Great success!

Our Christmas in Croatia project turned out far greater than we could have dreamed! We are so thankful for the church and individuals whom the Lord used to bless this project from those who prayed to those that gave. As the Lord leads we hope to be able to carry out this project every year and be able to do even more with each passing year. Please scroll all the way to bottom and start there to see what you had a part in. And once again THANK YOU ALL so very much!

Trnovec Village

This village was a little tricky because we were meeting here in the fall outside in someones yard. Most of the kids that came we had no idea where they lived but we knew we wanted to do something for them as well. So we bought TONS of candy and nuts and made little gifts bags stuffed with that and tracts and loaded up and went out there last Sunday. Normally we would meet at 2 pm on Sunday afternoons but since winter has set in and we meet outside we had to put it off until Spring, unfortunately. We figured if we went out there at that time the kids who normally come to our meetings would see us and come running. We were trying to avoid the mobbing, which is precisely what happened! :) But it was still great and they were so grateful for what they got!
The yard we were meeting in belongs to a man named Josip. He was gracious to let us meet there for 3 months and said we are welcomed back in the Spring. We did bring his family food and gifts bags for his 4 children.

trying to maintain order

just a few of the first wave of kids

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Food Baskets

On Tuesday Dec. 21, the men loaded up the rest of the gifts and 19 food baskets to deliver to the rest of those on our list. We didn't get many pictures of this because it just didn't feel right snapping pictures of people receiving the food baskets. Every basket did have a New Testament stuffed with tracts and every home they went to they were received well and invited in. They sat with most and enjoyed some juice and got to talk with them. The seed was planted and we thank God for the open doors.
Because we had extra money we were able to provide more than just a Christmas Meal. Included in each basket was a whole chicken, a small ham, mlincia(Croatian specialty), rice, beans, flour, sugar, milk, juice, shampoo, body wash, wash cloths, toothpaste, a warm fleece blanket, crackers, pasta, cookies and soup.

Kuršanec

Bro. Dejan was saved last year and has been faithful to church ever since. His family suffered a tremendous tradegy in the loss of his 15 year old son Jasmin just 2 weeks before Christmas. He and a friend were walking home at night and a drunk driver hit them and Jasmin was killed instantly. We praise the Lord that Jasmin was saved but it was still very heartbreaking for this family. We were honored to be a special blessing to this family and brought them 2 large baskets of food and gift bags for all 7 of his children and all were in need of warm winter coats and we were able to give each one of them a new coat.

Pribislavec Village

The Lord really did a wonderful thing with a small vision and burden and made it greater than we could have ever imagined! With the amount of money we received from all of you we were able to more than expected for each child and home. The food baskets were overflowing with food--not just a Christmas meal, but staples that every home needs like sugar, flour and rice, etc.! We were able to hand out 53 gift bags to our Pribislavec Village children and others in need.

my office looked like a warehouse for a few weeks!

We  distributed our gifts at different times. Orginally we planned to deliver all of the gifts and food baskets on Christmas Eve to the homes. We did not realize that Christmas Eve here is bigger than Christmas Day, as this is the day everyone puts up their tree and decorates it complete with family and dinner. So we scatched that idea and thought we would go into the village the week before Christmas. We did not take into consideration the fact that if we drove into the village with 2 vans full of presents, we would surely be mobbed. The first phase, if you will, was for our Pribislavec Village so we decided to hand them out at church during our Christmas program with the kids. It was a wonderful time and the kids were so happy. For most this was the only thing they received.

Ya think he was a little happy?!

She was so happy she started to cry.

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Gifts arrive from Midlothian!

We received 4 boxes of gifts from Grace Baptist Church in Midlothian, TX. They wrapped everything in a box with pretty paper and ribbon and placed it in a larger box. It passed through customs without even a second glance! Thank you so much!!

They were so pretty, I almost didn't want to open them!

Some of the goodies inside!