Healing Hearts in the War-torn Former Yugoslavia!--Part 1a
Copyrighted July, 1994 by The Family, Zurich, Switzerland.

The Family--Making a Difference!

Eight Family members are on assignment in Croatia, in the area bordering the war zone in Bosnia. Their mission: to share the Gospel with the broken, desperate people there. As they "become all things to all men," they are having remarkable success with people of all ages and ethnic and religious backgrounds. (See 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.)
Here are just a few of their experiences, as told by team leader Joseph Eastman:

Because almost everyone here--be they soldier, civilian, refugee, or U.N. peacekeeper--has been through harrowing experiences during this war, we are often able to talk with them on a very deep level. They all have questions and problems, but in Jesus and God's Word, the Bible, we have answers and solutions!

Croatian soldiers
In the small town of Makarska, there is a rehabilitation centre for about 350 war casualties, including many wounded Croatian soldiers. We first met one of the patients, Marko, on the street. He was wounded in his legs, and can barely walk even with the aid of crutches. Every step is painful. He's only 20.
When Sara approached him, he acted very shy. "Jesus loves you," she told him. Then after a short conversation she asked him if he'd like to pray to receive Jesus. Dear Marko was overwhelmed with emotion by the whole encounter, and he hobbled away on his crutches.
He came back later, however, and brought a friend with him. We spent a few hours together, talking, singing and praying with them. They both received Jesus as their personal Saviour.
Marko said, "You have remembered us when the whole world has forgotten us. Even our government has forgotten about us because we are just invalids now and can't fight. We are only a burden to them, only another expense. Nobody loved us until you came along!"
We also learned from Marko and his friend that most of the wounded soldiers at the rehabilitation centre have turned to drugs and drinking to try to forget the past. It is our hope that we can help them turn to God instead for the comfort they need.

Most of the soldiers we talk to don't think that God can forgive them for the killing that they have done. They are beset with guilt and confusion. After showing one young Croatian a few basic Bible verses on Salvation, he exclaimed, "What wonderful news that is for me!" He prayed to receive Jesus into his heart and his entire attitude changed! He stayed with us the rest of the evening and clung to every word we shared with him from the Bible.
Unlike this young man, many of the soldiers we've talked to did not pray with us to receive Jesus. In many cases we felt they wanted to, but they are full of bitterness and hate and feel very condemned about their part in this war and what it has made of them. Many insist, "I am too bad for Jesus!" Of course we know that is not true, and we pray that in the Lord's time and way He will bring these dear men to know His Love and saving grace.

At the rehabilitation centre we spoke to another young Croatian in a wheelchair, recovering from a serious thigh wound. The Bosnians have offered a US$25,000 reward for him, as he was involved in some particularly gruesome incidents.
"I've done such terrible things," he lamented, "worse than an animal!"
It took hours, but by instructing him from the Bible, we were finally able to help him believe in and receive God's forgiveness and Salvation in Jesus--for which he is so thankful!

Bosnian Muslim refugees
We have also met many Bosnian Muslims who have been very thankful for the message of love we share. We have already been able to lead a number of Muslim children to the Lord, and their parents have not expressed any reservations about this. To the contrary, they are genuinely grateful that we are doing something to help their children. And the kids, of course, love the attention we show them.
Three Muslim refugee children who are camped next to us are among those who have received Jesus. Every day they come over and help us tidy our camp and fetch water--and we give them poster stories about Heaven and share our food with them.

U.N. peacekeepers
Some of the U.N. soldiers are hardened, but others are very open and want to learn more about the Lord and what the Bible has to say about their personal situations and where the world is headed.
They find it amazing that we as Christian volunteers are working alongside them, not criticising or condemning them. Another thing that wins their hearts is that we don't "preach" at them; we just try to be examples of God's Love and point them to Jesus. "If I be lifted up," Jesus said, "I will draw all men unto Me" (John 12:32).
One afternoon we met two Ukrainian soldiers from the U.N. peacekeeping force. They appreciated our attempts to share God's Love with them in our broken Russian, and they told us all about themselves and their families, about their experiences in the army, and about friends who were killed by sniper fire. We did our best to encourage them and thanked them for what they are doing to try to help this country. Before we parted, they both bowed their heads and prayed with us to receive Jesus into their hearts, and for peace in the land.

