October-December
In the previous issue of the Youth Messenger, there were two reports on the exciting evangelistic project held in Europe this year. Since this was such a life-changing event for many of us young people, I’d like to fill in some more details about some of our activities:
On Thursday, July 23, a total of 15 young people went to Lipik, Croatia, to attend a conference and to witness the baptism of two souls. The trip took approximately 12 hours in which we passed through different and beautiful countries like Italy and Slovenia.
We arrived about nine o’clock in the evening. Brother Mladen waited for us at the Lipik church, and from there he took us to where we would be staying. He took us to a very large house which had been almost destroyed during the Serbo-Croatian war and was being reconstructed. We received a very warm welcome from the Mandic family. The house was beautiful, and the food was delicious and abundant. The sister worked hard, cooking for us to give us the best, and to make us comfortable. We want to thank this family for their great hospitality toward us: Thank you with all our hearts.
On Friday we prepared to open the Sabbath, and in the evening we went to church for worship. The meeting was led by Etienne Lombard, one of the youth involved in the evangelistic campaign in Geneva, Switzerland.
On Sabbath we had our normal program. The Sabbath School was divided by languages. After that Peter Lausevic gave a great study that spoke of repentance and of giving our life to God. We are not alone in this life because Jesus is by our side, accompanying us at every moment even during all the bad things that can happen.
On Sunday we had the baptism of Brethren Josep and Stefan. It was not a sunny day, but everything went well. God’s presence was felt in that place. The brethren and sisters of Croatia (the choir) sang hymns, and we felt closer to the Lord. After that we went to church to have the reception. Immediately after eating the noon meal, we started off for Italy.
We arrived in Italy in the evening and stayed at the Tinta’s home. We stayed there only that evening because on the following day at six in the morning we left for Venice.
We arrived in Venice early in the morning. It is a beautiful place where a river crosses through the city. Its romantic architecture is reflected throughout the city with its many cathedrals. The main one in Venice is St. Mark’s Basilica.
We had a wonderful day, although the time flew fast, because we still had six more hours to travel, and we couldn’t leave late since we wanted to arrive early in Geneva.
Most of the young people went on the trip to Germany, and only four people stayed behind. We were a total of 26 young people that took part in the evangelistic campaign.
We left at six in the morning in different vehicles and arrived in Munich, Germany, at approximately 4:00 p.m. We ate and then were sent to different homes. When we arrived there, we prepared for the opening of the Sabbath.
On Sabbath morning we held our regular program. The Sabbath School was again divided by languages: English, German, Romanian, and Spanish. Peter Lausevic had the worship service.
The noon meal was spectacular! The sisters in German prepared a superb meal with all their love. Thank you very much sisters for the great food!
In the afternoon we held a young people’s meeting. It was an afternoon full of blessings, with beautiful songs and music to praise our God. We also heard many precious experiences which encouraged many of us there. It was such a blessing that, by the grace of God, this church in Munich, Germany, decided to give a donation of 5,550 Euros toward the 2010 Geneva Project. Praise the Lord for that!
Sunday morning we went to the Dachau Concentration Camp. We were moved because for many of us this was the first time we had ever visited such a place. First, we visited a museum that is located inside some houses, where we saw the names and nationalities of the prisoners who suffered in that place. Then, we watched a documentary that explained many things about the concentration camp. We were informed that many of the people died on their way to the camp, and that many people died in the gas chambers.
After the video we divided into groups and went to see the rooms of the “prisoners.” We had a frightening feeling when we saw the great shame that rests with the twentieth century civilization. The bathrooms were small and used by many people. There were three churches—one Evangelical church and two Catholic churches. When I entered the gas chambers and the crematorium, a chill passed through my body. I had another feeling of terror. It was a small, dark room with iron bars on the windows. On the ceiling there was a device which looked like a shower where the gas came out. We also saw the room where the corpses were cremated.
We left the concentration camp with great sadness in our hearts. We are sure that, in the day of judgment, God will render to every person according to his or her deeds.
After this we visited Munich. We had a very nice afternoon visiting spectacular sites of the city. Since the previous Thursday we had given away all the pamphlets we had, we were able to stay an extra day.
Early Monday morning a group of us went to the magnificent Neuschwanstein castle. Although we did not get to see all the inside of the Castle, we saw the sleeping quarters, the dining room, and the concert hall. After our visit in and around the castle, we were off again to Geneva.
I thank the Lord for His protection in these two great outings.
I prayed that the Lord would show me if I should go on this trip. I did not want to go unless I could be sure that the Lord was going with me. After I felt sure that my prayer had been heard, there was still a problem: I did not have the money for the trip.
But a few days before the date set for our departure, a sister gave me the money to pay for everything that I needed. I never told her that I needed the money. I had waited for a special providence from the Lord, and He pened the way. God often keeps us waiting until the last minute to test our faith, before He sends the needed help.
The Lord is good and always fulfills His promises.
Experience:
I had a great personal experience. I was listening to a sermon preached by Peter Lausevic, and what he said touched my heart. So I decided to submit my life to the Lord and be baptized. This is the most important decision that I have made in my life. I trust that God will help me. He helps all who are willing to take up the cross and follow Him. We have a friend in Him, a friend who helps us in our time of need. He loves us more than a friend, He is our Brother and Creator. He gave His life for us.