A Story from My Mission Trip

On Sunday morning (11th), we attended the Protestant Congregational Church in Skopje, Macedonia; the service was in the Macedonian language. On Sunday evening (11th), we attended the Gypsy Church in a village outside Skopje; the service was in the Romany language. On Tuesday evening (13th), we attended the Protestant Church in Rahovek, Kosova; the service was in the Albanian language.

Each of these churches welcomed us with open arms; their hospitality was overwhelming. Even though I could not speak the language, I truly worshiped God with them. I do not merely watch them worship, but somehow I was able to join them in praise. I felt like apart of their community the moment I walked in. At each service, Patsy Jacobs preached, Pat Ham told a story, and we all sang some songs and performed a skit in the Macedonian language. When we sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” Joanna sang the third stanza, Rick sang the first and I sang the second. On Sunday morning, the congregation sang with me, so it was not really a solo. On Sunday evening, the congregation did not sing with me, so it was a solo.

A quarter way through the verse, I started to cry. I was heartbroken with myself because I was singing off key or badly. Here this church welcomed me gracefully, and I could not return the gesture with a good song. By half way, I could not sing at all as I was crying so much. Then a woman came forward and gave me a tissue (this would have never happened at most American Baptist churches that I have attend). Later, I learned that she was a prostitute. I never though that I would experience the love of God through the gesture of a prostitute in Eastern Europe.
dr

Country Music 1/2 Marathon

On April 28th, I ran in the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville, Tennessee. I was one of 33,000 people who ran this exciting race. There were about 15 bands who played at different spots on the 13.1 miles and people lined up on the sidelines along the way. There was great excitement and fun at the race, and I encourage you to consider running it next year.

Here are my results:

Time: 2:01:18
Overall Ranking: 4,303/33,000
SexPl: 2735
DivPl: 530
Pace: 9:16

Here are my splits:

5K: 28:01:00
6 Mile: 52:28:00
10 Mile: 1:30:22
1/2 Marathon: 2:01:18

dr