SunFlowerTrust
Contact Melanie by email or
SunFlowerTrust@fish.co.uk
Sowing seeds
of joy, hope, truth, happiness and LOVE.
Reaping a harvest of happy, healthy, educated
children.
THE SUNFLOWER TRUSTS VISIT TO SERBIA OCTOBER
2005
Melanie Price MANCHESTER
Rev. Thelma Lynch HOLYHEAD N WALES
This was my first trip to Serbia, although I had been to the old Yugoslavia,many
years ago for a holiday. At first, I wasn t very impressed with this war
torn city. The people at first glance, looked very down trodden and aggressive.
The city of Belgrade, showed the evidence of war, as we saw bombed buildings
all over the place. I was mistaken about the people though,what I thought
was aggressivness, was really resilience, and their downcaste faces soon
lightened with life, once the ice was broken with a friendly smile, and a
"DOBUR DAN" (good day).
They were a bit embittered with the Americans, for bombing their city,
but really it was NATO, the United Forces. Our aim was to visit,and see,
the condition of the persecuted Church in Serbia.. The country is predominantly
Russian Orthodox, and every thing else is frowned upon, and seen as a cult,
or a sect. There is a big muslim population, which is growing bigger, year
by year, as the stratagy of Islam, is to dominate this land. People
have been beaten and encaserated, for their belief in the simple Gospel of
pure Christianity, and for expressing thier charismatic way of worship. We
wanted to show our love, and support, and to bring communication and connection
from our Churchs, Country, and Organisations, that we represented.
Pastor Mane s wife, Sally, and Olgitza, are doing an important work with
the poor children,living humbly, on the out-skirts of the city. We want to
send some relief, and educational supplies. Thelma and I were asked to speak
at the little school, for poor children,in a very derelect part of the
city. We arrived at 6pm, and it was already quite dark,so I couldn t see
the immediate surroundings. i could hear lots of childrens voices, shouting
with excitment, and then our vehical was smothered with flattened face stuch
to the windows, as they tried to see who was inside. The children were dark
skinned,and raw boned,with beautiful, dark flashing eyes.
They had been told that some, "Englaza" ladies were coming to speak
to them. I had 1 hour to relay the Gospel to them, I couldn t speak the language,
but knew a few basic words. Dragan translated, as I showed them the story
of the bracelet, with the coloured beads. 22 children gave their hearts
to Jesus that day, they asked me so many questions afterwards, and insisted
that we pray for them. Every one recieved gifts of "the braclet", and sweets
and pencils. They were so happy. I only found out afterwards, that these
were all muslim childern, thats why there were only 4 girls amongst them.
It was so presciuos, what the Holy Spirit did that day. My ignorance, was
truely bliss,because i did not know they were muslims. Doing street evangelisim,
was so easy. People are truely hungary for something new, and positive, and
good. The Gospel, brings them all the truth, they will ever need. Thelma
and I ministered in the Churchs, as we gave our testimonies, and the Word.
We visited some remote villages, where we fellowshipped together with local
village people, who never realised, that there were other believers in the
world, and that they were not alone in believing Jesus as thier personal
Lord and Saviour. We encouraged them, as the Holy Spirit lead us, and words
of phrphecy were spoken, by Thelma and myself, over that land, and it s prescious
people. We went on a 3 hour journey to visit our own Pastor Sasha, and his
wife Sarah.
They we quite over whelmed, that we came such a distance, to stay
for just 3 hours. It was 3 Holy Ghost hours, as we ate together, and prayed
for the situation in that town to change.
God did not send us there for nothing. Gods word does not return void,
but goes forth, with power and authority. We know something new is happening
for these wonderful pioneers, who go out to plough the land, ready for the
sowers. There s a harvest coming son, as the Lord is doing a quick work
in this bleak part of Europe.
Please keep this country in your prayers,as it will be a stratigic
land, in days to come. We are going back next year, as we are not just visitors,
but claiming our family memebers, in the family of God, and standing firm
with them as we let our lights shine, in Jesus name
We returned home with no money or clothes, but thats our essence
in going out