Mark and Kathy Eikost

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Sept. 15, 2009

Dear Friends,

We just finished two weeks with our first team to come from Alliance Bible Church in Mequon, Wisconsin. They were joined by a couple from Langley Alliance on Whidbey Island, Washington. Their theme for the trip was "Love in Action". Here are a few of the ways they lived this out:
-- bringing care packages to us from loved ones
-- encouraging weary Bosnian pastors
-- bringing beauty and joy to Bosnian and Herzegovinan women
-- praying with the sick and lonely
-- sharing a cup of coffee with new friends and listening to their stories
-- bringing a generous food packet to Roma sisters in need
-- openly sharing about tough times and God's faithfulness
-- providing resources for a new ministry center
-- building a room for mothers with small children in our church
-- sharing their skills and expertise in engineering and carpentry
-- sharing words of encouragement, smiles and lots of hugs

Thank you -- Eddie, Jan, Jo, Paul, Sylvia, Roy, Marilyn and Heather!! We couldn't have done it without you!

Mark is taking a course at the Mostar Bible School this week. I'm getting some painting done here at the apartment. Later this month Mark will be traveling to the States for a conference and speaking in the Pacific Northwest district. I'll be working on a small recording project. We would appreciate your prayer covering for all of these things.

Thank you for your partnership through the Great Commission Fund. We couldn't be here without you!

God bless,

Kathy for the Eikosts

August 27, 2009
Dear Friends,

We trust you had a relaxing summer with lots of down-time for family and friends. Our summer started out slowly and gained momentum as the weeks went on. At the moment we are busy with many different things and definitely need your prayers. So, I want to get some info out to you so that you can be lifting us up as we press on through these next few hectic weeks.

Thank You!

We want to start by saying "Thank You!" to all of you who support our ministry through the Great Commission Fund. This fund enables us to live and work here, sharing God's love and message of reconciliation with the Bosnian people. Through your faithful giving we were able to meet our budget last year. As we look to the year ahead, we would love to add new partners so that we can take on new outreach initiatives. There are many more ways we could minister if we had the resources to fund them. If you would like to join the team, send your gift to The C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. Mark the memo section "Eikost Support"

New Personnel

Meeting the neighbors; buying fresh fruit at the farmer's market; negotiating contract terms with a landlord; finding our way around town using public transportation; these are all things we are used to doing now, taking for granted that we can understand and make ourselves understood in the Bosnian language. However, for our newly arrived team mates who will be starting language lessons next week, any of the above can seem like a daunting, if not impossible task. Helping Todd, Karen and Laura get settled has brought back many memories (some are fond, some are terrifying) of our first days and weeks in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I remember being so nervous at the store that I grabbed the first tube of mayonnaise I saw only to realize later that it was mayonnaise and ketchup together! There was also a period where only the word for the number 8 would stick in my head, so I bought 8 of everything -- 8 apples, 8 eggs, 8 onions! Walking through these first days and weeks with our new team mates has made us appreciate even more the opportunity we had to learn the local language. Thank you for supporting us and praying with us through those early days! Pray that we would be patient and gracious with Todd, Karen and Laura as they ask endless questions and get acclimated to life here. Thank you, Trent and Sharon, for being patient with us and our endless questions!

New Family Members

Twin brothers came to live at our house a week ago and it looks like they intend to stay. Flek (Spot) and Buraz (Brother) are having a great time exploring our apartment and learning what they are/aren't allowed to do.

New Partners

One of the ways we interact with partner churches is to receive short term mission teams. Next week we will host our first team from Alliance Bible Church in Mequon, WI. It's a double team with men coming to do construction and women coming to do ladies' ministry. Please pray that all the details come together as we plan for their visit. We want to prepare as much as we can ahead so that we can relax and enjoy the team while they are with us.

New Venture

This Fall we expect to begin working in our new Community Center! Pray for us as we look at locations for a cultural/educational center where we can interact with Sarajevans in a comfortable, non-threatening atmosphere. Finances for this project are an immediate need. If you would like to help get this off the ground, please send your gift to The C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. Mark the memo section "Bosnia Center Ministry". If you would like more information, let me know -- I'll be glad to send you a copy of our project proposal.

Once again, let me say Thank you for your encouragement, financial support and prayers. May God bless you as you follow Him!

