SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #39 ---- 10/12/98
Posted by: root <root@...>
Standing Shoulder To Shoulder With Fellow Soldiers
As We Fight the Good Fight
TITLE: "Rainbows and Heroes in Hell"
Dear Co-laborer:
Our God is indeed an awesome God! The events of the past two weeks have =
been both memorable and challenging. As I write this letter to you I am =
doing something I never imagined ever doing ---- sitting in a restored =
bombed out house just a few miles from the airport in Sarajevo, Bosnia. =
THE MISSION:
At this moment I find myself at a loss for words. Where to I start? =
What do I say? How do I say it? Do I have the words to express what I =
feel? Do I even know what I really feel? Am I so overwhelmed that I =
can't verbalize it? Am I so numb that my mind won't compute to my =
tongue?
Last week I told you a little about our ministry at the Life Center in =
Crikvenica, Croatia, and also the work of the church in Karlovac. I =
also briefly mentioned the first of three conferences in Sirac and the =
work in Pakrac led by the pastor who was stabbed seven times.
I failed to tell you the outcome of the "Restoring the Nations" =
conference in Sirac. Our objective was not to have large crowds, but =
rather, to minister to a handful of pastors and key church leaders who =
can then take what we have taught and begin to develop a movement of =
prayer and forgiveness in their areas.
So, when our anticipation of 15 to 20 people grew to an actual =
attendance of 36, we were elated. Already out of that first meeting a =
man has surfaced who feels God is calling him to coordinate the =
development of a regional prayer network that will hopefully link up =
with other such movements across the former Yugoslavia. Tentative plans =
are already under way for a possible return in late February or early =
March for further training and follow up.
It was a hard time for us this past Wednesday when we left the home of =
pastor Franjo Spicak, his wife Georgina, and their three incredible =
sons, Nathaniel, Timothy, and Andrew. It was like leaving family.
ARRIVAL IN SARAJEVO:
Because we were uncertain as to the safety of land travel from Croatia =
into Bosnia, we chose to fly from Zagreb, Croatia's capital, to =
Sarajevo, the capital of the Bosnian Federation (a portion of Bosnia =
under Bosnian control). Weaving through the surrounding mountains, and =
touching ground on a runway literally surrounded with military =
installations and weaponry, we arrived safely. When our plane came to a =
stop and we got off, we were stunned to see military personnel =
everywhere ---- guiding the planes to their parking spots, manning the =
doorways, watching you go through immigration and luggage, guarding the =
entries to the airport ---- everywhere. =20
Rather than being intimidated or frightened, we felt secure. It may =
well be that Sarajevo is one of the safest cities in the world at this =
time.
We were met outside customs by Norman and Diane Crisp, a couple from =
Longview Texas who are serving as volunteers for two years in =
coordinating the coming and going of volunteer groups. They were the =
first of several special blessings. They "just happened to be" =
neighbors across the street from some dear friends, Ben and Sandi =
Clayton ---- Ben was best man in our wedding.
THE SIGHTS:
Just a few hundred yards from the terminal we turned onto a side street =
as Diane exclaimed, "This is our neighborhood!" I could not believe =
what I saw ---- block after block of bombed out skeletons of houses and =
apartment buildings. The sight is absolutely beyond my vocabulary to =
describe it. Entire walls are gone. You can see through multiple rooms =
from one side of the building to the other. Every window is shot out; =
every door is blown away.
Occasionally we would see a building under reconstruction ---- not =
repair, or even renovation, but reconstruction! One of those buildings =
is where the Crisp's apartment is. They have been here only four weeks =
and just moved in ---- actually doing some of the repair work =
themselves. One wall separating the kitchen from the living area was =
removed ---- by a grenade first, and then completed by the workmen doing =
the reconstruction.
The exterior of their building is still peppered with literally =
thousands of holes, large and small, caused by grenades, shrapnel, and =
bullets. There is a hole the size of a basketball in the entrance =
doorway. The sidewalk is pocked with tiny holes and slashing gashes =
caused by shrapnel. In the middle of the street is a "rozette" shaped =
scar caused by a mortar shell that dropped, impacted, exploded, and sent =
shrapnel in every direction down and out into the bodies of fleeing =
people.
Following the drive through their neighborhood, hey immediately took us =
to the subdivision where our lodging would be. The entry to it has a =
large sign posted saying, "Off Limits to SFOR!"
How encouraging!
Driving through the narrow winding streets packed with pedestrians, =
dogs, dumpsters, bicycles, and cars, they cautiously drove us to the =
small apartment building leased by a missionary agency where we met our =
hostesses Debbie from Tennessee and Darcy from Massachusetts. They just =
moved in recently after its reconstruction. On the ground floor under =
the apartment are two large rooms and a kitchen ---- a place used for =
missionary team meetings and ministry to the people of Stupp, the =
subdivision where we live. Food kitchen, clothing distribution, =
parties, English classes, and the like are conducted regularly.
