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YOUTH, WIDOWS & ORPHANS
#November 2022
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

Keeping ourselves unpolluted from the world is in ever increasingly difficult task. There is a fine line between living among the world with grace and love and not becoming apart of it. 
PHONE ME

We organized our very first youth conference in October for young people 16 years and older. Our goal was to encourage teens, college age, and young singles to seek God’s purpose for their lives, step out in courage, and be filled with the Spirit so that they can impact their generation. We had two speakers Rebeca de Batista who is the national leader for Foursquare Youth Portugal and on the board for Foursquare Youth Europe and Ivan Spoljarić who has been instrumental in ministry, media and music in Rijeka and all over Croatia.

The conference was an amazing success. We were surprised to have youth sign up from all over Croatia. We could feel the presence of God working during each session, and the feed back from the young people was more than encouraging. Our plan is to definitely make the conference an annual event.

A wonderful thing that was birthed out of this conference is a new group that two of our newly married couples have formed for young people in their 20’s and 30’s (a college and career group). They’ve named themselves “Bez censure” (No censorship) and plan to meet once a month and organize special activities periodically throughout the year.
UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

We still have refugees arriving from Ukraine each month and presently we are aiding approximately 120 refugees. We never dreamed we would be helping so many. We thought our capacity would be around 60, but it is hard to refuse to help those in such need; and the need is great. Our budget is anywhere from 15 to 17 thousand dollars monthly so please keep us in prayer and most of all pray for peace in Ukraine.
PRAISE REPORT>

>Our Youth Conference was a huge success.
>Our church continues to grow each Sunday (this past Sunday we had children sitting on the sanctuary floor).
>God continues to provide for our every need each month.
THE HOUSE OF OPPORTUNITY

Orphans in Croatia (much like in the US) are taken care of by the government until they turn 18. Athough there are homes that care for orphans after they’ve left the orphanage or foster care, these homes are few and usually full.

James instructed believers to care for the fatherless and widows in need, so Mario has a new vision for renting a home for 10-15 people who are between 18 and 21, have been forced to leave either the orphanage or foster care, and have no place else to go. We would provide them with housing, clothing, food, additional education when necessary, and someone who is equipped to care for them spiritually as well as physically and psychologically. This would be a place that they can stay until they are employed and able to move out on their own. Would you be praying about this new vision with us?
HOME LIFE

As much as these past few months have been crazy busy, things have also become crazy expensive. Prices have risen to an all-time high in Croatia as the government prepares us for the introduction of the Euro. In January we will be completely switched over to the Euro and the Kuna will be a currency of the past. This change of currency in the aftermath of the Covid Pandemic along with the war in Ukraine has caused horrible price inflation; so much so that some things have doubled in price in just the past month!

Even so, as a family, we are doing well. Filip arrived home from the States a month ago and is gearing up for a new angle to his college studies. Luka is in his Senior year of vocational school, studying web design, Divna her Junior year of photography, and Vjera is in her freshman year of fashion design. 

God continues to provide for each of our needs even through this time of continual inflation, and we are so thankful for your consistent prayer and financial support of our ministry.
 
Let us go forth this month with a new focus on God, serving him with a renewed fervor, unpolluted by the world. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Mario & Bonnie
PRAYER REQUEST>

>For the new Ukrainians that have arrived.
>That God directs us in our new vision for a House of Opportunity.
>For our monthly support.
Croatian Evangelistic Outreach