January-February 2001:

We began the year with one more Christmas show — in the Autistic Center here in Rijeka, as it just wasn’t possible in the month of December.  For this month, we’d like to include Moselle’s story, plus Croatian Živana’s impression on her first visit to refugees.  We’re also including “Go Slow”, a Kidz Page and  News from Nigeria.  And don’t forget to read the “Mail Corner”, as you might see your own letter there!  Please keep writing us, as we really appreciate hearing from you!

Happy reading!

Soon after I met some volunteers from “Per un mondo migliore” in Rijeka, I found out about their trips to Vojnić. I started dreaming of going there with them one day, and seeing what life is like for people who’d been scalded by the reality of war.

Had anyone told me 10 years ago that one day, when I’d be far away from home, a family of Bosnian Croats-refugees would host and feed me, I would have thought he’d lost his mind, or had an ill sense of humor. We were all sitting around the table in Dana’s house, and I was thinking back on the lively happy faces of the children from the school in Krnjak (also refugees), for whom we had just performed our show – and then, in a split second, a realization came to me.

I suddenly perceived what really counts in life, and repented of all the years I’d spent reveling in my own bitterness and self-pity. These children, and Dana, our kind hostess, had had every reason in the world to become bitter, and to judge the people who had done them wrong; but in spite of all they chose to forgive, cheer up and show loving kindness to all, no matter who or where they came from. Then I thought, God must have heard my prayers; He must have sent me to Vojnić with a purpose – not only that I should learn more about, and help my neighbor, but also that through these people’s example He could show me how to overcome the remorse and conflicts from my past.

(P.S. We met Živana almost one year ago, and since then we have witnessed a real transformation of her character. She said she’d finally discovered a cure to her own problems, and became an integral part of our volunteer activities in Croatia. And we’re very thankful for her help!)

Hi, my name is Moselle. I’m sixteen and I’m from Ravenna, Italy. I joined this wonderful team more than six months ago and I’ll never regret it. Since I came here my life had a total change.

Before, like any normal teenager, I would fill my days with going to school, or going out with my friends and/or my boyfriend. I also loved reading and music. Outwardly, I was a pretty happy girl, but inside, I was not. I felt unhappy, empty, useless, just one out of a million. My days were monotonous… nothing new or fulfilling to do. Of course, I would try to break the boredom of my days by trying new things, from drinking to smoking to light drugs. I was trying my best to step out of the normal, but was just blindly following what others did, thinking it was something different. I also tried defying all authority (such as my parents and my school teachers) but never had much success. I wasn’t looking for a change though, I didn’t know there was something else besides this.

Then a friend of mine (Francesco) drew my attention to this group of volunteers who were working in Croatia and who really seemed happy. I knew him before he went to live in Croatia and I knew that a change had come over him. When he invited me for a visit I gladly accepted – I wanted to try something new. As you may have guessed, I never went back. The happiness and sense of fulfillment that it brought into my life couldn’t be replaced anywhere else. It gave me a goal and I’ll fight to achieve it.

God bless you all, who help this work continue. Thank you.

Love, Moselle.

Go Slow–You’ll Get There Quicker

When you get under too much pressure and too much tension, too heavy a burden and too hard a yoke, it’s not God’s fault. It’s somebody else’s fault, or your own!

Maybe that’s why God created mules and donkeys—as a good lesson. They are plodders; they are very slow, but they have more endurance and can carry heavier loads than horses. They are the “work-horses” of the backwoods. They can negotiate trails that horses would kill themselves on, carrying loads for miles that a horse couldn’t, especially not a race-horse. Racehorses can spurt for a few rounds around the track, and that’s it! They’re extremely high-strung, nervous, and are just not workhorses. They’re not plodders, they’re not load carriers. But pack mules and donkeys are—and they’re as stubborn as they come! You cannot rush them. You have to do it slowly, in their time. They just plod along, but they do it and they get there. It’s like the old story of the tortoise and the hare: The tortoise was slow but he got there!

You can have the emotion and you can have the speed; I’ll take the low road and the slow road. You can take the high road and get there first if you want to—if you get there at all—but I’m going to take the low road and the slow road, and I’m determined to get there in one piece, no matter how long it takes.

I can’t count the times I’ve told taxi drivers, “Go slow and you live longer. Live fast and you’ll die quicker.” That certainly is true!