The neighborhood is a confusion to the mind ---- homes being restored, =
vacant lots cordoned off with ribbons and "land mine" warning signs, =
shells of houses still untouched either because they are booby trapped =
or the people have left or are dead ---- all bordering narrow winding =
streets filled with debris and craters.
THE SIGN:
As we sat at the kitchen table that afternoon to visit for awhile before =
Norman and Diane returned to take us out for supper, I looked out the =
window ---- and saw a rainbow. Jumping to my feet, I grabbed my video =
camera and headed for the second floor porch, hoping to find that the =
rainbow was complete.
It was.
It stretched from the city skyline on the right to a hilltop dotted with =
houses and rubble on the left ---- spanning the hulk of a bombed out =
house just forty feet awayfrom me across the patio from the house we're =
staying in. =20
THE SADNESS:
A day later Debbie described to me how she and Darcy tilled and planted =
a flower garden in from of the building, hoping to bring a sense of =
beauty and hope to their neighborhood. As they dug, they were stunned =
to find ammunition clips, spent rifle shells, and grenade pins by the =
scores in the little plot of ground.
She recounted how a ten year old boy had come to help. As she watched =
him, she became concerned that he might injure himself as he carelessly =
swung the little hand hoe. When she admonished him through the =
interpreter to be careful, he shrugged, and casually said, "Be careful? =
This isn't a grenade, you know."
Imagine! What must life be like when your point of reference is death =
and destruction? What must it be like when death is so commonplace ---- =
even to the young ---- that safety and even life itself are no longer =
things you hold valuable and try to protect.
=20
It's hard to believe ---- that such destruction can still be seen after =
four years ---- that such hatred can still exist ---- that people can =
live in such conditions ---- that there are still heros such as Debbie, =
Darcy, Norman and Diane, Bill and Debbie Steele and their family, and =
scores of others who invest their lives in the rubble of buildings and =
lives, faithfully, compassionately, and diligently ministering to the =
hurting, the despairing, the bitter, the hopeless, the spiritually =
bankrupt.
And, yet ---- there was the rainbow. And there are the heroes.
THE SUFFERING:
Later that Wednesday evening Norman and Diane picked us up and took us =
to a restaurant just a few blocks from their apartment for pizza. As =
usual in this part of the world, it is wonderful! ---- and, like =
European bread as well, out classes any pizza we've ever had in America.
Sitting outside under a canopy to the sound of a chilling rain, we gazed =
across the street toward a huge apartment building ---- empty ---- =
silent ---- harboring its own nightmares of the past, undoubtedly filled =
with the terror stricken cries of little children calling out to their =
disoriented mothers and their dead fathers, shuddering under the =
percussion of bombs and artillery pounding away at its very soul, trying =
valliantly to its last gasp to protect the lives of those living within =
its bosom.
It was hard to enjoy the pizza ---- I could if I turned my back to the =
scene and occupied my mind with small talk and the newness of another =
ministry adventure.
As we left, I again saw the "rozettes".
And then, Norman pointed out the vacant lot. I had missed it as I =
stared at the massive apartment building left standing dead in its =
tracks. He said, "there are four graves out there ---- three Muslim and =
one Christian."
I couldn't believe it. "That's not even a cemetery! How can they bury =
people in a vacant lot?"
Then he continued: "When Sarajevo was under seige, this area was =
completely cut off. People had to do something with their dead, so they =
buried them where they could."
I could see the little mounds of dirt and the grave markers through the =
weeds.
And then I saw the tapes and the signs around the same lot ---- "Land =
mines".
Imagine what it would be like to have to bury your loved ones in such a =
manner ---- in such a place ---- and then be unable to ever recover =
their bodies and transport them to a more appropriate place.
Friday Jack Shoaf, another member of our group, told us that he began =
counting the number of mortar "rozettes". He indicated that everwhere =
he walked (and he walked literally miles up and down the streets of the =
city ---- ten miles one night), he would find a "rozette" mark an =
average of every 35 steps.
Oh, my friend! Can you imagine what happened in this city? Apart from =
those that are being rebuilt, I have not seen one single building that =
did not have at least 500 or more bullet holes or mortar rounds on it's =
facade. This city was indeed a city under seige.
And now it is becoming a haven of safety! People by the thousands are =
streaming into Sarajevo from Kosovo every day.
And do you know where they are living?
In the bombed out shells of buildings destroyed by the fighting from =
1992 to 1995. It is unthinkable! It is unimaginable! You cannot fully =
appreciate what I am telling you without seeing it for yourself. =
Friday, Jack watched while at one site soldiers were clearing land mines =
around vacant buildings and lots, and at another site, Albanian refugees =
from Kosovo were climbing naked stairways to rooms with no walls, no =
electricity, no windows or doors, and no water, and hanging out clothes =
to dry in the wind screaming through the rooms and corridors of those =
monstrous man made caves stacked one upon the other.
While it is true that not all of Sarajevo is in this condition, and =
there is much progress in rebuilding, much of it still is, and the vast =
majority of the people here are still carrying their own personal inner =
wounds, though hidden from human view.
