Channels of dirty water run between homes. The water is black and filled with rubbish. In some places bits of wood have been placed across the dirty streams and people navigate their way across them to get from one place to another. This is Keneta in Durres, Albania. ‘Keneta’ literally means ‘swamp land’; it is home for approximately 50,000 people.  

The Transform 2010 outreach to Keneta was called ‘From Swamps to Castles’ and the challenge was to build bridges – literally and figuratively. The team worked hard in the heat - chopping wood, painting, sanding, building firm and safe bridges for the people to use for years to come. As the locals saw what was happening they came to help, to ask questions and to be part of a people caring about their community. Friendships developed and bridges were built. One man started to read the Bible as a result of the team’s efforts. He said he was so grateful for they were doing that he would go to church, and true to his word that Sunday he attended the local church.

Pray for all those who witnessed the team’s bridge-building, that the bridges themselves would serve as a constant reminder of a God who loves these people and that many more would find their way across the bridge to life.

 A North Africa team took a stroll through a local park, praying for God’s blessings on those in the park and hoping for opportunities to share their stories.  They share:

“As we enter the green utopia, a fountain of water welcomes us with its cooling mist, a quick reminder of the refreshing effects water has in a dry and weary land. Lagging behind the rest a bit, I am approached by four young boys. The translator tells me they are asking, ‘Where are you from...Are you religious?’

“What an opener to share what we believe! I am shocked, remembering that in my home country it could take weeks or months before someone is open to speak about religion. Religion is a way of life here, which means every moment of a conversation is an opportunity to share a truth about God. The translator shares with them, 'she is not a Muslim but she is a believer in God and follows God closely.' Imagine the power in a simple reply, sharing with children that people can follow God closely who are not the majority faith, a revelation for many of them.

“After a quick chat, we walk away praying silently for the boys and trusting God to move mightily in their lives to bring them to Himself.”

"I remember when you came to our school 9 years ago.

"Do you remember me? You used to live next door to my parents!

"I recognized you immediately. My kids came to your kids' club 7 years ago!"

"Remember, you came to my village to hand out clothes and food? After that you came to my house for coffee and snacks..."

As the Transform team in Bosnia started ministry in one town recently, suddenly many old contacts that the OM Bosnia team had made over the years started to pop up! The long-term OMers were just amazed! People that they had had no contact with for years, "just happened to" walk through the park at the right time or sit at the main square during the Transform team's concert! Many stayed for the program and talk some more.

One short termer started chatting with a local teenager, who was very interested to talk with the foreigners. He was invited to have lunch with the team, and when he arrived, he and one of the long-term workers recognized each other immediately! Twelve years ago they lived next door to each other! Rosie* had maintained good contact with his parents, but had lost contact with the boy. It was cool for the team to witness how God brought the teenager to the park at the right moment. Now he was ready to hear more about God!

It was a fresh reminder that God's timing is perfect and that our work is much bigger than we can immediately see. We might not always see the fruit of our work, but God is faithful when we are obedient and willing.  

God is in control! Even lost luggage and severe heat could not dampen the Turkey group’s enthusiasm. En route to their destination, they had given a DVD to a fellow traveller. One of the team members had a long conversation about the Lord, gave the DVD as a gift, and received an open invitation to visit later.

Team members also had opportunity to acclimatise to local conditions, make new local friends in supermarkets, and admire the sites. One clear message they hear from everyone: “Merhaba!” which means “welcome”. A trip to the supermarket led to tea with a local family. Shopping for clothes, as a result of lost luggage, became an opportunity to show the love of Jesus to a taxi driver and fellow shopper. A stroll on the city wall allowed them to be generous to a group of children, and to share with a local guide. The team also had opportunity to share at a local church.

Elsewhere in Turkey, an arts team is preparing for an arts show later this week, and also working on an art project for many local children. It’s exciting to see how arts, lost luggage, shopping, and even taxi rides provide opportunities to share God’s story of love to many who are seeking.

 One of the Greece teams visited a Roma children’s camp earlier in the week and for the first time, parents also came. Three of them gave their hearts to the Lord! The same team is currently involved in a vacation camp for children. Pray for good relationships with the children and for follow up with their parents.

Elsewhere in Greece, another team attended visited a local church on Sunday and one of the team members met a young man, who spoke perfect English. He introduced himself as a language expert in that he speaks seven languages. With a Lebanese/Cypriot father and a Greek/Egyptian mother he seemed to represent the multicultural society of some parts of Greece. Hassan* asked John* if he believed the Bible was true. “Of course, positively,” John responded. “How do you know,’’ Hassan asked, “if the Bible is not corrupted?” It was the beginning of an unexpected meeting of a Muslim man at a local church, but also indication of how God is working to transform lives around the Mediterranean. Please pray for Hassan, as well the teams in Greece sharing their story of God’s love.

Every day during the Transform conference last week, around 100 participants had their meals at a local café called Dream. The food was good, but the highlight of being there  was the staff.  Initially they were unsure about this crazy group of foreigners, but they quickly warmed up. Though Italian, they did their best to always speak English, even when one of the participants tried to talk to them in Italian. And they were always available to help, even to go buy bus tickets for some folks to go into Rome after the conference ended.