Doctors and health experts have said that pressure and tension is killIng people, and that many of today’s illnesses are either from pressure and tension, or improper diet. Pressure and speed are killing people through heart trouble, nervous trouble, and high blood pressure.

Lord help us to go slow! We shouldn’t waste time, but we need to trust the Lord instead of being rushed and impatient. Patience indicates slowness, plodding along, doing our work persistently and not wasting time, but also not getting fretful and worried and all worked up about it. Impatience is marked by speed, hurry, rush, haste, push, pressure, tension! Patience shows faith. Impatience shows lack of faith. Impatience shows that we don’t think the job is going to get done unless we hurry and push it and rush it.

But if we’ve got faith that Jesus is going to take care of it somehow, we can afford to be patient and go slow and do it right.

“Your visit and friendship will remain in our hearts for a long time. Thank you for the love you poured into all of us staff, and all the patients. We wish you all the best for 2001!” (Dragica, social assist- ant for the psychiatric hospital of Rab – Croatia)

“Thank you for your newsletter. It inspired us to make one for our parish, and tell of what we have done in the beginning of the year.” (Catholic Youth Group in Edolo, Italy)

“I was very happy to see you again. I have to admit that you were like a warm ray of sunshine that warmed my heart, taking it to the source of Love! Prayer is your strength. I always think of you with affection. (Laura – Verona, Italy)

“May God bless and help you with the great missionary work that you have been doing for years. A warm embrace to all.” (Guido – Handicap Sports Association GALM, Verona, Italy)

“It fills my heart with joy to know that you performed over 27 shows in schools for families and institutions. You will see that the pure air you carried in the show will bring fruit and fill with joy the hearts of all those who were present. The Lord bless and guide you always.” (Vito and Roberta, Castagnaro, Verona)

“I really enjoyed your show, as it helped me to understand the true meaning of Christmas. I decided to change and start giving to others, expecting nothing in return. I feel very peaceful inside, and I’m trying to help without fear of what others might think. I really love you. (Clara, Edolo Italy)

“It was nice to hear from you and get your newsletter. You are very busy helping, encouraging and lifting the spirits of the people in Croatia and Bosnia.” (Marie . Canada)

Kidz Page –by Mark

A heart-felt “thank you” to all of you who’ve helped make it possible for this work to continue!

Here is a specific request, for those of you whom it may concern:

The school in Vojnic has implemented English teaching into their curriculum, and asked us to find a sponsor for a set of the “Treasure Attic” educational video series for their program. Please contact us for details, if you’re willing to be that sponsor!

May God bless and keep you… till we meet again,

Your friends from “Per un mondo migliore”

 

Dear friends,

     Happy Easter from all of us in “Per un mondo migliore”! Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing at the moment, we want you to know that you are in our hearts and in our prayers.

     Even though not as widely celebrated as Christmas, Easter is an important holiday for us (see reflections on the back). A lot of people here in Croatia have seen the brutal reality of war and hatred, have lost loved ones and homes, and expect little good from life in the future. There is a great need for the message of Easter – a message of peace and hope: and with our upcoming visits to needy families, and performances in schools, orphanages and youth clubs, we pray we’ll be able to shine a ray of hope and en- couragement to those who have none. We thank you all, with all our hearts, for your support that makes our mission possible!

                     Michael, Anna and family, Paolo, Renata, Maggie,          

Virginia, Andrea,  Francesco and Fleur.

 

Jesus Christ has exploded from the tomb into my heart.

–Donna Hosford-

            I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as that one solitary life!

-James Alla Francis-

May June 2001

Dear friends,

This issue, number six of our Newsletter, is coming to you with a slight delay – not because of a lack of news, but only because of the high intensity of our recent activities. Yes, finally this week we found time to sit down and write some news of what’s happened during these latest months. It would take a miracle to be able to put it all down on these few pages, but we promise to try our best to outline the most significant happenings. The rest we’ll leave up to you to imagine, or better yet – to come and visit us and partake of some of these unforgettable experiences. If that is at all possible for you, you will always reflect on these experiences in the future, and the contentment will remain in your heart, because, like one of our songs says, “If you give love, then you will receive love…” We look forward to your news, phone calls and visits!

… from the island of Krk, whom we’d never met before, phoned us, and asked if we could help him help the young people in Ogulin. Priest from Krk – young people in Ogulin? And what kind of help did he think we could offer?