How I praise God that He sees their inner needs and has sent people to =
help them.
THE CONFERENCE:
Not all of our time in Sarajevo has been sad and depressing. In fact, =
none of it has been depressing, because everything we see does not =
remind us of death and sadness, but, rather, of need, opportunity, and =
ministry.
This our second "Restoring The Nations" conference was also met with =
great success. Expecting around 20, we had 26 in our first session, and =
probably had as many as 45 different people attending some part of the =
two seminars. We had missionaries and pastors from as far away as Tuzla =
to the northeast and Mostar to the west.
The people, missionaries, pastors, and laity, were extremely responsive. =
We feel we fulfilled our mission by bringing them hope and =
encouragement. Our very presence gave them a sense of knowing they are =
not forgotten people even though they are seldom in the news.
To us, they are some of the greatest heroes we have ever known anywhere =
at any time. They are people who literally lay their lives on the line. =
For example, one young man, Tim, goes every week with an SFOR convoy =
into Serb territory an hour's drive away and delivers food and clothing =
to refugees still living in camps ---- after four years without =
fighting, they are still there ---- abandoned, trapped, with no place to =
go.
RAINBOWS AND HEROES:
I'm so glad there are rainbows and heroes in Sarajevo ---- this "hell" =
on earth. The rainbows give hope, the heroes give love ---- and Jesus =
still gives life. Oh, how the people need to know that ---- know Him.
Please covenant to pray for the people of Sarajevo ---- for the people =
of Mostar ---- of Tuzla ---- of Banja Luka ---- of Pakrac ---- yes, of =
Belgrade, and of Albania and Kosovo, and tens of thousands of other =
places.
Pray for the Bosnians, the Muslims, the Serbs, the Croats. Even though =
many of them hate each other and are often being led or driven by evil =
and wicked men with no hearts, they are still loved by God with all His =
heart. Pray that we can love them, too ---- as God does.
They may be hopeless in themselves, but they are not beyond hope. They =
are not beyond reaching. They must be reached! They can be reached!
We were told that our six visits to Croatia would not adequately prepare =
us for Bosnia. They were right. We have seen so much that we are numb. =
And yet, the life of Christ within us is pulsating with the desire to =
serve, to help, to heal.
My friend, you may never travel to Croatia or Bosnia or Serbia. You may =
never see in person what we have seen. But, I can tell you that there =
are people where you are who are in just as deep a squallor where you =
live ---- maybe not in the physical realm, but most certainly in the =
spiritual.
They are just as lost as the people of Sarajevo. They are just as =
homeless and hopeless.
Do you have any compassion for them? =20
Take a look at the drunk in the gutter. See the dope head hiding in the =
shadows? Do you recognize the little girl under the street light who is =
now a prostitute? To you hear the cry of the woman down your street =
weeping in pain from the beating her husband just gave her? Do you see =
the little child cowering in the corner, terrified for the beating her =
mother is about to give her?
Do you see them? Do you hear them?
Would you consider shining a rainbow their way?
Would you sign up to be a hero?
There is a huge need for more rainbows and heroes.
Sign on.
FINALLY: A BIG-TIME PRAYER REQUEST:
The situation in Kosovo is critical. We get very little news here =
because all television other than the Armed Forces channel is in =
Bosnian. By the time you read this, it is very possible that air =
strikes may have already taken place.
Friday we received a message from the U.S. State Department advising =
that all Americans currently in territory controlled by the Serb =
Republic seriously consider leaving, and all who were planning to travel =
to such places not do so. That does not include, Sarajevo,of course.
However, Banja Luka is in such a place, near the border between Croatia =
and Serb controlled Bosnia.
While we are in no present danger of any kind (at least as long as we =
don't wander off into vacant lots or empty buildings), we are now faced =
with a dilemma which requires a wise decision. That decision will be =
made within hours or a day at the most ---- whether or not to go to =
Banja Luka to conduct our third "Restoring The Nations" conference.
You can rest assured we will not do anything stupid. We need to know =
the true facts about the conditions there and whether or not it would be =
safe for us to go. The people need and want our ministry. We want to =
share it. However, we also recognize that, under the circumstances, it =
may be better for "another time, another place".
Please pray for us. At the moment we are leaning toward cancelling the =
conference and leaving Bosnia as soon as possible ---- just to play it =
safe.
So, at this time, I cannot tell you what we will do ---- or where we =
will be.
If we cancel the Banja Luka trip, we will either go back to the Zagreb =
and Karlovac area or to the Life Center for further last-minute ministry =
there, or to France for ministry there, or back to the states several =
days early.
Wherever we are, we'll keep you updated, and will plan to write again =
next week ---- if we have access to a computer and the internet.
Thank you in advance, my friend, for your prayers. We are so very =
grateful for them.
In Christ's Bond,
Bob Tolliver
Copyright October, 1998. All rights reserved.
Life Unlimited Ministries