Newsletter Two (August 1999) | ||||||||||||
| The happy couple: Ian & Irena Thomas | ||||||||||||
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TWO BECOME ONE You can probably tell from the photo caption that there is another name next to mine - you may have guessed - that's right - I have got myself married. Irena Jovanova and I were married on the 24th July 1999 in the registry office and then on the 31st July 1999, in the Evangelical Church here in Skopje, Macedonia. Irena is Macedonian, 30 years of age, speaks great English (!), and has been a Christian for 7 years. Irena is a wonderful woman who has a heart after God, is very discerning, and is willing if God so calls to go to another City or Country. Besides all that she is a great worker who has been with AGAPE from the beginning. She works alongside Vesna (Chief of Warehouse One) in registering refugees and social cases. Irena's gifts lie in the areas of organization, hospitality, empathy, and as already mentioned, discernment. Of course this is a very limited list!! How did we meet? This question burns in the heart of so many women I could not possibly leave this out!! When I first arrived at AGAPE she was the 3rd person I met - she made me coffee - GREAT coffee!! The rest is history! OK- so it wasn't actually love at first sight but as we worked together in the warehouse I came to realise that Irena was giving me unusual attention - it was only a matter of time before we would go out with each other. We started 'dating' on my birthday - 23rd May 1999 - but we had been getting to know each other since the 22nd April 1999. On Sunday 20th June 1999 I proposed and she accepted. I had spent the whole day practising how to say 'Will you marry me?' in Macedonian. I asked Irena in perfect Macedonian and her first response was: 'are you serious!?!' Obviously it was a bit of a shock to her! But then realising that my intention was honourable she said 'yes'. And so we married just one month later. On 1st August 1999 we were offered by Julie, a member of the Evangelical Church, a suite in a hotel in Mavrovo, about 80km from Skopje, for the week, free of charge. This is where we spent our honeymoon. Mavrovo is a beautiful place with mountains and a lake. The hotel treated us like royalty - serving us before others and helping in any way they could. Such is the life for Princes and Ambassadors. See the comparison? This is how we are called in the Kingdom of God. God has so blessed us - I only hope that we will live up to the expectation of God - 'Freely you have received - freely give' and 'in receiving much - much is required'. We also have new accommodation, which again the Lord provided for only $100 a month - God is so good to us. The new address is at the end of the newsletter. At the moment we are NOT on the telephone. We shall let you know the new number. AGAPE Things have changed (as they always do) within AGAPE. Since the war 'ended' the number of refugees has dropped off BUT the work of AGAPE goes on. Today there are new refugees - Serbians and Gypsies. The atrocities are still going on but now in the name of revenge. AGAPE recognise no one race above another and will treat all who need help with the same dignity and without favouritism. The world will say 'Hate Serbs' but the Church will say 'Bless them and do not curse.' You may remember that in the last newsletter we had provided food for over 10,000 - the number to date is nearly 60,000. I am erring on the side of safety, as the number could be closer to 100,000! We are sending food and clothes into Kosovo and Serbia and are setting up warehouses through the Church that exists there. In all cases the purpose is to bring the Gospel into the lives of those in all these areas and whatever their background. Albanians have become Christians here in Macedonia through AGAPE and only two weeks ago 4 Gypsies became Christians. God is on the move and doing a fabulous work far grander than anyone of us could have imagined. These people migrate and in so doing the Gospel spreads to other places. Who knows what the eternal outcome is going to be? AGAPE also now has a prison ministry as a direst result of the conflict in Kosovo whereas before Christians were not allowed in to minister. Many women prisoners became Christians through one outreach. God can use even 'disasters' to His Glory. MY WORK I am still working through AGAPE and managing the clothes warehouse. This work includes leading a teams of people (who are volunteers from different nations) to sort out clothes that we have received. The vast majority of the clothes we receive are unsorted. We are about halfway through-that means that there is still about 35 tons of sorting to do! It is a big job and space is very limited. The clothes that we sort are going to various places around Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia. We also receive