Whenever you hear of a great man doing a great thing, you may be sure that behind it somewhere is a great background

– a mother’s training, a father’s example, a teacher’s influence.
– Catherine Miles

These words were spoken by Irena, the English teacher from the school in Krnjak, who came to visit us with her daughter Nikol (3) in January. She arrived on a Tuesday, during school vacation, and was planning to stay for a couple of days. But, “I just feel so nice with you guys”, she said, and stayed as long as she could – till Saturday afternoon.

We met Irena in april 2002 while teaching English in a school full of refugees. She impressed us with her dedication to her job and to the children. “When I graduated from university,” she told us, “I knew that God had a job for me somewhere – and not just a job, but some children who needed my help. I believe that this is my mission, and these refugee children need me.” We watched her teach a few times: English was her subject, yet she gave of herself to the kids and taught them not only the school program, but a lot more than that – morals and lessons that would help them be happier and more successful in life.

When Irena and Nikol came to our house, they became a part of our big family – Nikol played and made friends with our four-year-old girl, Alexis, they ate with us; we prayed and sang songs together in the evenings. Most important of all, Irena took part in our projects: dressed up as a clown; she cheered up the children and comforted the mothers in Dom Sv. Ana – a center for mistreated mothers and children here in Rijeka. She found that she was not alone in her endeavor to give of herself in help to others. “What I have in my heart today and am carrying home with me, I would most probably never have found anywhere else,” she wrote in our “Visitor’s log” a few minutes before leaving.
And this is our hope and prayer for her: that she will be able to carry “that special something” to give to her many children, who in turn will grow up and give to those around them.

Stay tuned for Irena’s full story, written by her, in a later issue!

Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year for our volunteers – we start in the beginning of November with show practice, recording, translating, puppet making and other stage-related projects, in order to be ready to perform in the beginning of December. This year shows started on the 1st, and filled out the whole month, in many instances with two or three performed in one day. We visited some of the most needy institutions for children and senior citizens in the areas of Rijeka and Istria, who already know and eagerly await our program each year. Then added, as we try to every December, a few new institutions, and expanded our horizons as much as time and personnel permitted.

Our show troupe performed 40 times in December 2003 – 3 more than during December the year before (28 shows in Croatia, and 12 in Italy). Some of those who were already expecting us were: The home for abandoned children – Lovran, the senior citizens’ Home – Turnic in Rijeka, the school for handicapped children in Rijeka, the elementary schools in Krnjak and Vojnic, the psychiatric hospital in Rab, the center for handicapped children – Ostro and Kraljevica, the senior citizens’ homes in Rasa and Sv. Nedjelja. And among those who received a first time visit: Dom Sv. Ana for traumatized mothers and children, Senior citizens’ home – Novigrad, OS in Rab, Lopar, Buje and Buzet, Homer (association for blind children in Rijeka) and many others that we don’t have time nor space to name.

We were also invited, or took the initiative to organize Christmas animation, and some of those lead us to the senior citizens homes in Volosko and Rovinj, as well as to the Association for children with celiac disease in Rijeka. During these first-time animation we arranged for further cooperation with those institutions.

When on Christmas day I phoned three hospitals and 2 orphanages, and asked if there were any children or patients we could cheer up, I found out that all have a place and way to celebrate that day – except the old and lonely people in senior citizens’ homes. Hardly anybody went to visit them – not even relatives. “I was depressed before you came,” a lady in the Home in Volosko confessed, “but now, after meeting you and singing with you I feel alive again”.

We promised the old people we would return, and organized shows in the two homes in Volosko again during the month of February. Then, also during carnival season, we added another institution to the list: the elementary school in Tar, Istria, where we performed on February 23rd for the first time.

Tell us about your first childhood memories.
I remember always traveling around, seeing new faces and being in different places. I liked traveling a lot, especially because it would mean that I got to explore new areas. A lot of my childhood was centered around, or at least always had, something to do with music. I guess if both your parents are musicians, the love of music is ingrained in you from the time you’re a wee tot.

Were you actually involved in your parents’ musical activities?
Yes! We always did little shows and musical numbers (with the other kids) for whoever came over to visit, and of course for old folks homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, etc.

What do you mean by “other kids”?
For starters, I’m the oldest of 6 kids. So you have a little group right there. Secondly, we always lived with at least one other family. It was quite nice because we always had our friends around us and we had to also learn to share and play with not only our own brothers and sisters, but with other kids as well. It helped us get a good start on socializing with others.

Which country that you’ve lived in as a child left the biggest impression on you?
That would be two countries…India and Nepal. We were there for 7 years. I basically grew up there!

How did people receive you, being so different from them?
Obviously we were foreigners… you don’t usually find red hair and freckles in a country like India. But I remember mingling quite well with our neighbors and other kids, especially when we would do shows for even up to 2000 school kids.

How did you manage to go to school with all the traveling you did?
That’s easy! I probably got more schooling as a child than most other kids. My dad started teaching me when I was a baby, and by the time I was 3 I had mastered the art of reading and of course, I did well in the other curricular subjects. Not to mention that you naturally pick up the basics of quite a few languages when you travel around like my family did.

I guess being always aware of those around me. If I saw someone sad or in need of some physical necessity, I wouldn’t hesitate to stop and cheer them up with a kind word or at least pray for them. And if I had what they needed, to share it with them. And of course, the greatest gift I could give them was the gift of Salvation. I remember one time my brother and I had invited a little Indian girl over to play with us, and in the course of our play time we started talking about Jesus and salvation and she said she hadn’t asked Jesus in her heart. So we promptly prayed with her and read her some stories from the Bible. Afterwards the thing that my brother and I talked about was how glad we were that we were going to see her again in Heaven, and that we had given her a special gift that would last forever. Our talk wasn’t centered around what toys we had that she didn’t, or what clothes she was wearing, but about how happy we had made her by praying with her.

