Day 4 (Tuesday)

Two VBS's/holiday clubs and some mountain work were the order of the day for the team. In the morning the team continued with the work they started on Monday and in the afternoon they started another work in a neighborhood Brad and Abi have been working in for 7 years now. What a difference the two audiences were! In addition, two other team members, Matt and Greg were up the mountain pouring concrete in the rain. All good work, all needing to be done, all for the glory of Living God! Not only was the Word taught but it was also demonstrated by some of the team members who visited a family Abi has been working with for 4 years now. Their hearts were broken the darkness they faced. One members said,"I didn't have a box for something like what I faced today before today." Pray for wisdom for us as we address the tragedy and despair that is present and unchanging in that family. More to follow on that story...but in the mean time, keep praying for the team. They are being stretched in ways they never have and probably never wanted to be. From the front line, The Team

Day 3 The Work Begins in Ernest

Day 3 started with rain clouds threatening and a Kids' club to host. The theme for this week's messages are the Messengers of God, Daniel was the 1st. Following a great start to the kids' clubs the team headed up the mountain for a little manual labor building a camp. Thankfully the rain held off and both events were a success. Thank you for the prayers, keep them coming. Pray that we will be recognizable as messengers of the Living God as we tell the stories of the messengers that came before us. Continue to pray for unity and stamina (we have 2 kids clubs today and some are all day working on a building site). More tomorrow...

Day 2

Day 2 of the team's visit to Kosova was filled with fellowship and blessing. In the morning the team joined in worship with other believers there in Peje. "I didn't understand a thing that was said but I enjoyed worshiping together none the less," one team member shared. After the service the team hosted a whole church BBQ at the place where we are all staying. The afternoon was filled with preparations for the start of our time on Monday am, a hike in the rain to a cafe overlooking the city and prep for leading worship in the evening meeting. In the evening we joined in worship with the international fellowship here in town, some of the team even leading the musical portion of that service.

Should we still be sending and going?

Should We Still Be Sending and Going?
June 23, 2009 | By: Bill Walsh
Category: Commentary, International Outreach

While Ryan and his family prepared for long-term missions, he graciously gave his time as a volunteer for DG International Outreach. He brought tremendous skill and integrity to his work which bore wonderful fruit including this helpful post.

* * *

As our family prepares to move overseas, we sometimes encounter this question in one form or another:

Is the Western missionary model still legitimate?”

The question stems from a variety of concerns and perspectives, but our basic answer must be “yes.” Even with the high cost of sending and recent shifts in the global Church, it is still strategic and fitting for Western missionaries to cross geographical and linguistic boundaries in the pursuit of new worshipers of Jesus.

Here is why I think so:
1. God wants his name to be great in every place as well as among every people. (continue to read the rest of the guest post by clicking on the link in the title above)

Day 1

Today has been a day of orientation, market shopping, and hearing the history of this place. We had the pastor of the local fellowship with us today giving us a brief lesson on the history of the fellowship, the country and the state of faith here in Kosova and in Peje. One team member was amazed at the statistics: of the roughly 2,000,000 occupants in K, only 1,000 are believers, and this is a generous estimate. Pray for our work, its a lot. We also had the privilege of a local believer giving his testimony. How harrowing it was. "I've never heard a testimony like that before", said another team member.

Fellowship tomorrow with local believers and we are hosting the church BBQ, Think of us all day please.

They've arrived

Our team has arrived. All are in good spirits. Its great to have the veteran UKers here. The US lot are a bit tired and jet lagged. They got through UK immigration and made their connection with ease. Thank you for all who prayed for them and their journey. Don't stop now, their adventure is just beginning and they will need your continued intersession.

The team is coming

They are scheduled to arrive today. We are trusting the Lord for the safe arrival of the team from the US and UK. We have put the final touches on all the preparations, the plan is in place for a week of events in the morning and afternoon in connection with our ministry partners here in Peje. Now its up to the Lord to turn heart of stone to hearts of flesh and we are making ourselves available to serve in this glorious process. We trust you will be interceding for us over the next week.

Slaugher or sacrifice... butcher or physician

Just before breakfast Ezzie discovered, during her early morning goat check, a sick one in the herd. This poor creature had an infection in her skull and lost an eye. Upon telling one of the shepherds, he cut his milking short and was off to get some medicine or so she thought. When the other brother arrived with the butcher I knew they would be exacting medicine of a different kind. So as we sat enjoying our breakfast on the patio, one of Ezzie's charges was shedding her blood, skin and a whole lot more only yards away.

