To: The Board of Directors, The Macedonian Outreach
From: local Pastors Gopi and Reni
We would like to share with you good news about things we have been praying about for years. This year, for the first time since the beginning of the child sponsorship program in Yastrebovo, we have a graduate who was accepted at the Technical University in Gabrovo, majoring in engineering. We are extremely happy to see the fruits of so many years of work, and we hope that other children will follow his example.
Let’s meet this young man, Theodor Bonchev:
My name is Theodor Bonchev. I have been living in the village of Yastrebovo since I was born. I live with my family in a small house. The first years of my education I was studying in the school in the village of Opan (close to Yastrebovo). This year I graduated from a professional High school of Electronics in the city of Stara Zagora. I will continue my education at the Technical University in Gabrovo with a degree in Engineering.
For all of those years you have supported me in so many ways – not only financially, but also I could feel your spiritual support. For me, that was so important that there are people who believe that I can be a better person, a better student, a better Christian. Your support helped me not just to have a breakfast and lunch in school, but also you helped me to see myself through God’s eyes.
I would like to say “Thank you” so much for your support (financial and spiritual), for your commitment not only for me, but also for so many children in the village of Yastrebovo. For these years you never gave up on me, even when I was not such a good student. Today my eyes are open and I can see more clearly how important education is and how blessed am I to know you. I hope one day that God will use me to be a blessing to other people who are in need and I will be a good example for the rest of the children in Yastrebovo.
With respect and love,
Theodor
Theodor with his diploma
Theodor in front of Technical University
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!
The Macedonian Outreach was concerned about the well-being of our sponsored children and their families in Skopje, Northern Macedonia during the current COVID-19 crisis. Vula wrote to our partner Brother Sokrat and here is his reply:
We are glad to report that we were able to find a way to distribute food to the ghetto. Three days ago we obtained from a supermarket chain all that we need. Every child in the program has now received a large food parcel. It includes necessities like flour, oil, beans, and toiletries.
The families were very grateful to receive the food. This is especially true because our government has just tightened up the measures. Curfew now lasts from 4pm to 5am during the week and we are not allowed to leave home on the weekends.
We are grateful that the Lord has not left these people alone and has opened door for us to find and distribute food safely.
Letter from Pastor Sotir of Albania
(Our partner in the work in Albania)
The Earthquake
On 26th of November 2019 Albania, located in south-east of Europe, was hit by an earthquake. The damages had been a lot, 51 people lost their lives. It was something new for Albania. We had never experienced that kind of situation before.
The Evangelical churches came all together to help the people in need. By helping people in need we share the love of Jesus, we hear their words and we create also relationship. Through us, we wanted to show the only hope in Jesus Christ. What we are doing is showing them that Jesus Christ is our rock and hope.
Many families live in tents.
A lot of houses are damaged and they are unlivable. We are praying and trying to find permanent solutions to help the ones in need in this difficult time. One great way to help them is by getting a container for a family. The winter is cold and it makes it very difficult for little kids to sleep out in the tents and it is not easy for the old, sick people. A container is more comfortable, it keeps people warm and is not flammable as a tent is. A container would really help a family and they will always be grateful.
We have provided in 5 villages:
ISHEM – 2 container homes
MARIKAJ – 1 container home
KLOS – 1 container home
THUMANE – 2 container homes
KOMBINAT – 1 container home
7 CONTAINERS THROUGH MACEDONIAN OUTREACH to the families as well as food for those families. WE WANT TO THANK THE MACEDONIAN OUTREACH FOR CONTAINERS.
Some families were very poor. Some with many children. One of the families had a sick child and we prayed for it in name of Jesus.
We, as a church sent clothes, shared love of Christ with people.
I want to share with you two stories from two families for whom we provided a container house: for the family of Ramazan Beça in the village of Patin of the Klos Administrative Burrel.
The first one is Beça family. Their house was damaged by the November 26 earthquake and was classified by engineers as unlivable house. The Beça family case is a delicate case, where besides the fact that there are major economic problems, one of the children of the family, Biselda, only 20 years old, has very many special needs. Now Biselda has a home where she can live a normal life like all her friends. Ramazan Beça’s family has a container home that fulfills all living conditions.
Earthquake damage in local homes
Earthquake damage in local homes
Pastor Sotir among the container homes
Container home installation using crane
Pastor Sotir with Beça family in front of their new home
The second one is in Thumane, Thumane is the center village of the earthquake. In this village we gave two containers. One of these containers was given to mother Dilo. She is 80 years old and her house was destroyed. She is paralyzed, but I didn’t know that. When we planned to go to her house, it was a rainy day. This meant that it was impossible to go there, but we went. We told her that this container is a gift from some brothers and sisters from USA AND ESPECIALLY FROM MAMA VULA WHO IS LIKE YOU, A WIDOW.
I asked to take a photo of her and she told me: “Give me one minute to brush my hair. I want to look beautiful.” When we left she was very happy, and we were happy, too. God bless Mother Dilos.
Mama Dilos embraces Pastor Sotir
We are thankful to our LORD JESUS, AND TO YOU MACEDONIAN OUTREACH, AND YOU MAMA VULA for the privilege He gives us to serve Him and to reach some of the needy people. Please read Matthew 11:28-30.
Letter of gratitude from Albanian Evangelical Alliance