By the way, we found out you’re a mother yourself! How does it feel?
Yep! I’m the proud mother of a precocious 4 year-old daughter named Alexis. How does that make me feel?? Great! Now I get to put into practice all that I was taught, and I can teach her using the methods that my parents used on me… with an improvement, hopefully! And just so you know, right now she does the equivalent of 1st grade school… and she loves it! She was also able to participate in our Christmas show, and thus was able to make many people happy.

What would be your advice for new parents?
Give your kids a Bible-based foundation. Teach them the principles that the Great Master taught us… to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. Then they’ll be more aware of those in need around them and won’t grow up being self-centered or feeling sorry for themselves when things don’t always go the way they want. You can always take your kid to visit the local seniors’ home and bring a bit of happiness to some lonely people there. You don’t have to go to India to be a missionary or show your kids how to be one… you can start in your own back yard and have them learn right alongside you!

And if you have the time and your kid loves it, start teaching them how to read and write at an early age… the first 5 years of a child’s life are often brushed aside as “pre-school” – but they are the most important!!

Dear ones, thank you for your wonderful messages. In my thoughts I’m always with you, and I hope we’ll see each other soon. I don’t think that physical presence is absolutely necessary in order for us to feel warmth inside (time really flies), but I hope we can spend lots of happy moments together. I wish you a lot of success in all your planned activities. Boris, Rijeka

You really are people who don’t forget – and who bring joy – thank you! And I think you read thoughts, as well … warmth comes from you exactly when it’s needed! Thank you again! I’m working a lot, traveling from time to time, planning some projects and trying to keep some light, love and sense in it all. … I’m sure you’ll share a lot of joy with the people you’ll meet during this pre-Christmas period. Thank you for your mail and please, write again. Big hug to the Family. Love, Ranka – Zagreb 

Your youngest son put up a sign on the door of our office: “If you want to be happy, make others happy!”, and often as I glance at it I start talking about you and your volunteer work to people who come to visit. I don’t know if my words will bring any results, but I don’t think that matters. Just to know that there is someone who tells you “God bless you” is like a little ray of hope in the darkness. I don’t have much time to dedicate to you, maybe one day… I don’t like making promises, or having promises made to me – a little surprise is better, like the copy of your newsletter that you sent me. Hugs … see you soon, Daria (Center for volunteer associations – Verona)

It was real nice to see you again that night… when I talk with you, an incredible feeling of peace comes over me. You’re like an image of Jesus… you give strength and a feeling of security to people who know you and it’s so nice to be around you. You have a great gift, and are using it to the full!
A big hug, and greetings to the whole Family. Mary (Brescia – Italy)

 

We’re on the subject of children – so here’s our chance to introduce you ours: Jeffrey and his niece Alexis!
Our two children are not only a fountain of joy and encouragement in the house; they are also an essential part of our volunteer work, and some of our visitors and friends remember them better than they do anyone else…

Alexis sings a Christmas song with Jeffrey.

Who can resist a sincere outburst of a child’s love? Alexis with one of our friends.

Jeffrey’s shoe shining shop: shining everyone’s shoes one evening.

 Every week Jeff takes part in the clown therapy project with Andrea, Simone and other young people from Rijeka.

 

Think about it!

A partially deaf boy came home from school one day carrying a note from officials at the school. The note suggested that the parents take the boy out of school, claiming that he was “too stupid to learn.” The boy’s mother read the note and said, “My son Tom isn’t ‘too stupid to learn.’ I’ll teach him myself.” And so she did.

When Tom died many years later, the people of the United States of America paid tribute to him by turning off the nation’s lights for one full minute. You see, this Tom had invented the light bulb – and not only that, but motion pictures and the record player. In all, Thomas Edison had more than one thousand patents to his credit.

When Mother Theresa received her Nobel Prize, she was asked, “What can we do to promote world peace?”

She replied, “Go home and love your family.”

 

The Greatest of All is Love

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,
But have not love, I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.
If I live for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements,
But have not love, my children learn of cleanliness, not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child’s laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child,
Then stands aside to let the child walk into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation’s message to a child’s heart.
Before I became a mother, I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God’s perfection of my children.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my children,
But the greatest of all is love.
– Author unknown (based on the Bible, 1Corinthians 13)

PRESENT PROJECTS…

The clown therapy project is expanding! Our clowns now visit 4 institutions each month, one every week: Dom Sv. Ana (for traumatized mothers and children), the Children’s hospital – Kantrida, the Center for handicapped children – Ostro and the senior citizens’ Home in Volosko. One of the goals of this project is to involve young people from Rijeka and the surroundings, and train them to do volunteer work. More and more of them are responding as time goes on, and we hope and pray that this project will be only a beginning that will help them discover the joy of giving to others, and propel them to participating in new initiatives and volunteer activities.
In the beginning of February Mark started teaching English in the home for abandoned children – Lovran. Every Thursday afternoon he helps the children with their schoolwork, spends time getting to know them personally, and offers them attention – of which most children in such institutions can’t get enough. This project will continue till June, the end of the school year.

We resumed bi-monthly English classes in the elementary school in Vojnic (combined with teaching communication skills and moral values to those needy refugee children). Every time we take a trip to the school, we also visit other poor or disadvantaged families in the area.
During the months of December and February we performed 42 shows and organized 8 animations for various institutions.