Sincerely,

Kathy for the Eikosts

July 20, 2009
Dear Friends,

Thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support! Here are a few highlights from this past week:

Ministry to Addicts
Many of you have been praying for our friends, Boris and Ana who minister to former (and some current) drug addicts. Recently, they have been threatened with the loss of their job and home because of their association with this group of people. Thank you for supporting them in prayer. The police called their landlord and explained that there had been a "misunderstanding" which lead to the search of their home. They do NOT have to move out, but their rent has been raised another $40/month. Ana reports that many people have been apologizing to them for the harassment, but they are still often told that they are crazy to bother with addicts. We know that this change in our friends' situation is a direct result of your prayers. Please continue to pray for their family, ministry and the city of Ploce (Croatia) as the Lord brings them to mind.

A Different Perspective
I was walking through the park with my friend Ajka the other day when we noticed that a huge chestnut tree was being destroyed by ants. Although the tree looked fine from the outside, we saw many holes and fine dust at the base of the tree. I made a comment about how there was probably a good lesson for us to learn from this tree. I was thinking about the effects of sin and how it can rot out our lives. When I asked Ajka what she thought she said -- "it shows that together we can accomplish great things, the same way these little ants can take down this great tree by working together"! It is good to get a fresh perspective from time to time!

Movie Night
One of our summer activities in Ilidza is to sponsor movie nights for families. This Friday we will be showing "Evan Almighty" for our neighborhood friends. Pray for a good time of building friendships.

Apartment Hunt
I have been looking for apartments for our teammates who are arriving from the US this summer. I'd like to tell you about one of the landlords I met. Mr. E is a very successful businessman. He is the marketing manager for an energy drink with a territory that covers four countries! He is 33 and recently married. As I was looking at the apartment he offered for rent, he pointed out all of the remodeling he had done and the high quality materials he used. He mentioned that the apartment was very warm in the winter because it was in the middle of the building. As we negotiated the terms of the lease he did his best to give the impression of being a powerful, successful businessman. But as we walked out of the building he made a comment that showed me his true self. As we looked at the apartment from the street level he pointed out it's good location -- in the middle of the apartment building, with a couple floors above and several apartments to the left and right. He said, "I lived here during the war. I know the importance of having an apartment in the middle of the building.". (So that when the building is bombed or shot at you have some protection.) With that one sentence I saw that in spite of his outer success he is still wounded and scarred on the inside. Please pray that as we meet people like Mr. E we will be able to minister to them. We know the One who can heal those deep wounds. How we long to share this comfort and joy with the people around us! Pray for opportunities to speak into their lives.

Safe and Sound
We are happy to report that our friends and colleagues Mark and Debbie Byrom have arrived and are getting settled here in Sarajevo with their three girls. Pray for them as they adjust to life back in Bosnia-Herzegovina and for the girls as they start at a new school in September.

Thanks again for your support and encouragement!

Sincerely,

Kathy for the Eikosts

June 11, 2009
A month ago when I looked at our calendar the summer seemed to stretch out ahead of us with vast empty spaces and no major projects to fill them in. We are very light on short-term teams this year (a result of the US financial crisis?). Hosting teams is one of our main activities in the summer months. Of course, what I didn't know was that there would be new duties and activities for us this summer. It would have been madness to host 4-5 teams this year. I'm sure the Lord knew. Here's a look at how our summer schedule is shaping up and ways that you can be praying and giving as you partner with us.

Intern
Hannah Lister arrived last week and is settling in to a new time zone and new culture. She was here in Bosnia-Herzegovina a few years ago on a short term team and decided to come back for a longer stay. She'll be with us here in Sarajevo for 6 weeks helping with outreach ministry, learning about the culture and asking God what he has next for her. Pray that Hannah would hear God's voice clearly. Pray for good health and adjustments to life here. We're so glad to have her with us and pray that God would use this time in her life to teach her new things.

Summer Outreach
With extra help on hand we've launched two new outreach efforts in Ilidza this summer. The English Conversation Group meets Monday nights at 6:30 and Kid's Club meets Thursdays and Fridays from 10-12 (ages 7-11). Several people have signed up for each of these activities which are being kicked off this week. Pray for new friendships to be established in the neighborhood. Pray for spiritually significant conversations. We'll also be hosting a family movie night at the end of the month which will be a chance for the church families to meet and interact with our "new friends" from the English and Kid's clubs.

Bosnian Team Changes
Last month Mark was elected as the new team leader for our Bosnian team which is now comprised of 10 adults and a handful of children. This involves not only administrative duties but also guiding the team as we work together. Pray for Mark for wisdom and clear guidance from God as he leads. In July we'll be welcoming Mark and Debbie Byrom and their three daughters to Sarajevo. They were previously working in Tuzla (north east) and have been in the US for home assignment this past year. Pray for them as they adjust to life here in the capitol city. In August we expect the arrival of new team mates Laura Eckmann and Todd and Karen Dinius with their two children. Pray for them as they launch out into this new phase of life. Pray for us as we help them find housing and get settled into language study.

