If you could only read one post...please read this one

Hello everyone!

This post is a bit different than all the others to date. Instead of simply sharing with you my comings and goings here in Serbia, I wish to use this post as a means of pleading for help on behalf of my Roma family here. Bojan (one of the Roma pastors) has poured out to me his heart's concerns for a glaring problem in their community.

Simply put, the widows here are rarely helped.

Though there are many cases of such families in dire need, he shared with me but a handful of the abundant stories, and so I am compelled to share them with you.

One older woman, a widow of about 70, was in her home one recent winter with the heater close by her for warmth. The circumstances were unclear, but somehow the drapes caught fire and spread wickedly fast. The woman had a hindering leg condition, and by the grace of God there were neighbors present nearby to save her from being a part of the house's fate. Everything was burned to the ground....everything. Bojan and his wife helped repair as much as they could: new furniture,  doors, electricity, and various other items. Resources, however, only endure for so long.

You see, 99% of the Roma people here in Leskovac do not have permanent, steady jobs. They just work on plantations or pick fruit during the summer months. What they earn is channeled to gather what they need for winter, and any extra money is usually spent quickly. The point is that the church struggles to help families who need it because the church's income falls short of its giving output. The demand is greater than the supply.

There are many widows who are sick and in desperate need of medicine.

There is a widow who cares for her 4 granddaughters because the mother left them. The father doesn't work. The children began to get sick because nourishment lacked. One of the girls has severe vitamin deficiency, and her hair has started falling out--people even suspect leukemia. Their grandmother is sick as well.

A young mother became a widow just 3 years ago. She is left with her two children of 13 and 15. She needs the finances to support her children's education. They get no social support/aid at all.

The stories go on and on. The cries for help grow louder, and the tears keep falling from those who burn to help yet cannot--like Bojan and his wife, who are trying hard to pool their resources to help one or two widows...they cannot help all of them, and he has his own family to care for. He tells me this winter is predicted to hit them very hard, and he is worried. With what I know of winters here in Serbia, I would be too.

This post is a signal flare from the middle of the ocean. These people give and ask for nothing in return.

"Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."

-James 1:27 (HCSB)   

"Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.

-Acts 2:44-45

Please, my friends. I am a messenger asking on the behalf of many. Bojan has simply and humbly requested that I keep these people lifted in prayer. Yes, they need the strength that God supplies through prayer, but for goodness' sake these people need money. 

My prayer is that those who read this will be stirred to raise a hand to help... to send money. Please, friends, what an impact that could be made if, for a short time, your tithes and offerings were sent here to aid these people--to quite possibly save lives from a very real downward spiral.

I am terribly sorry for the mixup for those of you who have already viewed this post, but there was a bit of a miscommunication on how to handle any gifts that might be sent.If you choose to send a gift, please let me know first via email at:

 tweiss4.12@gmail.com 

Please include how much you plan to give, and I will inform you as to where to send the money.  

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, and may God Almighty bless you for your generosity, as He has been proven to do over and over. 

Peace and take care, everyone. 

Roma time

Friday 7/20

I've been spending the week with Bojan and his family, and observing life within the Roma community here in Leskovac. Bojan took me to see the site where the aforementioned Multipurpose center will be built if the LEC obtains a license to begin construction. May this plot of land be blessed, and blessed again and again!

Dream big...

We then went to visit Miki and his family for a short time before we returned to the LEC for the Roma youth worship night. I've mentioned Miki before, but he is a part of the leadership team for the Roma church in Leskovac. He speaks English well and has a terrific singing voice :) No matter what is suggested for me to do next, Miki always says "unless Jesus comes back..." :)

"Perhaps next week you can come have a meal in my home...unless Jesus comes back."

Hahaha...I love it!

(L-R) Teresa, Matthew (2), Alex (5), and Miki

For the youth gathering, Kelly and I were assigned to be in charge of the whole time (of course) after the praise and worship time in the beginning. We were told about one week in advance, but both of us were ridiculously busy with people to see and things to do. Thursday (7/19) rolled around, and we had nothing prepared yet.........shameful.

So.....I hunkered down in the afternoon and churned up a script for a short drama we could use. I re-wrote the parable of the good Samaritan--with creative liberties ;). We got the script translated into Serbian by Friday morning plus a few printed copies, and that was that for preparation. Yes!

