2000 Hits THANKS!!!!

Wow, as of yesterday we have received 2000 hits on the blog.  I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for following us and reading about our adventures in Serbia.  We have received visits from all 6 continents with people living on them (hopefully some tech savvy penguins will read us in Antartica).  What's crazy is we do not know anyone living in Austraila!  Thanks for passing us on.  We hope you keep reading, and again thanks for the support and encouragement.

THE STEVENS FAMILY

Lesson 9 - Home Remodel

When we lived in the states, we watched a lot of HGTV. (Men I only did this when Jen was home, never on my own, then it was only ESPN!).  We particularly liked the shows when they would tear something up and create something new. (see manly demolition).  As I was reading in Hebrews 3:1-6 I was reminded of these shows.  In summary God is the builder of us (the house) and now as believers Christ dwells in the house.  So I started thinking about the demolition God has done in my life.  I needed a serious makeover (not even Ty and his crew could this mess) and he was willing to take on the job.  I then started thinking what happens to those houses on HGTV after the camera crews leave, people live in them and dirty them up, and clutter them.  Sometimes I feel like I do that with God's house, (ME), He has done this great remodel, and has changed my life so much, yet I am in idiot and keep cluttering up his good work.  I keep doing stuff I did before Christ, I keep doubting and wondering.  But the great thing is Christ is still there, cleaning up and constantly working, remodeling and improving me.  That's the Christian life, constant improvement, constantly striving to be more Christlike.  So let Christ do a remodel on you, like any demolition it will have tough moments but wow is the adventure worth it.

Some Random thoughts Cowbell Style

These are just random thoughts i have been collecting, some are funny, some serious and some probably only make sense to me
Enjoy!
- Driving pretty fun, only stalled out once trying to back up a hill
- Eastern Europeans like to merge a little differently onto the high way
- Summer language is done for me, Prof. Ranko said I am better
- Passing in Eastern Europe DOES NOT require an open lane and an unobstructed view
- If you wonder about creation, go to the Mountains, no way that's by chance.
- I can not believe in 6 months there will be another one of us running around, it's crazy
- The first part of this meeting has made me long for LPC, but it has refreshed my soul to worship in English
- First ever border crossing was unenventful
- Sometimes the lostness of Belgrade overwhelms me
- As we thought about things this week, it was amazing to think of all the people that have been on this journey with us, to numerous to count, but it all goes back to great people in Waco
- In Belgrade we witnessed a man in a very little car backing down the entrance ramp into oncoming traffic, apparently we were the only ones alarmed by this
- My oldest will be 9.5 years older then my youngest - advantage: built in babysitting
- Life guard in Bulgaria apparently means you sit in a room, I guess if someone drowns you can do CPR
- We have lived here over 6 months and i had fooled my self into thinking I could renew my visa in a day!
- Rom. 10:15 should we not all have beautiful feet as all believers are commanded to bring the good news?
-We are blessed with super friends who made K's Birthday amazing
-I still put God in a box, regardless of how many times he shows me He is way bigger then my box.  I hope I can stop doing that

REMA - the living word

As I wrote about camp I mentioned the worship band that came and played - Rema.  They were amazing.  As some of you may know I love music (have zero musical talent) and have prayed that God is raising  up a modern worship movement here in Serbia - Folks he is and it starts with these guys.  They changed the whole atmosphere of camp.  They are young, they are passionate and on fire for God.  They are not just translating English worship (although they did a great job with that) but are writing their own worship music, that reaches the heart of this generation.  To watch and hear them worship was moving.  They are lead by Denis, who God has gifted in a crazy way with musical talent.  I had a great time getting to know him and learning his heart for God and these people.  Their dream is to play huge stadiums, not for their fame and glory but to see Him made famous as multitudes of their country men worship Him. They have a CD coming out in September, so I will post some of their music.  I had a great time discussing their favorite worship bands from America.  I know I am going to love someones music when the first name they mention is Crowder!  Lift these guys up because they are and will be used in a mighty way!

In Pursuit of One Piece of Paper

Today  I had two goals:  Get visas for us and get a letter for our teammates so they could finish their visa application.  I started at the Office of Foreigners  (OOF)working on our visa, this was my third trip in a week, each time they ask for something new and tell me to come back in a few days, today they needed pictures of all of us, Jen met me with the pictures and yes I will go back tomorrow - no dice on family visas.  So I set off on goal number two:  Obtain a letter proving our NGO exists so our teammates can get their visa.  I walked about two miles uphill to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.(MOFA)  (There are buses in this part of the city but for security reasons they do not stop near any gvt. buildings or the embassy's so you just walk).  After finding the right place in the huge Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a sweet lady told me I was in the wrong place and needed to go to the Ministry of the Intereior.(MOI)  I said great, where is that.  Amazingly it was in the same building as the OOF, where I started my morning.  So, back down the hill.  One I found the MOI I was rudely told I was in the wrong place and head to the.... you guessed it MOFA!  I tried to explain I had already been there but no one cared and away I went ..... back up the hill!  For added excitement I was harrassed by a cop as I left the MOI, had to show my passport, explain where I was from, what I was doing here, etc...  good times, good times.  Once again I am at the MOFA.  I get shuttled to a new lady who tells me to visit the US Embassy - I new that was not right, I needed a letter from the Serbian Gvt, not the U.S.  I pleaded with the friendly security guard (big Dirk Nowitksi fan) to let me talk to some one about this letter.  After about a half hour wait I was ushered back to Lilijana's office.  She looked over all my paperwork and determined I was in the wrong place, luckily this did not surprise me as I had determined that about an hour ago.  She began to make calls and said I needed to be at the Ministry of Foreign .... Orginazations (you thought I was going to say Affairs, didn't you!).  Again I asked where and we broke out my trusty map to find the right location, so back down the hill.  After a two transfer bus ride I found the MOFO.  I got in line, explained what I needed, filled out some forms, paid the tax and then drew my number.  382 and they were serving 333.  So I waited.... and waited... and waited some more.  Then the magic sign showed my number and I was served.  The whole process took like five minutes and I had my letter.  So to sum it up that's five government offices, 6 bus/tram rides, 1 episode of police harassment, and 1 simple letter.  Welcome to Serbia!!!!!  The great part I have to do the visa stuff again tomorrow :)
UPDATE:  After reading this fresh today I realized it sounded really whiny and I apologize.  I was just trying to convey what a day looks like here.  All in all the folks i interacted with were super helpful and went above and beyond to help me.  I enjoyed helping our colleauges out and doing what I could to help them.  So please excuse my and forgive my whinyness.
K