Dear family and friends:
I want to share with you a video about an answer to prayer that has been in the making for a very long time. For over twenty years I was praying for the Lord to help us house 14 families who had been living in old commercial chicken coops and a few years ago the Lord answered in His own very special way. House number eleven is in the making with only three more to go. Celebrate with us God’s goodness and faithfulness!!
-Vula
Dear friends and family:
As Christmas is almost here, I would like to share a video and a story with you that will warm your hearts. As you know, from the beginning we started helping the Ukrainian refugees in my home town. As Christians we know that it is better to give than to receive. Macedonian Outreach partnered with a small Pentecostal church in Katerini in providing food, clothing, bringing them together for fellowship and most importantly giving them the Word of God in their own language. Thank you all for helping provide the necessary funds to do all this every two weeks. May God’s blessings be yours and Merry Christmas to all!
Update of our sponsored children in Saraj, Skopje, North Macedonia
by our Director Sokrat
Summer has come to an end. School year has begun. Every year we have an event that has the purpose to give the children moral, social and spiritual support before their new journey in their next school class. Also provide them with the basic school supplies and some treats.
For most students, going from one grade to another is nothing special but for Roma children that is a big celebration. Nine out of ten children will drop out of school during the first two years. Due to the poor environment that they live in, education is not a priority or encouraged, thus our job to encourage and pray during the year is extremely hard and frustrating. Having no space to do our ministerial activities adds to that heavy load as well.
But despite all difficulties, the Lord blesses our ministry among Roma children. During the school year all our activities are held in the village under a small gazebo. Once again, we had created an event where more than 70 children had the opportunity to be inspired to start their new school year. Also, a lot of fun was planned. At that event, my wife gave them words of encouragement and introduced them to our guests Vula, Annie and Robert. Then, Annie gave a short Bible lesson based on John 8:12 with some amazing visual aids. The children loved it. The smallest ones saw and learned a new type of flower. After the lesson, we had a game in two groups. It was such a blessing to see children from all ages play a game with no problems. Then, Vula gave each child a new school bag with school supplies. At the end of the day we had snacks and chocolate. What an amazing day; we are so grateful to the Lord.
We are also grateful to the Macedonian Outreach for supporting more than 60 children and for taking care of their basic educational needs.
Backpacks for new school year
More backpacks with Sokrat and son Alexander
Vula and Elena with the children of Saraj
Annie from Castro Valley, CA teaches a Bible story
Children with their new backpacks
A group picture with our happy children
The month of August is the hottest in the Balkans and especially in Greece. Everything shuts down and everyone runs to the beaches to cool off. And yet my dear friend, Lyn Kern, chose to come in August.
No time was wasted! This allowed us to spend time every morning in the Word of God! It was very refreshing. Then we visited friends and helped in the gathering of Ukrainian refugees and local Christians.
Emptied boxes and sorted clothes.
She had fun watching me make jam of my favorite fruit – figs!
And then before we knew it time passed and she had to go home.
