Non-roaming even though I have

I've tried 3 times to get my mobile connected to a Serbian network and 2 of those have been via international calls to UK. I give up. I'm told something different each time. Thankfully the restaurant has wi-fi so am connecting via that. Ok no phone calls or texts, but next best thing. I'll certainly be looking for new network when get home as it cannot be anything to do with the Serbian network as I cannot get roaming 2 hours from home and what's the point of that. Yes, I'm a bit upset about it! Dread to think how much the calls will cost. Taken at least 40 minutes to sort out so far.
I had so much peace on Friday travelling down the country with no phone. I couldn't let Naomi and Milos know which bus I was getting so they'd know when to collect me. I tried a public phone bo only to find they are now phone cards. I didn't have time at the bus station to get one so just got on the bus.
The bus arrived early at Soko Banja. I was unsure if I should wait or make my own way. I was feeling adventurous so decided to see if I could find the way (I wasn't sure they'd come to collect me). So with my case in tow off I went to the first crossroad. Hmm, by process of elimination there was sort of one possibility. I kept an eye out on the way to the bus station and didn't think it was that way.

tiny.cc/hp28h

I toyed with the idea of going into the first restaurant and seeing if I could use their phone but I didn't. I kept walking - yay, I found the park in the centar. Ok, I knew which way to walk and I had to turn right at some point. I'd only been to their apartment once before so my memory was a little faded and I was so tired by now. I turned right and walked a little. I wasn't too sure until I saw a shop and was encouraged as I remembered a shop near the apartments. I thought I saw the apartments in the distance and continued walking only for them to disappear. By this time I was wondering if I'd been hallucinating because of lack of sleep. I decided to continue to see if there was a sharp bend around the corner. If not I'd go to the shop and ask for help. If only I'd had their address or at least written down Milos' surname - I wouldn't be able to say it but at least someone could read it!
As I found the bend I looked to see the house, a sign for the restaurant - of course, it's Kaskade and the apartments. I looked up to see Naomi on her balcony. I left my suitcase on the steps up to the door as Milos was on way down to collect the suitcase. The three flights seemed to take forever - only because I was tired.
Milos had gone to the bus station and spoke to either the bus driver or a ta xi driver to be told there was an English lady on the bus and she spoke very good Serbian. I hardly spoke any. Perhaps that's the secret, be good at what I can say and say no more!
Relaxing day today. For me it's warm but locals are wrapped up. It's great being out and feeling warm again. We took the boys out a couple of times today. They both had bad night last night and we were coping with that.
I'm being reminded again what having children is about. It's so challenging. Lovely and rewarding, at the same time. Also seeing the way different cultures deal with bringing up baby. I think my thoughts are more about the culture and their beliefs as opposed to specifically thinking about parenting. It must be because I'm out of my own culture and have a bit more time to see things.
It's also got me thinking about national identity and how much conflict can be caused in the name of it. We have to have somewhere we belong and feel connected to. Sometimes that can be threatened by politics, religion, leaders, I suppose anything that can challenge us. It's how we decide to react that's important. Do we lash out in fear, goad others into our "cause" or work it out another way? Do people helping us support us or are they along for the ride, on the bandwagon or because it's an inherited view?
I feel that working out which of my beliefs are my own for a reason and which are inherited is important. I am not disrespecting previous generations if I don't agree with their view. To me it feels more respectful after having looked into why they feel that way. It can bring a deeper relationship.
We are all individuals who have different life experiences even within close families. I can view the same situation in a different way to the person next to me therefore can have a different view.
I know it's important for me to know in my head and heart who I am. Lately I've been looking at untrue beliefs - why I hold them and why I've developed them. It's been a very interesting journey so far. There have been a few where the root of the problem has been revealed to me by the Holy Spirit. It's amazing how clear His revelation is and the gentle way He is doing this. Oh yes, it's painful but knowing I'm being set free from potentially life-threatening beliefs is great. It's a great example of how much better Jesus knows us than we know ourselves.
When was the last you examined your beliefs?

Lost In Praise Forevermore

http://flic.kr/p/2HAGBD

Thursday 29th May 2009

Last night I made sure I was able to pray and worship the same time Citygroup was happening like I did last week. It was strange, I'd made this decision last week and speaking to Trish before she went to Citygroup she suggested I do that.

I had a long time worshipping and again the prayers were flowing. My main prayers were protection – physically, mentally and spiritually - over all involved in the church plant.

I prayed against any attempt hairy legs would make during my sleep tonight as last week I was spiritually attacked. I prayed but each time they came back until I got out of bed and demanded they flee from me in Jesus' name – they went then and I had a lovely sleep.