On December 18th we received the shipment of Croatian calendars“Mottos for success” (see NL 17), and have not stopped getting orders for them to date. If you are interested in purchasing any of these calendars, which make for a great present, and a wonderful daily inspirational tool, please contact us today!

We held a youth meeting at the Italian community in Rijeka, and are planning to organize more of these events for the youth, and to offer all who are interested a chance to participate in volunteer projects.

 

 

 

Newsletter no. 19

Dear friends,

           Warmest greetings from Croatia! Well, summer is finally here along with the latest edition of our newsletter.  This time we dedicate it to anyone who feels imperfect or somewhat limited by a handicap.

            To be honest,most of us, whether we admit it or not, fall into one of these two categories. This magazine includes not only our volunteer work with those affected by obvious handicaps,  but also real life accounts of those of us who, in spite of our limitations, have learned to overcome obstacles by discovering the ‘strength of weakness’ in ourselves and those around us.

            We hope you all have a wonderful summer full of joy and positive experiences, one of which might just be a visit to our community!  

 

When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and  diamonds are made under pressure.”

–Peter Marshall, (1902-1949, Clergyman)

 

WORKING WITH ANGELS

Among many institutions we help and visit, the school for children with special needs is one of our favorite. We recently interviewed their secretary.

Miriam, tell us a little bit about the school, and how you came to work here.

                I got my first job at this school in 1971. During the first three and a half years I wasn’t the secretary, I got that job later. This institution serves both as an elementary and junior high school. The students are ages between 7 and 21 years and are all mentally retarded, some more than others. Some children are heavily handicapped, and their education consists of learning the basic skills of everyday life: how to wash themselves, take the bus, etc. There are 200 students, 179 in the elementary school, and 21 in junior high. There are also 14 children on wheelchairs.

How do you like your job?

                I like it very much. I worked here from 1971 till ’79, and then left to become the secretary in a “normal” school, and remained there for the next 16 years; but my desire has always been to return. I was working at the language high school in town in 1995, when I got a job offer back here.

Were these two types of schools where you worked  completely different?

                Yes! A lot of people ask me why I returned to a school for the handicapped from a prestigious high school in the center of town. I think they don’t really know what one can find working here: to me, it seems like I’m working with angels, and not just normal students; they’re sincere, and we understand everything they feel. If you love them, they give you back ten times more in return. They’re well-behaved and respectful, here at school they feel like at home, and you can sense the positive vibrations in the atmosphere.

I was here, then I left – now I’m back, and I’m staying! This job is the best!

Is there a student that you remember for something special they did?

                In 1995 there was a little girl whose name was Susanna, and she called herself Susa. She’d come into my office, ask me how I was doing, and then go out. She’d do that many times during the day. What a cute little girl she was…

What difficulties did you have while working with handicapped children?

                There are many routine jobs we do that are not done in other schools. Some of our children don’t have the ability, at times, to perform the tasks that seem most simple to us. For some people this might seem like a burden, but for me it’s not. We take care of special children here, and we too need to become special people in order to be able to help them; we’re like one big family, and we need to help one another.

What effect do our volunteer activities have on the children?

                We’ve known you since 1996, and since then you’ve become a part of us. The effect of your shows is so positive, that we “big people” in the school cannot imagine a festive occasion without you. You’re a part of our family. The children love you a lot and accept you as part of us.

Thank you for everything you do!

 

WHAT EVERYBODY NEEDS IS LOVE!

“What everybody needs is love”, the mural we painted with young people in Mostar in 1996, started a chain reaction of other invitations. We painted one mural on the same theme  in Villaggio Violino (Brescia, Italy) in Sept. 2001, and this year in March, we were invited for three days to S. Marino-Forette (Verona, Italy) to paint a third one.

This time the week of rain and snow seemed like it was going to thwart our efforts, and yet right at the beginning of the painting, on March 12th the Lord cleared away the clouds and gave us three days of sunshine and warmth: and that made the finished product shine even brighter. We (young and older volunteers) immediately  struck up friendships with the young people who participated in the project, and discussed many deep topics during our interactions.

One busy group of people were the artists: Mark, Paco and other helpers.  Another group (Anna, Andrea and Paolo) was just as busy entertaining scores of visitors, and organizing meaningful meetings and youth counseling, which went on until the wee hours of the night on both Friday and Saturday.

Only Jesus could have united us so perfectly, and put this magical feeling in our hearts that still remains to this day.

One of the mothers of the young people who participated wrote us: “Dear friends, these days the people of Forette experienced such moments of joy, friendship and sharing with wonderful people like you! Our thankfulness is sincere, from the bottom of our hearts. It would be impossible for us to forget you… you’re just too special. With love, the community of Forette. Yours in Jesus”

Filippo, a teenager, thanked us some days later by writing us an SMS: “Thank you for bringing light into my life. May God bless you!”

 

We’re planning to do the next mural in Rijeka this summer, and who knows where else the path may lead…

 

Instruments of His Love…

There is a man in the senior citizens’ Home in Rovereto, Italy, whose smiling face no one can forget. His name is Romolo, and he’s been living at the Home for many years. At the time of his arrival he underwent an operation to remove his vocal cords, and the only way he can communicate with others now is by writing messages on paper. Wrong! Romolo communicates above all through his cheerful smile, and the universal language of love. His interest and love for children, and for the needy spurs him on to collect toys and other materials, and pass them on to us every time we see each other. Then we distribute them to needy families and children here in Croatia.

