Every year we hold a special children's service for Christmas. This year was a bit more adventurous than it was last year. Last year we were in the smaller building able to fit maybe 80 people total. This year, we didn't quite have as many chairs out as we could have, but there were many people standing. We packed in around 140 kids and numerous parents for the service. It was a blast to say the least, a little difficult to maintain order for those of us with the crowd control/security job.
The format was thus:
We opened the doors at 2 PM and Dustin and Britney, two other MA's serving in Macedonia, were playing Christmas songs.
The kids would enter a few at a time and get a plate of cookies and a cup of hot chocolate, then find their seats.
Then we started the service with some singing for the kids, lead by about 8 puppets and Brian.
Finally, the tradition at Shutka is to read and have some of the kids from the crowd dress up and act out the Christmas story from the Bible. We may have had between 15 to 20 kids involved this year so it was far more involving for the kids!
After the Christmas story, we had about 30 of the kids help perform a song. It was great, there was traditional dancing in a circle with the group of girls, some break dancing by the guys, and a couple of girls sang the song in Macedonian!
After all our activities, we passed out all the packets. After past experience, we waited 'till dark the night before and snuck in our van load of Christmas packets. It felt a little like Mission Impossible when we had to park the van at the top of the hill out of site and have me walk down (wearing my hood) and unlock the gate, then signal the van to come with a wave of my cell phone. The night watchman across the street wasn't even sure who was there last night until he asked me today if it was me! Any way, we got 150 packets for this year so it was a close call having 140 kids show up. Some of the kids left before the end of the program 'cause they still didn't know that we were giving the packets out! Praise God the word didn't get around this time! We gave a packet to every kid who showed up and stayed to the end, and we had only minor incidents with people trying to get packets after the fact, ranging to include one boy trying to jump the fence and ask for one when we were cleaning up. When we were passing them out, I stood guard at the door so once people went outside they couldn't try to come back in and get a second packet, and our pastor was outside at the gate holding the random other people at bay who thought they might be able to talk their way into getting an easy handout.
The kids loved the packets and enjoyed the service, it really was a great time. I think a lot of the kids really felt what is so special about Christmas this year. Thanks again to all who pitched in to help! It would have been so much more difficult without you!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year and Christmas Packets
The new year will obviously bring changes to my life as it will to most people, and as others surely are, I'm looking forward to it, but am also a little apprehensive. God's brought me a long way but I begin this year not knowing a lot about what God will have me doing and where I'll be doing it at this time next year. Hence the apprehensive feeling. I've recently had a conversation with a friend where I somehow had this philosophical thought that we need to be passionate about where God has us now, and I know I plan on doing that. Hopefully I will only minimally be distracted by what will be and be able to thrive in what is.
On another note, the kids in Shutka are eagerly anticipating their yearly Christmas packets that people have taken the time and love to put together and send to them from places all over the world. Many times they come from the states, other times they'll come from some other place in Europe like Germany or Holland. Nonetheless, they bless the kids in many ways each year. If any of you have ever participated as a church or VBS or children's camp in something called Operation Christmas Child, know that it really does make a difference in kid's lives. I've had the privilege of seeing both sides of this project. I've seen kids and adults take special care, love, pride, and joy in packing the shoe boxes and I've seen the reception the shoe boxes. I've seen the kids enjoying it's contents for months after they've received them. Wearing the winter caps or gloves, or enjoying a special stuffed animal. They're always joyful. Many of the kids I see wouldn't know what a Christmas gift is without it as they come from Muslim families, not to mention they're often very poor.
Thanks to everyone who gives to this specific ministry. You're really being a blessing and this ministry touches thousands of children and parents around the world every year.
Please keep us in prayer as we give the gifts out. I'm not sure yet when we will but we always see people crawl out of the woodworks looking for a handout when we do give them out. Pray that we will be able to give them to those that need them most and have discernment with those that only come this one time a year for their quick handouts. Pray that those that receive the packets are truly blessed and will be moved by the love of Christ, and that they'll come back to see and hear about the love of Christ. Pray that even one or two might make that commitment to Christ and begin to make an impact in their communities to start the change we so long to see in that community.
Again, thanks for giving to our ministry and blessing the kids.
To learn more about Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child program, check out the following link: Operation Christmas Child. I'm glad there's people striving to do ministries like this.
