Croatia Missions Trip 9

Wednesday, June 17, 2021

Today was last day of the campaign. We met near the Cathedral of Zagreb and were assigned areas by the tram stop to hand out fliers. Jason and I were given an area near the Brother Tim and Mrs. Debra. Mrs. Debra commented on how odd it was to her that most of the people refused the free materials handed to them. She said in Romania, everyone accepts them. At noon we went to lunch with them at a diner called Good Food before parting ways to prepare for the evening meeting. 

At 6 o'clock, our group gathered at Hotel Antunović for the meeting we had labored all week long to invite the people of Zagreb to. The service itself didn't start until 7pm. Many of the members from the Brother Johnny's church came to attend and serve. At 7, the auditorium filled with around fifty people. Fourteen registration cards were turned in for free Bibles. One of the gentleman that came was named Javier. He was Cuban but married a Croatian. He turned in a card for himself and his wife to both receive a Bible. She was working and could not come.

Micah, Jason and I said goodbyes to all as our flight was scheduled to depart early the next morning at 7:10am. This time on our return flight, everything went smoothly and according to schedule. We arrived around 9pm Friday night to two happy girls excited for their family to return.

Croatia Missions Trip 8/9

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

    Jason brought me the square to have breakfast with Micah before the group met. In the meantime, he, Pastor Jeff and Travis put John and Romans and invitations in mailboxes near the AirBnB since they had a 1 o'clock flight to catch.

    Brother Brad and Mrs Connie  picked Micah and I up in the square along with everyone else that needed a ride. This time, we met near as Catholic Church. Brother Johnny gave the devotional from Matthew 9 that it's Christ's harvest and not our harvest. He said that Jesus had compassion on the multitudes, but in His ministry, He sought out the individuals and we should do likewise. 

    I helped Brother Brad and Mrs Connie with putting invitations in apartment mailboxes until lunch time at a bakery. After lunch, Jason texted me that he had brought Pastor Jeff and Travis to the airport and that he was on his way to meet up with our group. I gave him  the bakery address where Brother Brad was parked while Mrs Connie, Charissa and I sent to six more apartment buildings. When we finished those, Jason and I went to help Micah's team with the apartment buildings they had remaining.

    Caleb was going to be spending the night with Alex, Micah and Lucas, so as it worked out the four of us rode with us back to our AirBnB so Jason and I could prepare for church and then we brought him and Micah back to their place to prepare for church. The boys apartment is near the church. Caleb had other dinner plans, but Micah, Charissa, Hannah, Jason and I met at Pizza Poma for dinner. Jason got spaghetti, I got a burger that came with half a plate of the most delicious fried onions. The three young people got a gyro not realizing how huge it was. None of them were able to finish it.

    At church, the five  of us that had dinner together stayed in the hallway because of social distancing. Brother Brad led the singing and preached. He also did a question and answer time since there was a good number of young people there as well as a number of people currently serving in ministry. He asked "How did you know that you were being called to ministry?" to get the ball rolling for others to ask questions. Jason answered that there was no escaping Hungary. He said that everything became about Hungary including simple things like pictures on the wall, where before he would not have even noticed them. Brother Brad's translator asked if anyone had ever knowingly disobeyed God and Jason answered that he had. During Bible College, his teacher who just returned from a trip to Hungary in 2010, invited all in class to go with him. Jason knew he should go on the next trip but didn't because of lack of finances. He didn't go until the following year, 2012 but it still hurt him knowing he should have gone in 2011.

    After question and answer time, we broke up into groups of three to pray for the meeting the following day.

Croatia Missions Trip 7/9

Tuesday, June 15, 2021 

    Today was the last full day in Croatia for  Pastor Jeff and Travis, so before the group met at our designated meeting spot, Jason drove us to the city square so the guys could get gifts to take home to their wives. They quickly found Christmas ornaments at the first shop we stopped in. I spotted a little brown bear wearing a "I Love Croatia" t-shirt that I purchased for Heidi. Jason had already found Laura a Croatia hat and a key chain to add to her collection.

    The guys had gone on without me as they were done when I was still browsing the shop. As I was making my way back to the parking garage where the car was, I came across Sarah, Faith and Hope on a park bench and stopped to chat.

    At the meeting spot near a church, another group was gathered for their assignments : a group of men in white shirts and ties - morman's. They are so effective in what they do that the people quickly become confused with all the false teachings.

    Twenty-five helped out today and we took a group picture. Missionaries to Romania, Tim and Debra, came to help. Tim gave a devotional from Psalm 126:5-6 on having a heart that weeps to be effective in reaching souls. He said a weeping heart is a caring, compassionate and crying heart. We then broke off in our teams and prayed before heading to our assignments. Once again, we put John and Romans in mailboxes, cars and into apartments. Everyone was tired today, but we worked until it was time to go to Mlinarica for dinner. This was the same place we had dinner at Thursday after Jason and I first arrived. 

    After dinner, our group of four headed up the mountain to a castle called Medvedgrad where you can find a nice view of the city. The castle itself was closed but there was a steep, skinny trail along the castle wall that we trekked up for the view. Jason recorded a video of his sharing his heart about what he was thinking as we overlooked the city. He then asked Pastor Jeff to pray as he continued to record. This video resulted from that time up at castle Medvedgrad : https://youtu.be/ulDbS24JHA4

    After praying, we headed back down the mountain and back to our AirBnB. Every night of this trip, Pastor Brown and Travis had played the game Ticket to Ride. They played about three games every evening until going to bed and were very competitive. I had only joined them twice during the whole trip as that was all the board game playing I could handle. When Jason and I went to bed, they were still playing as it was their last chance before flying out before the following day.

Croatia Missions Trip 6/9

Monday, June 14, 2021

    Before the entire group gathered at our meeting spot near some apartments, Jason, Pastor Brown, Travis and I stopped for a cup of coffee at a nearby coffee shop. Let's just say, it wasn't the prettiest location and the attendant kept chasing off birds that were disturbing the customers. At least the coffee was good.

    Twenty-seven showed up to help with the Campaign including SOS Ministries missionaries Ralph and Patty who flew in previous evening. They have such a neat ministry. They help missionaries long term in establishing churches. They helped Brother Brad start his first church and now help another missionary in Italy. Ralph gave the morning devotional on the great commission and how Christ has all power to do the task. Our task is to be diligent. 

    Before splitting up into teams and parting ways,Patty surprised me with a huge blessing. When I lived in Hungary, I was able to get my insulin I regularly take in my insulin pump for much cheaper than I get it for in the states. Patty uses the same insulin and gave me five vials and four insulin pens because she had an abundance! What a blessing!

    I was partnered up with Faith before and after lunch on this day and we were given streets to put the invitations in mailboxes. Lunch was at McDonald's. We worked until 4pm, then separating for dinner. Jason wanted to eat at the AirBnB, but Pastor Brown suggested going to a steakhouse that was advertised on a billboard all over town. Afterward, was went to the mall across the street for Gelato.