Back from Kosovo

This past month I had the chance to go back to Kosovo for a second trip.  I enjoy revisiting places because I love discovering the changes that happened since the last visit.  In Pristina, Kosovo lots of changes had transpired since my trip a year ago.

When Surge International travels to Pristina, Kosovo we work in partnership with Calvary Chapel Pristina.  This new year, CC Pristina received the blessing of a new, larger and better building.  By moving to this new building, CC Pristina has a new community to reach in the city centre.  Our job during this week of outreach was to be the ice breaker and help get the Church plugged into the community.

We ran a daily English Club for the neighbourhood kids followed by playing soccer.  Through this week of outreach I was reminded of my love of working with Kids.  In Vienna I am no longer working with Kids as much, so I got my “kid fix” in Kosovo.  Furthermore it was really encouraging to see as the week progressed we had more and more kids come to our English Club.  We started with two and on the last day we had 16.  Since we laid the ground work there is hope to have a monthly English Club at the Church and maybe start up a Kids Club where the gospel can be preached.

English Club at CC Pristina

 

Ironically this “new community” we were reaching wasn’t brand new to CC Pristina.  Mark and Celeste Yocom (Pastor and Wife of CC Pristina) have actually ministered to this community before but left when they switched church buildings 5 years ago.  It was exciting to be back in their “old digs” and see what the Lord would do with returning them to this part of town.  Throughout the whole week Mark and Celeste were getting reacquainted with old Friends wherever we went in this “new community.”  The place where we played soccer was a cement slab surrounded by tall apartment buildings.  Once we start playing everyone in the apartments started watching and once they saw Mark and Celeste they started shouting in recognition. It was encouraging to see the seeds that were planted years ago are still there and now they get to be watered again.

 

 

Soccer Outreach 

One of my highlights whenever I go to Kosovo is spending time with Mark and Celeste’s daughter, Isabella.  I got to baby-sit her a couple times and she is a lot of fun to ministry with because even at the young age of 6 she has a heart to share about Jesus to everyone she meets.

Isabella and I playing a game at MOPS group

 

On Tuesday we went to the local pediatric hospital and visited with cancer patients.  We handed out blankets and we were able to pray for every child we gave a blanket to.  I was surprised that the parents allowed us to pray for their child even though it wasn't to Allah. I got to pray for Juliana in the photo below.  She was going through a round of chemotherapy while we were visiting her.  I have never done hospital ministry before but this was a very rewarding and eye opening experience; I would like to do it again.

Hosptial Ministry

Overall it was a great trip.  I am grateful God was able to use me to encourage the believers and reach the unbelievers in Kosovo.

Prayer Request:

Fruit continues to grow in Pristina, Kosovo

Strength for Mark, Celeste and Isabella Yocom

I stay focused on serving here in Vienna

Finishing strong – I have only two more months left

Thanks for your prayers and support,

All for God, Gillian