Mission to Croatia: Updates & Prayer Requests

Received 1 Aug. from The Ven. Dr. Jasmin Milic

REC CROATIA TEAM

Our Church of The Good Shepherd in Osijek and our Church in Tordinci were truly blessed by the visit of REC team from the USA that visited us from July 18 to August 1, 2001. That was a special blessing for the Church of Good Shepherd in Osijek, which has been returned to its owners in May 2011 after eight years. The church building was returned in poor condition and a lot of work and money needs to be invested into the building to make it functional once again. With the help of the Reformed Episcopal Church and the team that came to help and serve us a great progress has been made on the building. Even before the team arrival we have already started with renovating the entrance hallway. The renovation of that part of the building cost $6 000. From the REC we got $5.469,00 and the rest was gathered by the Church of Good Shepherd from the contributions of the church members. Before the team’s arrival we have also renovated the space for church services, we have put in new carpets, painted the walls, and we have also renovated toilettes and the bathroom.

As soon as the team arrived they got to work, and have been working very diligently on renovating the building, the area around the building. They cleared the garden and planted flowers. The big entrance gate has been fixed, two other smaller rooms have been renovated, one will be used as sacristy and one as a chapel. The team also helped clear out the trash out of the building, trash that have been accumulating for years when the building was usurped. We had to call in for a large trash bin to come and collect all the trash from the church. Besides in Osijek couple of team members helped with some work at the church in Tordinci as well. You can find the photos here.

Besides working on the building the REC team was a great spiritual blessing to us as well. Every day we had morning and evening prayer. Since we don’t have much experience in this form of worship it meant a lot to us to have them to be the role model to us so we can learn and conduct the services ourselves. All of the priests in the team served us with sermons in churches in Osijek and Tordinci. You can see videos of Rev. Canon Ron’s sermons on following links, sermon in Tordinci and sermon in Osijek.  Sermons of Rev Damien Grout you can watch here, and Rev Paul Howden you can watch here. All of the sermons were very powerful and a great blessing to all of our believers in Croatia.

We would also like to express our gratitude to our bishop ordinary Rt. Rev.Royal Grote and the assistant bishop Rt. Rev. Gerhard Meyer for encouraging us by sending this team to us. Also, many thanks to Rev. Paul Howden, Rev. Damien Grout and his wife Jolie, thanks to Rev. Canon Ron Moock and his wife Kathy, thank you Caleb Andrews. You have all been such a great blessing to us and we are missing you all already. We shall look forward to seeing you again here with us in Croatia, and we shall look forward to meeting new people that wish to come next time to help us with proclaiming the Gospel in Croatia.

The Ven. Dr. Jasmin Milic

Archdeacon of Croatia and Serbia

Received 27 July from Canon Ron Moock

Dear Family & Friends,

It is hard to believe that we left home 11 days ago and will be going home in 3 days. We have met so many wonderful people and have worked and worshipped, and fellowshipped together. We have not had the opportunity to really get out and evangelize as we had hoped due to the schools and colleges being closed, but we have tried to show GOD's love to all we have come in contact with. I believe our time here has been a great enouragement for our new Reformed Episcopalians in Croatia and Serbia. Today, Pastor Peter, the pastor of our church in Serbia came to spend a couple days with us, and we were delighted to hear of his work in Serbia.

Through the wonders of technology, we were able to do "facetime" with our daughter, Laura, today (Unfortunately Baby Ruthie was sleeping). It was so good to see her face. Unfortuantely, the rest of our family have not moved into the iPhone/iPod touch/iPad generation yet. We miss them all.

The Rev. Paul Howden was able to speak with his son today through the computer which helped relieve his mind some due to his son having been in a car accident yesterday. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Prayer requests:

1) That the Grouts will arrive home safely and on schedule. They left Osijek yesterday and should be arriving home Friday sometime. They will be driving several hours from Atlanta so please pray that they will be able to stay attentive and awake after such a long trip.

2) That Paul Howden's wife, Beth, and son can work through the necessary red tape related to the automobile accident, and we praise the LORD that no one was injured.

3) That our new Reformed Episcopal brothers and sisters have been and will continue to be encouraged by our help and fellowship. Much work has been accomplished at Good Shepherd Church.

4) That the LORD would put a hedge of protection around our families back home that will keep them well and safe.