Many Canadian, Ukrainian and Russian U.N. soldiers have very sincerely asked us to pray that they come out of this war alive. They are constantly being fired on by snipers from all three warring parties. Many of their fellow soldiers have been shot, and each one we witness to knows that he could be next.

Sheridan is a Canadian peacekeeper who has an extremely dangerous job; he drives a specially designed U.N. bulldozer that clears mine fields. He just returned from a mission in the field, and sought us out to tell us this story:
As he was clearing a mined area, he drove over an anti-tank mine, which didn't explode. The 30-ton vehicle behind him ran over that same mine and was blown into the treetops. The driver survived, but he lost both of his legs. Sheridan told us that he believes it was our prayers that protected him. He had received the Lord with us just before going on this mission.
These soldiers constantly face life-and-death situations, so our witnessing to them is also a matter of life-and-death. For any one of them, this may be their last chance!

When we first met one group of U.N. soldiers, most of them were very much on the defensive. They were "realists" and agnostics, they said. But after a while they saw that we weren't trying to "give them religion" but rather a listening ear, love, understanding and Jesus--and they became very sweet and receptive.
They returned early the next morning and invited us for a cup of coffee at the hotel where they were staying. There we were able to explain more basic principles from the Bible.
One fellow already knew the Lord and had began reading through the New Testament. "I have a Bible and am reading through it, but with you I have the missing ingredient.--I'm getting the love I need!" he said.
We all prayed together before parting. When we looked up, some of these burly soldiers were in tears.

Our book of devotional readings, Daily Might, and Scripture song tape "Fear Not" have been real hits amongst the soldiers. The U.N. troops have been particularly thankful for the pocket-size Daily Might, as it is something they can carry with them, even on the front lines.

These soldiers are mostly big husky guys, and it sometimes takes a lot of faith for us to not be intimidated when approaching them. However, once they receive the Gospel they become meek as lambs and ask what they can do for us in return, or how they can help.

Personal lessons
Throughout our travels we have often been reminded of the dire consequences that could befall us should we be caught off our guard in a moment of sudden danger. We've all become much more conscious of the Lord's protection, and our need to pray continually. "Pray without ceasing. In all your ways acknowledge the Lord, and He shall direct your path" (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Proverbs 3:6).

God's Word has become very fresh and alive to us; the situation in this country is so extreme that it seems the Lord magnifies the power of the Word in order to give us faith for each situation we encounter. "Where sin abounds, grace does much more abound" (Romans 5:20).

Prayer requests
We would greatly appreciate your prayers for the following:
For peace: It will take a miracle to stop this war between Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia. Judging from history and outward appearances, this horror could go on a long, long time, but "with God all things are possible!" (Mark 10:27).
For our personal safety: We are quite vulnerable because we openly witness to anyone we find who is in need. The situation here is such that whenever people see us associate with members of another military unit or ethnic group, they consider us on that group's side and a very possible enemy. Given the extreme tension here, anyone could react suddenly and violently to such a perceived threat.
For our peace of mind: In our witnessing we sometimes have to listen to grim accounts of the war and atrocities against both soldiers and civilians.
For sufficient financial support to be able to continue here, and to make it possible for other Family members to join us in this ministry. Also for funds for much-needed supplies, teaching materials and the translation, printing and production of tracts and other Family literature, tapes and videos in the local languages for distribution.
And most of all, that the Lord will continue to lead us to the people He wants us to comfort, encourage and draw to Him! Thank you, and God bless you!
(To be continued.)

Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family