A friend of ours, Péter, was again heading down to Serbia & asked us if we wanted to come along to see what is happening. Our schedule was free at last so we leapt at the chance. Péter is from the Bárka, ( the church we are working with here in Vecsés, Hungary). We just came back earlier today from visiting the churches in Serbia that are run by a Serbian/Hungarian pastor (Zoltan). Zoltan has planted two churches in the northern part of Serbia. He grew up in the village of Pácír where he now has a church with a small congregation. Zoltan doesn't care if the people coming are Serbs, Croats, Roma (Gypsy) or Hungarians, he just wants them all come to know Jesus!
A few months ago, Zoltan and his family of 9 people were burned out of their home. A gas container IN Zoltan's HAND somehow got a spark, blew up, and then everything caught on fire. Zoltan was the only one injured. There was only one door to the home, right next to the blaze, so the whole family (including grandparents) climbed up through a window near the roof and down onto a fence, then jumped down to the ground. All was lost - the place literally burned to the ground. They have been staying at one of the churches he has planted. They just found a very old house on a large lot and were able to purchase it, thanks to some generous donations, and now are in the process of removing part of it in order to rebuild it so the family's needs can be accommodated better.
The villages where Zoltan has started 2 churches are very poor. There is little/no work for Hungarians in Serbia. The partial demolition and the rebuilding is actually providing some of the ONLY jobs in the area!
With donations given by many, we arrived Friday, along with some other Americans (who had been there literally the day before the fire). A work group from the Atlanta,Georgia area was finishing off some of the rooms in one of the churches so that they could have Sunday School. This building used to be an old stables area and is the same building where Zoltan and his family are using two rooms to live in. Later in the week, a church of Roma believers are coming in to help. Zoltan said that the pastor of the church called & said there are 65 people in his church, but no one has a job, so since they are "free", could they come and help... He said yes, with hopes that all will go well, not knowing the pastor or the church very well.
While all of this is going on, some ladies from the church are coming in to help cook for these groups in an older American sized kitchen - 1 small double sink, 1 stove, 1 regular European sized fridge (about half the size of an American one), a couple of cupboards and a table... cooking for 20-50 people at a time and no dishwashing machine. They also have one clothes washing machine (european - loads take quite a long time) for all of the people, linens, etc.. there is no dryer other than a clothes line.
Meanwhile, people are being saved, hearts are changing, eyes are watching to see what will happen next.
Our friend from the Bárka, Péter, also took us to pray with a single mom, "Z" (not her real name), who was abandoned by her husband when their daughter was born with the cord around her neck. For 23 years now, mom has taken care of her daughter who will never be mentally more than a few months old. She was loaned a wheelchair by the clinic, but it needs to go back soon. There is no hoyer lift - it is only mom. Yet the love that outpours from this lady to her daughter is astounding and truly a joy to experience. "Z" came to know Christ four years ago. She is the full-time caretaker. The in-laws, who are in their 70's, are the "breadwinners" for everyone, driving a taxi in a very rural area that is also extremely poor.
Next, Péter brought us to meet a lady whose house literally fell down around them during the winter a year ago. He has gone many times to help them, including initially through some terrible snowstorms. There is some progress to their home, but again, it is difficult without work. This is the first time she has ever lived in a house with indoor plumbing! The husband is one of the few who are helping Pastor Zoltan. The wife came to know Christ a couple of years ago, and her husband only a year ago.
A neighbor, of the above couple, T, had initially met Péter shortly after Péter arrived during a snowstorm and yelled at him for coming to help. "Why would you do this?" asked the neighbor angrily. "It is because Christ called me to come help a brother in need. You only live a few doors away - why have you not helped?" is what Péter replied... then last fall, Péter got a call from T. "I thought about what you said and have been talking to Pastor Zoltan. I gave my life to Jesus and I will be getting baptized - will you come?" "Certainly!" replied Péter. Now, T's mother has had a massive stroke after having come out of a coma. We went to pray for her and encourage him. He has no job either, other than taking care of his 84 year old mother in a tiny house.
Pastor Zoltan has big dreams for church planting. Péter has a big heart for the people in these communities. Thank you for your prayers on their behalf.
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