refugees into the warehouse and they choose from the sorted clothes and blankets, etc. We hope to open a store soon where the sorted clothes can go and where refugees and social cases can choose what they need with dignity. The social cases are those who are out of work - Are you ready to be shocked? About 70% of Macedonian men are unemployed. The task therefore is great and the need always there - as Jesus said: 'The poor are ALWAYS among you.' THE FUTURE Today is the start of the future. I have written that with purpose as today I have decided that when there is no work at the clothes warehouse I will study the language and the Bible. In the last fortnight the number of volunteers has dropped off and as we need to staff 2 warehouses the food one takes priority over the clothes warehouse and so it doesn't open for the day. This is a very important opportunity as time is limited and short. Learning the language is my first priority other than those expected of the Christian life. We have other ideas which may be of God and yet to be confirmed such as opening an orphanage. I also desire to teach and disciple which may mean I should go to a Bible seminary. We are both open to hear from God and we desire to do all that He wants us to do. This also means that when you pray God may prompt you to write or email - so let us know what you believe God is saying - it might just confirm what God is saying to our hearts. HEALTH Those of you who receive email know that I have been having stomach problems with the possibility that I have a stomach ulcer. I have been given medication that may or may not deal with the problem at source. That said ever since I have been on the medication I have only had 2 serious bouts of acid indigestion. I have had the medication for a month now. On the sugar level side I have now adjusted to the diet here and am eating well especially due to a wonderful cook called Irena! Praise God! Irena also has health problems due to bronchitis leaving Irena short of breath among other symptoms. PRAYER REQUESTS 1) My main concern is that we only do what God wants us to do. We want to fulfill all that God wants us to do here. 2) Pray that we will get time to spend with God in His Word and in prayer. The most important thing is that we cultivate an intimacy with Jesus and do as He would do in every situation. 3) Pray that we have vision as without vision we perish. 4) Pray concerning our health. 5) Pray for Mirche that he will have wisdom in running the day to day affairs of AGAPE and the Church along with the whole team - Where brothers live together in unity - there God commands the blessing. Also for a spirit of servanthood and sacrifice. 6) Pray for those receiving aid through AGAPE that they will receive the gospel. That the Scriptures and books given to them will open hearts. 7) Pray that we be given boldness through the Holy Spirit. 8) Pray for peace in the Balkans. 'They cry: "Peace, peace," when there is no peace'. 9) I believe that you are able to see from the newsletter other items for prayer - please listen to God for us and send us what you hear. Please do not disregard the previous newsletter as the items contained are not out of date - I did not want to be tedious and repeat what went before. Please also pray according to Colossians 1:9-11: "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God: strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.'' DETAILS FOR GIVING The following details are included as this is a faith ministry and because I have been asked to furnish the details. This is, then, not a request for money or begging letter but a source of information to those whose heart is at one with mine in this service and who want to support me here with money. More importantly prayer is of more value than money. The quickest way to send money is to wire it from your bank using the details below. However if you wish cheques, travelers cheques and money orders can be sent. These sources of money take 3 weeks to clear in the bank. If I do not wish to pay double commission then I have to leave the money in the bank for 60 days. Money Transfer Procedure When transferring money to me you will need the following information: Banks Facilitating the Transfer in the USA: AMERICAN EXPRESS BANK LTD New York - Acct. No. 709022 CITYBANK of NEW YORK - Acct. No. 36013858 Macedonian Address and Telephone Information: THOMAS IAN MICHAEL UL. LOVCENSKA BR. 15 B 91000 SKOPJE, MACEDONIA +389 (91) 362-129 Bank and Account Number in Macedonia: Komercijalna Banka A.D., Skopje Account No. 70808613-1184-03 SWIFT CODE (Very Important): SWIFT: KOBS MK 2X Our address for correspondence (& Congratulations!!!): Ian & Irena Thomas ,Aleksandar Makedonski' 3a Gjorche Petrov Skopje 91000 MAKEDONIJA Mail Me! GOOD NEWS MACEDONIA DOBRA VEST MAKEDONIJA 1999 | |||||||||||
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