Serbia with the Sabo's

The term Balkanization is used to refer to the break-up of a region or group into a smaller and often hostile regions or groups. That is what has happened in the Balkan region formerly known as Yugoslavia. Since 1990 the country has broken up, mostly by war, into six (maybe seven) different countries. With the core of Yugoslavia now called Serbia. This is where Viktor and Ksenija serve as pastors in the city of Subotica. The city is an interesting hodgepodge of Serbs, Croats, Hungarians, Gypsies and a few Slovenes.

Serbia is a land of 8 million people with only 140 evangelical churches. About 60 of these come to bi-annual fellowships that Viktor started a few years ago. His heart is for unity among the churches in the country and in his city.

His congregation is made up of 50% Hungarians, 20% Serbs and 30% Gypsy. Every service has to be translated into Hungarian and Serbian (see photo with Viktor & Ksenija). On Sunday evenings there is a large group of Gypsies that attend (they speak Roma and Serbian). So, even though I never knew what they were saying, I didn't even know which of all these languages they were speaking! All I know is to say what sounds like "bake-a-shake" which means peace to you.

The work among the Gypsies is particular interesting. They work in the markets (see picture) every morning, so they come to the Sunday evening service. Tonight, there was a special meeting with a pastor from a large Gypsy church from the south. Even with a hard rain that fell, about 50 Gypsies came. The meeting was totally held in Roma so I just smiled as I prayed during the sermon.

Tomorrow, I will be heading to Belgium where I will be visiting Rocky and Margaret Gathright and investigating the ministry opportunities there.

Greetings from the M-25!

What a day it has been! I woke up this morning at 7 a.m. (Dallas time +5 hours). It was my last day with Mike and Elaine and we needed to head out by 9 a.m. to catch my 5:45 p.m. flight. No, it’s not a typo. An adventure was about to begin. So, I cooked myself 2 ½ scrambled eggs (the yoke of one was not eatable) to get my day started. And about 9:30 a.m. we headed out of Al Hoceima for a 2 hour drive to Melilla, Spain. It is a beautiful ride that follows the Mediterranean coast.

We arrived about 1 p.m. and had my last North African mint tea at a corner restaurant right before the crossing the border. About 15 minutes later I literally walked across the border from North Africa to Spain. I had never “walked” across a border before. I got my passport stamped on both sides and all of a sudden it was 3 p.m. (Dallas time +7 hours). It brought new meaning to “time flies.” Spain is two hours ahead of North Africa.

I get to the Melilla airport at 4:45 p.m. and off I go to Madrid on my way to London. I arrive in London’s Heathrow Airport around 10 p.m. (Dallas time +6 hours). There were only 19 people on the plane so we quickly went through Passport Control and my luggage was waiting for me.
Unfortunately, tomorrow’s flight to Budapest, Hungary leaves from another airport. Off I go to find the bus to take me to London’s Gatwick Airport. I found a sign that said to go to the Central Bus Station. So, off I go with my luggage all the way to the other side of the airport. About 20 minutes later I arrive and purchase my ticket from a machine. I find out that my bus leaves in 5 minutes!!! I have no idea where to catch the bus. So, I ask a man sitting on a bench and he looks up to the modern sign that clearly said where I needed to go (if I had had the time to look for myself). He tells me to “get along” since it is about to leave. So, now I am running with my luggage and arrive at 10:34 p.m. just in time for the 10:35 p.m. departure.

Comfortably sitting on my front row seat we head off to London Gatwick. About 7 minutes later I look over and we are driving past the terminal that I arrived at! There was a bus stop there! Oh well! I will try and remember that for the next time I might need to do this again.

So, I am on the National Express bus on the M-25 (their version of interstate highways) on my way to Gatwick Airport! Just keep in mind that I am the "wrong" side of the road. I am staying at an airport hotel since my flight to Budapest leaves at 9 a.m. I fly on Malev Hungarian Airlines which truthfully I had never heard of before I purchased the ticket.

12:05 a.m. I arrive at my hotel room...

Day 4: Last Day in North Africa

What a trip up the countryside! Even though the weather is quite dry at this time of year, this isn't a road to take without a four wheel drive when it rains. Mike and I went up to visit a man who has been partially paralyzed due to an accident. He lives at the top of a beautiful hill. Earlier this year, they bought him a donkey so that it would be easier to carry water from the community well. Every week he hosts a home meeting. We keep believing for a healing for him.

In a few hours, Mike and Elaine will be driving me back to the Spanish border where I will cross by foot. It has been quite an adventure here to see the land where they labor so hard in love. Stay tuned for later this year when we will have a video of the work here.

Next for me is a trip to visit Viktor and Xena Sabo in Serbia...

Day 2 of North Africa

For lunch I had a very authentic North African dish, couscous with beef. It is customary for all the men to eat out of one dish as Mike and I did. Elaine and the cook ate in a separate room. It is nice to have beef for a change versus fish with heads still attached.

Today, Mike and I went to the countryside where they have a physical therapy clinic every Wednesday. We drove up the mountain (see picture) to pick up two young kids who are being helped. Every week, the young sister of one of the children carries her brother up the mountain where Mike picks them up in a van. They drive down the mountain for the therapy session.

This weekend, Mike and Elaine will be attending the wedding of their neighbor's wife's sister. Stay tuned tomorrow for a picture of Elaine in her tucksheta (formal gown for a wedding).

Day 1 in North Africa

Greetings from North Africa! I arrived in Spain on Monday evening where I spent the night at a guest house with Mike and Elaine. We left early this morning for their home in North Africa.

As we got to the border, the passport official motioned for us to go to the doctor's office. We were greeted by the doctor who stuck a thermometer into our ears to determine if we had the swine flu. We were ok!

We then drove several hours to their home. Most of the trip was a road that followed the Mediterranian coast.

This morning Mike and I went to a local market where we bought some fresh vegetables. We then stopped by the Physical Therapy Clinic that they started. The nurses were conducting therapy on several kids. We just finished eating lunch at their neighbor's home. Lunch consisted of sardines (with heads attached) and chicken. It was wonderful. It felt so good to be in their home.

Stay tuned for more stories and photos...

Follow me as I visit our extended family around the world...

Over the next few weeks, I will be visiting our extended family around the world. Follow me as I post stories and photos of my journey. Remember, that my travels are a way of communicating how much we at Shady Grove love and appreciate them. I deeply covet your prayers for my health and safety!!!

Here is my upcoming schedule:

• Sunday (5/10) - Off to North Africa with Mike & Elaine H.
• Saturday (5/16) - Venture over to Serbia with Viktor & Ksenija Sabo in Serbia.
• Wednesday (5/20) - Journey to Belgium with Rocky & Margaret Gathright. Jonathan & Destiny Vandeput will be going with me on this leg of my journey. We will be scouting out a potential future ministry base for Shady Grove.

Please keep in mind that there are security concerns with our "extended" family. If needed, I may have to edit your posts to keep them safe.