hey y'all

so, the munich conference happened. im telling you, two weeks of anxieties and agonizing over the appointments and talks with specific people, skinning my knees in prayer to keep the perspective, wrestling the thought of not going for the money issues, letting down my parents who really didnt want me to go, not studying for 3 irreplaceable days,... IT WAS ALL WORTH IT!

the word(s) to describe it... life-changing. i guess the best thing for me, by far was the beginning: we started friday night - with communion! we sat on the floor, heard a short message, viewed last scenes from the movie "the passion of Christ" and then we in small groups literally broke bread and passed around the cup. it was so moving i cant find words. but the great thing about it was that the rest of the conference was really Christ-focused, which was of course the intention.

the fellowship was amazing. i had some really brief and encouraging talks, long conversations, met with stane (brother from slovenia) and the most compasionate leader to discuss the specifics in ljubljana church, i caught up with some old friends, made some new friends... and i have never been so challenged ... if not in my life, then in a very loooooong time. challenges came through awesome sermons and devotionals, personal conversations with friends, and powerful examples in humility and action.

i must lift up the brothers who pulled together the conference. the "five horses". they supported the whole thing with brilliant hearts, humor, humility, service and much wisdom. the munich church who hosted the conference, did an amazing job in organization, ushering, serving drinks and snacks, preparing a real bavarian meal for us, and probably whole lot of other things that i didnt notice, but would sadly miss if it wasnt taken care of.

what i got out of the conference itself.
the difference from last year's meeting in budapest is amazing; if reports from churches last year were sobering and letting us know that we are not the only ones in a difficult situation, then by this year God did miracles. there are people getting baptized, and studying the bible. there is love and sense of need to go on. there is UNITY! there is awareness that we need each other and that the best way to go is to work together and listen to each other. within congregations and between congregations. we ARE the new generation.

oh no!
we are the children...
we are the ones to make a brighter day
so lets start giving... hahahahahahaha!

sorry bout that.
40 churches. from 30 countries. FLAT INSPIRING!!! the list of prayer requests is long but we are praying for each other. and its so good because i know we're not alone. what a great way to end the year. to acknowlege so many blessings over the year! in international fellowship. not many leaders will get my email, as i mostly write to "ordinary" disciples ( i mean, please, is there such thing as an ordinary disciple?), but i want to say thanks for the sermons, devotionals, teachings, sharing, tech-support, insights - and mostly faith and courage to stand for conviction. also thanks to everybody who sponsored my trip (financially, giving a ride to stane and me, encouraging me to attend) - God knows of your service and you are in my prayers. i give my thanks to all who made the conference even more special (you know who you are). and mostly i want to thank God for providing leadership that cares and making the plan of salvation happen.

in closing,
a proffessor at my college said the other day: "we cant change the world. but in small steps we may change some little things." in one way... amen. and on the other hand... what does she know about changing the world??? there is christianity. its real. and its changing lives. we are strong-headed, so the process is slow. but God hasnt given up on us! amen, church?

love you all very very much and i wish you the best holiday season.

peace and love, silvija