The institution in Rovereto is also the home of Luciana, but you can rarely find her at home! Most often she’s around in town with her “spider” (motorized wheelchair). She also did not allow her handicap to quench her zest for helping others, especially the victims of injustice. She’s involved in many projects, and is always ready for a cheerful and motivating conversation. A while ago an orphanage here in Croatia recieved a shipment of blankets, collected by Luciana and friends. And if you go to her room, you will find a poster hanging on the wall with her  motto: “If you want to be happy, make others happy!”

Four years ago Guido came to Croatia with a load of humanitarian aid, and organized a meeting for handicapped young people in Rijeka: and those young people still remember him. Guido too has gotten around on a wheelchair ever since an accident almost thirty years ago radically changed his life. The list of people Guido has managed to help during these years is endless, in spite of incidents and cmplications of all kinds. And, if you want a tasty Italian risoto for dinner, don’t hesitate to invite him over!

 

The advantage of a handicap!
by Maggie

Life went its regular way for my parents in the early seventies – the middle of the communist era in Bulgaria. They got married, worked, and then their older daughter was born (my sister). One October day in 1976 they happily announced that their second daughter (I) was born.

All was well until a week after that October day, when my parents discovered that I was not a “normal” child. I had a benign tumor on my face, which by the time I was two weeks old grew to immense proportions, and looked like a red sponge covering most of my face. My parents criss-crossed Bulgaria, going from doctor to doctor, trying to find someone who would operate on me to remove it. Finally one of them agreed to take the responsibility, and operate when I was a few months older.

So 4 months later I had my first operation – by no means the end of all troubles. After that I spent a large percentage of my childhood in hospitals, a few new Year’s Eve’s and other holidays included. And, my face was never going to be normal again, after all of their trying, and the 11 operations I got.

When I was not in the hospital, I stayed with my family, grandparents and cousins, who all loved me and were used to the way I looked. So my childhood was happy, in spite of the scars on my face. Yet, when I started attending kinder garden and school, and had to face other children, I found out that I was rejected: my hair was pulled, I got scratched and beat up, and had hardly any friends. I grew up closed into myself, introverted, feeling left out and different from most kids my age. Even though I was smart, and had top grades in school, and loved learning, though my parents had everything materially that I needed, I was unhappy. I did not understand why I had to be the one who was always rejected. My parents took great care of me physically, and were always there to protect me from physical harm, but couldn’t relate to my emotional needs and troubles. They didn’t teach me any spiritual values or truth, because they themselves hardly had any. So by the time I reached my teen years, I had a whole series of questions about life: “Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? The world around me is so evil: is there anything I can do to change things?” I began reading philosophical books and becoming a thinker, and then turned to heavy metal music, because I could identify so easily with those musicians obsessed by the dark side, who agreed with me that there was no reason to live, and suicide was a way out.

Then one day, when walking back from school with a few classmates, a smiling foreigner and his daughter handed out to us some colorful posters with a message about Jesus (Later on I found out that they were from The Family). I had hardly heard the name of Jesus in my life before, except from my great grandmother who died when I was 10. The foreigners I met, however, were pleasant to talk with and be around. I remember riding on the bus and thinking: “They have beautiful eyes. There is something shining in their eyes that I just can’t place, and that I’ve never seen before.” I was invited to one of their youth meetings, and that night, while climbing the stairs to the room where the event was held, I heard as if the voices of angels singing. I was thrust into a completely new dimension that I didn’t even know existed. I felt unconditional love while I was with them: I finally found somebody who loved me and accepted me the way that I was.

I argued a lot about their faith, which I couldn’t understand, yet I couldn’t argue with the total feeling of peace and love that overwhelmed me whenever I met those “missionaries” and talked with them. So I soon found myself receiving that Jesus they said was the reason for the light in their eyes – even though I didn’t know much about Him, or what He had done for me. I began studying the Bible, and all of a sudden my life had a meaning. Now I knew that life was about giving to others, and that only when making others happy we could find happiness ourselves.

But for a long while even after I’d entered the light from my world of darkness, my handicap still bothered me. I was not like others, and would always have to carry that ugly mark on my face. I still hadn’t found the answer to the question that had bothered me ever since my childhood: “Why me, Lord? Why did I have to be born with a handicap, an ugly and marked up face, and carry that cross throughout the rest of my life?” God was slowly bringing me along to discover the answer.

As I started helping others, and thinking more about them and their problems, I began to forget about myself, and my brooding became only occasional. I found out that when people would pour out their hearts to me, I would understand, and be able to weep with them, pray for them, and love them, because I knew their great personal pain and suffering. I realized that, had I been born with a normal, beautiful face, my other talents included, I would have been so proud and full of ideas for my own career and selfish life, that I would have never discovered truth and values, and what really counts in this short life we live. I would have been too proud to receive the Lord, and to dedicate my life to helping others. I would have not ceased from my selfish pursuits long enough to think: what does my life really mean? Is there anything I can do to help others? Where do I come from, where am I going? Is there more to life than my hopeless, desperate and empty existence?”

Yes, I didn’t have a pretty face to show off. Instead, I gained a soft heart that helped me understand and help others, a humbler character, knowing that whatever I was or did, was only thanks to the gifts of the Great Creator. I gained the ability to smile through my tears and show the love of Jesus through my eyes, instead of looking at myself and trying to be “pretty” and noticed by others. I realized that I had grown to desire that people would see Jesus and His love in me, instead of my own self and perfection.

And nowadays, you might be surprised at the attention and compliments I get for “my beauty”. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Well, it is for me, and I know that it isn’t my own physical appearance that people are attracted to – it’s the spirit of love and giving, of not caring about yourself and how you look, or what you have or don’t have, of just forgetting yourself, and thinking about others. I’ve found out what really matters – and on the way have gotten a little reward, knowing that after all these years I have finally entered the world of the “normal”; and even more than just being “normal”, I have a light shining in my eyes that others cannot deny.

