Robert, Annie & Vula
August 21, 2022 – An Unforgettable Visit to the Thessaloniki Roma Church
Annie & Robert Ching of Gilead Bible Church, San Ramon, CA
Today, Vula took us to the Roma village of Thessaloniki for Sunday worship. This village is located in a garbage dump outside of Thessaloniki’s International Airport. We visited 5 years ago when the relationship among the dwellers was fair and houses were adequate. Today, it is filthier and more desolate, and hidden from the bustling freeway. Four years ago, a fierce fire broke out in the village which burned down their houses. The church and the Sunday School buildings were loitered. Consequently, many families were dispersed and scattered. Fewer houses were rebuilt with much inferior materials like corrugated tin sheets, paper cardboards cover with tarps – more like shacks than houses. The church building was erected by several faithful families using broken doors and windows picked up in the dumps. Dangling wires, missing light bulbs and leaky roofs were common. The new cross is made with two twigs, a symbol of forever victory! There are many children, but no place for them to have Sunday School, and there is no teacher.
Roma village
Roma church building
Yet, as we entered this awesome place of worship, we were quickly and deeply moved by the Roma believers’ joy and readiness to worship. Today, worship music was avoided to honor the death in a believer’s family. Pastor John began with the reading of Psalm 40, followed by a beautiful vocal singing of “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by his wife, Katerina. We felt an awe-inspiring sense of profound comfort upon this suffering congregation. While the church body is going through trials and suffering themselves, the communal prayer was offered to remember those being persecuted in India and Syria. Brother Robert gave a simple message on God’s everlasting love from Romans 8:35-39. It was truly a refreshing moment of true worship to God. We were blessed and honored to sit next to our fellow Roma Christians on this Lord’s Day! Thank you so much, Oh Lord, for loving us regardless of differences and race.
Roma church service
Brother Robert gives message
A boy raised his hand at the beginning of worship and asked, “Are we going to have Sunday School today?” Pastor John answered a resounding “Yes”. The backdrop of this amazing question happened like this: Since the old church building was no longer usable, there is no space to hold any classes like before. Further, since the Covid outbreak, children’s Sunday School was stopped. But God’s plan for today exceeded the children’s expectation! A month ago, the first Roma believer of this village became very sick and was taken Home to the Lord. The church family was in mourning for her. But Vula brought us along today and we prepared a Sunday School lesson nonetheless. The daughter, who is also a leader of the church, opened the house of her late mother for Sunday School! Her house was just across from the church. The Lord knew the right time, the right place and the right people to give the children a long-awaited Sunday School time! Yes, there would be Sunday School today!
Sunday school
Annie gave a simple lesson on sunflowers 🌻 based on John 8:12 “I am the Light of the world. He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life.” Vula was a terrific interpreter from English to Greek! The children engaged with good spirits and listening ears. Snack time with chocolates, juice, bananas, and sunflower seeds filled all those who lined up with little open hands and smiling faces. A Roma sister stepped up to be our helper! Our impromptu team was incredible. The joy of the Lord filled the hearts of the youth and adults with laughter, hugs and love, in the house where the first believer of this village had lived. God’s love has no boundaries and His salvation can reach even to a ghetto in the middle of the dumps that is obscured and neglected by the outside world.
Vula with youth
Chocolate!
After this amazing Sunday lesson, two young teens came to show Vula a note book written in Chinese pin-yin and Greek. They have self-taught themselves Chinese using the internet. Vula showed me their proud work and I was dumbfounded by such incredible interest to learn the Chinese language. They even wanted to go to China someday to find Chinese Christians to teach them more of the Chinese language! Their desires touched my heart deeply – reaching out across the world to learn Chinese in a far away land. At the end of the visit, all the children learned to say sunflower in Chinese: Taiyang Hua 太陽花 🌻 Praise God for this amazing cross-cultural experience that was done in the love of Jesus Christ!
Annie impressed by Chinese language interest
Group
Hello! I’m Tessa and I was privileged to spend a week with Vula, seeing the various ministries in and around Thessaloniki and meeting many wonderful people. My friend Johanna and I came from Sweden (where Johanna is from and where I live) to learn about what the Macedonian Outreach and other ministries do in northern Greece. There were many wonderful experiences, but the one that stood out to me the most was our final day in Katerini. We went to the refugee care center and got to have coffee with refugees from Iran. The meeting began with an explanation of the purpose of the center and a few songs. One of the songs was sung in Greek, but Johanna knew it in Swedish and I knew it in English and I thought this was a beautiful representation of all nations and tongues singing together.
After singing I leaned over to the girl next to me and asked her name. She shyly approached our conversation but after a few moments, she started to relax and tell me about who she was and what her life was like. Her family has been in Greece for 5 years and they’re struggling to get asylum. They spoke of the challenges they’ve gone through and how they long for a simple life — one where the children can go to school and be safe. The director of the center explained to them that though there was nothing they could legally do to help them, we can pray to God and He can give us peace in the midst of turbulent times. We can trust that God cares for people and is also burdened by situations of pain and heartbreak.
Many people come through Greece on their way to other countries like Sweden. It was helpful to see the circumstances and the situations of these refugees and I can better understand my friends in Sweden now. There is so much need but I’m so grateful that we serve God who can provide all our needs and cares about each of these people much more than I ever can. It was a blessing to see how many organizations are working together to care for the needs of people in the Balkans and point them to the deepest need that they have, a need for God. Johanna and I learned so much and continue to pray for the people that we met as we trust that God is still working.