Community Outreach Center
Mark has made some good progress on finding a possible location for a ministry center. Please pray for clear guidance as he meets with local pastors to agree on a location. One of the key aspects of our ministry is that we work very closely with local churches. This has great long-term benefits, but can really slow down the day to day progress as we move within this framework. We are looking for several US churches who are interested in partnering in this effort. Pray that God will direct us in this and provide the resources needed for a vibrant community-changing center.

Camp
The camp season begins in just a couple of days! Members of the summer staff are packing their bags and getting ready to head to the mountain lake (Boracko) for a summer of fun, fellowship and hard work. You can check out the camp's website at www.emekberaka.org.

Finances
Thank you for your faithful and generous gifts to the Great Commission Fund which puts food on our table and provides resources for ministry. Thank you to those who give to our work special account. This spring we were able to help the Kakanj church start a community garden with two greenhouses and a large parcel of land where church families and their friends can grow vegetables for themselves or to share. We are thankful for Seeds for Peace which supplied a good portion of seeds for this project. Thank you to those who have given to our car fund. We will need to return our "loaner" car to the Byroms when they return. We are still a few thousand dollars short of what we need to buy a car of our own. Please prayerfully consider giving to this fund.

In His service together with you,

Mark and Kathy Eikost

April 14, 2009
Dear Friends,

Here's a short clip (written, not filmed) from a recent home visit:

V: "So, do they jump around and do flips at your church?"
me: "What do you mean?"
V: "Well, we were watching a movie on TV (The Blues Brothers) and the church looked like it was the same kind as yours (protestant). The people were singing and dancing, shouting and doing flips. It sounded like the way my friend described the services at your church."
me: "Well, we do sing lively songs, some people like to clap or move their feet a bit, but I haven't seen anyone do flips." I went on to explain that The Blues Brothers is a comedy and the "church scene" is an exaggeration, but yes, I think they're supposed to be a protestant church "like ours".
V: "Hmm, I see. So, do you color Easter eggs?" "Why or why not?"
me: "In America a lot of people color eggs as part of their Easter tradition. It's mainly an activity that people do together with their children. Since we don't have children we haven't carried on this tradition."
V: "What do the eggs have to do with your faith?"
me: "Actually, I don't think they have anything to do with our faith."

My friend V is relatively conservative in her own faith. Although she's never come to church with us, she has several friends in the church and has been a part of the handcraft project for years. As you can see from the above, she saves up her random questions about Christianity for when I come to visit. Please pray for wisdom for me on these visits. I never know what combination of questions she's been mulling over since our last conversation.

Tour highlights

As you know, Mark and I were in the States for about a month on a short speaking tour. Our first week was spent with our respective families and the remaining weeks we were on the road visiting churches in Virginia and Maryland. In addition to meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends, we appreciated the opportunity to talk about what God is doing here in Sarajevo and what plans we are laying before Him for the future. We are so thankful for new prayer and financial partners who are joining our team. We were encouraged to meet many young people who are on fire for God and willing to follow wherever He leads. We were also touched by your enthusiastic response to the Bosnian Handcraft Project which is an on-going effort to help needy Bosnian women put food on the table. We hope you enjoy the slippers, bookmarks and doilies you purchased.

Here are a few other memories that stand out:
-- Little Falls, NY -- meeting my newest nephew, Isaac Burditt (7 months old)
-- Saratoga, NY -- you hold the record so far for "best international dinner"
-- Lynchburg, VA -- surprise snowstorm that dropped 9"
-- Staunton, VA -- wonderful Frontier Museum and Renaissance Theater (thanks for the tix!)
-- Franconia, VA -- recent immigrants from Sierra Leone are bringing a new aspect of ministry to the local church
-- Washington, DC -- seeing the original Star Spangled Banner (flag from the war of 1812) - inspiring
-- Stevensville, MD -- shooting clay pigeons for the first time (Mark - by the way, he's still talking about it!) and deep fried dill pickles (don't knock 'em till you've tried 'em!)

On the Horizon

Now that we're back in Sarajevo and recovered from jet lag, we need to switch gears and get back to the various projects and events that have been moving along during our absence. Please join us in lifting the following matters before the Lord. We need His guidance and provision as we move forward.

