Practice for Parents Night

Monday July 24

Camp went well today we practiced for parents night. The children will be participating in the songs and skits. After lunch I went to one of the neighboring villages. We visited a child in my group named Enis. Debbie and Lara(the interpertor) and I had a nice visit. His father was home so we were able to visit with them both. When asking the father about his feelings of the camp being together this year his response was that the war was in the past the kids needed to move forward. He seemed quite positive. When the mother finally sat down from serving we asked her the same question she responded that the kids needed to learn to work together but she could never forget. We explained we understood sometimes it is hard to forget. She then explained why. This village was occupied by troops during the war homes were burned crops were ruined the troops would kill whole families. Apparently one night soldiers came into their home demanding gold and when they said they did not have any they carried her husband out into the streets and pulled their guns on him and told him they would kill him if they did not give them their gold well obviously he lived because he was sitting with us. The same man that had said they needed to move forward had suffered a horror filled experience and wanted to forget and move on. This family was so gracious and loving to us as we were closing the meeting the mother asked us to attend a wedding celebration with her. We went with her down the road and witnessed a very joyous gathering the bride had not been presented to the party so her mother in law ushered us in to see her. She was beautiful as every bride is. I was still in shock that we were crashing a wedding and they could not have been happier we were there. While we in this village Lara was able to reconnect with a family she had shared a tent with in a refugee camp in Macedonia during the war. She was questioning Enis' mother as to whether she knew them and as went on the street their they were. She had not seen this family since 1999 but they knew her on sight. As Debbie and I witnessed this reunion we were reminded of His sovereignty in all things that He orchestrates all encounters in our lives and they all glorify Him. After returning to the kombi to go back to Lipijan Bobby one of the interns was able to share with Lara about how we endure our hardships. I was amazed to see the seeds that have been planted many times before being watered and nutured by others so that if He wills fruit to bear it will do so in lovely blooms.

IHG
Melodye