Hello, everyone:
Our dear friends Robert and Annie Ching from Gilead Chinese church in San Ramon, joined me once again for the seventh year and we did VBS in three different places and all with Roma children.
The first group were the children of our Roma church in Thessaloniki. Dr. John and his wife Katerina, from the Greek Evangelical Church in Thessaloniki, have been serving at this church for years. The needs are great but the people and especially the children are very happy!
This group of Roma is by far the poorest and they live next to the city dumps. Among them there are some very strong believers and especially men which is unusual. It’s usually the women who are more faithful among them.
Robert and Annie Ching
The Christian Roma Church of Thessaloniki
Some of our little girls listening intently.
Their homes which look good until it rains!
Annie teaching on Noah’s Ark
Snack time! Banana is a great treat for these kids! Then chocolate filled croissants. Yum!!!
On May 5th, Jim and Tory Rath and I, made a very quick trip to see our kids in Skopje (FYROM). Some got off from school at noon and saw hem. Others were in school in the afternoon and missed them. The ones we saw were very happy to see us and were all smiles and hugs. They were all clean and happy and fed and I couldn’t help but thank God for their sponsors back home who make it possible for these kids not only to have a better life but also a better life in Jesus! God bless you sponsors!
Hello everyone!
By the grace of God, Jim and Tory Rath and I arrived in Greece after a very pleasant and comfortable trip. A very generous friend treated us to a first class flight. A first time for me. So great! Thank you friend! The Raths very kindly traveled with me so I would not travel alone.
We found the Ministry Center in a great shape. Our wonderful grounds keeper Benny, does a very good job keeping the place beautiful at all times.
After resting for a couple of days and doing a little sightseeing, on Thursday we visited the “CARE CENTER” in Thessaloniki. Although Greece still has thousands and thousands of refugees, many of them are placed in rented homes, empty buildings, homes but still the majority in camps. These camps now are under the care and supervision of the government. The public and even organizations are not allowed in unless they apply for a special permission to bring in supplies and clothing. This procedure takes up to 2-3 weeks.
The Evangelical churches here in Greece decided to do something different in order to serve the refugees. The two local churches that The Macedonian Outreach works with to help the refugees, are very creative in helping the refugees in a more effective way.
The church in the town of Milotopos renovated some old homes and placed refugee families in them. These homes are very close to the church. The refugees are free to live like the locals. The children go to school and the women mix with the women in town. Some of them come to our church. MO has been a partner in this project from the very beginning.
The second church we participate with is the church in Thessaloniki which, with other believers from other churches found the “CARE CENTER”. They rented and renovated the second floor of a very big building and sent out flyers in English and Arabic languages, inviting the refugees to come and eat, choose clothing and register for English, German or Greek lessons. They also give them the opportunity to wash and dry their clothes. Some American Christians sent to the Center three Maytag washers and dryers. There are also medical services by Christian doctors who offer their services freely in the Center.
The refugees from the camps get passes and can come to the City and also to the “CARE CENTER”, if they choose, as often as they like. Here is the beauty of the whole thing. When we visited the camps, we were not allowed to share Christ with the people. Now that they come to us, they are our guests and we are free to tell them about Christ and to show the Jesus film.
Both these methods of sharing Christ with the refugees are very creative. Other Evangelical churches around the country are doing similar things. If anyone of you wants to participate in this effort, please donate by visiting our website, www.macedonianoutreach.org or by sending your check directly to:
The Macedonian Outreach
P. O. Box 398
Danville, CA. 94526
With Love in Him Who Loved Us First,
Vula
I would love to share with all of you a story that filled my heart with so much joy. I hope by now all of you know how much I love the Roma (Gypsy) people. As the Lord would have it, a young woman whom we sponsor for the second year at the Bible School in Athens, has the same love for the Roma like me. A coincidence? I don’t think so! God chose to give me a special gift today. Here is Despina’s story!
-Vula
Dear brothers and sisters of the Macedonian Outreach,
Bible study in Kalamata
Bible lesson with the kids in Kalamata
I am very thankful that you are supporting me in what God is doing in my life.
Last year it was a very blessed year for me, as I had the opportunity to go to the Bible College in Athens. I also met Christos this year, and we got married in September. So now, the two of us, are in our second year of our bible studies.
God has put a great love for the Roma people (Gypsies) in my heart the last few years. I have had the possibility to be part of a team, that has developed a very good relationship with some Roma families in Kalamata. In this second year now, the Team has reached the point of having every second week a bible study in their houses.
There is also a new established community center in Athens, next to a gypsy camp. Its goal is to motivate the community to go to school and give some basic educational help, as most of the people there are illiterate. With two co-students, we are now trying to develop some extra classes to invest in one to one lessons with the children that are going to school and need help to keep up.
I had the chance to meet some Roma believers in Athens and visited a conference of Roma people in the winter, to get to know their culture better. It was great to see them how they worship and pray to God!
God’s spirit is working very much in the Roma community! I believe very strongly in the unity of the body of Christ and my desire is to see more and more cooperation among all the workers involved in this kind of ministry.
Please, pray for:
1. Our studies in the Greek Bible School
2. More workers that are willing to spread the seed, as there are many doors
opening in Roma-families.
3. More cooperation among churches and organizations for a better allover
ministry to this special group people
Me and my husband are very grateful for your support and we appreciate your prayers.
Blessings in Christ,
Despina Matsiou