So, have I accepted my handicap, or am I resentful? Well, my handicap is one of those attributes of my life that I am the most thankful for – it has made me into what I always wanted to be – an instrument of love in God’s hands.

 

Thank you for the Activated Magazine.  I thoroughly enjoy reading some of the articles! Much love!  (Clara- Brescia)

            You know, reading  the Gospel is something I do every day, it comes naturally. And this regularity is what surprises me the most. It’s not a routine like going to work, or eating or something. I just feel the need to do it. The same is true for the “Activated” magazine. (Among other articles, the prayer of the month in the middle of each mag is what touches my heart the most). Believe me, this magazine contains exactly what I need at the moment when I need it. I like imagining that Jesus is the one turning the pages…I’ve written the info below that I need to resubscribe. I’m advertizing this magazine everywhere – let’s see if I’ll find some other needy soul to Activate!  (Massimo –  Verona)

Dear friends,

I was admitted to the psychiatric hospital one day as a patient – one of the lightest cases. When I walked inside, I saw angry and sorrowful faces, and thought: “This place needs to change: I’m sure that I’ve been sent here for a reason.”

I walked around the rooms, and saw all kinds of cases. Some people were totally gone, and others were roaming around. I first befriended those who felt better, and started reading them stories from “Kontakt” (Croatian Activated). While I was reading, a woman in my room who was on IV drips overheard the story.

“Can you please take me out for a walk?” she asked me. I was so happy! It had an effect on her, I thought. I took her out for a walk, and then fed her, and later she started eating on her own. The instructor on the morning shift couldn’t believe it, she had tears in her eyes!

I also tried to care for the woman next to her, who was totally gone. When she first drank some tea, my joy was hard to express. The whole time the patients were listening to my stories. Some began to pray – their favorite prayer was: “Jesus, friend of kind and humble hearts, make our hearts more like yours” (a Catholic prayer). I knew that The Family were praying that Jesus’ love would light up that gloomy hospital. I’d decided to do everything I could to spread Jesus’ light. So I even wrote the doctors messages about the importance of smiling, how all people are human beings and they have potential. I kept caring for the patients, and this way I met a lady who was gripped by fear. She was screaming. I held her hand and talked to her a lot. Then she stopped screaming and her face beamed into a smile. I still remember her smiling face.

The patients started coming to me and talking to me about their problems, about their lives. I will never forget this experience. I believe that the Lord used me to bring His love to other lives. It increased my faith, and I’m sure theirs too.

Every time I come to visit The Family, I remember the little prayer: “Make my heart more like Yours.” And I know that Jesus brought their hearts closer to His.

Danijela (24, Rijeka)

REFLECTIONS

THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots. Each hung on one end of a pole, which he carried across his shoulders. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master’s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment, being perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

“I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”

«“Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”

“I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.”

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wildflowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them.

“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”

Each of us has our own unique “flaws.” We’re all cracked pots. But if we will let Him, Jesus will use our flaws to grace His Father’s table. As Jesus calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too, can bring beauty to His pathway.

 

—Author unknown

PROJECTS – PAST AND FUTURE

During the past 2 months (of April and May) we organized a series of seminars for young teenagers in elementary schools Gelsi and S. Nicolo in Rijeka. There we presented our work and challenged those who were interested to join us in volunteer projects, and help others with us in their own capacity. Over 20 young people signed up for the project of clown therapy as a result. So a few of them join our volunteers each week, and visit various needy institutions and hospitals. They’re happy to break out of the routine, discover the joy of helping others and forget their own problems in the process!

The summer camps will take place again this year. Four camps for young people who want to participate in volunteer work will be organized, and we are still open to other requests for potential visits to our community.

A team will travel to Italy to participate in the traditional “Festa della Luna” – to set up a counseling center for those lost young people, who seek some relief to their hopelessness by attending this drug festival every year at the end of July.

The summer is also a convenient time for traveling, so some of our volunteers will make full use of it by traveling to various towns where we have friends and potential part-time volunteers. There they will hold seminars – like “The 12 Foundation Stones” course (see pg. 6 of n. 18) as well as inspire and encourage people to volunteer in their local communities.

NEWS

Sean and Lara (Michael and Anna’s daughter and her husband) came from South Africa to our home for a short visit. Their visit was an inspiration to our community and guests – the video footage and photos they showed from their work in Africa motivated us to help more in needy situations, as well as appreciate all of our modern conveniences and abundance of material supplies, that are simply lacking or unheard of in poorer 3^rd world nations.

Paloma, Paco and Alexis are also on their way to Africa. In the meantime they moved on to Czech Republic, where they will complete their preparations and from there fly to join a volunteer center of “The Family” in Namibia.

 

THANK YOU!

  In each magazine we try to list our most immediate needs, but please donÆt be limited to these lists.  Many help with a monthly donation, or periodicaly send a cheque to our bank account. Others invite us to stay with them when we visit Italy. And yet others help with food, clothing or even household supplies. Some offer free services, such as fixing our vans, developing fotos, printing our newsletters, etc. Space would fail to tel of the many acts of generosity, great or small, which have occured during these last few months. Many thanks to all of you, and naturally, thanks be to God!

This month, a big thank you goes to all of you who faithfully support us materially, morally and with your prayers:

ITALY: We couldn’t possibly list all of our many donors who have given cash donations as well as materials and services faithfully each month! 

CROATIA: Bruno Grgic and HAK – Preluk, who fixed the gear box of our van free of charge, and to Konrad and Vindija for the dairy products they donated to our community. Thanks goes out to all of those who have contributed to our various projects with cash donations!