We asked ourselves these questions until we met him on Krk the next week, and talked with him in detail about it. It turned out that one of our friends from Krk, 50-year-old Rosa, who is an active church member, told him about our programs and shows for children and young people. And since he had lived and worked in Ogulin for 18 years just before moving to Krk two years ago, his heart ached for the young people there who seemed lost, and without a purpose in life, traumatized by the war, and many seeking fun in life only through the use of drugs and alcohol.

We had pondered a long time on developing an anti-drug program for young people, so after practising for some time, on May 11 we went to Ogulin and performed our first anti-drug programs in two of the high schools in the town.

None of the schools had a hall big enough to hold all the students, so the kids were knocking on the principals’ doors asking if they too could come and attend the program. Some of them stood up listening right outside the hall (where the chosen few – about 300 in one school, and 150 in the other – were sitting and engulfing every word of the songs and every scene of the drama). Some of the students told us after the program: “You know, many people come and talk to us, and give lectures against drugs and vices, but no one else did something like this before. You’re really different – you came and sang, and acted, and talked, and were like one of us.” (See also Mail box on page 7: “by e-mail from Saša in Ogulin”)

Students, teachers and priests strictly ordered us to come back as soon as possible, and said they would try to rent the city hall for all 1200 young people in town to be able to attend next time.

So we’re going back to Ogulin in September, when the school year starts again, and we’ll also try to organize youth counseling meetings, and personal counseling for many of the young people with whom we became friends. It’s only the beginning!

80-year-old Gina finally found a family .

“I still remember when I first met you on the beach. You asked me if I believed in God, and prayed a nice little prayer with me. Since then I have told many people about our encounter.”

Gina lives all alone on the fifth floor of an old apartment building in Rijeka. She suffers from heart trouble, and a slew of other diseases that old age brings with it, but her greatest suffering stems from a lonely existence.

Her life did not lack in spice and adventure, as that of any person her age – she lived through a few wars, economic depressions and countless personal problems. She married before World War 2, and during the war fell captive to the Russian army. Gina spent one year in a concentration camp together with her daughter, survived and came out with a handicap – on crutches for the rest of her life. Her daughter, however, weakened and died from the severe conditions of war and captivity. Her other two sons lived – but since Gina had reached her ripe years, they had hardly ever come to visit her.

So when Anna (volunteer from “Per un mondo…”) and Gina met on the beach that day, they struck up a conversation, and soon afterwards developed a friendship. A few other volunteers from our group also went to visit Gina at her apartment, and for a first in a year’s time she came out of the apartment to spend Easter with us in our house. Gina enjoyed our visits and soon accepted us as her loved ones and family, and warmed our hearts with her sincere greetings:

“Hello, son!”, “How are you today, daughter?”

After months of preparations, and the involvement and help of many hands, in May this year we managed to bring to Rovereto two busloads of… friendship! (in the shape of 12 ladies, some younger, some not so young any more, yet young enough at heart to take an intense and adventurous three-day trip out of their home country). The twelve ladies were from center “Koraci”, in Rijeka, for Croatian refugees from Bosnia, with whom we’ve been in cooperation since 1996.

For those who haven’t yet heard the story: An act of friendship and solidarity began in 1996 between a group of senior citizens in the home in Rovereto, and the refugee women in “Koraci” center, Rijeka. Without ever having met one another, the women from “Koraci” and the group from Rovereto regularly exchanged letters, cards and little gifts made by hand. Out of these little deeds of kindness was born a friendship that reached ever more people and situations, and that lead to the organizing of the memorable Meeting of Solidarity in Rovereto on May 24 this year.

At the end of February we performed a series of shows in Italy, two of them in the Senior Citizens’ Home of Verolanuova (Brescia). Five years ago Paolo, one of our volunteers, served his civil duty of twelve months in this Home. Even though in the meantime many of the old people had gone to be in Heaven, and part of the staff had changed, when the rest of them saw Paolo again, they jumped up for joy (as much as that was possible) – remembering all of the little deeds of love and kindness he’d done while he was there. An old lady told me that every time she felt sad and lonely, she would invite Paolo to her room, and he’d pray with her and keep her company. Another old man still kept the notes and the poster that “this most loving and happy of all young man” had generously given to all. We were astonished to look up at the walls and see some of the posters still hanging on the walls, that Paolo had put on there five years ago. (see above photo)

People from surrounding villages came to see the shows, only because they remembered Paolo’s example of true Christian living. We still correspond with some of these relatives of the seniors in the Home.