1. April 26 -- Joint worship service for the Sarajevo churches. Several churches have been invited to participate. Please pray that our time worshiping together would be an encouragement especially to those who are a part of smaller congregations. Pray that the bonds between the churches would grow stronger as their identity as a spiritual family develops. Mark will be assisting with communion and Kathy will be part of the worship team.

2. May 1 -- Community outreach in Ilidza. This is a national holiday (Labor Day) and thousands of people will literally stream past our rental space on their way from the tram to the city park. We will have live music, skits, testimonies, a clown, book table and free literature for those who are interested. We will also fire up the grill and share a BBQ lunch with those who are interested to stay and talk. Pray for good conversations and good weather. Pray for Mark and Zeljko as they do some Spring renovations on the property (including building a veranda, putting in benches, finishing the climbing wall) for the big day.

3. May 3-8 -- Annual Field Forum. This is the yearly conference when our Balkan team of missionaries gets together for spiritual refreshment, rest and re-connection as a team. This year's speaker will be Matt Boda from the Pacific Northwest District. Pray for Matt and his family as they make the long trip to Bosnia. Pray for our team as we gather. This is the one time a year that we are all together. Pray that God's Spirit would minister to us in a powerful way and prepare us for the work ahead.

4. New plans for outreach -- we have been brainstorming about new possibilities for outreach and hope to get some feedback from the folks we talk to on May 1. Here are some possibilities: English classes, kids' activity times (to run through the summer), ladies' exercise hour, photography club, and family film nights. Please pray for clear leading as we move forward.

5. Community Outreach Center -- This will be a place where the church and the community can interact. We believe that the church should be a positive influence in the community and serve the people God places us among. You'll be hearing more about this in the coming weeks. For now, please pray that we would listen carefully to God about this.

Thank you for your faithful prayer support and encouragement! Thank you for your generous gifts to the Great Commission Fund which make it possible for us to be here. If you would like more information on how to get involved financially, see the PS below.

Sincerely,

Kathy for the Eikosts

PS How to direct your gift:

We are supported through the Great Commission Fund of the Alliance. To give you can call the C&MA at 866-443-8262 or send a contribution to The C&MA - PO Box 35000 - Colorado Springs, CO 80935. Along with your contribution, please include a note stating that it is to be used for the ministry of Mark and Kathy Eikost and specify how you want it used:

1. If you designate your gift toward the support of Mark and Kathy Eikost, it will go to the GCF and then directly toward our monthly support.

2. To give toward ministry expenses we incur not covered by our budget designate your gifts to the work of Mark and Kathy Eikost.

3. If you want to play a role financially in our projects in Sarajevo, please mark your gift to for Bosnia Center Ministry.

January 23, 2009

F + J TLA (a story of love at first sight)
Faith met Johnny (names changed) at her brother's sending off party the night before he left for the army. Johnny was invited to the party as a friend from the carpentry shop where both young men worked. The young people came from two very different worlds. Faith was from a small village with traditional values and a traditional view of Islam. Johnny was from the big city of Sarajevo with a big city view of the world and a different religious background. Growing up during Tito's reign they were taught in school that religion is not important and that it's fine to marry someone outside one's ethnic group. At some point in the evening's festivities Faith's brother invited her to come and sit between him and Johnny. They hit it off right away and spent the whole night talking. As the party wound down about dawn, Faith and Johnny made a life-changing decision. Knowing that her family was set in their ways and would probably disapprove of the match, Faith agreed to elope with Johnny in the wee hours of the morning. They were married less than 24 hours after they met.

Twenty years later they are still together and living here in Sarajevo. They have three children (ages 17, 14 and 10). Johnny still works as a carpenter, although his working conditions are a lot different than they were under socialism. He works hard with no guarantee that he will receive his wages at the end of the month. If he slips up in any way there are a hundred guys waiting for his job. Faith admits that things have not always been easy, but that together they can get through just about anything. This has included a civil war, hunger, poverty and illness. When Johnny told us stories about surviving the war his younger son was sure he made them up. We've heard enough of these stories to know that every word could be true.

About 10 years ago Faith and Johnny came in contact with the Evangelical Church of Sarajevo. I suspect it was through their humanitarian aid outreach and the testimony of several neighbors who come to the church. They both decided to follow Jesus and were baptized, becoming members of the church. But somewhere along the way, something happened and they stopped coming. We don't know why and have learned not to push people to explain. We met Faith a couple of months ago when she came to the Ilidza church for a special healing service. Severe back pain has been keeping her out of work for most of a year. As we prayed for her it was so moving to see her neighbors (who are still a part of the church) gather around and ask God to touch her body. She experienced real relief that day -- not only relief from the pain in her back, but mental relief knowing that she was welcome to come back to the spiritual family she left years ago.

