North Macedonia Mission Trip 2019

Since this year’s VBS outreach was canceled due to COVID-19, we would like to share a story from the 2019 Skopje Roma Children’s Vacation Bible School.

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We are Annie and Robert Ching, members of Gilead Bible Church in San Ramon, CA a city not far from where Vula lives. In the early 1990s, we met Vula at one of our church functions when she invited us to join her on a mission trip. It was not, however, until our retirement in 2011 that we obeyed God’s call and accepted Vula’s invitation and went for a two week mission trip to the Balkans. Since then an annual, short-term mission trip with The Macedonian Outreach has become a vital part of our retirement life. Vula has been a wonderful sister in the Lord, a generous friend, and spiritual mentor to our church families.

In 2017, we included in our mission journey, and every year since then, an overnight trip to the Roma ghetto in Skopje where we run a Vacation Bible School in the afternoon and sometimes an additional morning program before we return to the Ministry Headquarters in Litochoro, Greece. Many children walk a distance to the VBS location for a time of Bible stories, games and lunch. God has blessed us with times of real joy summer after summer. Memories of their singing and laughter are stored deep in our hearts.

Pastor Sokrat and his family, who are the local care givers to the ghetto, have been faithful to teach the gospel truth of Jesus Christ to the children and to care for the well-being of them and their families. Gilead Bible Church thanks God for the opportunity to partner in a small way with this vital ministry of The Macedonian Outreach in Scopje, N. Macedonia.

In the last three years, we taught the stories of Noah, the Lost Sheep and the Colors of the Gospel. As Chinese Americans, we also included some Chinese cultural activities and games to augment and reinforce the Bible lessons. These children and teenagers are very inquisitive and eager to learn! God‘s love knows no language nor cultural barrier. The Sokrat family has been vital in translating for us, in leading songs and organizing activities.

The Skopje experiences have taught us to be humble, grateful, enthusiastic and receptive to the things of the Lord. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

We thank Vula for opening our eyes to the spiritual and physical needs in the Balkans. May God find us faithful in bringing many little children to Him.

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VBS Campers

Robert with a new friend

Annie and friends

Annie explains significance of Chinese character for “lamb”

Children praying

Improvised tossing game

Lunch time for the campers!