On another note, the kids in Shutka are eagerly anticipating their yearly Christmas packets that people have taken the time and love to put together and send to them from places all over the world. Many times they come from the states, other times they'll come from some other place in Europe like Germany or Holland. Nonetheless, they bless the kids in many ways each year. If any of you have ever participated as a church or VBS or children's camp in something called Operation Christmas Child, know that it really does make a difference in kid's lives. I've had the privilege of seeing both sides of this project. I've seen kids and adults take special care, love, pride, and joy in packing the shoe boxes and I've seen the reception the shoe boxes. I've seen the kids enjoying it's contents for months after they've received them. Wearing the winter caps or gloves, or enjoying a special stuffed animal. They're always joyful. Many of the kids I see wouldn't know what a Christmas gift is without it as they come from Muslim families, not to mention they're often very poor.
Thanks to everyone who gives to this specific ministry. You're really being a blessing and this ministry touches thousands of children and parents around the world every year.
Please keep us in prayer as we give the gifts out. I'm not sure yet when we will but we always see people crawl out of the woodworks looking for a handout when we do give them out. Pray that we will be able to give them to those that need them most and have discernment with those that only come this one time a year for their quick handouts. Pray that those that receive the packets are truly blessed and will be moved by the love of Christ, and that they'll come back to see and hear about the love of Christ. Pray that even one or two might make that commitment to Christ and begin to make an impact in their communities to start the change we so long to see in that community.
Again, thanks for giving to our ministry and blessing the kids.
To learn more about Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child program, check out the following link: Operation Christmas Child. I'm glad there's people striving to do ministries like this.
Monday, December 28, 2009
My December Newsletter
This is what I sent out for my latest newsletter. I hope you enjoy!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all my friends and family! I miss you all very much and think of you often during this holiday season. I hope you are blessed as we approach the time we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
There have been many things going on in my life since I last wrote to you and there are many new things coming up in my near future. Changes are around the corner and personal boundaries and limitations will be broken as God grows and stretches me. But none of it could be possible without the love, prayers, and generosity of all of you! Thank you so much for investing in my life and my first steps in ministry. Thank you for your partnership in ministering to others, and also for your ministry to me.
Apologies…
I want to take a few sentences to address a few things that you might be wondering about: First, I want to apologize for the newsletter drought I’ve left you in. I realize my last newsletter was sent out in late April, and I am extremely humbled by the fact that you have still continued to pray and give to me and the ministries I am involved in. Where most people in my situation would see their support dwindle with the lack of communications I have given you, you have blessed me with increased support! It is an extreme blessing but is also extremely humbling. Thank you so much for sticking with me!
Second, I’ll update you on a couple of logistical things. I am no longer pursuing a Visa. We decided that it wasn’t completely necessary this far into my term. Things didn’t get underway soon enough and turned into more of a distraction. I am still here legally, but as always, prayer for favor with the government is always appreciated.
Third, I am also no longer searching for a vehicle. We spent several months looking and couldn’t find anything in the price range we needed, and our time frame for maximum effectiveness was missed. I have become efficient at getting where I need to be on time by foot, bus, or taxi when I need to, which is quite often!
Ministry Updates
Over the summer we moved our feeding program to the new church building on our campus. We now have a full kitchen space with running water and gas stoves, and a new dining area where we can feed more than 100 kids at a time. At one point we fed 120, but we are regularly serving around 70 kids a day, 5 days a week. Plans are also under way to open a second kitchen closer to the center of Shutka that will only be serving soup for the next 3 months. The second location will expand sphere of influence that we have in Shutka and will help us reach one of the poorest areas of town. It will be tied into the church so the kids will be able to plug into our other children’s programs at our main campus.
Our church body has seen significant growth. Only a few weeks ago we saw 30 people coming to the evening service. We’ve had some of our teenagers come, as well as several new families. Pastor Toni has also begun a Bible study from the Global University courses, and Colleen Thomas has had a lot of success with a women’s prayer meeting on Wednesday nights where they’ve also been able to teach a bit of English and Macedonian and Colleen has picked up some Roma. God truly is growing this church!
Coming Up…
There are a lot of changes coming up for me. First, I recently found out I will have to move before I finish my term. My landlady sat down with me and told me that she wants to sale the apartment and that I’ll have, at the very least, 2 months before I’ll have to move out. The up-side is that I’ll have a chance to move to a better apartment for the last part of my time here. I have learned a lot from living here and I now know what to look for, so it’s not at all a bad thing. Second, I am excited to be planning a trip back to the U.S. for my brother’s wedding in March! I’ll only be there for about 5 days, but I’m really looking forward to seeing all my family and maybe a few friends too!