God bless,

Kathy and Ron Moock

Received 27 July from Canon Ron Moock

Family & Friends,

Below is a link to a video of the Holy Communion service this past Sunday, July 24, at the Reformed Episcopal Church in Tordinci, where I preached through an interpreter. I had to cut my sermon to 15 minutes; because, with interpreter, it took about 30-35 minutes. May be something to try back in the states!!!!

Tordicini Worship Service, 24 July 2011

Total run time is about 50 minutes, so you may want to fast forward. Gives you a sense of fellowship with our sister and brother Refomed Episcopaliams in our newest churches in Croatia. Keep praying for all of us.

God bless,

Ron

Received 26 July from Kathy Moock

"Then to Him was given dominion & glory & a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, & languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, & His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:14

Dear Friends & Family,

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST's kingdom will contain people from all nations & all languages & it will last forever! We have been busy here working on Good Shepherd Church in Osijek, making new friends, seeing the sights, fellowshipping with fellow believers, etc.

Friday, July 22, we worked around Good Shepherd Church & in the evening took a walk where we ended up at a Franciscian Monistary. Although our host pastor, Jasmin Milic, did not know the Superior, the Superior recognized him from TV! He opended their beautiful church for us to see. The church dates back several hundreds of years. Saturday. July 23 we went to see the Vukovar Memorial where hundreds of Croatian people were confined, tortured, & murdered by Serbians in the Yugoslav People's Army in November, 1991 including over 200 hospital patients & staff. We then visited the site where they were then buried in one of more than 52 mass graves throughout Croatia. Many of the homes & buildings here still bear the bullet holes from the attacks on Croatia. Later, we walked along the Danube River which separates Croatia from Serbia.

Sunday, July 24, we went to our Reformed Episcopal Church in Torinci where Ron preached through an interpreter (& did quite well) & we celebrated Holy Communion. That congregation has been organized for over 400 years. The church building is only 150 years old. Then we went to a very rustic restaurant/farm where they served homemade bread, homemade whiskey & wine, what appeared to be (& tasted like) soggy pork rinds, & wonderfully delicious pastries. They cooked on outside fires, served fresh well water, & had many farm animals running around where we were eating. The Rev Jasmin Milic rode a donkey for our entertainment. Later, we worshiped at Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church in Osijek where the Rev Damien Grout from Mississppi preached through an interpretor & we again celebrated Holy Communion. Afterwards, the parishioners treated us to a barbecue. The food was delicious & the fellowship was great. Ron & Kathy rode the tram to Good Shepherd for the second time.

Yesterday, Monday, July 25, Kathy stayed at the apartment due to coughing most of the night & Ron joined the rest of the team in painting & more work on Good Shepherd's property. Kathy is feeling better today & we are getting ready to head over to Good Shepherd on the tram.

Prayer requests:

1) Continued unity & cooperation between the team members & our Croatian frieds (it has been amazing how well we have gotten along).

2) That we will be a witness to the community of the love of JESUS CHRIST.

3) Traveling mercies & no problems for the Grouts as they leave tomorrow to return home.

4) That the plumbing problem at the Grouts home will be repaired before they arrive home.

5) Physical (& spiritual & mental health) for Kathy & all the team members.

GOD bless,

Kathy & Ron Moock

Received 23 July from Kathy Moock

Prayer Requests:

1) That the LORD's message will be spoken & understood as Ron preaches at Holy Communion Service in Tradinci at 11:00 AM (5:00 AM EDT so pray this evening) & Damien Grout preaches at Holy Communion Service here at Good Shepherd Church at 6:00 PM (12 noon EDT).

2) For the Grouts' home: A water leak was discovered by a neighbor caring for their cat. Water is under their house in the crawl space. Pray that a plumber can fix the problem before they get home and fix it well and cheaply.

3) That Kathy's health will improve.

4) For all the team members' families back in the States.

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Additional Mission News

Judy King (Brazil) has been ill again this week with what she refers to as “pneumonia-like stuff”. She is recovering, and we request prayer for her full restoration of health.

English Camp ended Sunday July 24 with a worship service. Let’s pray for the safe return home of all the participants. Bishop Gerhard Meyer posted photos of the 2011 English Camp in Germany at the following link: English Camp

Thank you for your prayers for safe travel. Bishop Seamans arrived safely in the States on Wednesday 27 July, and the Grouts arrived safely also.

Archdeacon Jasmin Milic has posted a second video of the REC Team Croatia at work in Osijek.