Archive for the ‘Serbia’ Category

apart | together

Posted by Hazel On November - 20 - 2009

Arrived Uzice near 2 weeks. Time fly.

Titus went back to the State yesterday morning because of his health problem. The Serbia outreach team down to 6 people now. We tried to pass the news to the Philippines team but as they are on the outreach at the villages, seems that they still haven’t got our update. I could imagine how sad they will be. But I believe separation just bought us together.

Sun is shining bright in Uzice!

We had English Club, 2 sessions, with the high school dorm students. They are wonderful kids. Very smart, open, full of dream and passion of their own nation. I love them!

Last night, half of the team went to have a kids’ programme with the orphan. They are special needs kids and we had to use extra strength and patient. While we were doing the kids’ programme, the reminding team was preparing for the concert! Yes, we have a band!! Far From Home is the name!! Woo! See you poster on the street of Uzice! Concert at the cafe, try to reach out to the local. And it went so well! We made some new friends and some youth that we met on the street came to support us.

Ministries here in Uzice are all in the beginning. That’s a new experience for me. On one hand, I feel like I am not doing anything. Most of the time is just hanging out, try to make friends with local. But on the other hand, I value this experience. Cos I believe this is the real situation working in mission. Start from scratch.

This morning, the team heading to Sarajevo, Bosnia. I couldn’t get the visa, so I stay with other missionaries at our mission house. They will be back this Sunday evening and I wondering how I should make good use of these 3 days… Walking out of the house, again, this wonderful view is in front of me. The mission house is located at Bela Zemlja, mean the White Land. Such a beautiful place. And Serbia is such a beautiful nation. May God bless this place and the people here. May they see the beauty of the Lord, the glory of His kingdom. Amen.

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a week in Sombor, Serbia

Posted by Hazel On November - 4 - 2009

A week after the outreach team arrived Serbia. A lot of things have happened and they were all out of our expectation. Anyway, I better find a way to start writing about this amazing journey…

The 26th of Oct, our team left the YWAM base at 3pm. We took the bus, a 3.5 hours ride, to Bucharest. After a sandwich dinner at the train station platform and we got on the overnight train to Belgrade, Serbia. We could see the difference between Romania and Serbia once we cross the border. And at around 9:30am, we arrived Belgrade and it was raining. I love the country once I stepped out of the station. I didn’t really understand why, maybe it was because of the streets setting, or the trams and the people. We ate a quick + big breakfast then we took the van and heading to Sombor, our first destination of the outreach, a beautiful, green, bicycle friendly city. I love it so much!!!!!!!!!

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The place that we are staying is a tiny lovely house with only 1 room. So the 4 girls sleep take the room and the 3 boys sleep in the living room. Well, to be more specific, it is a living room + kitchen + meeting room + boys’ room. The host family is wonderful. Food, home-made soda water, coffee, non-stop wood for the fire…. everything!

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Since last Wednesday, we have English Club and Cafe ministries near every night. The church that we work with has a cafe.  We have been so excited as people are so open and nice. The second day that we arrived, we spent sometime wondering around the town center. We handed out leaflets to promote about the Kid’s Club, English Club and Cafe things that would happen. People really stopped, talked to us, gave us a smile. Even they were not really interested, they just make me feel peace. This is totally out of my expectation.

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More exciting is there are new people coming to the English Club + Cafe. Totally new to the church. And they keep coming after the first evening. People are open, funny, kind, direct and interesting. I really fell in love with them, not only with their city.

About kid’s club, again, amazing. All the kids are sweet. It is very interesting to see how different the kids could be when they are from different countries or culture. Even Romania is geographically next to Serbia, everything is  so different.

2009-11-01 015 (640x480)On Sunday, 1 Nov, it was a date that people go to clean up grave and light a candle there. After the Cafe ministry, our new friends bought us to the graveyard. It was so cold but my heart was warm by their kindness. A memorable night. Tomorrow will be our last full day in Sombor. Friends that we met at the cafe invited us to have a pizza lunch. That will be an emotional time that I could imagine.

2009-11-01 006 (480x640)The most unexpected thing was the softball + baseball training. Vicky told me that she help in training the teenager team in Sombor. I am so excited to hear that, same as Titus. We joined the training on weekend. As I have limited skills, basically, I was there playing with the girls and chat with them. The coach has so much passion on baseball even he is not a professional. Titus was once a baseball player so he taught the kids more skills and all the kids were grateful. That 2 mornings, I ride on Jennifer’s, another girl working at the church, bike. I have no word to describe how joyful I was. To live in a place that I could ride my bike around town is one of my dream. And when I got to the field, seeing all the teenagers running around, have so much passion on what they are doing, it touched my heart deeply. I never though that I love to work with teenagers. I wonder God is telling me something that 2 days on the big field.

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One last thing, and most important thing, before I go to sleep…

Titus is sick, very sick. And he need to do a lot of test to make sure what is happening to his body. Doctor from the hospital here suggested him to go back to the state for the test and treatment as it might be very expensive for him to things here. He thinks that it will only be the last option for him to go back. And are trying to gather more information about his insurance and also find better hospital, maybe in Belgrade for him to do the test. Please pray for him and our team.

Amen

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silent night

Posted by Hazel On October - 26 - 2009

Saying goodbye to the Philippines outreach team 2pm this afternoon. It will be a long traveling for them. And I am sure it will be a unforgettable one.

The base became so quiet after half of the students left. Dinner, fried chicken, was amazing as usual. Thanks Kristen and Denali for cooking!! We played RISK after and it was just a relaxing evening.

Tomorrow, we are leaving for Serbia. Taking a bus to Bucharest and get on the overnight train to Serbia. After we leave, the base will be so empty. Couldn’t imagine I am going to leave this house soon. How will the following 6 weeks be like? How is the other team going? I guess they are now sleeping on the bus to Istanbul. Miss them already, on this silent night.

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