8 | <strong>Network</strong> connexions | Spring <strong>2017</strong> COULD THIS BE EUROPE?
I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes! GUEST CONTRIBUTOR Jim and Sherry Sabella We were in the eastern part of Slovakia, driving in the mountains on some very narrow and winding roads. I told the missionary who was driving the car that the scenery and the winding roads reminded me of my home in Pennsylvania. He said, “this may remind you of your home, but I’m sure you’ve never seen what you are about to see.” We pulled off the winding narrow road onto a smaller dirt road and then into a small village. When we got out of the car near a small wooden bridge, we quickly found ourselves surrounded by dozens of children holding out their hands waving and asking for candy. The village elder walked down a narrow path to meet us and welcome us into the village. When I looked around, I knew that my missionary colleague was right. I can only describe what I saw by saying that the living conditions were more than below the poverty level; they were at a level that I had never seen or experienced before. Could this be Europe? The village was built on a hill, next to a small stream. The side of the hill facing us was filled with garbage and trash. The stream was also filled with trash, garbage, and pieces of metal and grocery carts. I could see that on one side of the wooden bridge women were washing clothes, close to the bridge, children were playing among the grocery carts and the trash that filled the stream. Just below the bridge men were dipping five-gallon plastic buckets into the stream to get drinking water. Could this be Europe? When we entered the village, we were met by a group of adults. One gentleman, in particular, was missing most of his teeth and was covered with open sores. I remember asking the village leader about the gentleman. He said that the water in the village was polluted and it was making people ill. I met another man who told me of the night when it rained so hard that the creek rose and poured into the village. As the water rushed through the village, it swept his youngest daughter away. His voice cracked as he told me the story. They never saw her again. Could this be Europe? One person invited us into their home. Even though the walls were made of mud and the floors dirt, the small hut was tidy and clean. A hand drawn picture hung on the wall in the dimly lighted room. I remember the little stove sitting in the corner. I later found out that the Roma don’t have money for wood and so they burn old furniture that people leave along the side of the road. Most of the wood was particle board which contains formaldehyde. When burned, the formaldehyde fumes fill the houses and hangs in the air around the village causing people to lose their teeth and their hair. How is this possible? One person answered, “We are Gypsies, no one cares about us.” The village elder responded, “Jesus does.” The man smiled and shook his head in agreement. Could this be Europe? We stayed in that village for about 30 minutes. I prayed for people and families in their homes. I told them that Jesus loves them, and so do we. But to be honest, it seemed like my words about my love for them were empty and hollow. Without a doubt, Jesus loved them; but for me to say “I love you” sounded more like a blaring gong or clanging cymbal. Jim and Sherry Sabella and their sons, Philip and Jonathan, were appointed as AGWM missionaries from the PennDel District to Prague, Czech Republic in 1994. Before that time they pastored in Pennsylvania. In 2004 they were appointed as Assemblies of God World Missions Area Directors for the countries of Central Europe. Jim and Sherry now serve as Area Director for Southeastern Europe. The countries in the Southeast area include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. Along with their duties as area director, Jim & Sherry are also the founding directors of Europe’s Heart. Their ministry focuses on those who live on the margins of society. For the last 6 years, Europe’s Heart has been reaching out to and caring for the needs of the Roma peoples of the eastern part of Slovakia. Europe’s Heart was highlighted in the October 6, 2013 issue of the Pentecostal Evangel. Recently Europe’s Heart has focused on helping to build regional churches and centers for the Roma people in Slovakia. For more information you may contact Jim directly at jim.sabella@ agmd.org. Also, you may visit the Europe’s Heart website at: www.europesheart.org. <strong>Network</strong> connexions | Spring <strong>2017</strong> | 9
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