What's going on in Cacak?? Take a look!

This is a picture of me with my evening class on our weekly awards day.

Here, Dragana is teaching us how to make a traditional Serbian breakfast food.

Good times and good food!

Ratko, Gordana, Jennifer, Tori, and me during our morning class.

This is a picture of me and my teammates: Jacob, Tori, me, and Damian

Small Forget

We have a student at the English Club, whose name is Ratco, who is always there and always entertaining us with funny stories in his beginning stage of English speaking. Monday, he was sharing a story with a few of the Americans here, and as always, he was very amusing. But into the story, he forgot one of the punch-lines (I guess…) and said, “Oh, sorry teacher. Sorry. Small forget”. We all laughed at his ability to make the most of the English words he knows, but I think something deeper must have penetrated my heart at that moment. God keeps reminding me of “small forgets” of my own…

Small forget that I haven’t thanked God for the miracles He’s been doing in my life, and letting me see the miracles He is working in my teammates, and most importantly the Serbs here in Cacak. Small forget that I’m not loving sacrificially, that I need to see everyone as God sees him or her because Jesus died for everyone… Small forget that God is seeking an intimate relationship with me (ironically, I’m reminded of this as I am encouraging people thousands of miles away from my home to seek a personal relationship with God). Truthfully, it isn’t a small forget at all; it is a huge forget. I need to remember that God is pursuing me and wants me to pursue Him right back. I need remember my first love. God is continually speaking to me and convicting me of issues in my own spiritual life through the honesty of the people here in Cacak. They say that the Bible is challenging. They admit that it is hard to pray. They confess it’s hard to place God in the center of one’s life. I am learning so much from them!

Karl and Julie, Chris and Becky, and Tim and Jennifer and their children are going to Greece for an annual meeting for IMB. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel, and that their time together with fellow Christians would rejuvenate them and revive their spirits. Please pray for my teammates and me while they are gone!

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, support, and prayers. It means so much! Here are some specific people and requests that are on my heart. Your prayers will make such a difference—

Mirela - to trust God, and to have peace restored to her
Drangana - to come to a Bible study
Marko - to not get discouraged in his newfound faith
Tamara - to be victorious in the spiritual battle between hanging on to the world and hanging on to Christ
Tori - my roommate and teammate, that God will heal her broken hand, and help her to speak out for Him
Me – to love those around me as God does, that God will continue to teach me to see these people as He does, and continuously remind me that He died for them.
Jacob - my teammate, that he will follow God's timing in the relationships he is building, to know he’s an encourager, and continue to be bold where it is needed
Damian - my teammate, that God will use his outgoing personality and sense of humor to create close ties to the guys here so they can see God's unconditional love through him.

Being in Cacak...

Well, I’ve been in Cacak, Serbia for two weeks now and I’ve already seen God do amazing things in my life and in the lives of those around me. Our first week of English classes ended Friday evening (almost 30 people came throughout the week!), and I’m so excited about all of the relationships I’ve had the opportunity to build, and all of the great people I’m getting to know.

The people here are so nice, even the strangers that I run into on the streets. My first day here, my roommate, Tori, and I were trying to use our ATMs and were really confused. There was a man standing next to us that could see our confusion and offered to help us. Instances such as this have happened often since I’ve been here, the people are very generous (that, or I just look really confused all the time-which probably isn’t too much of a stretch!).

Serbia is a really beautiful place. Cacak is a town surrounded by mountains, and so every day I am reminded of God’s powerful love not only through the kindness shown to me by the Serbians, but also though nature.

We’ve been here only two weeks, but I already feel like I will never be able to tell all of the stories and crazy things that have happened! First of all, we take regular adventures when we ride with the missionaries wives (who, bless their hearts, have never driven a stick shift in the states, much less in Cacak – where driving seems to have little order in the eyes of an American!). We all manage to have a good laugh at Becky’s expense sometimes…

But in all seriousness, since I have been here I have been more confused, more lost, more tired, and more involved in a spiritual battle than at any other time in my life. But God has been my strength, and I've has to rely on Him more than ever before. I’ve had opportunities to share my faith, and I know that God has amazing thing planned for this summer – and that doesn’t make Satan happy. Please keep me in your prayers as I try build relationships to let others experience the love of God.

This is the view from our apartment. We have a small balcony where we can sit and look at the mountains.

One of the ministries taking place here through our team is sports ministries: baseball and football. This is the first game we went to.

This is me, my room mate Tori, and new friend Mirela at the river which runs next the the city park. It is so beautiful and calming there!
Tori and I are eating at a Serbian restraunt that serves traditional dishes... we ate WAY too much - thanks Merila!

This is me with my classfor our first award ceremony. They are so much fun and it is exciting to get to know them all.