A KidsQuest Express training week was held in Bosnia- Herzegovina with children s workers from Bosnia- Herzegovina and Croatia in attendance. The 19 or so participants were quick, talented, and creative learners. After the training, the participants presented a three-night crusade for the children. All of the participants left quite enthused about the use of the KidsQuest Express kit and what they learned, as well as what they learned from the general children s ministry training sessions. KidsQuest also provides those who attend the crusade a Seeker comic book that explains the plan of salvation and how to live for God. There are six different comic books, so a different one is handed out each night. Thanks to BGMC, the six Seeker series comics have been translated and printed into the local language. The names and addresses of the new children who were contacted during the crusades were taken at registration. At the end of April, the West Mostar church will hold a follow-up kids club, inviting these new contacts. There are tentative plans to hold other KidsQuest crusades in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the following two years. Funding and availability of the personnel to travel as a team is a challenge in this poor country, but we are believing for God to provide and direct this endeavor. The KidsQuest Express program is also scheduled to be used by the church in Croatia for their children s camping program this summer. We thank BGMC for the thousands of dollars given towards this project, particularly to the high cost of printing the Seeker series comics and the purchase of the KidsQuest Express kits. What a blessing! Thanks and blessings, Jim and Eloise Neely, Missionaries to Europe
We recently were able to purchase materials for the on-going ministry to children by a team of the church in West Mostar, Bosnia- Herzegovina. In the 90s, there was a fierce intercommunal war in that country, leaving many dead and many refugees. The church in West Mostar has for several years now been ministering to children, but especially at Christmas and Easter, preparing a special program. They have worn out their puppet stage, so in January of this year, we were able to purchase a new stage for them, along with magic trick items, and resource books with aids and instructions. Below is a report we received from them regarding their activities of this past Christmas. We traveled far and wide, from kindergartens, to a children s hospital, to a refugee camp, to an orphanage, to a suburb in which we have a home group, to a church in a neighboring city (Capljina), and also presented the program in our own West Mostar church. Altogether, we performed 17 puppet shows. God also opened up some new opportunities this year. We were able to go to an orphanage where there are mostly Muslim children, and they were open to have our show, which was about Christmas. They normally wouldn t allow any presentation of a religious nature. This year s show was loosely based on The Wizard of Oz, complete with the Scarecrow who wants a brain, the Tin Man who wants a heart, the Cowardly Lion who wants courage, and Dorothy who wants a home. In our version, instead of finding what they need in some wizard, they find a shepherd who tells them how Jesus was born, lived among us, died for us, and rose again. Also, he told them that we could ask God for things that we need like wisdom, courage, etc. (continued)
Our clown Bepo was again a big hit with kids of all ages. This year Bepo got a beautiful new costume with her name on it. From balloon animals to funny skits, Bepo always makes our program fun and interesting. This year she was invited by a Deaf society to distribute Christmas gifts and have a short program. Please pray for each child and adult who heard the gospel this year and that the seeds that were planted will grow. Pray for continued good relationships with people who opened their doors for us to come. You can even start praying for our Easter program that we would make the right contacts, for the play itself, for our team and for God to provide for all our needs. Thank you, BGMC, for making it possible for this group to minister to children in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This team was so excited to receive the new puppet stage, the tricks, and the booklets. May God continue to bless the great work you are doing to help us around the world. In His service, James R. Neely, Area Director Europe/Northern Adriatic
Three years ago, we gave a name to our campsite at Boracko Lake Emek beraka, which means the Valley of Blessings. That is what we experienced at children s camp blessings upon blessings. We had 72 children from all over Bosnia and Herzegovina, from churches from Bihac, Sarajevo, Zenica, Capljina, Kakanj, Tuzla, Mostar, even from Prijedor a town in a part of BiH called the Serb Republic. We see this as very important for cooperation between the two main entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This year was really different in many ways: we tried a new program with stations instead of big groups. It was a challenging time, but also a time where we looked to God and to what He was doing, and we received many blessings. The overall theme for the camp was a Serengeti safari, where kids are wild about God. There were themes for each day: know God, talk to God, talk about God, love God, work for God, live for God. One night we showed the film Pay it Forward, and then in our tribes we discussed the film and talked about how Jesus gave His life for us. Eldin comes from Tuzla, a city in the north of BiH and he is nine. As you can see, he broke his arm. When we went to the doctor, I asked him how he came to camp. He told me his story, and it really encouraged me. His parents were addicts and were in prison many times, so he stayed with his grandmother and an aunt who is also a drug addict. After prison his parents went to a rehabilitation center in Croatia, and there they met the Lord. Later they came home to Tuzla and got involved with the evangelical church there. That boy speaks as an adult with a huge life experience. With a smile he said, I am so happy here. God fulfills my every prayer, he changed my family and He is so good to me. That day, when the doctor said that his arm was broken, he replied. Wow, now everyone will be able to sign my arm, which is so cool. (continued)
Ramajana is ten. She is from Isaiah 58 a humanitarian project of the Sarajevo church. They work with 40 single parents and families with no income and take care of them with monthly parcels. Ramajana s family is from a Muslim background. She heard about Jesus for the first time here at camp, and she gave her life to Him there. Vejsil, 12, also comes from a Muslim family. He is from Zenica. After camp he spoke with his leaders and asked some questions and then gave his life to the Lord. Matea and Lejla are from Mostar. Matea is coming to the church in Mostar, and this summer she invited her friend Lejla. At camp she witnessed to Lejla, who also decided to follow the Lord. We received some calls from parents after camp telling us that their children are different that they have more confidence, and they do not want to misbehave and hang around with old friends who swear. One dad said his son follows him around and asks to pray together for every situation they face. Thank you for helping make this year s kid s camp possible. May God richly bless you. Workers in Bosnia-Herzegovina Ramajana Vejsil (in forefront) Matea and Lejla
What a sound! Our puppet shows sound even better and clearer with our new sound equipment, thanks to BGMC! We went to Trebinje to present our Easter play for the Orthodox Easter. It was our first time to present our puppet shows in this city. We went to four kindergartens and performed a fifth play in a space that a missionary rents for Christian work there. We were very well received everywhere we went, and they invited us to come back for Christmas. This was an excellent opportunity to try out our new sound equipment. The sound quality was very good. There was no problem hearing our play, even with the kids cheering and clapping. It didn t take us long to learn how to set everything up, and the whole system is easy to transport. Our clown, Bepo, is also very satisfied with her portable microphone. She can jump, run, and sing with the kids as much as she wants and doesn t have to worry that she will lose her voice, or that the kids won t be able to hear her. Thank you so much for your help to purchase this equipment. We already notice a great improvement in the sound quality of our program. May the Lord bless you for your help and your continued interest in our puppet ministry. With love and thankful hearts, Mostar Puppet Team Bosnia-Herzegovina