I spent the remainder of the day hosting the neighborhood children.  It didn't seem like a particularly spiritual day, or necessarily fruitful, but I choose to believe that seeds of life are sown into these young lives each time they visit.

Thursday, October 5, 2000:
I've been watching the news coverage of the protests in Serbia tonight and thinking that some of my friends may be wondering how it all relates to Bosnia. Since Serbia and Bosnia are two separate countries now, this nation is not being directly affected by the unrest in Belgrad. But Bosnians will celebrate along with their Serbian neighbors when Slobodan Milosovic finally concedes his authority. "When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy." (Prov 11:10) This one man holds the lion's share of responsibility for the Balkan wars of this past decade. Praise God for His wheels of justice, and for the new dawn that is rising upon Serbia. (One point of interest is that the evangelical church in Serbia has been enjoying much growth throughout the suffering of these past few years).

Wednesday, October 4, 2000:
At one point this afternoon I had five junior high boys spread out in my living room eating (of course), studying English, playing the keyboards, and competing at Jenga. I've had to draw up some parameters about noise levels and throwing Mr. Marko's grapes at each other, but our friendship continues to grow, and I take every opportunity to witness the love of Jesus to them. I'm particularly encouraged by the way Adis, (the one all the others warned me about), is responding. He's obviously just another hurting kid who wears a "tough-boy" mask to keep his cup from fully spilling over with pain. Later in the evening I visited my student friends at the university: Ismet, Enijad, Zinaita, Erdal, Mensur, and Dino. These are some of the same young people God used to snag my heart for Bosnia three years ago. I wish there was a more expedient way to make them understand the outrageous love God has for them. But I know of no shortcuts to prayer and a faithful witness.

Tuesday, October 3, 2000:
I arrived back in Sarajevo yesterday afternoon after a grueling 19 hour trip. But after a hot bath, a sound night of rest, and a good time with the Lord I faced off the morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. And it's good that I did! Beginning at 9:00 am the phone calls began and people started dropping by; Team members, friends, and neighborhood children each in turn checked in or showed up at the door. Loneliness was definitely not an issue. It wasn't until I got back on Bosnian soil that I fully realized what refreshment God had poured into my spirit during these past two weeks. As of today I feel like I could spend the rest of my life here in Sarajevo if God so chooses.

Saturday, September 30, 2000:
(My last day in Florida) God has been so amazingly good. We put the finishing touches on the music for Judah Ben Hur last night, and it's turned out wonderfully. When I accepted this challenge I wasn't sure I could do it, but day by day the Lord has met us with His grace. I'm reminded of the seafaring Irish monks of the fifth century who saw God in everything. When one of them observed a cat catching a salmon swimming upstream, he cried, "Behold the power of the Lord in the paw of the cat!" I've experienced that same power all around me as we've tackled this project. The time with Art and Ellen (David's parents), has been refreshing as well. They've been YWAM missionaries for most of their adult lives, and we've had a great time talking about the miracles they've seen and the Lord's faithfulness over the years. Just two years ago God miraculously healed Art after breaking his neck in a swimming accident.