Tessa Walsh
Johanna and Vula in front of Vula’s childhood church in Katerini
Tessa at the soup kitchen in Thessaloniki
Vula at the soup kitchen in Thessaloniki
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
Hello everyone, this is Irene again. I wanted to tell you about the last part of our travels.
All of us with Sotiri and Bona in Albania
Phil leads the kids in some games in Albania
In mid June we headed up to Albania and met with Sotiri and Bona. For the next few days we worked with them and another local pastor. We shared God’s word, sang some songs, played some games and, as always, had some snacks.
Ukrainian Dignitaries with the Ukrainian Refugees
At the next food distribution for the Ukrainian Refugees, we were again blessed to work with the Pentecostal Church in Katerini. A local TV station was there that day because some Ukrainian dignitaries were interested in seeing the work that is being done for the Ukrainian people. It was another great time of fellowship with them. The Pastor led in some Christian songs in Greek and in turn the Ukrainian people shared a folk song from their country.
Vula working at Steki
We went to Thessaloniki and visited the ministry Steki where we were able to distribute meals to both Greeks and refugees in need. This is another wonderful, ongoing food distribution ministry that we are so blessed to support.
The Care Center in Thessaloniki helps refugees from various countries. They offer a place to come and fellowship, have a sandwich and something to drink. Singles and families can get clothing they need, shower, do some laundry and at the end they receive some groceries to take home. There’s even a room designated for kids to come in and play and be looked after while their parents are there. This is again a wonderful ongoing ministry that we are blessed to support.
A word from Phil:
Hearing the voices of Greece, Ukraine, Roma, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania and America all at once sounds like heaven. The innocence, games, joy and laughter of children are the same everywhere.
We saw the face of need and the blessing of sponsorships. We heard testimonies of lives changed by the Gospel and we experienced the joy of worshiping with new friends.
While living conditions are widely varied, we have learned that they are not as critical as heart conditions. These congregations, these families, these children love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and they love one another deeply.
All of the ministry brothers and sisters we’ve met have a heart for the Lord that is humble yet bold. Their compassion and energy is inspiring as the Holy Spirit gives them direction.
For as much as we came hoping to be a blessing and to encourage the churches and ministries here in the Balkans, we have in turn been blessed and encouraged. As Irene and I head home we look forward with expectation to the Lord’s continued steadfast love, mercy, grace and direction. All of us together, through the Macedonian Outreach, are the hands and feet of Jesus.
Pastor Phil
Mark 12:31 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Hello everyone!
This is Aunt Vula’s niece Irene again, filling you in on the last couple weeks. It’s been busy but very blessed.
With Gopi and Reni outside The Ministry Center Yastrebovo
Aunt Vula’s niece Christine arrived with her daughter Kendall and we packed up the car and all headed out to Bulgaria to meet with Pastor Gopi and his wife Reni who head up the ministry in Yastrebovo and the surrounding areas.
Children and moms in Pamukchii
We gathered together in the village of Pamukchii where the Macedonian Outreach has funded the construction of 31 wells, the building of a church, and the building of 7 1/2 (of the 14 planned) houses. As a reminder, these are the people who requested that the church building be built BEFORE any houses were built. The remaining houses are in the works. We had a time of dedication and worship in the church, and Phil spoke with the adults in the church while Christine, Kendall and I took the children outside to have a special time with them. Even with the language barrier (Reni our translator was inside translating for Phil), we were able to share some love and fun with the children. Afterward, some of the children wanted to share a song with us. Our hearts were so blessed to see all that God has done here. We’re so thankful to everyone for donating and being a part of blessing these dear families.
The whole group with the children in Yastrobevo after our time together
Vula with the children at the church on Sunday
Later that afternoon, we gathered with the children in Yastrebovo at the Ministry Center. We had a special day with songs, a Bible lesson, a craft, treats and lots of games outside. We had a great time with the children. It was so great to see so many of the children that are sponsored through the MO doing well! The next morning we spoke and shared at the church service and then the children had a Sunday school lesson and craft as well. It was a busy few days but we had such a sweet time with everyone.
At the pastor’s house with his family after our time with the Roma people
That afternoon we loaded everything back on the car and drove 5 hours to Skopje in N. Macedonia to have some time with Pastor Sokrat and his family. They minister unceasingly to the Roma children that live in an impoverished area in the outskirts of Skopje. We had some time connecting with the children the next day in their village, sharing, singing and playing games, and of course passing out wonderful snacks and treats! The children are so sweet and again we were able to see some of the kids that are sponsored through MO.
Some of our new Ukrainian friends
The day after we returned to Greece we were able to do a second give away of groceries and baby needs for the Ukrainian refugees in Katerini. It was wonderful to be a part of this again and so many remembered us from two weeks ago. We’ve made some wonderful new friends.
This is my first Balkans trip to see what MO is involved in with my own eyes. Like many of you, we and our church have supported and heard the stories and testimonies for years, but to see the work in action, to see the faces of the people and children in person, and to meet the wonderful ministry workers in these areas is amazing. My heart is overflowing and my husband Phil and I have been so blessed to meet and hug and get to know these wonderful people, and are so excited to see what the Lord has ahead. Next stop, Albania!