Something Exciting in the Air

In CROATIA

Remember all that conflict? Croatia, in ages past was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
My uncle reminded me that WWI ended three empires; the Austian-Hungarian, the British and the Russian. My grandmother was in her late teens when all that took place. Amazing.

Croatia is now lining up to be a member of the EU (European Union) in 2012. Perhaps its time to learn a little more about Croatia. It's just on the other side of Italy. It's a train ride away from Medjugordje (OK a long train ride away).

Here is a place to start- they have one Evangelical Seminary- which is both eceumenical and has catholic and protestant faculty, some US trained.
Evangelical means they are serious about spreading the Good News of Jesus to people with limited understanding of who he is, which is a widespread phenomenon in some of the neighboring countries.

http://www.evtos.hr/en/

The Seminary has a relationship with some Americans.
A group of people are going on mission there this summer to assist with teaching the seminarians English and talk about life in the US and assist with the landscaping a bit. It is a cultural exchange led by people with high level US government experience. The effort has been blessed by, inter alia, former Ambassador Claude Taylor and is being organized in conjunction with the mission committee of National Presbyterian Church in Washington.

As is always the case, missions need money, and more especially so now- air fare to Zagreb Croatia doesn't have the same sort of discounts places like Rome and Paris typically get for tourist traffic from the US.
If you are interested in learning more or assisting with the effort please contact Howard Frost
HeFrost [at] gmail.com who can tell you more or write HaveMercyOnUs[at] aol.com with "Croatia" in the subject line.

In this part of the world, which has been under the cloud of various 'isms' (communism, fascism, etc.) and in the shadow of former wars of ideology and property, it is critically important that the educational mission of the church take a deliberate active posture here, and even more so that it will be part of the EU (all bets are on).