Please pray for us as we reach out to this couple. We would love to be used by God in their healing and restoration process. Pray that their children would develop an interest in spiritual things. Thank you for your prayers! They are vital to the work here.

Bulletproof Music

Our latest worship CD has finally been released! After waiting for copyright permission for several months we have at last received the green light to burn and sell CDs that we hope will be an encouragement to Christians all over the former Yugoslavia. Being on the worship team means more than playing and singing. When it's time to sell CDs that means helping to assemble the jewel cases, labels, burning CDs, etc. For some reason this week, I consistently switched the word for jewel case (omot) with the word for armor (oklop)! My Bosnian teammates were very gracious, but I'm sure they were wondering about my militant view of music.

Please pray that the CDs would help our brothers and sisters here to worship God in their homes and cars, not just when they come to church.

Thank you for your partnership!

Kathy for the Eikosts

January 8, 2009

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, we take time at the end of the year to look back at what God has done in our lives and to look forward to what is on the horizon. We thank you for your faithful prayer and financial support of our work here in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) and want to share some of our reflections with you. If you want more information about a particular item please drop us a note and we'll be glad to get back to you.

Looking Back
We thank God for the many wonderful miraculous things He has done this past year. You may remember that 2008 was a year of special prayer focus for BiH. Thousands of Christians around the world joined their hearts and voices to pray for specific cities, situations, churches and people in BiH. As a result, we have seen new works started (including the Ilidza church), pastors and Christian workers encouraged, physical healing, souls saved, war criminals and mobsters put out of business, casinos closed, addicts delivered from drugs, finances provided for the national church camp property, and the list goes on and on!

Many of you prayed for Kathy's nephew, Scott who had a severe accident while chopping wood this fall. He is almost fully recovered and is looking forward to getting back to work soon.

This fall one of our "sons" from Breza started studying at the local university. He stays with us during the week and goes home on the weekends. This has added a new dynamic to our lives and grocery bill. It's great to have Bobo here with us and to be able to speak into his life during this important stage.

We also hosted several interns who brought a fresh perspective to life and ministry here. We pray that God will continue to work in the lives of Missy, Allix and Bekah as they continue on their respective journeys. Praise God with us for the great things He has done!

Current Situation
There's no polite way to say it -- we're having gas problems! You may have seen on the news that Russia and Ukraine are having a dispute over the price of natural gas. They are at an impasse and Russia has turned off the flow of gas. This is causing problems for most of Europe (including BiH) because our gas comes from Russia through the Ukraine. What that means is that anyone who heats with natural gas (like we do) has been without heat since Tuesday night (1/6). Some people have small space heaters but electricity is very expensive and space heaters can't warm a whole home. We have one electric heater in our living room/office and spend most of our "at home" time in that room. The temps outside are 32 F by day and 11F at night. Please pray especially for families with young children and senior citizens, that they would find ways to stay warm. Pray for a speedy and peaceful resolution to the dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

Good news! Pastor Mladen and Violeta (Breza church) welcomed the arrival of their new baby boy yesterday! Aron Tomicic weighs more than 9 pounds and has red hair. We are so thankful for this healthy pregnancy, healthy baby and smooth delivery. Please pray for this family as they adjust to a new baby in the house. Their other son, Andrej just turned 5. You may remember that he has many physical complications from micro-encephalous.

Please pray for Mark's nephew, Michael (age 22). He put his arm through a window New Year's Eve and is recovering very slowly. Pray for his complete healing and that he and his family would come to know the depths of God's mercy and love through this experience.

Good news! The long-awaited IHTUS boutique is open for business! Thanks to a lot of help from our brothers and sisters in Sweden, the church has been able to open a second-hand clothing store. It is already a great blessing to families who need affordable options for clothes. It is also blessing the two church ladies who are employed there. Kathy has had several opportunities to help out at the store and is thrilled to have a new venue for meeting people from the community. Please pray for God's protection over the store and for open doors to share God's love with the people who come in.

Looking Ahead
We are starting a new round of home groups in Ilidza. We are very glad to have Nenad (a new believer) and Fata (a restored believer) join us as we study the foundations of Christianity. Pray for those who are still considering whether they can commit to coming on a regular basis. Stay tuned for Fata's story in an upcoming newsletter "love at first sight".

