The internet here at the hotel in Macedonia is spotty... but I can't complain because I have wireless internet for free (something I did not expect to have!). So sorry for the delay of posts (*ahem* Dave & Peter) because I thought I'd be internet-less until Tuesday!

Anyways... more important things! We had the Convoy today! It went well - we had between 700 - 1,000 in attendance. The numbers are what was expected - though we hoped for about 4,000.

What is a "convoy"? Well, my Uncle's organization, Convoy of Hope, teams up with local communities and churches to give a city a "Day of Hope" with the mission of, "when you feed the hungry, you feed the soul." A standard convoy (like the one today) sets up tent in the central part of a given city and invites the community for a day of games for the kids, face painting, hair cuts, medical care, lunch, grocery vouchers, a concert, etc - all for free! The day is intended to be very loving and fun - giving a glimmer of hope to those who can't often find it. Every attendant is given a copy of the New Testament in their language and presented the gospel in a non-threatening way. Later on in the week, each family will have food delivered to their door where a volunteer from the local church will sit down with them and share more openly why it is that Convoy does what it does and share more with them about the love of Jesus Christ. Pretty cool setup, I think.

My aunt & uncle just recently teamed up with Convoy of Hope Eastern Europe when they moved back here in September. Since they moved to Belgium in 1996, I've always wanted to come and see them - but I never thought I'd get to minister along side of them. It's been cool to see a bit of what they do and meet some of the faces they interact with daily. My job today was to be the photographer. My uncle knows me well! :) I got to see every little activity of the day and laugh and smile with all the beautiful Macedonian children that were there. While the language barrier did cause some trouble, overall it was a very exciting and refreshing day. It's a humbling thought to remember our God is big enough to care about each and every one of those smiling faces - whether they are in Macedonia or America. Please join me in praying that the work today will have lasting impact on the hearts and lives of the children and adults that attended!

I know, I know... you probably want to see some of those pictures. If I have time, I will post some later after dinner... but now, I gotta get ready to go... we're leaving in 10 minutes!

grace & peace.