Hello from Novi Sad, Serbia
Gwen and I are curled up in our crispy white beds in a comfortable, clean hotel in Novi Sad, Serbia. It's late and we've had some full days.
Our team said goodbye to the serviced apartments in Berlin and flew off to Vienna this morning and then on to Belgrade. We arrived in Novi Sad late afternoon, had a team meeting to catch up with Sheldon (Anna's husband) who joined us in Vienna, and he briefed us on the history of Serbia and some of our itinerary for the next few days. At 7pm we met Vesna and Nesa--a dynamic local couple. Vesna started the Choose Life Center here in Novi Sad. She's a pioneer in this area and told us that 80% of abortions here are done within marriages and the government is actually concerned about the decline in the Serbian population, so she's had some attention, including TV interviews, etc. We'll learn more about her work over the next few days.
We'll be hosting a gathering with women from their church and other churches in the city on Saturday morning from 10:30-2pm.The plan is that every one in our team will share a part of our story ... We had a short trial run tonight and it's so moving to hear the stories even we as a team have lived. We are also doing the Saturday night service at the church. Please pray that we connect with the hearts of the women, but also the larger congregation, and communicate what they need to hear ... We really want to share what's on God's heart.
Further Reflections on Berlin
As you've already heard our last day in Berlin was fantastic. We gathered with the team from Alabaster Jar at noon at the Neustart Cafe. We'd bought flowers and went out shopping with Shalyn for the food for a lovely lunch with the women who work the streets right outside the cafe. We had about 20+ women pass through--coming in for beautiful salads and fruit and apfelstrudel; some created their own bracelets from the beads we'd brought from Canada, others sat down to have their nails painted. We were able to give them some gifts from the bracelets and necklaces we've brought along.
But the absolute highlight of the day was Diana with her scissors. She cut so many girls' hair ... It was amazing to watch them trust her and then be transformed in her chair. But she would love to share that part of our journey herself and what it had meant to her ... So keep an eye out for that.
For me it was a pretty tender time in Berlin. I loved being back in the city ... Germany was the very first country I'd ever traveled to in my life (at 16) and I loved being able to dig deep for my high school German and even to help our team a bit with ordering food and reading signs. But the very best part was when Emma and I took the invitations--translated into several different languages--out to the streets and invited the women in my broken German to come in for a meal, a hot drink and a haircut. It felt so precious to have the years I've studied for tests and exams and have the few simple sentences I have left now have real meaning. In fact, those very broken sentences invited two Czech girls who were standing on the other side of the road to come to the cafe ... The women were friendly and receptive, but when we went out a second time a bit later in the afternoon, one girl had a very sad face. We tried to smile at her, but it looked like she'd just had a very bad experience. I thought: I guess she's not going to come now. But I was wrong.
About 30 minutes later she and her friend came into the cafe. It was their first time there and at first they didn't really want to even eat anything ... But Anna speaks Czech, so she sat down with them and talked. They were so excited to have someone to talk to in their own language. I painted one girl's nails and they ended up spending the rest of the afternoon in the cafe, having a meal, getting haircuts, making necklaces and bracelets and just hanging out. Diana had done SUCH a beautiful job on them and they were so moved.
They hugged us so tightly when it was time to go ... I wished we could hold on to them, but have to trust that they got a glimpse of being loved.
There are many more stories from that day, but Diana will have to tell more ...
After cleaning up the cafe and praying one last time with the Alabaster Jar volunteers, we enjoyed a goodbye dinner with Patricia Green. We were so honoured that they welcomed us to Berlin in such a beautiful way and trusted us to come alongside them and love their women.
We definitely also appreciate your prayers. Our schedule is full, but we don't want to miss anything God wants to deposit in us and through us while we're here.
With such a thankful heart,
idelette, for Gwen, Robyn, Karen, Donna, Emma, Diana and Britni
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