Thankfully, we seemed to have made just as much of a positive impression on them as they did on us. When everyone arrived for lunch on Friday, the final day, there were slips of paper laying on each table with a message in both Italian and English: “The Dream’s Bar staff, is vary cheerily having you accommodated, thanks a lot for your kindness, and we wish you a glad future.”

What clearer message could we receive about how much our attitudes and actions can have an impact on those who are watching. It’s apparent that how you act for Christ can sometimes be just as important as what you say for Him.

 A sense of excitement and anticipation filled the room on Friday night, the closing night of Transform 2010, as the 400+ participants and staff were sent out to their various destinations around the Mediterranean. About 40 teams will be messengers of hope to many Mediterranean countries and peoples. Pray for lives to be transformed and for many opportunities to share the story of hope in God. Pray for the team as they settle into their new countries over the weekend.

“The Gospel is the dynamite of God,” stated Eliseo Guadagno, OM’s leader in Italy, as he led an Italian-themed evening on Thursday. Romans 1:16 notes that “the Gospel is the power of God,” and in Greek, Eliseo explained, the word for power is the same as the word for dynamite-- an incredible illustration of the strength of God’s word! He told how many of those leaving from Rome will come across spiritual places where there is no longer any power, but Transform participants have an opportunity to reveal the power of God to these places. As the evening drew to an end, Gary Witherall challenged everyone to grasp the power they have in Christ to see lives transformed.

This was the question Transform participants asked people on the streets of Rome yesterday. Following are a few of the encouraging stories...

Detoured for Peace

Hilary from Scotland was eager to see whom God wanted her to meet on Wednesday afternoon’s outreach in the centre of Rome. Kayla, delayed four days en route to Transform, had finally arrived but there was no one else available to meet her at the train station. Hilary refused to be disappointed about missing the opportunity to minister in Rome, and resolved to accept ‘Plan B’.

While waiting for the train, Hilary was approached by a young Italian Muslim. After initial introductions, their conversation turned to a comparison of the Koran and the Bible. Never having shared with a Muslim, Hilary was rather daunted at first, but then asked: “If you could ask God one thing today for you, what would that be?” “Peace,” was his solemn reply. As she asked God to reveal truth to the young Italian, tears streamed down Hilary's cheeks.

As his ride arrived, Kayla’s train pulled into the station. She had missed her first train while sharing the Gospel with someone at the airport. If she hadn’t taken that opportunity, neither that person nor the young Italian would have learnt about Christ this week. Delays…or divine appointments? God uses both when we act in faith.

Now Hear This

Feeling the heat of the day in Rome, Lory’s group decided to cool off with gelato, chatting with their server as they ordered. During orientation for the afternoon, suggestions were given on how to engage in a conversation about God including the question “If you could ask one thing from God today for you, what would it be?” When the waitress was asked, she responded that she had a lot of pain and pressure in her ear; she wished for that to go away. When asked if they could pray for her, the woman was touched that young people would so offer to pray for others—very unusual in Rome. After praying, Lory asked her if her ear felt any better. She responded excitedly that the pressure was gone, though some pain remained. Seizing the moment, the server called over her colleague and asked Lory’s team to ask him the same question. He was hesitant to converse, but responded that he would like to have a son with his wife. After praying, the man seemed very thankful and open to the message that God loves and cares for us. No dramatic decisions were made, but seeds were planted in these people’s lives. Who knows what this moment will cultivate in the future of these people’s lives?

Finding Common Ground

As the day’s outreach in Rome was coming to a close, David tried to distribute his remaining literature on the way to the train station. Ricardo stopped him and asked where David was from. When David responded that he was from Toronto, Ricardo said he had family in Toronto. Excited by this connection, David realized God was giving him an opportunity, so he fell in step with the man and they began talking. David gave him his email and an invitation to visit if he ever came to Toronto. Ricardo responded positively, and shortly after stopped for coffee. They discovered they were heading back on the same train, so David talked further with Ricardo, told him where he was staying, and hopes to see him again to continue building this relationship—one more example of the many seeds planted in one afternoon that could lead to deeper relationships between participants, people on the street, and God. 

“What would it take to see a movement of God?”

 This was the inspiring challenge delivered to the 420 participants of Transform 2010, by opening speaker Gary Witherall on Monday night. After a long day of registration and learning names, the tired attendees of Transform were revived with a passionate challenge:  to not let this conference and its following outreaches be mere trips, but rather authentically transformative experiences. Enlivened with a new hope, everyone returned to their rooms in anticipation that God would soon move amongst them in powerful ways. This buzz overflowed into the late night conversations of the hotel and dorm rooms. A strong solidarity is growing amongst the hundreds of newfound brothers and sisters from around the globe at Transform 2010.

Ask yourself…what would it take to see a movement of God where you are?

• Pray: For the Rome Outreach on Wednesday. Transform participants will head to Rome to establish contact with the community and share God’s message of hope and love. Pray for good connections with people from all over the world.
• Pray: That God will move in miraculous and unexpected ways throughout Transform 2010.
• Praise: For the amazing anticipation and excitement spreading throughout the conference, and how each person seems to feel that they are exactly where they are supposed to be