(a note from Wade)

Friday May 24:

Greetings from the Balkans. Our team has now settled in very well here at Camp Timko. We are about 20 km from the Serbian town of Zayecar (zy a char). The scenery is outstanding, with rolling hills nestled among jagged mountains. Small farms dot the hillsides. Most farms are 15 to 20 acres. Each farm has its own apple, cherry, and plum orchard. A few chickens roam the farmstead. There are two or three sows with piglets and a few milking cows. Large vegetable gardens are found on virtually every farm, with strawberry beds planted seemingly everywhere so that there is little lawn to mow. We men feel like we have been placed on a farm back in the 1930's in the US. The women stay at accommodations at the camp.

The local Serbs have all been very friendly to us, using all sorts of gestures to help us communicate with them. The irony is that 95% of all Serbs "belong" to the Serbian Orthodox Church. The church teaches that salvation takes place at infant baptism, so few Serbs feel any need to have any sort of spiritual walk. In fact, evangelical Christianity is viewed as a cult by the Orthodox Church and thus by the govt. There is a close connection between the church and the government which breeds corruption of both institutions. Branko, the head of the camp and the pastor who has started a house church in Zayecar, stated that Camp Timko is the only evangelical Christian camp south of Belgrade (which is most of the country!).

Because of that, we sense an urgency to finish our part of building up of the camp facilities. We are all gaining a heart for the Serbian people. We ask you to join in prayer with us, that the devil's hold over the Serbian people would be broken. That God's light and His message would break through to the heart's and minds of the people. That the Gospel could be clearly presented and received. That God's glory would be revealed and the banner of Jesus Christ be raised high.

We appreciate all the prayers on our behalf. And we ask that you would remember Sasko, Ira and Abigail. He is the Serbian brother in jail now for protecting his family from burglar. We need a work of God so that he would be free to return to his family.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Hello again from seven times zones ahead of Minnesota.

The work in Serbia is progressing well. The team has completed the plumbing connecting the new restroom/shower building to the main sewer and connected the water supply to the building. To have completed that project was wonderful, since that was one of the main reasons we are here. The clay block walls are going up and completed in certain areas. We are also working to compete a system of concrete trenches that will protect the main house of Camp Timko from any sort of heavy rainfall or quickly melting snow in the Spring.

Our days are going by quickly. We begin work at 8:30AM and usually go until 10:30 when we break for a short snack and group devotions. The snack has consisted each day of huge locally grown strawberries and cherries. During devotions, every individual on our team is giving us their spiritual story and quoting a section of scripture that means a lot to them. This devotional time has been an important time of the day, as we learn more about each other and spend extended time in prayer together. We then head back to work for a couple of hours and then break for lunch (more strawberries!!). Two more work sessions in the afternoon (with a break for strawberries and cherries). And finally a wonderful dinner served by Branko's wife (with strawberries usually on the table). Then we either head into Zayecar so we can access the Internet or we stay home and relax the rest of the evening (so we can dream about strawberries!).

As we talk with Branko about the local Orthodox churches, we are dismayed to hear about people leaving food for dead relatives a number of times throughout the year. We find the Orthodox priests condoning their parishioners going to witches for advice on how to live their lives or to talk to their dead relatives. We learn that the people are resistant to the Gospel and reject the scriptures, most because it is too hard to make a break with the traditions they grew up with and feel their family ties won't permit them to let Christ be their Lord and Savior.

Would you continue to pray for our team? For unity, for protection and for great spiritual growth. And continue to pray for the Serbian people. Traditions and customs are difficult to give up, unless you can understand the grace of our God and the love of our Savior. Also, continue to pray for Sasko, the Christian brother from Belgrade who killed a man who was breaking into his home. The latest is that he is in jail for 30 days at least, until a trial date can be set. His wife, Ira, planned to meet with the burglar's father and brother some time soon. Ira (pronounced ear-a), seems to be one courageous, deeply committed young woman who desires to do whatever God asks of her. Pray for Ira and their daughter, Abigail, so that they may stand firm in their faith and continue to be lights in a very dark country.

God bless you all. Hvala lepo.