SunFlowerTrust
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