Ben in Croatia

Hey peeps! A lot has happened in the last month, we have been here over 3 months now, crazy stuff.

Croatian class is still coming along. At this point I am understanding so much more of what people say and I am still getting the hang of the language, sometimes in class I feel like im cramming too much into my brain but it is going good overrall.

In the last month I have been working out with the football team, played a football game (below is the link for the highlights of that game if you wish to view it, I am #73 on the blue team, playing right tackle)....also I got to visit a couple gypsy villages near Zagreb with my fellow man/missionary Dave Scott and 2 croatians from our bible study.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXuu2ORQx94

Getting to spend time with these gypsy people was great. They rarely have people coming to where they are just to spend time with them and thats pretty much what we did. I got to meet and talk with some guys that are 12-15. We prayed with them and shared the passage of Jesus talking about prayer with them, one guy wanted to ask Jesus into his heart and we prayed for him as well. The gypsy's are a people who are not really accepted in cultures in europe and in croatia. They are known for stealing all the time and knowbody really cares about them. They were interested in hearing about God, it wasnt a message that was very foreign to them. It was awesome to get to spend time with them and I hope we visit them regularly in the future.

Also I have been leading worship for an English service here the past 2 sundays. It is for a church called Lighthouse of Life. The pastor and his wife have been here for 3 years doing ministry in Croatian and they are starting an international service in English. I got to play some drums too for the Croatian service, fun stuff. This church has interns that me and Stephanie hang out with a lot. They are a big part of orphanages that are here in Zagreb and they are actually about to be the owners of 5 orphanages very soon. Last saturday we went with them to throw a party for some orphans and mentally challenged people with the help of some bikers from Croatia and surrounding countries. So hopefully we will get to be a big part of what they are doing with orphanages as well.

Cross-cultural living and ministry is tough! There have been tough times but also great times and I am blessed to be a part of God's faithful work. He is able to do so much through me no matter how frustrated I get because he is faithful and able. Tomorrow I will start my long journey to go home for a few weeks for my cousin Marc's wedding and for the hollidays. Keep on praying for all the ministry opportunities that are ahead in Croatia and that God's light would shine through us here!!