As I reflected on it later in the morning I was reminded of another slaughter come sacrifice 2000 years ago. See it was a sheep not a goat that was sacrificed for my spiritual health. Due to the sin in my life (i.e spiritual blindness and infection) I deserved the same fate, to be cut off from the herd. But in God's mercy he sent a physician not a butcher to rescue me. In the place of my sinful punishment the Lamb of God was slain and I was healed, spiritually speaking that is.

How privileged I am to have this starkly clear reminder of what Jesus did for me on the cross 2000 years ago.

Worshiping with the Body

How great it is to be reminded that the Body of Christ is alive and well around the world. As you know we are here in Kosova and as I was sitting listening to the reading of God's word and singing praises to Him, I was deeply encouraged. Even though the church in Kosova is small it is growing, even though there are conflicts there is also unity, oh how the church of today is like the church of the New Testament. That is both comforting and a challenge to grow in maturity. I have posted a short snippet (forgive the amateur video footage) of singing with our church here in Peje. We can't wait to have our family from the US and UK visit to join in the work of the King.

Missionaries in Camouflage

I had the most odd experience today. I had an original "Whopper and Fries" for lunch at Burger King. There is not Burger King here though. I had a chance to purchase genuine American products in the middle of the land of counterfeit. One can even use $'s and all the goods are like anything you'd have in a US supermarket. You see, I was invited onto the local NATO base by a friend. It's like a little slice of America inside those gates. I lived here for 3 years and never realized what was just up the road.

Even though the BK was nice what was even better was the conversation I had with an officer on the base. My friend introduced me to Tom (not his real name) who was pleased to see us. Tom cannot easily leave the base and is encouraged when he meets new brothers. Tom is on a 6 month tour in the Balkans, in his words,"a holiday after Iraq and Afghanistan". What was even more extraordinary to me was that Tom sees himself as a handsomely paid missionary. He never shies away from an opportunity to share the good news or talk of what really matters in life this side of eternity. He was talking to us about inviting colleagues to read the Word and getting copies for them in their native tongue; how amazed and thankful they were. Tom recounted us with many such stories, stories of how he helped men like Ohmar in Iraq with Parkinsons disease or inviting Musa to a local gathering of believers. Today I was proud to witness how my taxes are working help the hurting and expand the kingdom.

We Thank God for you!

Abi and I were out to dinner tonight sans the 3 older kids, we had Jems in tow. They were enjoying the hospitality of good friends we spent time with when we lived here in the Balkans doing similar work to us.

Our dinner was with Ahmet and Eliona. Eliona is a sharp lady who has seen the Lord work in her life in amazing ways, and yet sadly she is not yet one of His own. She attributes most all of the good things in her life to Him and even cries out to Him for the things that are hard and frightening. As we talked about the investment they had received from us and the role we have played in their life, Eliona said, "We thank God for you". But yet she hasn't been able to make the jump to a personal relationship with Him yet.

We made a loan to Eliona 2 years ago to start a jewellry store in the local supermarket. There are store fronts within the supermarket and her store is one of those. At the time she and I talked about the wisdom of this location but she was convinced that it would be a good decision. I was not sure, thinking other locations in the city might be more strategic, but gave her the benefit of the doubt. Two years later she has repaid her loan in full, a month early. It is truly a success story. Not only that, but she has also loaned others money to start their own jewellry businesses too. She was absolutely right about the location of her store and she has a good eye to see the kinds of jewellry that are appealing and a little different to people here. Last night we celebrated with her that her loan is now paid in full. What a wonderful feeling. We pray too that the gospel opportunities we have had these past two years with her would come to fruition.

We're all goats aren't we?

Goats, what do you think of when you when someone brings up these little creatures? Billy, smelly, Gruff, sheep? For my daughter, Ezzie, the word goat takes her back to Kosova. She loves to herd them, care for them, and eat them. If she were to have been born to other parents in another land she surely would be a goat herder, she’s a natural. The owner of house we are staying at in Kosova has a sizable herd of goats our kids have been playing with non-stop since we arrived. Their only distraction from the goats are the cherry trees that they are climbing to enjoy a healthy snack.

