Angelia's Serbia Blog

 

July 1

I posted pictures on my facebook.  www.facebook.com/angelia.thames  or here is a link directly to the album http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=144666&id=1252125993&l=fb5ec1b912  Check’em out.  :)  ang  

June 30

Hi!  I’m back!  I’m sorry there wasn’t any opportunities to keep up the blog.  We were non-stop on the go and working and once we were in Belgrade didn’t really have an opportunity to get online to send updates to the blog.  So, to catch you up as briefly as I can…

We worked for 2 more days, the 18th-19th at Camp Timok.  We were able to complete all the projects we had started, except for the "roof" of the septic tank, which was a huge blessing.  The roof of the septic tank was being completed by the mistorie (sp? - the Serbian serbian septic tank experts) and they may have even been able to complete it the day we were leaving.  So, in all, we were able to complete so much work their at the camp and even more important, we were able give both physical and emotional support and strengthen the relationships we have their with Branko, Rada, Novitca and Tamara, the Serbian missionaries who are continuing to do God’s work in Serbia.

We made our trip to Belgrade on Saturday which is a 3 hour drive.  One of the vans was having car trouble, so part of the team headed out in 1 van, while the rest of the team stayed behind waiting on a mechanic.  The 1st team was dropped off for lunch at a local "burger resturant" called Duffs while Chip went to get the 2nd group of team members from the airport.   They were able to get checked-in at Hotel N and then Chip came back and picked us up from a nearby park area so we could head to the hotel to join everyone else.  The entire team enjoyed dinner together before crashing for the night as we were all exhausted.  (BTW - the 2nd van was fixed by the mechanic and was able to leave the farm about 1 1/2 hours after the 1st group left.)

Sunday, we went to an International Church for the morning service and then to the 2nd Baptist Church for the evening service.  During the afternoon, most of the team opted to wander around down town (in the rain), just enjoying some much needed free time and doing a little souvinier shopping.  Monday the artists headed out on the town to paint and advertise in the park for the classes, the rest of us all went to the church to rearrange all the rooms and ready them for classes.  We worked all day cleaning, rearranging furniture and setting up supplies.  I alone had 3 suitcases of art supplies that were to be used for the kids’ art classes during the week.  We had limited space available for kids’ classes and really had no idea how many children we could expect, so I had to practice flexiblity and trust God had the plan all worked out and would only send what we could handle.

Tuesday-Saturday, we had a non-stop schedule preparing for the day and then doing the classes from 4-9:30 every evening and finishing up with cleanup and then dinner about 11pm each night.  We made it back to the hotel around midnight or a bit after every night.  As far as kids’ classes, I had about 20 kids each night for 5 1/2 hours and while I admit at times it was a stressful and overwhelming challenge to do the classes with kids’ I didn’t have any previous relationship with or that I couldn’t even have a conversation with without my translator, it was also a tremendous growing experience.  As the week went on, we were able to communicate in may ways with each other, some that didn’t require having to know each others language.  My helpers Jane, Addison, Hanna, Rebekah, and Megan were such a blessing to me and it was so exciting on the last day when we did a group project putting together a memory book for the week and all the kids just couldn’t wait to get pictures with each one of us to put in their books to remember us.  It was also a blessing to me to see them getting to know each other.  I found that very few of the kids knew each other prior to these classes and it was fun to see them getting to know each other during the week and taking pictures with one another.

Well, I am to close for now, but as I reflect on this experience I am so thankful for your involvement with me in it.  I have only been back in the US for about 18 hours, so I know their are many more things I will learn and remember from this experience and I’d love to share them with you all.  I will try to get pictures posted of our events.  Please continue to pray for those back in Serbia who now have the opportunity to continue in these new relationships and grow.  I will be praying that they will continue to connect with each other as many of the children and adults who attended the classes in Belgrade were visitors from the community.

Much love, angelia

June 17

 Today was another really fun day!  I could barely walk or raise my hands above my head this morning when I woke, but somehow God gives us the strength to keep on.  That’s how our morning work time started this morning, with prayers for a safe and productive day and that God would give us all the strength needed, both mentally and physically to finish the tasks we came to do.  At the end of the day, again, I am left thinking, wow, how did we get all that done?  Of course, wasn’t that the answer to the prayers that began our workday?  I would have to say yes…how else do you get 14 tired, very sore and achy team members, all with their own unique personalities, to all be able to accomplish so much and work so well together.

Today many teams worked on projects such as - filling the trenches that held the new pipes that were laid to bring fresh water into the house, working on the trail that leads to the Timok river their on the camp grounds, mixing cement and sending cinder blocks down the 15 foot hole all day long to build the walls to the septic tank, digging out another huge hole for the "pump house" which is buried underground to prevent it from being stolen, mixing cement to pour the ground floor to the pump house, cleaning the bathroom tile and grout lines so that the bathroom and floor can be grouted, building another wall inside the basement of the house with cinder blocks and cement, all among other various projects.  What a day!

Hanna has made great friends with Martha, the daughter of Novitca and Tamara, and granddauther to Branko and Rada.  Even though they don’t speak the same language, they are having much fun together.  I’m sure Martha reminds Hanna of Zoe, as she is almost 2 1/2 and about 8 months younger than Zoe.  Every day when Tamara, her Mom, brings her to the camp, she runs in wanting to know "where that girl is". 

Well, I better close, but I am so blessed to be here and so thankful for you all who have made that possible.  Even though we don’t know exactly how God will use this camp for His purposes in the future, He is already using it for His purposes in teaching and growing those who come to build it.  Much love, angelia 

June 16

I have barely the energy to write…as I spent most of the day along with many other members of the team down in a huge hole digging trenches and preparing the septic tank for rebar that will support the cement floor and walls.  We all made it through the day alive!  :)  more later!  angelia

June 15

Hi everyone from Serbia.  It is Monday evening and we have completed our first very full work day at Camp Timok.  It was a great day and tiring day!  I worked today on digging out a section of ground in order to install the pipe that connects water from the pump area into the house.  Several of us worked together and were able to clear the dirt fairly quickly, dig under the house and "drill" a hole into the side of the stone wall that leads into the basement under the house, repair one section of pipe that had already been installed and then install several feet of new pipe.  Tomorrow we will fill in under the pipe and make sure it is at the correct levels and then recover the entire trench with dirt.  Other members of the team were able to work in the septic tank that is being put in.  I think the hole is like 20ft x 18ft and maybe 15ft high.  After some several hours of that crew working "in the hole" plans had to change, but everyone had great attitudes and I guess that’s one way we learn patience.

Addison and Hanna worked helping clear dirt, clear and weed an area, take down a fence, sweep out the garage area, and work down at the path close to the Timok River.  They had a great day and were real troopers keeping up with everyone.

I’ll write more later, love from Serbia.  angelia

May 31

Today I am buying and organizing all the art supplies for the kid’s art classes Jane and I will be teaching during the 2nd part of the trip in Belgrade.  Addison and Hanna are so looking forward to it too.  I am actually using some ideas from different art projects they have done throughout the years, so they will be able to help the other kids.  Jane is so creative and I can’t wait to work with her.  Keep us in your prayers over the next few days as I scurry around and try to mark off everything on my to-do list!  :)  Thank you all so much for your continued prayer and support.  I will try to send as many updates as I can while we are away, so check in!  Much love,  angelia