Antique Turkey

Over the March 8 holiday (International Women’s Day), Lee and I traveled with a group of Macedonians, mostly women, to Antique Turkey, to visit the archeological sites of Troy and Ephesus.  A long bus ride, but it was thrilling to see these ancient places.

Lee and I are standing in front of the Celsus Library in Ephesus.

The Lenten Wreath

Our Lenten wreath, in the form of a crown of thorns, has six candles and each week a candle is extinguished until on Good Friday, the Christ candle is extinguished as the Light of the World dies.  (Of course, all the candles will return on Easter when we celebrate the resurrection!)

March 24 - Vaska lights the six candles.

March 24 - Vaska and Kamelija read the Lenten text.

Fun at Saturday classes

On Saturdays, I teach free English classes for children.  We have fun while we learn.

Cleaning up after the flood

People in the villages clean up after the flood.  The government will give each family 15,000 denars (about $320 dollars).  Our church is also collecting money to help the flood victims.  Farmers lost seed, seedlings, greenhouses and farm machinery.  Clean up is hard work - and discouraging.

Parquet floors were ruined.

Machinery was damaged.

Appliances need to be repaired or replaced.

Dirty water everywhere

Furniture was damaged.

Floods in the Strumica Valley

Several days of heavy rain at the end of February caused flooding in a number of villages, including Murtino and Monospitovo, where we have churches.  Crops were ruined and many people suffered damage to their homes and the loss of appliances, furniture and farm equipment.  Donations to help those who were affected, can be made through the Advance special #00220A.  Be sure to mark your donation "Flood Relief".  See http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/Give-to-Mission 

Flooded fields and greenhouses

Taken from the home of members of the UMC in Murtino

Water in the churchyard - UMC Murtino, Macedonia

More flooded fields and homes

World Day of Prayer - March 1

On Friday evening, March 1, we celebrated World Day of Prayer in the UMC in Strumica.  The service, this year written by the women of France, was lovely.  We were happy to have a good attendance, about 150 women, from Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches.  A wonderful time of fellowship followed the service.

Decorations celebrating France, the country highlighted in this year's World Day of Prayer service.

Altar table and pulpit

Zaklina gives the message, based on Matthew 25:31-46. 

Sister Martina gave a short homily.

Readers

Readers

Exchanging greetings after the service

Fellowship time with coffee, tea and cookies after the service

Many thanks to the youth who helped with the service and with the refreshments afterwards