Translation: "Allah is most great. I bear witness that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah. Come to prayer. Come to success. Allah is most great. There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah."
As I lay in my bed, the cry of the Muslim call to prayer reverberated in my head just as it had throughout the hills and valleys of Peja, Kosovo. My heart could not help but feel heavy and overwhelmed by the desperate cries of a people to a god who will never answer. They are so devoted to something that will never be able to satisfy the cries of their heart and yet they continue to search and seek and devote themselves to a god with false promises.
Needless to say, I had great difficulty in getting to sleep that night. My mind took a journey of its own as I thought about and prayed for the people of Peja. At the time, I had no idea what they were saying in their call to prayer, but I could hear the passion and desperation as they tried to reach the unreachable, to simply grasp hope and salvation. And then it hit me - the thought that will forever remain sketched into the memory of my convicted mind. So many Muslims are more devoted to their religion than Christians are to their relationship with the one true GOD, myself included. How can we as believers be so content to pray and read our Bible without passionately seeking Him in every area of our lives, while people are giving everything to search for salvation where it will never be found?
This is the thought that lingered in the back of my mind as I, along with seven others, sought to live out and share the Gospel in Peja, Kosovo.
Our adventure began July 5th as our team of eight left our comfort zone of America for the Muslim country of Kosovo. With our overnight stay in Vienna, it seemed to take years to finally arrive at our final destination, but the long plane flights and treks through an unknown city to find our hotel soon proved to be worth the wait. At our arrival, we were met by the missionaries we would be working with for the week.
From there we constructed our game plan for a kids' camp we would be working in one of the villages. The kids' camp consisted of kids of all ages who came to play sports such as basketball, volleyball, and wiffle ball, but my favorites were jump rope and dancing. I'm proud to say that we brought the wobble and gangnam style to Kosovo. Okay, so maybe we weren't the first to introduce the Kosovars to these dances, but I'd like to think so. We also performed a moral skit at the end of each day since we weren't allowed to directly share the Gospel at the school. The kids' camp provided many opportunities to build relationships and I met some amazing people I will never forget. At the end of the week, we invited some of our new friends to a waterfall in Peja, where we had the opportunity to directly share the Gospel. I will always remember the moment my friends and I prayed for the girls we were talking to and one of the Kosovar girls said she had never felt like she did when we were praying for them. She contributed the feeling to Allah, but we made it clear that what she was feeling was GOD Himself. I will forever hold these girls near and dear to my heart. I have a hope for their salvation and implore you to join with me in prayer for their eyes to be opened to the saving work of JESUS CHRIST on the cross. GOD is definitely at work among them.
Along with the kids' camp, we also distributed food to some people living in apartments. Don't think American apartments. It was far from anything you'll ever see in the states. I actually got the chance to see the inside of the rundown building where these people lived their day-to-day lives. As I walked up a few stairs nito the apartments to help distribute the flour and oil, I was met by rotting wood floors. We went down a hallway to the right that was completely dark as my eyes tried to adjust as quickly as possible to dimly lit setting. From there we walked up concrete stairs without railing to the man's room in the apartments. And when I say room, I mean a walk in closet or small office in an American home. It was heart wrenching to see people living this way and to think that just a few days before I was buying a new comforter for my dorm room that he would most likely be astonished to even entertain the thought of occupying. It really makes you realize just how fortunate you are and how much you take for granted.
Towards the end of the week, we distributed food in some of the village homes. These people were so hospitable, offering us food and drinks and places to sit while we talked with them. At one house we visited, there was a woman who had the best sense of humor and a love for life. I mean, she was crazy and I think that if we both spoke the same language, we would be great friends! But towards the end when we prayed for her, she began to cry because she was so touched by us taking the time to come to her home and love on her and her family. Such simple acts of love and kindness go a long way. Sometimes we forget that and miss out on opportunities to live out the Gospel.
I've learned so much on this mission trip. Before we even set foot on American soil nine days later, I already decided that Kosovo would be a place I would love to visit again. In the short amount of time I was there, I fell in love with a people who I believe GOD is touching in mighty ways for His glory and I'm so excited for the plans He has for them and their salvation. I would like to thank the wonderful missionaries for allowing us to come and help. You all are such a blessing and an inspiration. And thank you to our translators! And a special thanks to my church for allowing young people to have the opportunity to go with the Gospel and fulfill the call of Acts 1:8.
Please pray for the people of Kosovo! GOD is at work. May His will be done.
"This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of GOD our SAVIOR, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:3-4
"For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things." - Psalm 107:9
Reading the Bible
Our beautiful translators
My jump rope buddies
Peja, Kosovo
Our team
My new friend, Deniza
