After an excruciating two days of travel by bus and train and hanging out at various interesting stop over stations, we arrived in Macedonia in the middle of the night - tired, dirty and hungry. Our moods were immediately lifted when we were welcomed by our friendly hosts who received us at the train station with big smiles and joyful hearts. They treated us to a midnight feast of the biggest hamburgers we have ever seen and it was not long before realized that Macedonia, like the Middle East has a very late night culture. Nothing happens before 10 in the morning and 10 at night is a perfectly acceptable time to start a new activity.
During our time there we served in the church, sharing at youth meetings, women's meetings and Sunday services. We went on evangelism outings in the streets and to neighboring towns. We helped with practical tasks around the church like tidying the garden and some old store rooms and we had beautiful times of fellowship with the most amazing and interesting people of God.
We also heard inspiring testimonies from people who were freed from drug addiction by the grace of God and saw how beautifully and radically their lives were transformed to become living testimonies of His goodness. We were encouraged by their passion to share the Good News of liberty with others who are struggling with the same thing that they were caught in. Our brothers and sisters in the church in Macedonia will always have a special place in my heart.
The personal revelation that I received in Macedonia which is still settling in to my heart is that it is never about me, it is always about God. If He wants to use me for His purposes I should always be ready and willing. If I do not see the results or get the credit for the things that I do or the sacrifices that I make it should be so much more rewarding for me because I am not living for this world, I am storing up treasures in heaven. Where my treasure is there my heart will also be. God does not share His glory. It is a privilege for me to be able to fight in His army and serve in His courts, not as a slave, but as a daughter labouring for a Kingdom of which I am an heir.
In all the good times - the victories, the breakthroughs, the laughing from the pit of your stomach moments or the moments of quiet contentment. In all the bad times - when I feel alone or excluded, ignored, hurt or insulted. In all things I know that God is in control, He is guiding me through my part in His story and one day I will be able to see the majesty of the full picture from His point of view. Through it all He is always there with me. To Him belongs all the glory and honor now and forever! Amen.