Network SPRING 2017 WebVersion

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.
Network connexions | Spring 2017 | 9