Multiplication Party & Our Neighbors

Today (Sunday) we had a celebration party for the multiplication of our cell group. Starting this week we will begin to meet in two different cell groups. The top picture is of the "West Zagreb" cell group. The bottom picture is of the "East Zagreb" cell group. We celebrated by praying for one another to be the light of Jesus in our neighborhood and then we had a huge BBQ. Damir was the head chef grilling chicken and pork chops that were all finger-lickin' good. There was a real sense of joy and brotherly love there among us. We worshiped loudly and passionately led by Damir Mehanovic. Goran Medved spoke on remembering on where we came from and how far we've come...in Christ and as a church. In general, it was a happy, Jesus-honoring type of day. This is just another sign of life in this little church plant. We're so thankful to God and pray He gives both of these groups success.

On a completely different note, we have some pretty rude neighbors. I know that's not a real nice thing to say, but it's the truth. These are our neighbors who live directly across the hall from us. In fact, we share a hall together...and yet our lives rarely intersect. There is a mother and her 2 grown daughters. They basically ignore our existence. The daughters, though they're not far from our age, if they do speak to us, they speak to us in formal Croatian...thereby keeping us at a distance. The mother has never once said a word to us or even made eye contact. Not to be dramatic or something, but her eyes are icy cold. It's actually a pretty creepy.

Them not being polite is the least of their problems however. We often hear them in "knock-out, drag-out" fights complete with yelling, slamming doors, and even the occasional throwing of a pot or pan. Our hearts long for them to know the hope that is possible for them, but they won't let us in their lives to hear it. As far as we can see, they don't let many people in their lives.

Well tonight we heard more from their apartment. We started to hear screams coming from their place. It sounded like one woman (we think the mother) screaming violently about every 10-20 seconds. This went on for about 10 minutes. This was the type of scream that sends a chill all the way down your spine and back up again. It was awful! Laura and I (and the girls) went to knock on their door. We thought someone might be hurt or even found dead. We had no idea what was happening. When we knocked, the screaming stopped. Of course, no one answered. To make a long story short the screaming began to slow down and eventually stop. We called the police, but we don't believe they were successful in getting in to find out what in the world was happening.

That was a long story to explain to you another part of our lives here in Croatia. Our hearts long for them. As we heard the screams tonight our family prayed for their family...and that by some miracle, God's love would get into their apartment. It will have to be a miracle. It feels helpless sitting over here about 15 feet from someone who is in some kind of hell. I only know One who can rescue us from hell...both now and eternal...and it is to Him that we cry out for mercy for our neighbors. Their last name is Androlon (that's all we know since they've never allowed us to meet them). Please pray for them and for us to be the light of Jesus to them.