What happened in Verolanuova that day imprinted this truth on my soul: how lasting an effect our living Jesus’ law of love can have, if we live it wherever He takes us, and how great an impact and difference we can make when we give to others with all our hearts!

We also recently performed in Paolo’s home town of Edolo (near Brescia), Italy. Two groups of scouts donated to us the proceedings of a fundraiser they held, where they sold various handicraft items they themselves had made. The climax of the show was the presentation of their two gifts. They also happily received some of our musical tapes for children. (photo below)

I write to you for the first time! I am from Ogulin and I was watching you when you were in my place. Maybe you remember me, Saša! First of all, I want to thank you because you helped me to convince my friend to not take drugs. I think that your program is very successful and well planned.

Some of my friends take drugs, especially heroin, LSD and some light drugs. What shall I do? I tried to talk with them, but they don’t want to listen to me!

What can you suggest to me? Please, I want an answer from you! Best wishes. Ps: You must come to Ogulin, quickly, that’s an order!

(from Saša, Ogulin, via e-mail)

Hey, I hope yall are doing great! It was great to hear from yall. THANKS! Yall are the best and it truly was a blessing to have met yall and spend time with yall, you are what I think of when I think about Croatia, meeting yall made the whole six months worth it. I know that God is blessing yall and will continue to grow in yalls lives. I don’t have much time to write now seeing as now we are out to sea. Thanks for the prayers, and thanks for taking care of me. Thanks for opening up to us in so many ways.                                                                       

 Love in Christ, Andy (e-mail from USNavy)

Krnjak and Vojnic are in the area of Karlovac, and are inhabited by Croatian refugees from the north of Bosnia. We visited the school in Krnjak in December ‘2000, and performed a Christmas program for the children and teens there. In the town of Vojnic we have performed numerous times for young and old, have visited families in need of help, and taught a course of English lessons for children ages 6-18.

In the beginning of this year we came up with the idea of visiting the grade schools in these two towns regularly, and providing them with a chance to practice conversation in English within their regualar English program. Both of the school directors gladly agreed to our proposal, and in March we began teaching – we visited the schools in Vojnic and Krnjak for two days out of every two weeks, till the end of the school year, and gave English lessons to all children from 1st to 8th grade. Our classes were not normal grammar and vocabulary exercises – but rather teaching English through lively conversations, drama, songs and stories. We found that during these lessons the children easily came out of themselves, and enjoyed learning, at the same time not only practicing the language, but getting good morals ingrained in their minds for life, through the stories and songs we taught and acted out together.

The school in Krnjak is not big enough to hold all children ages 6-15, so there is another branch in a nearby village, Tusilovic, where the students from grades 1-4 go to attend their classes. The first time we went Tusilovic, the children were overjoyed to have us come and teach them in this fun way, so much so that when the director of the school visited later the same day, they chased after her in a group to ask if and when we were going to come back.

The students from 5th grade in the school of Vojnic were proclaimed by all teachers to be “the most rowdy and unmanageable class of all”. After our first lesson with them, we returned two weeks later, and as we entered the classroom saw a big “Welcome” sign written on the blackboard. Towards the end of the class the same children, from the 5th grade, who usually can’t wait for the bell to ring so they can rush out the door as soon as class is over, were sitting down looking at their watches and regretting that there were only 3 minutes left of their English class.

These refugee children have seen death, violence and war, and are often traumatized from a heart-wrenching family situation. We plan to return to Vojnic and Krnjak in the beginning of the next school year, and continue teaching there regularly – it’s proven to be a worthy and rewarding job, if only a little bit of love could bring out such a positive response, and help the children grow and learn to their full potential.

A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer, & soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted, & was around to welcome me into the World a few months later.

As I grew up I never questioned his place in our family. In my young mind, each member had a special niche. My brother, Bill, five years my senior, was my example. Fran, my younger sister, gave me an opportunity to play “big brother” & to develop the art of teasing. My parents were complementary instructors–Mom taught me to love the Word of God & Dad taught me to obey it.

But the stranger was our story-teller. He could weave the most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries & comedies were daily conversations. He would hold our whole family spellbound for hours each evening.

If I wanted to know about politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He knew about the past, understood the present, & seemingly could predict the future. The pictures he could draw were so lifelike that I would often laugh or cry as I watched.

He was like a friend to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill, & me to our first major league baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see movies & he even made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars. My brother & I were deeply impressed by John Wayne in particular.