The spring will be full of hosting short-term ministry teams from the states, holding outreaches in Shutka and other cities around Macedonia, and will be capped off with a retreat in Spain with all the AG missionaries from around Europe! The early summer, however, will see the Thomas family returning to the U.S. as their term here comes to an end. In the middle of June, I will be seeing them off and they’ll be heading to North Central University in Minnesota where their oldest sons are attending. They will be serving the university as Missionaries in Residence the next year or two teaching missions courses. There will be other missionaries here, but instead of starting other work, I will continue my work in Shutka.
Personal Updates
One of my biggest struggles lately has been in thinking about and planning for my future. Prayer would be greatly appreciated on this topic! I am quickly approaching the end of my original 2 year term here (which ends in August) and am seeking God’s plan and direction for what my next step will be. I have been invited to stay another year to continue what I’ve been doing in Shutka, but I still am not sure if that’s what God wants for me to do. I am also unsure about any other direction to take. I have a lot of ideas about what I could do, but am waiting for God’s direction and it’s not easy. When you pray for me, please keep this struggle in mind.
I have recently been inspired to get into more regular blogging to help people stay updated with what I am doing and the things that I am going through. I want to start doing a weekly blog reflecting on each week’s happenings so keep an eye out for it. If you have specific questions for me, email them to me and the blog would make a great place for me to address them! You can read my weekly blogging either on my site at www.crparky.blogspot.com or on Facebook.
*Attached Story…
I am attaching a story that I co-wrote that is a testimony of how God has been working in the lives of several of the Gypsy kids in Shutka. It was originally written to help report to Samaritan’s Purse about how their support has affected our ministry there, but I think it is more appropriate for you all to read because your support in prayers and finances has had an even bigger impact on the kids in this story, and many others whose stories cannot fit in this short newsletter. I hope you know that when you invest in me you’re also investing in the lives of the people I come in contact with. You are an integral part of this ministry, and I hope you are blessed by the attached story.
Prayer Requests
Please remember to pray for the ministries that are going on weekly in Shutka and the other ministries that are being planned in the rest of Macedonia this coming Spring. Pray that God will present us with opportunities to share His love and that our work would have a life changing impact.
Continue to pray that God will bless my finances and that I would have wisdom with where I spend my money.
Pray for my trip back to the states in March that God will protect me and that all the travel plans will fall into place without too much hassle.
Finally, pray for my future. Pray that God will show me the next step to take, and in the meantime that he would give me peace while I wait for His direction.
Final Thanks
I am thankful beyond words for all of your love and support. Please remember that nothing I am doing would be possible without each and every one of you. I’ve received a few cards and letters and each one is greatly encouraging. I would love to hear from you personally whether it be via snail mail, email, or whatever other way you can think of to communicate with me. I love you all and miss you very much, especially during this season. Again, be blessed this Christmas!
Yours in Christ,
Christopher Parkinson
*The story mentioned was posted on a previous blog, so to read it go back about 2 blog entries.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all my friends and family! I miss you all very much and think of you often during this holiday season. I hope you are blessed as we approach the time we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
There have been many things going on in my life since I last wrote to you and there are many new things coming up in my near future. Changes are around the corner and personal boundaries and limitations will be broken as God grows and stretches me. But none of it could be possible without the love, prayers, and generosity of all of you! Thank you so much for investing in my life and my first steps in ministry. Thank you for your partnership in ministering to others, and also for your ministry to me.
Apologies…
I want to take a few sentences to address a few things that you might be wondering about: First, I want to apologize for the newsletter drought I’ve left you in. I realize my last newsletter was sent out in late April, and I am extremely humbled by the fact that you have still continued to pray and give to me and the ministries I am involved in. Where most people in my situation would see their support dwindle with the lack of communications I have given you, you have blessed me with increased support! It is an extreme blessing but is also extremely humbling. Thank you so much for sticking with me!
Second, I’ll update you on a couple of logistical things. I am no longer pursuing a Visa. We decided that it wasn’t completely necessary this far into my term. Things didn’t get underway soon enough and turned into more of a distraction. I am still here legally, but as always, prayer for favor with the government is always appreciated.
Third, I am also no longer searching for a vehicle. We spent several months looking and couldn’t find anything in the price range we needed, and our time frame for maximum effectiveness was missed. I have become efficient at getting where I need to be on time by foot, bus, or taxi when I need to, which is quite often!