On the fist morning we were here, Ezzie ran into the house requesting my help to free a goat that’s got her head stuck through the fence. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful. Have you ever tried to manhandle a goat? Its not easy. But it did get me to thinking about our goat likeness in relationship to the Lord. The herd was grazing in a beautiful pasture full of lush green grass. But this curious strong willed creature wandered off looking for “greener grass”. That stubborn horned creature poked her head through the fence in the attempt to get at something she thought would be better. In the end she trapped herself in a hole and was helpless to free herself. No matter how much she struggled or I struggled to help her freedom was elusive and un-attainable.

Isn’t that the same as us? How many times do we venture away from the good in search of the great only to find we get stuck in the mud of life that could have been avoided? I know this is the case for myself and I’d bet it’s not too different for you. Thankfully, there is one who rescues me because I know I can’t rescue myself. And I am grateful he has.

Well, you might be asking, what happened to that goat? The shepherd came home and rescued her. What she couldn’t do and what I couldn’t do, he could do because she knew his voice, trusted him and he was able to rescue her. Won’t you let the rescuer take hold of your stubborn horns today?Goats, what do you think of when you when someone brings up these little creatures? Billy, smelly, Gruff, sheep? For my daughter, Ezzie, the word goat takes her back to Kosova. She loves to herd them, care for them, and eat them. If she were to have been born to other parents in another land she surely would be a goat herder, she’s a natural. The owner of house we are staying at in Kosova has a sizable herd of goats our kids have been playing with non-stop since we arrived. Their only distraction from the goats are the cherry trees that they are climbing to enjoy a healthy snack.
On the fist morning we were here, Ezzie runs into the house requesting my help to free a goat that’s got her head stuck through the fence. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful. Have you ever tried to manhandle a goat? Its not easy. But it did get me to thinking about our goat likeness in relationship to the Lord. The herd was grazing in a beautiful pasture full of lush green grass. But this curious strong willed creature wandered off looking for “greener grass”. That stubborn goat had poked her head through the fence in the attempt to get at something she thought would be better. In the end she trapped herself in a hole and was helpless to free herself. No matter how much she struggled or I struggled to help her freedom was elusive and un-attainable.
Isn’t that the same as us? How many times do we venture away from the good in search of the great only to find we get stuck in the mud of life that could have been avoided? I know this is the case for myself and I’d bet it’s not too different for you. Thankfully, I have a heavenly Father who rescues me because I know I can’t rescue myself. And I am grateful he has.
Well, you might be asking, what happened to that goat? Goats, what do you think of when you when someone brings up these little creatures? Billy, smelly, Gruff, sheep? For my daughter, Ezzie, the word goat takes her back to Kosova. She loves to herd them, care for them, and eat them. If she were to have been born to other parents in another land she surely would be a goat herder, she’s a natural. The owner of house we are staying at in Kosova has a sizable herd of goats our kids have been playing with non-stop since we arrived. Their only distraction from the goats are the cherry trees that they are climbing to enjoy a healthy snack.
On the fist morning we were here, Ezzie runs into the house requesting my help to free a goat that’s got her head stuck through the fence. Needless to say, I was unsuccessful. Have you ever tried to manhandle a goat? Its not easy. But it did get me to thinking about our goat likeness in relationship to the Lord. The herd was grazing in a beautiful pasture full of lush green grass. But this curious strong willed creature wandered off looking for “greener grass”. That stubborn goat had poked her head through the fence in the attempt to get at something she thought would be better. In the end she trapped herself in a hole and was helpless to free herself. No matter how much she struggled or I struggled to help her freedom was elusive and un-attainable.
Isn’t that the same as us? How many times do we venture away from the good in search of the great only to find we get stuck in the mud of life that could have been avoided? I know this is the case for myself and I’d bet it’s not too different for you. Thankfully, I have a heavenly Father who rescues me because I know I can’t rescue myself. And I am grateful he has.
Well, you might be asking, what happened to that goat? The shepherd came home and recued her. What she couldn’t do and what I couldn’t do, he could do because she knew his voice, trusted him and he was able to rescue her. Won’t you let the rescuer take hold of your stubborn heart today?

We've Arrived!

We arrived in Kosova Monday night. The kids immediately took off and where enjoying themselves till 10pm. We have seen a few friends already and have been abruptly reminded of the inefficiencies of life in the Balkans. We have lost one bag, not a huge problem but had Quin's allergy meds in and he is really suffering. Also, Abi has been down with the flu all day today so pray for her. She is disappointed we had to cancel a dinner with old friends this evening. Pray she is back on form tomorrow.