The stranger was an incessant talker. Dad didn’t seem to mind, but sometimes Mom would quietly get up while the rest of us were enthralled with one of his stories of faraway places, go to her room, read her Bible, & pray. I wonder now if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave.

You see, my Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions. But somehow this stranger never felt obligated to honour them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our house–not from us, from our friends, or from adults. Our long-term visitor, however, used occasional four-letter words that burned my ears & made Dad squirm. To my knowledge the stranger was never confronted.

My Dad was also a teetotaler who didn’t permit alcohol in his home–not even for cooking. But the stranger felt like we needed exposure & enlightened us to other ways of life. He offered us beer & other alcoholic beverages often.

He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, & pipes distinguished. He talked freely (probably much too freely), about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive & generally embarrassing. I know now that my early concepts of the man-woman relationship were influenced by the stranger.

As I look back, I believe it was the grace of God that the stranger did not influence more. Time after time he opposed the values of my parents. Yet he was seldom rebuked & was never asked to leave.

More than thirty years have passed since the stranger first moved in with the young family on Morningside Drive. He is not nearly so intriguing to my Dad as he was in those early years. But if you were to walk into my parent’s den today, you would still see him sitting over in a corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk & watch him draw his pictures.

His name? We’ve always just called him TV.                                   –Keith Currie

Some of the summer activities:

– A series of camps for young people, who want to visit and experience living as a volunteer and helping others

– At the end of July – the young people’s drug festival, in the mountains of Bergamo, “Festa della Luna”, where we will go for a third consecutive year to provide a place of counseling, and bring love and answers to the search for truth of many lost youth

– Continuing visits to refugee families in Karlovac, Vojnic and Krnjak

If you can help…

You can sponsor a set of “Treasure attic” videos for the school in Vojnic,

Donate a sewing machine for our center’s needs,

Or help with whatever financial or material assistance you can offer towards any of our projects.

May God bless and keep you!

July August 2001!

Dear Friends,

     The summer is finally over, and it seems like time has just flown by! Winter is at the door, with new projects, new challenges. Yet we don’t want to forget all that was accomplished, with yours and the Lord’s help, during the summer months.

     At this time of anguish and turbulence for mankind, it would be easy to fall into a pit of negativity and desperation, but the light of a little candle can still shine and light up the darkness.

     After the tragic events of September, we found ourselves having to sow seeds of hope, love and comfort like never before, not only to the disabled and misfortunate in society, but to every so-called “normal” person we encountered.

     We realized once more the value of our “profession” – that of a volunteer, or a missionary, or simply a man or woman of good will – someone that each human being, if they wish, can become. Or, in the words of a little poem, that one of our visitors wrote in our “Book for visitors’ comments”:

“Missionary, a man of love who lives and dies for others,

Missionary, a woman with a heart as tender as a child’s.

Smiling, rolling up their sleeves, they live the simple words they speak.

Now I know how blessed are the meek!”

     Editor’s note: as explained in NL #10, Gina is 80, she’s handicapped, and has suffered a lot in her life, including losing her daughter in a concentration camp during WW2. She’s lived alone for many years in an old apartment in Rijeka, and her children were never in condition to come and visit her.Mira is a friend of ours – she’s from Bosnia, but has lived in Rijeka for many years, with her two children, Vasko (12), and Sanja (17). Mira, Sanja and Vasko recently became Gina’s new family – they moved in to live together with 80-year-old nonna Gina. Now let’s hear the story in their own words:

Mondo migliore: How did you decide to make this move?

Sanja, 17, Mira’s daughter: Well, first mom read the story about nonna Gina in your mag, and then she told us she felt like she really needed to do something for nonna. Nonna Gina had had such a tough life, and was all alone, and we just had to do something to help her. Our idea was, maybe we could go from time to time to visit her, so she wouldn’t feel alone, and then we could also help her clean the house, or cook, or do those things which are difficult for her to do. So mom called Paolo from the Family a few days later, and together we all went to visit her in her apartment. We had a really good time talking together. In a few days mom went another time, and the day after that nonna called us, and invited us to come and live with her, if we wanted.(At this point Mira phoned us, and asked if we could help with the move – what a wonderful news we got that day!)

Nonna Gina: You know, Mira, Sanja and Vasko came to me one day, together with you, and I heard the next day Vasko told his mom: “Well, mom, if you can’t come with us sometime, Sanja and I will still go and see nonna Gina by ourselves.”I thank God for helping me to meet you, because with your help I found Mira and her family. I remember the day we prayed together that God would send me someone who could help me – and He did! It’s really a miracle!