CANADA: Hats off to our friends and loved ones in Canada (including C.R.I.E.D.) who have made contributions over the past months!

A big thanks and round of applause for all of you!

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP?

One of our present projects is holding seminars on a variety of topics for young and old, both in Croatia and Italy. Until now we have been limited to  using a laptop for these meetings (see foto page 10!), which is not sufficient for a larger group.  One item that would enhance our work is a video projector, with which we could reach larger audiences.Since the price of projectors is quite high, we will need your help! Please send a donation to our bank acount, indicating specifically that it is for this item…or if you have a used one in good condition to donate, please let us know!

Many thanks,

and may God bless!

Newsletter no. 20

Dear friends,
After an exciting summer filled with projects and experiences, here we are again at our appointment with you – the 20th edition of our Newsletter. Come to think of it, this is an occasion to celebrate! We never imagined we’d get this far, but obviously the Lord isn’t finished with us yet! In the following pages, we’ll cover a subject dear to the heart of many, and one which involves a lot of our time as volunteers—young people. Society is degrading in moral values, and more than ever in recent years, the subject of young people is becoming prevalent in our conversation. Just take a look at a newspaper, or simply take a walk in the park… Sometimes the problem stems from home: in other cases, from outside influences. Yet there are wonderful young people in our community and elsewhere who bring a breath of fresh air, love, faith and enthusiasm to a diseased and tired world.

We are convinced that in the hearts of many of these youth, who on the surface seem lost or rebellious, lies a potential yet to be discovered. We have seen many miracles of transformation already take place! And it doesn’t have to end here.

“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
-Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

“There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.”
– Sister Mary Rose McGeady

A mural full of love

This is the title of the article written by Erika, a journalist employed by a local newspaper. The article covers a Mural we recently painted – August 26th and 27th, on the outside wall of a deliquent center here in Rijeka.

This is the fourth mural of the same design (See Newsletter no. 18, page 3), but the first one in Croatia. At the end of September we are painting another – in the dining room of the same center.

Throughout the years of working in Rijeka we’ve counseled, performed for, and organized activities for the young people in the “Dom za Odgoj” center, and on special occasions they even visited our home.

Dragica (Caroline), director of the institute, was enthusiastic about the idea of painting our symbol on their wall – “What Everybody Needs is Love”. And it transformed the dull surface into a bright picture with a message, ringing loud and clear to all who pass that way!

“This mural has changed our dark, gray building made of cement and iron,” said she, “into a beautifully coloured home of love! Thank you!”

Where will the next one be?

OUR PROJECTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

(An overview of recent years)

One of the goals of our association is to deter young people from drugs and other vices, and help them find real meaning and joy in life by involving them in volunteer work. Here are some of the projects (in a nutshell) that we have done for the youth in recent years:
Winter 1999 – we organized a teenagers’ club in Rijeka every Saturday afternoon for three months.
Summer 2000 – for the first time we participated in the notorious drug festival “Festa della Luna” near Bergamo, Italy, where we provided a counseling center for thousands of lost teenagers and young adults. Again in the summer of 2000 we organized our first camp – “alternative vacation”. Instead of spending their summer only in search of selfish pleasure, willing young people got a chance to participate in humanitarian projects and experience the joy of helping others.
Spring 2001 – we taught “English with meaning” to the children and teenagers in the schools of Vojnic and Krnjak. We also performed anti-drug programs in two high schools in Ogulin.
Summer 2001 – we participated in “Festa della Luna”, and organized 2 camps for young people.
Autumn 2001 – We organized the painting of a mural “What everybody needs is love” with young people from Brescia, Italy. We also taught a course of “English with meaning” for the teenagers from the orphanage in Lovran.
Spring 2002 – we organized a seminar for younger teenagers in the schools “Gelsi” and “Belvedere” – Rijeka, covering the topics of drugs, alcohol, war, music and others.

Summer 2002 – we participated in “Festa della Luna”, and organized 2 youth camps.
Spring 2003 – we performed anti-drug programs in Dacki dom and Gimnazija – Zadar, and orphanage – Pula. We also taught “English with meaning” in the school of Krnjak.
Summer 2003 – we participated in “Festa della Luna” and organized 4 youth camps.
Spring 2004 – we held seminars with teenagers in schools “Gelsi” and “Sv. Nikola” in Rijeka, and began involving young people in the project of clown therapy during the school year. We also painted a mural in Forette – Verona (Italy) with young people from the local community.
Summer 2004 – we participated in “Festa della Luna”, and organized 5 youth camps. We also painted our first mural in Croatia – in Rijeka, str. Candeka, Dom za Odgoj (center for delinquent teenagers) – see pg.2.
And there are many more youth projects in the works – we’ll keep you posted! (see below!)

“WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT”

On the subject of young people, and how involving them in voluntary work can help them discover new values in life, here’s a short interview with a friend who brought a group of Scouts to our house this summer. Together we had many unforgettable experiences. (see below for theirs and others’ reactions.)

Mauro, tell us a little about yourself.
I’m 26. I work as a male nurse in the Surgery and Intensive Pediatric Therapy ward on the the 4th floor of the Brescia Hospital. Working with children can seem fun, but when they are sick, they become more complex and vulnerable. At the same time they are full of life and don’t give up in spite of sickness, maybe because they often don’t even realize they’re sick.

As for the Scouts, I live, or at least try to, according to their principles. It’s because of this that I originally started coming to Croatia and Bosnia.

