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MICHAEL AND MARIA LONG
OUR MISSIONARIES IN GREECE ARE MICHAEL AND MARIA LONG. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THEIR MINISTRY, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. fmcusa.org/fmmissions/michael-and-maria-long/ |
Baskets of Love
by Gerry McNamara
Missionary to Hungary
We walked to the orphanage on a beautiful July morning in Győr, Hungary, to start a five-day vacation Bible school. The team of seven people from Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia, NY, were nervous and excited. How would they do? Would the kids be friendly? How would they communicate? “Just smile,” we told them. “The kids will love you for your willingness to serve them and love them.” For months the team had worked together to prepare for this camp, just as I and my wife, Kati, had prepared to host the team and facilitate the camp. Now the day was finally here. The days passed by. Worship music, games, handcrafts, laughter and Bible stories were shared each day. The kids enjoyed American candy and eagerly awaited the arrival of the team each morning. The handcraft on Wednesday – a basket – was intricate and difficult; yet Helen taught it so well. All the children made their baskets, woven together with beads for decoration, in a most unique way, just as these kids themselves are unique. For two days we worked on those baskets. I just couldn’t see how the children could ever complete them. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe they were clever enough; it just seemed like an impossible task. I surely couldn’t do it! By late Thursday morning, those baskets were nearing completion. The smiles of joy and satisfaction on the faces of each and every child were such a blessing to behold! They had done it; they had made their baskets, by themselves! These children, the very least in society, had made beautiful, intricate crafts. You see, these children often feel unloved, unimportant and useless. Yet this team of seven, the missionaries and volunteers had invested in these kids, and now they felt loved, important and useful. Their baskets were completed and filled with the love of Christ.
by Gerry McNamara
Missionary to Hungary
We walked to the orphanage on a beautiful July morning in Győr, Hungary, to start a five-day vacation Bible school. The team of seven people from Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia, NY, were nervous and excited. How would they do? Would the kids be friendly? How would they communicate? “Just smile,” we told them. “The kids will love you for your willingness to serve them and love them.” For months the team had worked together to prepare for this camp, just as I and my wife, Kati, had prepared to host the team and facilitate the camp. Now the day was finally here. The days passed by. Worship music, games, handcrafts, laughter and Bible stories were shared each day. The kids enjoyed American candy and eagerly awaited the arrival of the team each morning. The handcraft on Wednesday – a basket – was intricate and difficult; yet Helen taught it so well. All the children made their baskets, woven together with beads for decoration, in a most unique way, just as these kids themselves are unique. For two days we worked on those baskets. I just couldn’t see how the children could ever complete them. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe they were clever enough; it just seemed like an impossible task. I surely couldn’t do it! By late Thursday morning, those baskets were nearing completion. The smiles of joy and satisfaction on the faces of each and every child were such a blessing to behold! They had done it; they had made their baskets, by themselves! These children, the very least in society, had made beautiful, intricate crafts. You see, these children often feel unloved, unimportant and useless. Yet this team of seven, the missionaries and volunteers had invested in these kids, and now they felt loved, important and useful. Their baskets were completed and filled with the love of Christ.