The youth meeting was absolutely phenomenal! The sketch was designed to include a good number of the youth to act out the parts, and it came together wonderfully! After that, I delivered a short teaching/message which led into a powerful time of prayer and more worship. It was an evening I will not forget.

The youth band preparing to rock!

New friends: (L-R) Peko, Bruno, and Bojan (Didn't catch the little dude's name)

Kelly documented the whole evening with photos (the sketch was recorded on video:), which she will post here on her blog (the rest of her blog is worth checking out, too...it's well made):

http://kellybartz.tumblr.com/  

I also got to play some soccer with the Roma guys on Saturday 7/21...

 Peace, friends.

There and back again...return to Leskovac

Sunday 7/15

I'm back in Leskovac. Funny, it feels like my hometown now :) The reason for the switch from Niš is that Bojan, one of the Roma pastors at the LEC, wanted to spend a few days with me. What an honor for me to spend time with this humble man of God.

Bojan holding his grandson Samuel, and his youngest son Stefan

On the way to Bojan's home...

The neighborhood

An interesting building right across the street from Bojan's home: a refugee center sanctioned by the Swiss government for Serbian refugees during the balkanization of Yugoslavia in the early 90s

I must take this opportunity, now, to inform you of some prayer requests that Bojan has shared with me.

Perhaps you remember Mio Stanković....?

Mio (front left) and his family

Well, he had a vision for a massive multipurpose center to be constructed for the Roma people here in Leskovac. The years have ticked by, and that vision has had the groundwork prepared. The LEC has gained approval for the project--the idea has a green light from the local government, but they are still in need of a license to begin construction. Without it, the project cannot commence. The issue is that elections are approaching for the local government, and those who are running may not be so supportive of the idea.

This multipurpose center, ideally to start construction this September, is planned to include a building for Bible school, a church building to seat 1,700 people, a library, a medical center for dental work, and courts for sports like soccer and basketball. If it begins, it will be the largest project for the Roma people to date.

The prayer is simple: they need the license to get construction underway. This center will have tremendous impact on a great number of people, not just the Romas. Pray for faith for the elders of LEC that God will accomplish His saving, healing work through this vision.

Bojan told me they have many other plans for the church. Offer up these prayers to God:

That more churches would be planted in other cities for the Romas. There are many, many cities that lack churches, and the Romas hunger for God--their souls are searching--but workers are needed to share the gospel.  There was a prophecy that the LEC was to be the "mother of churches"...the catalyst, so pray for finances to accomplish this work (perhaps even spare some change if you feel led :)

The Serbs have many seminars and youth camps....not so among the Roma church, only English camps for learning the language. They need the finances to fund seminars and Biblical teaching.

"The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

-Jesus

Also, since the NATO bombing in the late 90s, the radiation has left many of the youth with tumors, and medical care is expensive, so lift this sickness to God and pray that He will cleanse their bodies.

****

I spent the night at LEC...a strange feeling to be the only human occupant in an entire church building. Anyhow, I had the same room that my family and I had years ago, and the memories flooded as I walked in.

It was much colder last time...

Love it :)

Monday 7/16

Bojan, Miki (member of the Roma church...he speaks English :), and I stopped by to see a Roma wedding in the evening. Louder than the Serbian one?

........yes.

Fortunately, this wedding did not go for 3 days straight like some do! :) 

 Tuesday 7/17

I went with Bojan and his family...along with a bus full of Roma people...to Sijarinska Banja, south of Leskovac. It is an aquatic center embedded in the hillside where springs of natural water flow from. The top several pools are heated, and the bottom one is cold...probably added so that people can throw you in to prevent you from falling asleep in the warm water and drowning ;)

It was an absolutely wonderful day. The sun shined bright and warm, and the multitude of people enjoyed pure fellowship and surrounding views of God's glorious handiwork. 

Welcome....to Jurassic Par----er, excuse me, Sijarinska Banja!

Miki filling up his water bottle with natural mineral water....crisp and pure! Zdravlje! ("Health!")

View of the series of pools from atop the steps

$10 if you can find Bojan ;)

Bojan's son Stefan with his wife Kristina and little boy Samuel :) Such a precious family!

Happenings in Niš

Wednesday 7/11
Bata and I spent a great afternoon traipsing around some poignant places in Niš.

One of which was Skull Tower, or Ćele Kula in Serbian. This monument is a reminder of the heroic actions of the 19th Century Serbian insurrectionists, after suffering their greatest defeat in the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire (1804-1813). 


