Christmas 2007

Howdy!  I hope everyone has had a MERRY CHRISTMAS

and I trust you will have a

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 I am sorry this is so late, although I do have a pretty good excuse.  Our electricity has not been in existence very much here lately.  We usually have power for a little while during the day, but not in the evenings or mornings.  I have not had much success with gaining internet access.  It seems to have been improving over the past couple of days. 

Gjakova

Colony

 We have had an exciting fall with the Roma children.  The children have been learning and having fun!  We had an impromptu Thanksgiving lesson with the children.  At first they did not understand.  They had never heard of being thankful.  After we explained what being thankful meant and going over things to be thankful for, I asked the children what they were thankful for.  They were quiet for a while.  It was almost like they could not think of anything.  Then finally one little boy raised his hand and said he was glad we taught him how to color.  It did not take long for the other children to join in and they started naming things: giving them bananas and juice, coming to teach them every week, giving them hugs, wiping their noses, showing them how to clean themselves, giving them hats and gloves, etc.  Needless to say my translator and I could not hold back our tears.  The children were genuinely appreciative of us and the small things we were doing for them.  They have no running water, not much food to eat, and not many clothes to wear.  They are dirty, smelly, and their hair and teeth are not brushed, but God loves them all and so do I!

As I walk through the colony the children will either run out to me or stand and yell my name and wave to me.  They are just so excited to see someone that cares for them.  They have experienced Christ’s unconditional love and I am so blessed that God allowed me to be His servant and His vessel with these children!  What a joy!!!

Prizren Colony

In this colony we are allowed to tell Bible stories, so we focused on the Christmas story.  Since the children have been raised in the Muslim belief, many were hearing the Christmas story for the first time.  While teaching the preschoolers, I put emphasis on Christmas being Jesus’ birthday so they could understand and relate to the story.  After the first day, we were walking the children back to their homes; the preschoolers started singing Happy Birthday to Jesus.  What a joy it was to hear the children singing from their hearts.  They sang it one more time on the eve of a big Muslim feast!  They sang at the top of their lungs.  Who knows how many Muslims were hearing these children.   God has touched their lives and in turn they are touching the lives of others. 

Time

I love working with the Roma children, but my time in Kosova is coming to an end.  I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me next, but I know it will be an adventure!  It looks like I will leave Kosova on January 28 and head to North Carolina.

Prayer

Please be in prayer for:

• The Roma ministries

• The children as I prepare to leave Kosova

• Donika and Feuda as they continue the children’s ministry

• Kosova’s political situation

• Me as I leave and seek the Lord’s guidance for my next step

THANK YOU

Thank you for all the emails and the prayer support.  Please continue to keep the emails coming!  Thanks, MARY

I tried to send pictures in this email, but it did not work.  My computer skills have not improved over the year.  I am attaching some photos (click here)!