How did it come about – your first visit to this part of the world?
The first time was when I brought a group of scouts to a refugee camp in Postojna (Slovenia) in 1996. It was a wonderful experience which led me to keep in contact with these people. I learned their language and traditions, tasted their cuisine, shared their joy and cried with them during their war.
From there I started a long journey—from Vukovar to Sarajevo, Zagreb and finally Rijeka, where I met a group of wonderful people—“Per un mondo migliore.”
Did these experiences influence your life?
I’d say they turned it upside down! I discovered the light of every soul, from the child I’d meet to the old man I’d lift up. I experienced love, and tried to capture every moment to become a better person. From the first time I took a little Bosnian child in my arms I felt real, and now every time I see a little smile, I open my heart and close my eyes, to savor once more that feeling of being alive. That’s how I face each day, growing in love day by day, and when I finally meet the Lord face to face, He will take me in His arms and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Do you have a message to share with the youth?
Take that “little Bosnian child” in your arms, whether it be your mother, brother, neighbour, your best friend or your worst enemy—it doesn’t matter! Take them into your arms and feel alive. So the Lord will once again be able to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

 

“These were wonderful days. At the beginning of the first day I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, but then I really enjoyed myself. The children wore me out – I was the center of their attention. Today I only drank two coffees, while other days I usually drink 5 or 6! (Note: typical of refugee hospitality) I finally learned the croation song we always sing. I taught the kids in the refugee camp how to play the flute and even blades of grass. I want to thank you all and I pray the Lord will bless you. Thanks a million for what you are doing. Your scout.”
(Luca, Gardone Val Trompia- BS)

“Thank you for these days I spent together with you. Thanks to your testimony and my experience with you. Even though it was short, I understood what love is—the Love of Jesus, that you can truly live, above all in simplicity. Even if I still have a long way to go, I think that I have rediscovered the enthusiasm of my childhood, like the song says that we sang together ‘You gotta be a baby’! Thank you!”
(Cristina, Milano)

“Heartfelt thanks for everything you’ve done, for being the Lord’s instruments, and for having given me His love in everything… Here you live and breathe Jesus—I will spread this to everyone for sure! I am finally beginning to experience the real Love of Jesus. You have been His brush designing my life and I’m sure you will continue to be. I love you! I pray for you always—pray for me.”
(Irene, Milano)

“It was a wonderful experience. I hope, no I want to repeat it! Thank you Jesus that I met these wonderful people who gave their all to us. Thank you all. See you soon. Thank you for all that I don’t have time to thank you for at the moment.”
(Alessia, Pezzaze-BS)

 

Hello friends, thanks for your e-mail with the beautiful photos of your latest mural there in Rijeka. You have become great artists. I always wait for your news, and I wish you lots of happiness and joy. A big hug for everyone. God bless you!
— Luciano, Brescia, Italy

I really hope that your efforts will bear fruit. I’m cheering for you, or to put it in your own words: I’m praying for you that you will be able to direct all your positive energy in that direction. You know, I have to admit that while proofreading Activated mags I absorb much of their contents, sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously. Because of that I understand the religion much better and I can easier cope with everyday life. Actually I think I have become religious.
-S. (professor, who is proofreading the Croatian translation of “Activated”)

Your wonderful letter made my day and enriched my life. In the beginning I read it every day until its essence was engraved deeply on my heart. It awoke in me the feeling of importance, unselfish love, faith in myself and people around me, and most important, the richness of the cross and overcoming obstacles through the Word of God.
Thank you especially for the booklet How to Overcome Obstacles. It reminded me of the most important thing–that I’m a Christian, that Jesus loves me and wants me to bear my life’s crosses with dignity, regardless of the winds and storms of life. I feel so secure in Jesus’ love that lately all I feel is a song, happiness, and endless love.
Just before that booklet I read some psychological book entitled How to Say No When You Think You Should Say Yes. You can’t imagine how complicated that book is. There are so many rules about what to do in each situation and it gives an impression that someone gathered all the wisdom of the world and put it on those 250 pages. I felt so confined by those rules that led to some kind of higher level.
But when I read your booklet I was surprised by the simplicity and clarity of sentences and its picturesqueness through which is shown the greatest rule of all–love.
I’m very thankful to Jesus for each letter I get from you because it’s priceless spiritual food for me. To me you are my real family, because with you I feel happy.
Still I’m in a whirlpool of problems, but they are not that important to me any more. I accept them with joy and a song as I keep going on forward, ever forward.
–D., teacher in Croatia

REFLECTIONS

A Bike Ride

When I met Jesus, life became rather like a bike ride. It was a tandem bike; I rode in the front and steered, and Jesus was in the rear seat, helping to pedal.
I don’t remember just when it happened, but Jesus suggested we change places. Life hasn’t been the same since. Jesus makes the ride so exciting!
When I had control, I knew the way. It was safe and predictable, but rather boring–always the shortest distance between two points. But when Jesus got in the captain’s seat, He knew delightful “long cuts,” up mountain roads and down again at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hold on!
I didn’t want to question His judgment, but once I couldn’t help myself. “Don’t You think we should slow down just a little? I’m scared.” He turned and smiled and touched my hand and said, “It’s okay. Pedal.”
Sometimes I got worried and anxious and asked, “Where are You taking me?”
“It’s a surprise,” He would say with a laugh.
Gradually I learned to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered the adventure.
He took me to meet people with gifts that I needed–gifts of love, healing, acceptance, joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey–our journey, my Lord’s and mine–and we were off again. He said, “Give the gifts away.” So I did, to other people we met. But the strangest thing happened. I found that the more of those things I gave away, the more I had for myself and to give to people we met along the way. And still our load was light.
At first I didn’t trust Jesus to be in control of my life. I thought He would wreck it. But He knows the bike’s capabilities and limits, and all sorts of tricks. He knows how to take sharp corners at high speeds, make the bike “jump” to clear rocks in our way, and He can even make it fly when the road disappears beneath us.
I am learning to not worry or want to get back in control, but just to relax and enjoy the view, the cool breeze on my face, and the delightful company of my constant companion, Jesus.
I still get tired sometimes because it is a long, hard ride, but Jesus just smiles and says, “Pedal.”
–Author unknown

FUTURE PROJECTS

In mid-September we are resuming the project of clown therapy, and are planning to visit one needy institution every week. This project is designed primarily as a means to involve young people in volunteer work.
In the beginning of October we will organize drama, music and art workshops in the psychiatric hospital in Kampor, Rab. The workshops will last 4 or 5 days, and will take place in cooperation with udruga “Koraci” from Rijeka.

