Adventures in Greece: Part 2 AGM

If you missed part one click here.  Part one is not for the weak stomach, just saying.
So we were in Greece for 10 days, the first part for a company conference.  We do these conferences every summer but this summer was different.  It was for all our European personnel, over 800 people (we usually do a much smaller group, like a 100) so this was a big deal.  Our conference broke down into four parts:

Worship/Teaching:  We were blessed to get to worship every morning in English as a big group and then lead in some teaching by J. D. Greear from North Carolina.  His teaching was amazing and although we can podcast and do things on the internet to be there live with hundreds of people, it was filling to the soul.

Business/Breakouts:  We had the opportunity to hear the changes and vision of our company from the highest levels of leadership and it was inspiring.  To see the focus on bringing others in to walk alongside us, to see the focus on the city, it was very exciting.  We also go to attend breakout sessions that were very helpful and specific to our work, as well as learn form great teachers that have been doing what we want to do and have seen proven results. 

Family/Fellowship Time:  We were so grateful to our leadership for making our first full day at the conference, only a half day and after lunch being family time.  It gave us a great opportunity to get in the pool with the kids.  We also had so much time to hang out with friends we had not seen in years.  To share with these people is one of the most uplifting and encouraging things that happens for us.  We love all of you and can't wait to do it again.  It was great to reconnect and to support and encourage one another.

Kids VBS:  While we meet 100's of volunteers from all over the states came to spend time with our children.  They put on a full scale VBS.  Shower our kids with yummy american snacks and generally love on our kids for a week.  The quality of our meeting is usually based on the quality of the volunteers with our kids.  This was a great week.

A big thanks to all of you out there that support our organization making it possible to have these types of events.  It is like a well in the desert and a great time for the refreshing of our soul.

Here are some pics (mostly from the pool)

View from our Room

Wilson ready to swim

Jumping to daddy

I LOVE THE POOL

Swimming with friends

ICE CREAM!!!!

Wilsons new friend

J.D. Greear and our New friend DAVE!!!!

Morning we left!!!

Happy Kid

Adventures in Greece: Part 1

This month we had the opportunity to spend about 10 days in Greece.  Some for a company meeting and some for vacation.  This three part Blog will fill you in on the Stevens Family's adventures in Greece.

Adventure 1:  Just Getting There.
This adventure really started months ago as we had planned to drive and do a Paul's Journey trip with Jens parents.  After Grady and Linda had to head back to the states early Jen and I agonized over continuing with the original plan of driving or flying.  We chose flying because 16 -18 hours in the car with Wilson did not seem all that appealing and we could still get in some Paul stuff around Athens.  So Jat (serbian airline) here we go.
On thursday our flight was delayed in Belgrade for about 1.5 hours, always fun whe you are trying to keep kids entertained and Wilson holding out for the nap- his napping on the plan was key.
After the delay we were on our way and all was good until about 10 minutes from landing when the crazy wind coming off the Aegean sea started tossing our plane around like a kite.  First time in my life I was concerned about a plane actually landing and not crashing.  Thankfully we landed safely but with a very green Stevens family (Jen, K and Wilson have very serious motion sickness issues, this will play a huge part in our adventure later).  Because of the delay we had messed up the shuttle schedule to the conference we were attending.  So we hopped off the plane, ran through customs, hustled out to the bus and off on our 90 minute journey to the conference.  Miki met a nice volunteer on the bus, Julie, who would be working at the youth retreat during our conference and literally talked to her the entire ride.  Poor Julie was only able to say "uh- huh" and "yes, I see", as Miki told her about everything under the sun.  Jen and K were up front just trying to hold it together and I had Wilson for most of the trip.  About 30 minutes out he wanted his momma so he sat with her for about 10 minutes then I took him back..... and well it went south from there.
He was a little fussy so I got up and walked to the back of the bus thinking that would calm him.  I was thinking he was fussy for Jen.  WRONG, he was fussy because he was super motion sick and let me know by vomiting all over me.  Then vomitting on the little girl next to us, and then just to make sure covering me again.  That's right his belly about (the size of a mans fist) puked out about 4 liters of curdled milk all over me. (We have since adjusted our strategy of keeping Wilson happy while traveling by constantly giving him milk - lesson learned).  So with about 15 minutes to go I am standing on a bus with my son and I covered in curdeldd milk.  Luckily some of our team was on the bus and they jumped into action stripping and cleaning Wilson.  I had no choice but to take off my shirt and ride shirtless on a bus full of strangers - awkward.
When we arrived at the conference I got off the bus with a baby in a diaper, no shirt, shorts and shoes covered in vomit - Kyle always making a great first impression (did I mention this conference was for all our personnel in Europe and had not happened since 1991).  The great hotel staff took our clothes and laundered them, we got checked in and got cleaned up but for the rest of the conference I was known as the guy who got puked on by his kid and disembarked the bus shirtless.... Part 2 coming tomorrow... it will be less adventurous.

These are our clothes returned folded and pressed, even the socks.

Weekend with the Summit

So after a week of VBS the Summit team needed a little break and recharge.  What better way to do that in Belgrade then an afternoon at Delta City Mall! (of course after breakfast and training with the Israels).  We met the team at the mall for lunch and a little shopping and then The Amazing Spider-Man 3D with some of their new Serb friends.  After the movie the team kept on connecting with college students.  On Sunday the team attended 2nd Baptist Church - doubling attendance for the day.  Dono lead worship and the had to sit through my sermon.  After church they fellowshipped with the people of 2nd Baptist and in the evening started English classes.  Their trip is winding down so please keep then in your prayers!