In February we will be traveling to the States for a short missions tour (3 weeks) in the Mid-Atlantic District. If you live in the DC area, we may be seeing you very soon! Please pray for us as we prepare for tour in the midst of our on-going responsibilities. Pray that we will be able to connect well with the churches and clearly communicate what God is doing here and our vision for future ministry.

We are looking forward to the growth of our Sarajevo team. Mark and Debbie Byrom and their 3 girls will be joining us this summer when they return from the States. We are also hopeful that some new personnel will also be joining us -- more about that in a future issue. Pray for preparations and transitions over these next months as families pack their belongings and adjust once again to live in a different place.

We are exploring the possibility of a Christian outreach center here in Sarajevo. Discussions are going well and we are making good progress. As with any venture, a strong foundation is essential. Relationships are the cement in any foundation here in Bosnia. Pray for us as we talk and dream and pray with our local Bosnian partners about what God wants to do in this city. We hope to share much more about this vision while we are on tour and in future updates this spring.

As we look ahead to this calendar year we are quite aware of the fact that the current economic crisis in the United States has and will continue to impact the local church. According to George Barna, '...the giving patterns we're witnessing suggest that churches, alone, will receive some $3 billion to $5 billion dollars less than expected during [the] fourth quarter.' We need you to stand with us as you have done so many times before. Please continue to support the Great Commission Ministries of The Alliance so that the wonderful opportunities that we have spoken of in this newsletter will continue on, uninterrupted.

Thank you for your unwavering support!

Together with you in His service,

Mark and Kathy Eikost

November 20, 2008
Here are some snapshots of what's going on --

Vojka thought her first marriage was unbearable. Her second marriage has turned out to be even worse. She says that the time she spends at Alpha is her one respite between working as a cleaning lady/waitress in a cafe and caring for her alcoholic husband and grown son. "When my husband gives me a hard time about going to the [Alpha] meetings, I explain it to him like this: 'You know the feeling when you've worked all day, come home sweaty and tired; then take a relaxing bath, put on your pajamas and lay on the couch? That's what I feel like when I go there. I am refreshed, clean and rested.'" What a great description of the renewal that comes from being in God's presence and in the fellowship of believers! Vojka made a profession of faith a couple of weeks ago and is slowly growing as she comes regularly to her Wednesday night R&R time for teaching and fellowship. Pray for her spiritual development and for her husband's salvation.

Mijodrag is a retired actor who enjoyed many theater, film and television roles over the years. However, even as his career was taking off, his young daughter delved deeper into alcohol, drugs and the occult. Thankfully, God reached out to her more than 10 years ago and today she is a strong Christian, active in her local church and leading a campus ministry. She has explained the Gospel many times to her famous father over the years, but he was not ready to make a real commitment. When he retired a few months ago he moved back to Sarajevo and shares an apartment with his daughter. For whatever reason, this man has taken a shine to Mark. Not only has he prayed for salvation and healing with Mark, but has agreed to go through a basic Bible study together. Last night he joined us at Alpha for the first time. Seeing the other Alpha participants react to Mijodrag reminded me of his fame as an actor. Mark and I just know him as our friend's father. Pray that Mijodrag will be able to "be himself" with the group and not feel like he has to perform for them. Pray for the other participants to be able to focus on the lesson at hand -- not just the fact that they're drinking coffee with a celebrity.

Finally, I want to bring your attention to an urgent need for the National Church Camp. You know that every year we give you reports of the scores of children and families that are ministered to through this facility. They have an opportunity to purchase an adjoining piece of land but only if they act quickly. If you would like to help financially you can give through the Christian and Missionary Alliance approved special "Bosnia Camping".

Thank you for standing with us in prayer and in your financial gifts. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Kathy for the Eikosts

August 22, 2008

Raising the Bar

They're not all Olympic athletes, but they are definitely spiritual high jumpers. Nine "regular" people from Saratoga Springs, New York came to central Bosnia and in the space of 12 days positioned themselves, their church and several Bosnian congregations for a great leap together for the Kingdom of God. This team was composed of cell group representatives who are committed to helping their small group in Saratoga partner with a congregation here in Bosnia for prayer and mutual encouragement. As the team traveled from city to city team members would gather information and prayer requests. They also met key leaders from the congregation and took the first steps in forming a relationship between their cell group and the local church. Some of these local groups know of no one who regularly prays for them or sends an email asking how they're doing. The message they sent back with their guests was clear -- "We don't want your money, we want to hear from you and know that you are praying for us". For many on the team it was their first time overseas. New sights, sounds and smells were overwhelming at times as God introduced them to more of His children. Each one was touched during their time here and went home with a new perspective. The full impact of this trip will only be seen months and years down the road as these relationships develop. Please pray for those who came that God will continue the work He's started in their hearts.