On May 31, 1809, a battle took place on Čegar Hill, just a few kilometers northeast of Niš. The Serbian insurrectionists were attempting to advance on Niš and take it, but they were overpowered by the superior Turkish forces. Serbian commander Stevan Sinđelić, upon seeing that victory was futile, fired his pistol at his troops' gunpowder depot rather than surrender, thus ending the battle. Though he and his men were all killed, he took many a Turk with him. After this, the Turkish commander at Niš ordered that the heads of the Serbian rebels be placed in a tower so as to warn any would-be opposition to the Ottoman Empire.

The tower stood out in open air until Niš was liberated in 1878. In 1892, a chapel was constructed to enclose what remains of it...where it stands today with 58 of the original 952 skulls.

"My eyes and my heart greeted the remains of those brave men whose cut off heads made the corner stone of the independence of their homeland. May the Serbs keep this monument! It will always teach their children the value of the independence of a people, showing them the real price their fathers had to pay for it."

-Alphonse de Lamartine, French poet who visited the wall in 1833

The chapel enclosing the remaining wall

The grisly reminder....and inspiration for Serbian patriotism

What? Are you...happy that they were slaughtered?? Wipe that grin off your face you sick sociopath!! ;)

Well...................good shot.

A bust of Stevan Sinđelić, the brave Serbian commander

What is with this guy? He keeps smiling at somber things! Does he even care??!

 We then drove from Skull Tower to Čegar Hill, the site of the actual battle. No one was there, and it was almost eerie standing in the midst of the history that occurred...no voices but the gentle brush of wind. About 3,000 Serbs and twice as many Turks died here.

The Čegar Hill monument

Sinđelić faces Niš symbolizing defiance of the Turks and courage

Ok that's just downright offensive....someone get this quack outta here!

Bata and I also enjoyed a kingly feast and a local joint downtown. It was there that I had my largest pljeskavica to date...

Look at that: the thing's like a pancake!!

 Friday 7/13

Spent a fun afternoon at a local outdoor pool with Marko and a couple of his buddies. We had a splendid ol' time swimming, talking, playing tennis, meeting more friends, and getting sunburned. ;) 

(L-R) Marko, Pedja (studying environmental science), Stefan (studying electrical engineering), and.....the American

  

It's been fun to observe how relational the youth are here--friendship is everything. Bored? Call up the crew, meet at the pool, hang out for hours on end. I love these guys.

Niš is where it's at now

Sunday 7/8

Sunday morning held another Spirit-filled gathering at LEC, and I am now accustomed to playing the hand drum with the worship team :). It's something I really look forward to now!

Sladja delivered a fantastic message from 1 Samuel, chapter 30 about David and his men defeating the Amalekites...how we must take action when we hear direction from God, and not to just sit back and pray that He does everything when we snap our fingers:

"David asked the Lord: 'Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?' The LORD replied to him, 'Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people.'"

1 Samuel 30:8 (HS)

She also spoke on the importance of each member of the church body--how no role should be scoffed at, marginalized, overlooked. Of the 600 men following David, 200 stayed behind to look after the supplies while the other 400 pursued the Amalekites and overtook them. The men with David grumbled after the victory and refused to share the plunder with the "useless 200". David replied:

"'The share of the one who goes into battle is to be the same as the one who stays with the supplies. They will share equally.' And it has been so from that day forward."

1 Samuel 30:24-25 (HS)

I love stories from the olden days.

Aleksandar Stevanovic, the awesome keyboardist...he also enjoys a good cup of coffee :)

Before the service...

That evening, Bata, Aleksandar (pictured above), Kelly, and I went to the Roma gathering in Nis. I got to see Rama, the pastor there, whom I remember from the first trip in '07. He remembered me as well...phew! :) I was also honored to play some worship music with them with the hand drum...oh I'll never grow tired of it!

I even managed to take an audio recording of one of the songs on my phone :) I have no way to post it online, but it's a treasure I will have with me when I return...and if anyone is interested I can send the file no problem.

Pastor Rama...sorry about the mic holder in his face... :/

Praise and worship with the Roma people

Inside the building

A couple of great guys I met: Martin (L) and Čerim (R)

Church entrance: powerful memories...