At the end of September we will also paint a mural – another reminder of our message of peace, on the inside of “Dom za odgoj”.
The “Weekend away from daily routine” has been postponed till the end of October, and it will take place on 23rd and 24th (Saturday and Sunday) of that month. We extend our invitation to all who feel a need to step aside from the daily muddle of problems, and take a couple of days to get refreshed on the mountain.
The beginning of November will be the beginning of our preparations for the Christmas season – we’ll be putting together and practicing a new program for Christmas, to help us take Jesus’ love to the needy during the whole month of December.

 

NEWSFLASHES

Paloma, Paco and Alexis have booked their tickets to Africa, and will fly to the South African republic on November 18th. From there they will make arrangements to travel to their final destination – Namibia.
Two new volunteers joined our ranks this summer – maybe you already met them! One is Joy (27) from Romania, and the other one is Angelo (22) from Italy.

 

Thank you!

For those of you who are reading this magazine for the first time: we are a non-profit organization dedicated to helping our fellow man. We are full-time volunteers, and we depend on your help to keep our work going! In each magazine we list our most immediate needs, but please don’t be limited to those. Many help with a monthly donation, or periodicaly send a cheque to our bank account. Others invite us to stay with them on our various trips. And yet others help with food, clothing or even household supplies. Some offer free services, such as fixing our vehicles, developing photos, printing our newsletters, etc. Space would fail to tell of the many acts of generosity, great or small, which have occured during these last few months, and which hold our work together.
A special thanks goes to our dear friends in Italy (who wish to remain anonymous!) who, in answer to the request in our last newsletter generously donated a new video projector to our work! It has been a real help during the summer months at our various camps, and we’re sure it will be during the school year as well, for the projects and seminars we’ll organize! Thank you with all our hearts!
Thanks also to the Buniotto brothers, who for years have printed our newsletter free of charge, and recently donated a lawnmower.

A thanks goes out to all of you in Croatia who have helped over the past few months.
And of course, we can’t forget those of you who have supported us faithfully fromDenmark and Canada! Thanks! We couldn’t make it without you!
To all our dear friends who have contributed towards our full-time activities and projects in big or smaller ways: a big THANK YOU!

 

Some of our present needs are:
A food processor
Photocopy paper
Paper for printing

 Merry Christmas 2004

Love came down at Christmas. Christmas is love. The purest form of love is the giving of one`s self for another.

That`s what happened that first Christmas night, and what we should try to recreate every Christmas

Dear friends,

Our heartfelt Christmas Greetings! For those of you who have already known us for some time, you will also know that at this time of year we are involved more than ever bringing love and help to many needy people and situations, through shows, animation, personal visitation and distribution of needed items.
This year we have formed a second, though somewhat smaller theatre group, as it was becoming more and more difficult to respond to the many invitations we receive from schools, institutions and seniors’ homes. In the next newsletter, we’ll let you know how things went! During the month of December, we will bring our Christmas shows to over 60 different places, mostly in Croatia, but also in Italy. With the Lord’s help, we will try to bring the real sense of Christmas to a, shall we say, a rather ‘commercialistic’ society?
A special thanks to those who have helped our preparations for this year’s season, by donating microphones, sponsoring trips and distribution, not to mention the help of our ‘seamstress’ who prepared costumes, now that Paloma has moved on to Namibia. We wouldn’t be able to do the shows without your help! We wanted to also wish you a Happy 2005, and we pray that the new year will bring many of the Lord’s blessings in your lives!

 

 

Who will take the son?

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood there with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but 1 am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art. The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t much. I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.”
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, 1 could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.”
The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?”
Another voice shouted angrily. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandt’s. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?” Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the long-time gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” “$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted. “Now let’s get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!”
God gave his son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The son, the son, who’ll take the son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

Anonymous

Wonderful

There was a time, long, long ago,
When the world was cry in’ forlove.
God looked down that day,
He knew there was only one way;
And though it was His only one,
He gave to us His Son.
Woh oh, woh oh, Wonderful!
Little children, come and sing,
Wonderful, Wonderful!
In Bethlehem is born the King,
Wonderful!
To day in every part of Earth,
Wonderful, Wonderful,
Men remember Jesus’ birth, Wonderful!
In my heart eternally, Jesus, live in me,
And I’ll tell the world You are
Wonderful, Wonderful!
Woh oh, woh oh, Wonderful!
Join your voice in angel song,
Wonderful, Wonderful!
With the whole world sing along,
Wonderful!
In my heart eternally, Jesus, live in me,
And I’ll tell the world You are Wonderful!
Shepherds heard the angels sing
Praises to the newborn King.
Wise men came from far that night,
Guided by a star so bright.
In my heart eternally, Jesus, live in me,
And I’ll tell the world You are Wonderful!
Woh oh, woh oh, Wonderful!