Mondo migliore: And how do you feel now at your new home?

Sanja: We feel much more complete, like a family. We’re never alone any more, we have a sweet grandma, who’s always there for us when we come home.

Nonna Gina: It’s very hard these days to find someone who wants to help older people. But it’s a real miracle, and a gift of God that He brought this good woman to me. She’s more than a daughter to me, and she helps me in everything.

     Gina also loves Sanja and Vasko dearly, and is more than happy to be a grandmother to them. Mira, on the other hand, takes pleasure and satisfaction in being able to care for Gina, and her unselfishness is in no doubt rewarded, by the love she receives from her bigger family.

     Around 80 people came to visit our center this summer – some only stayed a day or two, others up to a week or two – among those who came some were young, others – a little older, and yet others brought their whole families! The majority of our visitors were from Italy, and a small percentage came from other lands, but all had one desire in common –to try out a new experience, dedicating part of their vacation to helping their neighbor in need. Some even confessed that they hadn’t come with the purest and noblest intentions in the first place, but had later realized that true happiness is only found while helping others! All, including ourselves, enjoyed an unforgettable summer season. We can’t afford, for lack of space, to describe each visit on these pages – but we hope that the following photos and excerpts from our “Visitor’s log and impressions” book will give you a glimpse of these summer activities. Even if you don’t find yourselves on the pictures, know that you’re always in our hearts and prayers, and that this summer experience was only a beginning…

     We live in a very difficult time in history, and the events happening that are happening in the world often cause us trouble and worry.     

That’s why when trouble happens, the only truly safe place to be is in the Lord. His Word tells us in Psalm 91: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: in Him will I trust. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shall thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shall not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand but it shall not come nigh thee.”

     So the most important thing is to live close to the Lord and in His Will and obey His Word. Then even if there is a war and turmoil and confusion and chaos on the outside, you can have peace on the inside in your own heart with the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. He is faithful and never fails to keep those who trust Him.

     You will find that His Word is always such a comfort and encouragement in the hour of greatest trial, even when everything seems to be going wrong, and you’re in danger. For it is His Word by His Spirit in His Love that makes you strong.

September-October 2001!

     Needless to say, Andrea, Gabriele and Don Flavio were happy and inspired about helping others by the end of their stay: but, how to bring a touch of that same motivation to the rest of their friends in Brescia?

     Driven by his desire to lead and inspire the young people under his care, Don Flavio found a way. In the beginning of September he organized the painting of a mural (by the model of the one in Mostar) on the wall of an old church in Brescia, where he invited our group of young people to lead the way in painting, and in bringing inspiration and a vision to help others to the young who hadn’t yet experienced it first hand. During the three days when Anna, Paolo (26), Francesco(18), Mark (15), Andrea (21) and Jonathan (17), were in Brescia, they not only helped pattern and paint the mural, but fulfilled their main task of reaching out to other young people and helping them find meaning to their lives. Our young people showed videos and slide shows of their humanitarian experiences, and spent time personally talking to the young of the par ish, helping them realize the hardships some people in the world face, as well as the all-time secret to happiness: that if they could help make someone else happy, then happiness would find them, too.

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     The last day in the church in Brescia, young and old sang “Everybody can be happy with a little love” (in Croatian) all together, and expressed their desire to come and help with humanitarian projects in Croatia. And the mural – poster “What everybody needs is love”will remain on the outside wall of the church to remind them, and all passers-by, of the tried and proven key to happiness.

 

 

 

 

 

    In spite of the infectious diseases spreading through the postal system, that sow terror in the world these days, we’ve happily continued to receive your communications. Like the Bible says, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1John 4:4). Here are excerpts of what some of you have written us recently:   “Loving greetings from this warm and sunny land. I feel great here, and I’m always thinking about you. See you soon!” (Dane, Croatia) “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sending us your mag. We can hardly wait for the time when you’ll come to visit us again. Your friends, Dragica & co. (Dragica and the patients of the psychiatric hospital on island Rab) “May you always be a testimony of love towards others. With admiration, and hope that your work will continue, Mariarosa and mother, Edolo, Italy.” “Hello, dear friends, how nice it is to hear from you. I’m glad you’re all fine, and that you’re always full of the hope that only comes from Jesus. Here we have everything, but many times we feel an emptiness, if we loose sight of the true values. I think of you and keep you in my prayers.” (Francesca, Brescia, Italy) “It is wonderful to hear from you, I think of you often and I look forward to my next visit. God Bless. Please stay in touch. Your work is so important.” (Josie, Canada)

 

     Christmas is near! We’ve already begun preparations for the Christmas period – this is one of the busiest months of the year for us, obviously not seeking products we can buy, but rather preparing to offer in great quantities the product we all need (even if it’s sometimes hard to admit): the love of God!