Summit Week One

This past week we have been blessed by a team of College Students from Summit Church in Durham, N.C.  They are at the halfway point and I thought I would let you know about their first week here with us.  These guys have blessed our work here, they have blessed our family, and they have blessed the people of Belgrade.
This past week they have partnered with a local body and provided a VBS for over 50 Roma kids in Belgrade.  They have provided over 300 lunches during the week and most of all given the kids a great experience and some fun.  They have taken the kids to the zoo, a huge park for games and finished the week with a day at the water park. 
When the team is not hosting VBS they have been connecting with college students at the dorms.  On Monday night they hosted a college night at a local cafe.  About 50 students came and listened to the team discuss life as a an American college student.  Thursday they hung out with the kids so Jen and I and the Israels could go to a movie.
In the coming week they will be teaching English in three locations in Belgrade.  Here are some pics from this past week:

Dono gettin his coffee shop sound on

Meeting Students

Teaching songs to the kids at VBS

Dave and K play JUST DANCE

Prepping the days sandwhiches

Washing the lettuce

At the park hearing the story of Moses

Back at the Church

The water park with multiple slides and a wave pool

We left Wilson in Belgrade with Randi, day of rest for my Girl

A Serbian Wedding

This month Jen and I got invited to our first Serbian wedding.  We were so honored and excited.  The groom, Nemanja, had been a regular attender at our fellowship and his bride to be, Jelena, is a strong believer.  Not only were we invited but we hosted the maid of honor as a house guest and got to pick up other guests from the train station.  We were excited to get to help out.

Serbian weddings are not like American weddings in a number of ways.  First they last all day, not kidding we left the house at 11am and got home around 8pm. Second you get married twice here.  The church wedding is not official (regardless of orthodox or protestant).  So the couple first gets married at the court.  Now I was expecting something really simple but the court had a room for weddings that was super nice and it was a great ceremony with lots of clapping and cheering.  After the vows are said, the roma are all hanging around outside the court because people throw money not rice (Jen and I are thinking about renewing our vows before our next vacation).  After the court wedding everyone heads to the church for the church wedding.  Since this couple are believers we headed to the Baptist church for second wedding and the reception.

After second wedding the new couple does pictures and every guest gets a picture with the newlyweds.  It was very hot on the wedding day and Jen and I being unaware hung out inside.  We had to get our picture at the end.  After pictures are done a great party starts as family and friends celebrate the new couple.  Now the reception was a blast as food was delivered for hours.  Meat, bread, cheeses, fresh veggies, and pies, lots of pies.  Meat pies, cheese pies, veggie pies.  And of course there was cake.  Lots and Lots of cake.  It was delicious. Jen and I just sat and visited with people and ate and the ate some more.  There was lots of dancing and again more cheering and clapping.

The bride and groom foot the bill for the entire wedding and reception and Jelena and Nemanja did a great job providing for their guests.  We know that they started this marriage with God as the focus and look forward to seeing how God uses them to change the world around them.

Some Pics:

The First ceremony at the Court

Gypsy Band celebrating the new bride and groom

Dancing, lots of dancing

Cutting the cake (after pictures they brought out about 5 more cakes )

Jen and I with the happy couple

Hiding the Word, Serbian AWANA Style

If you are unfamiliar with AWANA, it is a scripture memorization program for kids.  Thanks to the great folks at Lakepointe Church Jennifer was able to partner with our teammate Randi, and started the first AWANA club in Serbia.  Kyleigh, Michaela, Brooke and Kyle memorized almost 100 scriptures between the four of them in the past school year.  They met every Sunday evening and the ladies worked with them on their scripture.  They also studied different cultures around the world increasing their knowledge of the nations.  My kids have done some amazing things in the past 2 plus years, but working hard to hide the word of God in their heart will be the thing that pushes them through life events more than anything they learn as we live abroad.  Although Jen and Randi did the bulk of the work, it was my great pleasure to practice verses throughout the week and listen to scripture come to life for my daughters.

In true Randi and Jen fashion we had an AWANA banquet this past week to celebrate the kids.  We had international cuisine (spaghetti, fortune cookies, tres leches cake) and Jen decorated the house (see pictures below).  The young people (anyone without kids) dressed up in costumes from different cultures.

Everyone Dressed up, Miki is an Austrailian Surfer in case you are wondering. 

South America

Africa

Europe

Asia (with Jens homemade fortune cookies)

North America

Pred Skolska Graduation

This is a picture of my Pred Skolska graduate.  For all you Native English speakers out there, that is like kindergarten in the States.  After 9 months in a class with 36 other kids and two teachers (one of which none of the kids liked) Miki graduated and is ready for first grade.  On the last day of school her class put on an outstanding performance to cap off a week of amazing performances (earlier in the week 37 six year olds showed off their amazing English skills, and later there was a rhythmic gymnastics performance.)  They sang songs, danced - lots of dancing - and told all the parents and grand parents all the things they learned.  We were really proud of Miki, she has blossomed this year, making some good friends and really becoming a good Serbian speaker.  We were impressed with the job the teachers did.  Keeping 37 kids from killing each other is quite the feat, but the kids actually learned something too!  Next year Miki will be heading next door to her new school and a new adventure in Serbian priamary school, but for now we will remeber the good old days of pred skolska.

Miki talks about the letter "C", which makes an s sound in Cyrillic

Receiving her diploma!

Celebrating the end of childhood with homemade mortar boards

A proud big sister, and apparently that's on real proud mom in the background

Miki with her teacher Bojana

Miki and her BFF Daria