tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37341691.post2649087435916439280..comments2023-04-08T01:05:03.705-07:00Comments on kosovacajun: kosovacajunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09640258022585567529noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37341691.post-35922448617356785082009-07-05T00:28:49.070-07:002009-07-05T00:28:49.070-07:00Well, I had completely forgotten the 1997's pe...Well, I had completely forgotten the 1997's period but your lively story made me react like that. There is nothing personal against you. Every Albanian should be thankful for all missionaries (you included) that shared the Good news here.<br /><br />However none of them when they mention Albania and 1997 and how dangerous was at that time; these missionaries never mentioned what Jesus said in John 10. They sometimes describe themselves even as hereos. I just wanted to let you know simply that the sheep was abandonded by foreign missionaries. Have u heard some of your missionaries friends mentioned this?<br /><br />I know you faced several difficulties in Kosovo and Macedonia. They are hard places for the Gospel. As I said nothing personal and be bold. <br /><br />Jesus loves you, so do albanian christians. Praise GOD FOR YOUR sincery heart. We still accepted those missionaries at our churches that lef Albania in 1997. we are not better than you, God's grace is what we daily need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37341691.post-20293330148004962142009-07-04T17:37:51.269-07:002009-07-04T17:37:51.269-07:00My Albanian brother, thank you for your comment. ...My Albanian brother, thank you for your comment. Even though it is very difficult for me, it is something that I need to hear. <br /><br />Of course we weighed some of the concerns you address. As I mentioned in the story, my team leader decided that our presence wouldn't be any protection to our Albanian brothers -- that, to the contrary, it might even be more of a burden and a risk for them. But you are in a better position than me to judge whether this was true or not. I sincerely seek your forgiveness for the hurt that we caused you.<br /><br />A missionary colleague for whom I have a great deal of respect made the decision to stay, and he cited this same passage that you've quoted here. On the other hand, if we can consider Paul a model missionary (if not THE model missionary), we see that he fled dangerous situations several times leaving behind young, vulnerable believers. Perhaps one difference is whether the ministry of the person fleeing is primarily pastoral (shepherding a local church) or apostolic (church-planting, evangelism).<br /><br />Without taking anything away from my apology, I do want you to know that since 1997 I have continued to serve among the Albanians in Macedonia and Kosovo, and I have put myself and my family in some pretty difficult and dangersous situations. I often say that I want to live my life in such a way that people will say of me that I was a friend of God and a friend of the Albanians. I hope that that if the chance ever comes for me to lay down my life for my Albanian brothers, I will do so without hesitation.<br /><br />There is one more thing I should mention here. I don't intend to ever allow myself to be a part of a military evacuation again. I have a lot of gratitude and respect for the Marines as I indicated in the blog post. I truly admire the professionalism with which they conducted themselves. Nevertheless, I have come to the conclusion that as a follower of Jesus I must never participate in violence. <br /><br />By entrusting myself to the protection of guys with guns, I became a participant in violence. After I was safely on board the ship, one of the helicopters came under fire from the ground and returned fire killing a couple of Albanians. There are conflicting reports as to whether those killed were actually the ones who had been firing. Either way I deeply regret having been a part of this.kosovacajunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09640258022585567529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37341691.post-7229307844567766992009-07-04T11:13:39.519-07:002009-07-04T11:13:39.519-07:00That is a true amazing story. Never read this stor...That is a true amazing story. Never read this story from a foreign missionary.But please remember that the coin has two sides.<br /><br />Every Christian believer was deeply wounded in their spirit in 1997 from foreign missionaries that quickly left Albania on the very first occasion. Albania,the country that God told them to go as missionaries for the lost (they used to tell this every Sunday meeting before the sheep), now became the country to escape as soon they could. Where was God?<br /><br />Why did the missionaries abandoned the sheep in Albania? <br /><br />This story reminded me of John 10 passage. Jesus said:<br /><br />11. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.<br /><br />* 12. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.<br /><br />* 13. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.<br /><br />* 14.* "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me<br /><br />* 15.* just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.<br /><br />Praise God for those missionaries who were ready to give their life (although nobody died) in Albania and did not abandon the sheep. God protected the church in 1997 because He is the true shepherd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37341691.post-41008452333857642322009-06-17T09:01:27.269-07:002009-06-17T09:01:27.269-07:00Glad you wrote this down, Mark. I've heard it ...Glad you wrote this down, Mark. I've heard it before, but what an amazing story.lagonewildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00796628518339081242noreply@blogger.com