"Come over to Macedonia and help us!" Acts 16:9

Macedonia (flag pictured above) is a tiny country, about the size of Maryland, that was carved out of the former Yugoslavia after Communism fell. Macedonia was not recognized as a sovereign country by the USA until the opening days of George Bush's second term.

“This is why I am a missionary,” I remember thinking.

I was sitting with my 14 year old son Ben, on a beach on Lake Ohrid, Macedonia, witnessing to two Macedonian guys not a whole lot older than Ben, named Ottas and Vladimir. Even though they did not receive Christ with us, they were able to clearly articulate back to us the message of the gospel and why Christ had to die. They communicated in good English even with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths while they were wearing Speedos and drinking beer.

For the last two weeks of July we were at the “Lake Tahoe of the Balkans” for a classic Campus Crusade for Christ summer missions project. There were 80 American Campus Crusade staff and students along with 40 Macedonian Campus Crusade staff and students. The project had been going on for all of July but we received an invitation from the project directors, Don and Kathryn Mansfield, to jump in for the last half. For me it was refreshing to be in a similar environment that knitted my heart to missions when I was a college student. These are the reasons why our July in Macedonia was such a great missionary experience:

*faith filled environment
*international missions experience
*emphasis on initiative evangelism
*exhortation to take the gospel to the entire world
*training up of college students
*developing national (Macedonian) leadership
*(relatively speaking) family-friendly environment of Lake Ohrid
*exposing our children to all of the above!

If I had more time I would gladly tell you the story of the water pump going out in our van in the middle of nowhere where we already did not speak the language! And how we had to talk our way through 6 international border crossings (it worked 5 of the 6 times) without the correct car papers, even though we were 100% legal.

Thank you for enabling us to live and serve in Eastern Europe in doing what the Lord has called us to do! We cannot do it without your partnership in our lives!

Pictures say much more than words (and are more fun!) so here are some pictures of our time in Macedonia.



Beaches like this one along Lake Ohrid were perfect places to meet students and share our faith.



Lake Ohrid was a surprisingly clean little village with cobble-stone streets, water front coffee houses and cafes along with beauty and history.



This windswept lakeside point on Lake Ohrid with an old Christian Orthodox church was a picturesque and made a great place for a quiet time.



During one sunrise devotional time three young believers (one from Moldovia, another from Bulgaria and the third from Macedonia) came forward for baptism.



Here is EB sharing Christ with Natasha who described herself as an athiest yet attentively listened as EB explained about Jesus who is real, alive and gave Himself up for mankind. Our Lord says that His Word does not go out without accomplishing His purposes (Isaiah 55:11).



The capitol city of Macedonia is called Skopje. We drove through Skopje twice. At one stoplight our van was mobbed by begging gypsy children. Even though the city is dirty and poor, there are some faithful missionaries with Campus Crusade (and other missions agencies) in Skopje. It is also a place where Muslim and Christians live side-by-side in peace. Many mosques, like the one above that we photoed from our car, are located throughout Skopje.



And I had to end with this one. Our 14 year old son Ben has this desire to hurl his body through the air. Here he is jumping off cliffs along Lake Ohrid.