 If you feel led when going about your days, please lift up these congregations in prayer to the Lord, that He might equip His servants to be bold witnesses of His work, to extend the gospel to the people around where they live, and to strengthen each member daily with renewed fervor, joy, and all good fruit that comes from the Spirit.

Specifically, you can also pray that God would provide the LEC with a youth pastor in the future, as they will need one.

Monday 7/9

Marko and I spent a fun afternoon in downtown Nis, where he took me to some great stores for clothes shopping! Contrary to popular belief, I actually do enjoy a good outing for a few humble articles of clothes...especially for something unique :) Marko helped me find a couple pairs of shorts that are pretty popular, and a great shirt that reads "Ја Волим Србију" (I love Serbia) on the front. Photos later ;)

Town square...Nis

Nis Fortress...usually very busy. I remember this from the first visit.

Marko and I after shopping...like bosses! :)

Peace, friends.

That's a wrap in Leskovac...for now

This past week in Leskovac has held a few memory-makers.

Last week I was asked to give a message (preach) at two church services at the Leskovac Evangelical Church--one on Wednesday evening at the Roma service, and one on Thursday at the Serbian service. I spent considerable time preparing for the message, since I wanted to speak what Jesus would say if He were standing in front of the congregation in the flesh.

I spoke on something that has captivated, stirred, and challenged me for some time now...over the past few years...and it continues to abide in my heart. Without typing everything I said, this is the gist of the message. It is a simple one, but in my humble young life, I am learning more and more just how much power is in simple messages told over and over again with freshness. It feels like pulling a book off the shelf that hasn't caught the eye of a reader in a while, and all that's needed is a good dusting off.

In the gospel according to John, we read:

"I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in My name, I will do it."

-John 14:12-14 (Holman Standard)

Shortly after Jesus said these words to His disciples, he said:

"Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you."

-John 16:7 (HS)

The questions to ask? 

Is this how we live? Do we truly believe that Jesus expects us to do the works He did, and that it is for our benefit that He ascended to heaven? It was these questions that I addressed, and because of them expressed that desire and tug on my heart that I have felt for so long now.

I want to see the power of God at work in people because of the boldness of his followers.... that they would take leaps of faith and stand ready to be a conduit for Him to work signs and wonders through them. The apostle Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians:

"My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not be based on men's wisdom but on God's power."

-1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (HS)

I told the church of a struggle I have; a tendency to obsess over how well and comprehensively I can explain the gospel and Jesus and God to people. That the strength of what I say to people is dependent on how skillfully I deliver it, how much scripture I can use and explain, and how persuasive I can sound. 

Wow.

What a destructive mindset. I only set myself up for failure (in my own eyes) if I constantly think like that. Frankly, I am tired of falling into that trap, and so more and more I have come to yearn for God doing what He does best through me so as to give a "demonstration of the Spirit and power", so that people's faith does not rest on "men's wisdom but on God's power."

I do hope the message came through clearly despite me needing a translator during the whole delivery :). I ended the word at each service with prayer over the people: healing for them, for friends, family, and neighbors, and that each individual would return to his home equipped to do the works of Jesus right there in their own neighborhoods. 

Praise be to Him forever and ever, amen.

Thursday evening after the Serbian gathering, I went with David, Zoran, and Stana (see the photo of them in the post Belgrade to Nis to Leskovac) to the home of their friends in Lebane, roughly 24km/15mi south of Leskovac. Their friends, Snezana and Slavisa, are pastors of the local church there.

Yet another incredible feast was prepared for us upon our arrival! This time it was homemade Mučkalica (Mooch-kuh-leetz-uh : a savory blend of meat, sauce, and spices), along with meat skewers, fresh vegetables, and bread.

Oh, how I will miss this when back in the states :)

Incredibly delicious Mučkalica

Friday morning I made the transition from staying with Else and David in Leskovac to staying with Bata and Sladja in Nis. I love the village feel of Leskovac, and Nis is where the city action is, so this is a nice pace change.

Saturday 7/7

My awesome Serbian friends and I went to a lake nearby Nis, where we spent the afternoon. It's been consistently in the 90s here, so cold water was a warm welcome (hehe...get it?....lame). A terrific afternoon that was full of swimming, merriment, paddle boats, and too much sun (showering....ouch!)

Bovan Lake

Paddle boats...portable diving boards :)

Marko (Bata's son) and Filip being men

L-R Filip, Marija, Kelly, Pedja, Petra, and...whoever that weird guy is ;)

Peace, friends.