Tonight I gave a short presentation to the church about the work going on in Serbia. There were lots of questions being asked. I prayed earlier on in the day that some people would attend. Quite a few people came – it's half-term so some families are away and couldn't make it. It was better to do it this week as the centre is booked up for another few weeks. I had to re-do my presentation. I was upset as the one I had prepared was quite good with a variety of photo's to break up my talking. My pc crashed and wouldn't turn on. I had 30 minutes to pull a presentation together. I was very limited with my photo's I could use, but a brief presentation was made.

To Serbia, With Love

http://flic.kr/p/7p857R

Continuing my testimony - I had just said "yes" to being part of a team to Serbia ...

Saying "Yes" to joining the team was the easy part. The following months leading up to going out were such a roller-coaster ride of emotions. I learned such a lot in a short space of time. There were moments when I was ready to say "forget it, I'll stay at home". I began to recognise the moments of doubt and rode through them. Once I had persevered through each one something significant occurred either immediately or very soon afterward. Unfortunately I cannot remember any to share with you.

What did I learn? Sometimes when we are walking God's path and being obedient we are spiritually attacked. It is a choice to crumble or stand and fight. Another important thing I learned was God gives each of us gifts - sometimes they are for a season, others for longer, sometimes it's part of our personality. I hadn't been a Christian long and seemed to see so much in other Christians and not much in me. I began to accept myself for myself - not to measure myself against others. We are all on a walk and all at different stages and we all different things to learn.

I read before going to Serbia about life changing trips people have had. Little did I know what an impact 10 days would have on me. When we landed in Serbia and arrived in Nis it felt very familiar, as if I knew the place. It reminded me of Russia (I was fortunate to be involved in a student exchange in 1990). It had the same feel, look and smell.

I had only been there 3 days when I was getting upset about coming home. I tried hard to put that aside to enjoy the time. I thought it may be like other times I've been away and really liked a place and not want it to end. It was great to be part of a team and get to know them.

I was out of my comfort zone. At times I did feel completely out of my depth but kept on pushing myself. It made me realise how much could be done if only I keep on pushing.

Friendships were made both within the team and with Serbians (I won't name names out of fear of missing out someone and offending them - how British is that?!). It is good to know the friendships are ongoing even after a year.

I used to think I had a heart for working with children but here I was making friends with young adults. I used to be scared of teenagers and upwards but it opened my eyes to youth. If I could speak to younger people in a foreign country I could do it at home.

I think that has been a pattern since coming home - doing things in a local church. As my passion for the Nations grows so does my passion for my local church.

After coming home in September 2007 I planned to make a return journey as soon as I could - which was December 2007. It was a good time to go back - colder weather (not being seduced by sunshine),fewer British and able to see what it could be like spending time out there. This gave a different view of Serbia, but still one I liked. It was an event to get back out - I had a flight booked for the 24th December, only to find out after 3 hours at the airport it was cancelled. I have never seen such a long, slow moving queue before - I waited another 3 hours to find another flight. I was able to spend a week in Serbia.

At that time my contract for my job was ending in May 2008 so I started to work towards going back to Serbia for a year. Things were difficult and didn't seem to moving in the right direction. After lots of prayer it was decided to put the plans on hold for a while. I still did as much as I could to move things along and remained open. At the time I felt it definitely would not happen in 2008 so engaged more in Wellspring.

There had been lots of ladies over a long period of time at Wellspring saying about having a ladies breakfast. I prayed about it and realised that perhaps I should start things. I think one reason for it not happening sooner was because we didn't have our own building, but that reason had gone. I felt a great need to bring us,the ladies, together in fellowship and thought this may be a good way to start it. Over the following months other people have been involved in organising which is great - it is being shaped by the ladies that attend and it's interesting to see how it is evolving.

I went back to Serbia with a team in August 2008. It was a completely different focus, running a holiday club. I had helped at one or two MAD clubs and had limited experience. It was good to have a different focus as it helped me grow more. It was also good to be back in Nis and to explore. It also helped me pray about what my connection with Serbia was. Was it coming out on teams each year, or something else? Right up to the last day I thought that maybe it was being part of a team but something changed. I cannot explain what but I felt I had to come out longer-term and soon.

Now I am working towards going out to Serbia in January for 5 months. Unfortunately my Serbian language partner is in Novi Sad so am finding it difficult to get motivated to learn on my own. There are lots of other things to do but I think the preparation is an important time too. God has already done so much for me and it's so exciting wondering if He'll do more.