     Many schools, hospitals, institutions etc., both in Italy and Croatia, have already invited us to perform our new Christmas show, but we’re still open to more invitations. Call us today!

     The success of the English classes in Vojnic and Krnjak (see NL10) gave us the motivation to offer the same type of assistance to the children and teenagers from the orphanage in Lovran (Rijeka area). We started in the beginning of the school year, and since then on Wednesday every week Paloma, Moselle and Maggie, armed with patience and a good will, bring to the children not only the opportunity to learn a new language, but also a lot of love and fun activities! This week we decided to try to avail ourselves also of some local talent, that is, of people from Croatia with a good knowledge of English, and with a will to dedicate some of their time to helping others in this way.

     If you would like to help, and become a part of this project, either by coming with us and helping us teach, or by sponsoring our trips to Lovran, you are welcome, and we’ll greatly appreciate it!

In good company

     If you’re alone this Christmas, if you feel left out or forgotten by others, you are in good company. I know Someone who had that happen to Him—Jesus. He gave His heart and love anyway, again and again, until it couldn’t be resisted any more. As a result His Spirit of love lives in millions of hearts right now, giving them happiness and purpose. If you follow His example and give love to others, He’ll be right there with you. And the Bible says that whatever you give will be given back to you—by Jesus!

Robert Rider 

     I’d been trying not to think about Christmas, dreading the day, hoping against hope that some angel would come into  my life and make everythingokay. I even tried pretending that it was just a normal day, nothing special, in hopes that would make the loneliness go away. But I couldn’t avoid it. —Christmas was all around me, and I was alone. No one to talk to, no one to laugh with, and no one to wish me a happy Christmas. With each minute thatpassed I was getting more depressed—and that’s what I had dreaded themost.

     To cheer myself up, I searched for happy memories to occupy my mind. One that popped up was about my Sunday school teacher. He was an easygoing, friendly man who’d spent a lot of time with us kids, and had a knack for making things fun and happy. He had saidthat Jesus was the joy of his life. His words ran through my mind, “Just  take Jesus with you.”

     Would that work? I thought about it. I was alone—no one would know the difference. So I  decided then and there to make Jesus my Friend for the day.

     We did everything together—drank hot chocolate by the fire, walked the streets together, talked about how pretty the world was, laughed, and waved atpassers-by. I could almost feel His arm around me everywhere I went and hear His voice talking to me. In whispers beyond the realm of audible sound He told me He loved me—just me—and that He would always be My Friend. Somehow I knew I would never be alone again.

     As I lay down to sleep that Christmas night I felt so happy, so peaceful, so content. It seemed odd, but then again it didn’t. I’d spent the day with Jesus, and I just hoped that others had as happy a Christmas Day as I had.

—Vivian Patterson

     Christmas can be a sad and difficult time of year if you’re alone, lonely, or have been through a recent heartbreak. Here are some tried and proven tips to help you make it through the season of joy without feeling like an outsider:

     * Give to those less fortunate than you. Volunteer to serve meals at a soup kitchen or orphanage on Christmas Day. Make an effort to converse with and listen to those you’re serving. Taking time to appreciate them and the struggles they’ve been through will not only give them a lift, but will help you realize how blessed you really are.

     * Don’t wait for someone to invite you for Christmas dinner.—Find someone who really needs to be invited, and invite them. Make it your goal to make Christmas special and memorable for them, and happiness will find you.

     * Share with someone the real meaning of Christmas. Whether it’s someone who’s unfamiliar with the story, or someone who’s heard it many times before, reviewing the story together of how God gave the gift, His Son, will help put things back into perspective. God was separated from His loved one at Christmas too, and He did it so that we could be together with Him forever. Give of your love to those you are around, and watch the joy come flooding in on you!

 —Natalie Vela

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, with our prayers for the coming year…

all of us at PER UN MONDO MIGLIORE!