Danger in the Kitchen

One of the highlights of our time with the Saratoga team was camping together in the beautiful Bosnian hills. One day we were treated to a cooking lesson from the camp cook. Together we learned how to make a staple of Bosnian cuisine -- Bosnian pie (pita). After making phyllo dough from scratch we filled it with ground meat and onion which was baked over a wood fire. At one point I (Kathy) looked down and realized I was getting myself pretty dirty (normal for me in the kitchen). I told the cook it was because she hadn't given me a kaciga (helmet). Oops! I mean kecelja (apron). Oh well, at least I brightened her day. Please continue to pray for our language skills!

A Simple Act of Kindness

Two years ago John and Sandy met a little Bosnian girl named Ines while on a short term trip. Some time after John and Sandy went back to America Ines had an accident in the kitchen and spilled hot oil on her arm. When they heard about the need John and Sandy tracked down some vitamin E sticks to help reduce scarring. This simple act of kindness opened some significant doors for the Gospel. Ines' dad has never been very open to the church and often forbids his family from attending services although his wife has been a member of the congregation for years. Ibro is a nice man, but the more his wife grows in her faith, the deeper he delves into his own tradition. This summer John had the opportunity to be a part of the Saratoga team again. John and Sandy's act of love softened Ibro's heart to the point where he offered to receive John as his house guest for a couple of days. This may seem like a small thing, but it's a great step in the right direction. Is the Lord asking you to make the effort and commit an act of love and kindness? It may open doors you don't even know exist.

Veza: Asking the right person for help

Part of our responsibilities for the teams we host is finding places for them to sleep. Because of a variety of factors, we found ourselves with no room reservation for the last night of the team's stay. There were 13 of us needing rooms -- not an easy assignment at the height of the tourist season. For three weeks I called travel agencies, hotels, Bed & Breakfast places and hostels -- all to no avail. No one had rooms for us. Toward the end of our trip we were visiting an older couple in Mostar. Here's how the conversation went:

Kathy: "Please pray for us. We still have no place to stay for tomorrow night. I've called every place I can think of within an hour of the airport. I would even be willing to stay in Trebinje but have no numbers for places there."

Drago (our host): "What? When do you need rooms? For how many people? Give me the phone . . . Hello, nephew? Call your friend who has a hotel. I need six double rooms and one single for tomorrow night and be sure to include breakfast. Call me back in 5 minutes."

Five minutes later we had our rooms at 1/4 the price we were planning to pay. When we got to the hotel we found beautiful clean rooms. Mark and I were given our own suite because our friend told them we were the group leaders. When I checked out and paid the team's bill the next day I was told that the normal price was about double what we paid. "But Mr. Kundacina made special arrangements with the owner."

What a difference when you ask the right person for help! This is an everyday principle here in Bosnia-Herzegovina. When I told a Bosnian friend this story he said "That's how you get into college." As Christians we have the great privilege of asking the Creator of the Universe for help, wisdom and guidance. Are we spending our time asking the wrong people for help?

Thank you for your prayers, gifts and partnership in this endeavor. We appreciate you!

Together with you in His service,

Mark and Kathy Eikost

May, 2008

Whether we like it or not, we each portray an image. Some people are more conscious of this and deliberately work on their image, even creating an image which is nothing like their real self. Celebrities do this often and are sometimes quite obvious about it. Their image helps them to stand out, to be unique.

As foreigners living in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mark and I stand out no matter what we do. We blend in a little better than we might in other parts of the world because of our skin tone and Western dress, but there's something about us that gets us tagged as "not from around here" pretty quickly. Some of that is because of language (we'll always have an accent to some degree), some is how we dress or carry ourselves when we walk. These are outward things that we can adjust but never completely change. Often it makes us feel just a little conspicuous; just a little out of place; not quite at home.

However, sometimes it works to our advantage. If you know Mark well, then you know that he is somewhat of a pacifist. As international workers we try to stay out of politics and "live at peace with everyone" as much as we can. But Mark looks very American and in a suit he is sometimes mistaken for another kind of international (government) worker. One member of city council told him, "You know so many people you must be very well connected." He was trying to find out just HOW WELL connected. He had no idea that Mark knows the Creator of the Universe personally!

