Senja's Space

Thursday, June 24, 2021

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.

Monday, June 21, 2021

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.

Saturday, June 19, 2021

Croatia Missions Trip 5/9

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Church service at New Life Independent Baptist Church began at 10:30am. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, everyone was required to social distance and wear masks. The Croatians sat in the main sanctuary, and the Americans watched the service on the tv in the entryway. Pastor Jeff preached from Nehemiah 1 on the ingredients for Revival: 1) Nehemiah heard 2) Nehemiah prayed 3) Nehemiah had the right view of God 4) Nehemiah had the right view of himself.

After church, Pastor Jeff, Travis, Jason, Alex, Micah, Lucas and I went to Paesano for lunch. The guys got the cake and ice cream both before and after their meal as that is what had been planned after our first visit on Friday.

After bringing the boys to their apartment, we went back to our AirBnB to rest and watched a church back in the states live stream their service.

Croatia Missions Trip 4/9

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Twenty people helped with the campaign today; four of them were from the church: Rueben, Antonio, Igor and Frauna. We met near some apartment buildings.

Jason did a devotional today from Jonah chapter 4: Our prayer is that Croatia might be saved. To have the heart for the Croatian people that God has, we need his guidance, gourd, and gratitude.

We put literature in mailboxes before and after lunch. Lunch was baked goods at one of the parks. Some confusion happened in the after lunch assignments as groups started to do areas that someone had already done. We had to regroup at a coffee shop to reassign areas. Afterward, the whole group headed to the Point Shopping Center for dinner at Sofra for authentic Bosnian food.

Friday, June 18, 2021

Croatia Missions Trip 3/9

Friday, June 21 2021

Today at 9:30am, our group of twenty met outside the Cathedral of Zagreb. Besides the group from the previous evening meal together also joining us was Brother Johnny. He has been in Croatia for twenty years and was instrumental in translating the Bible into Croatian. He brought a man named François with him as well as Brother Ron, his wife, Rachel, and their son, Caleb. This family has been helping the Leslies since 2019.

Pastor Jeff gave the devotional from 1 Kings 17:1 and then we spilt up into teams of two and headed to the square to distribute John and Romans and invitations to the Amazing Grace meeting to be held the following Thursday. I was partnered with Sarah who instructed me on useful phrases to say such as "dobra dan" which means "good afternoon". I had conversations in English with two people. One was a tourist from Zadar who was leaving Zagreb that day to head back home. The other was a very confused Hindu who believed all sorts of bazaar things including reincarnation. He said he would come to the meeting.

Just before we broke for lunch, Frauna from Brother Brad's church, arrived to help out. I was with Sarah again after lunch in a different location. She handed the materials to a girl who started reading it. She ran back with her friend to catch up with Sarah so the friend could receive one as well. I took a picture of them reading the materials together.

It was supposed to rain starting at 11am, but the first droplet didn't even come until we said goodbyes to go our separate ways at 3. Praise the Lord! Dinner was at Paesano. Google map says it's an Italian restaurant, but they even have steak and burgers there. It was soooo good we agreed to go back for sure. We went to one mall looking for a fan (in which each of the guys bought one) and another mall so Jason could buy a phone. It started pouring rain when we returned to the AirBnB and soon after a rainbow lit up the sky. It was as though God sent it just for us at just that time to let us know He had held back the rain until the work of the day was done.