Novi Sad, Serbia
June 19-July 15, 2016
I felt privileged and excited to be part of the Health Evangelism team in Novi Sad, Serbia this summer! Serbia is the country of my birth, and I couldn’t wait to see what wonderful things God would do for us. On the first night, I walked into the sanctuary and sat down. People were coming in and quickly filling all the seats.
I asked a visitor next to me, “Is this the first time you have come to this program?”
“Oh no, she said, I’ve been coming here for two years and I love it. There are usually two professional singers who come and sing beautifully.”
Soon all the seats on the lower level were taken and we had about 90 visitors. Brother David Ivanov introduced the speakers. Dr. Dragan Ivanov was the first speaker. His topic was: “The Most Dangerous Mistakes in Eating.” After his presentation, the two singers came up and sang a special song from the hymn book. The audience was touched. Then Brother David Zic had a lecture on spiritual health. The audience enjoyed the lectures and the music. They had come from all walks of life, and many were well-educated professionals who were seeking to improve their health and to find a better way of life. After the lectures, they would line up to speak to the presenters and ask more questions.
On Tuesday evening, we held another lecture and the attendance increased. On Wednesday and Thursday, we held cooking classes. Our guests loved the food, and after they were done eating their samples, we had the opportunity to talk to our new friends. I encouraged them to cook the best healthy food for their families and to teach their children to cook.
The following week, we were blessed with 150 people at the lectures. Dr. Ivanov, Brother David Zic, and I were lecturing and the singers sang in between. My lecture was on “How to Improve Your Emotional Intelligence.” It was a talk on how we can manage our emotions and not be managed by them, how we can manage our relationships with others, and more. The next morning, a young lady who attended the seminar shared with me what had happened in her family after the health lecture. She said, “My father started an argument with me, but suddenly stopped. He remembered what he had just learned. He said, 'I am not going to be angry. I just learned I must control my negative emotions.'” Praise the Lord!
For every lecture, I felt I needed to share two personal experiences. Often, I would be sitting in the front pew five minutes before my lecture and I still didn’t have an illustration to share. Without fail, in the last moment, the Holy Spirit would remind me of one. The guests appreciated these experiences, and I openly shared how Jesus is a part of my life.
I was also invited to share my testimony at an Adventist Women’s Bible study group. I made many friends, and we had a blessed time fellowshipping together.
Our second week of lectures and cooking classes went better than the first. Our attendance was increasing. Our visitors enjoyed our food and said, “This food is for kings!” At home, they were putting into practice what they had learned by making the recipes themselves. They commented on how much better they felt and how they had much more energy.
Health Fair
At the beginning of the third week, Brother Peter Lausevic joined our team as Brother Zic had left. Dr. Ivanov and I presented health lectures, and Brother Lausevic delivered spiritual messages. At the end of the third week, we held a health fair. We trained our young people to be in charge of one of 8 NEWSTART stations. As our guests visited the different stations, they were encouraged to see Brother Lausevic for counseling. However, many were apprehensive about seeing a pastor. At the last NEWSTART station, our visitors had a consultation with Doctors Dragan or Alina Ivanov. Then they were sent to see me, the Nutritionist and Health Educator.
As they walked into my office, my visitors began to tell me about their health and family problems.
“You seem stressed,” I said. “Yes,” they would say and begin to cry. “Do you mind if I pray for you?” I asked.
“No,” they answered. So I prayed a simple prayer for each of them and their families. The results that followed were a blessing.
One lady said, “No one had ever prayed for me. Is it so easy to pray?”
“Yes, it is very easy,” I said. “All you have to do is to talk to God as to a friend. Tell Him all your problems. Believe He hears, and He will answer you.”
“I will pray from now on,” she said, “and please pray for my children.”
After I had listened to this lady’s problems and prayed for her, I could give her lifestyle counseling. After we had finished her consult, I asked her, “Have you seen Mr. Lausevic, the Counselor? “No,” she answered. “Go see him. He can counsel you on the difficulties you mentioned, and he will pray with you,” I prompted. So off she went to see Brother Lausevic.
My next visitor came. I listened to her problems, prayed with her, gave her the requested advice on how to change her lifestyle and sent her to see Brother Lausevic. Since I had been in Novi Sad for three weeks and had won the confidence of the people, they were my friends and were more open to following my advice and visit with Brother Lausevic.
The line in front of my station was getting long. There were sixteen people waiting to see me, but I couldn’t rush them. Each one was a special person that needed a listening ear, health instruction, prayer, and healing from above. After six hours straight of counseling and meeting, I felt God's peace and joy as I ministered to the physical and spiritual needs of my new friends.
Cooking Classes
Our cooking classes were quite popular. Our first one had 45 people in attendance; on the fourth week, we had 90 people in attendance. We had ten ladies working together. Before each class began, we would cook for six hours making food samples. Before we began, we would make a prayer circle and pray to our Father. He blessed us and our efforts to make delicious and healthy food.
The fifth cooking class was my last meeting with our wonderful guests. After the cooking class, I thanked them for being such an attentive audience.
“I am so happy that you have attended all our health lectures and cooking classes and have such great interest to improve your health. But it is my wish that you have not only physical health but also your spiritual health, which will give you eternal life. As I have told you, I believe that Jesus Christ is my Savior. He is coming soon to take His children home. I am going home with Him, and I would like you to come along with me.”
Next, the cooks, the youth, the translator, and media man, joined me, and I thanked them for doing such a wonderful job. “I could have never done these cooking classes alone,” I said. “These wonderful young people have helped me all the way.” As they came forward they started singing “Side by Side We Stand,” in Serbian, and I joined them in English.
“Side by side we stand
Waiting God’s command
Worshiping the saving King
Living by His grace
And moving on in faith
Jesus will see us through
Meet me in heaven
We’ll join hands together
Meet me by the Savior’s side
I’ll meet you in heaven
We’ll sing songs together
Brothers and sisters, I’ll be there.”
I praise God for having had the privilege to go to Novi Sad, Serbia and participate in the Health outreach there. The dear people and the experiences we had together have enriched my life in ways that I will never forget. As I was leaving, many of my new-found friends asked me to come back and visit them again. Will I go back? The answer is a definite “Yes!”