Ministry Updates
Over the summer we moved our feeding program to the new church building on our campus. We now have a full kitchen space with running water and gas stoves, and a new dining area where we can feed more than 100 kids at a time. At one point we fed 120, but we are regularly serving around 70 kids a day, 5 days a week. Plans are also under way to open a second kitchen closer to the center of Shutka that will only be serving soup for the next 3 months. The second location will expand sphere of influence that we have in Shutka and will help us reach one of the poorest areas of town. It will be tied into the church so the kids will be able to plug into our other children’s programs at our main campus.
Our church body has seen significant growth. Only a few weeks ago we saw 30 people coming to the evening service. We’ve had some of our teenagers come, as well as several new families. Pastor Toni has also begun a Bible study from the Global University courses, and Colleen Thomas has had a lot of success with a women’s prayer meeting on Wednesday nights where they’ve also been able to teach a bit of English and Macedonian and Colleen has picked up some Roma. God truly is growing this church!
Coming Up…
There are a lot of changes coming up for me. First, I recently found out I will have to move before I finish my term. My landlady sat down with me and told me that she wants to sale the apartment and that I’ll have, at the very least, 2 months before I’ll have to move out. The up-side is that I’ll have a chance to move to a better apartment for the last part of my time here. I have learned a lot from living here and I now know what to look for, so it’s not at all a bad thing. Second, I am excited to be planning a trip back to the U.S. for my brother’s wedding in March! I’ll only be there for about 5 days, but I’m really looking forward to seeing all my family and maybe a few friends too!
The spring will be full of hosting short-term ministry teams from the states, holding outreaches in Shutka and other cities around Macedonia, and will be capped off with a retreat in Spain with all the AG missionaries from around Europe! The early summer, however, will see the Thomas family returning to the U.S. as their term here comes to an end. In the middle of June, I will be seeing them off and they’ll be heading to North Central University in Minnesota where their oldest sons are attending. They will be serving the university as Missionaries in Residence the next year or two teaching missions courses. There will be other missionaries here, but instead of starting other work, I will continue my work in Shutka.
Personal Updates
One of my biggest struggles lately has been in thinking about and planning for my future. Prayer would be greatly appreciated on this topic! I am quickly approaching the end of my original 2 year term here (which ends in August) and am seeking God’s plan and direction for what my next step will be. I have been invited to stay another year to continue what I’ve been doing in Shutka, but I still am not sure if that’s what God wants for me to do. I am also unsure about any other direction to take. I have a lot of ideas about what I could do, but am waiting for God’s direction and it’s not easy. When you pray for me, please keep this struggle in mind.
I have recently been inspired to get into more regular blogging to help people stay updated with what I am doing and the things that I am going through. I want to start doing a weekly blog reflecting on each week’s happenings so keep an eye out for it. If you have specific questions for me, email them to me and the blog would make a great place for me to address them! You can read my weekly blogging either on my site at www.crparky.blogspot.com or on Facebook.
*Attached Story…
I am attaching a story that I co-wrote that is a testimony of how God has been working in the lives of several of the Gypsy kids in Shutka. It was originally written to help report to Samaritan’s Purse about how their support has affected our ministry there, but I think it is more appropriate for you all to read because your support in prayers and finances has had an even bigger impact on the kids in this story, and many others whose stories cannot fit in this short newsletter. I hope you know that when you invest in me you’re also investing in the lives of the people I come in contact with. You are an integral part of this ministry, and I hope you are blessed by the attached story.
Prayer Requests
Please remember to pray for the ministries that are going on weekly in Shutka and the other ministries that are being planned in the rest of Macedonia this coming Spring. Pray that God will present us with opportunities to share His love and that our work would have a life changing impact.
Continue to pray that God will bless my finances and that I would have wisdom with where I spend my money.
Pray for my trip back to the states in March that God will protect me and that all the travel plans will fall into place without too much hassle.
Finally, pray for my future. Pray that God will show me the next step to take, and in the meantime that he would give me peace while I wait for His direction.
Final Thanks
I am thankful beyond words for all of your love and support. Please remember that nothing I am doing would be possible without each and every one of you. I’ve received a few cards and letters and each one is greatly encouraging. I would love to hear from you personally whether it be via snail mail, email, or whatever other way you can think of to communicate with me. I love you all and miss you very much, especially during this season. Again, be blessed this Christmas!
Yours in Christ,
Christopher Parkinson
*The story mentioned was posted on a previous blog, so to read it go back about 2 blog entries.
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