A few years ago Mark was called on to accompany our local pastor for meetings with the Mayor so that he (our pastor) would be taken more seriously. One time he went with one of our youth group members to meet with the Principal over a problem at school. Something about a tall American in a suit taking notes changes the atmosphere in such meetings. Our local brothers and sisters feel that they are more likely to get a fair hearing if Mark is along. Today he's been asked to go along to look at some property for a new church. Our local partner feels that he will get further in the discussion if Mark is there.
God's Word tells us to be innocent and wise at the same time. Mark is not misrepresenting himself in any way, but also wants to use the image and reputation God has given him to help the folks here. I believe that there is a sense of God's justice and righteousness that comes through when we come as His representative to a meeting. The injustice here is so pervasive that the contrast is incredible.

What image do you portray? How does the tone of a meeting change when you enter the room? We are created in God's image to show the world what He is like. What part of God's character do people encounter when they get to know you? Does the fragrance of Christ linger after you've gone?

Celebrities sometimes go to extremes to stand apart from the crowd. When we focus on becoming more like Jesus, I believe the contrast will be incredible for us as well. How's your speech? Your dress? Your walk?

Together with you in His service,

Kathy for the Eikosts

November 9, 2007

We're pretty much settled in to our new place and have begun our exploration of the city to see where God would have us begin a new work.

Yesterday we were in a neighborhood called Alipashino Polje or Ali Pasha's Field. Up until the 1960's it was all pasture land. Today there are huge apartment buildings (15 stories high) and a population of at least 50,000. We went with a woman from our local church who grew up nearby. She was able to tell us a lot about the history of the area and who lives there today. Sadly, it is known for mafia activity and drug dealers. On one edge of the neighborhood is the largest mosque in the Balkans and a strict muslim high school. However, most of the local residents are not religious and thankfully there is not a strong spirit of nationalism. It is an ethnically mixed area. Depression and hopelessness are the prevailing forces there. Between the three of us we could think of several young Bosnian church leaders who came from that neighborhood, but none live there today. We thought of only 4 believers out of 50,000+ current residents.

Please pray for wisdom for us as we seek the Lord's direction. A.P. seems like an obvious choice for outreach, but it is only the first neighborhood we have explored. I suspect we will find many more just like it.

Here are a couple more prayer requests:

-- we are still waiting for our visa
-- we are still raising money for our vehicle. We priced cars yesterday and realized we need at least $10,000 more by March.

Thank you for your partnership!

July 25, 2007

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note to let you know that we and all of our bags arrived safely in Sarajevo. Please pray for us as we are now in the process of looking for an apartment. Here are some reflections on our trip.

Encounters along the way
Zagreb is the historic capital city of Croatia, Bosnia's beautiful neighbor to the North and West. It is also the location of our six-hour layover on the journey from Toledo, Ohio to Sarajevo.
During our "break" in travel, I met a single mom in her 30's who was traveling to Sarajevo so that her baby could meet its grandparents. This educated white British woman told me that she had converted from Anglican Christianity to Islam some years before. Naturally, I was curious as to what drew her. She said that she admired Islam's strength and unity as a religion as opposed to Christianity's many denominations. She admired the passion of its followers, even if she didn't approve of the violence that sometimes accompanies their demonstrations. She thought it was a good idea to teach people to fear God. She didn't see any of that in her church growing up. She said she considers herself a conservative Muslim. I asked about her dress (a low-cut tank top) -- "Oh, that's my Western influence", she chuckled. I asked about her devotional life -- she said, "Yes, I pray . . . well, not right now, I'm still nursing my baby. We don't have to pray if we're nursing." I asked about her involvement in a local community of believers -- she said, "I went to the mosque in London once. It's not like Bosnia, you know, with a mosque on every corner. I went in one side of the lobby and out the other side. I got a lot of bad vibes there. It wasn't friendly and relaxed like in Bosnia." I realized that she adopted Islam while living in Sarajevo because she fell in love with a Muslim man and the kinder, gentler variety of Islam practiced by his family. She kept the aspects she admired (strength, unity and fear of God) and avoided the part that made her uncomfortable (harsh rhetoric and violence). Although she considers herself conservative, I'm not sure that my conservative Muslim friends would agree.
In Zagreb I also met five little girls who were born in London to immigrant parents from Kosovo. They were traveling to their "home country" for a family wedding. During the week they go to English school and on the weekend to Albanian school. They talked a lot about the war in Kosovo and how their relatives had to live in tents in the woods. They had a deep dislike for their enemies (from the war) and wanted to know why people start wars in the first place. Once girl told me she couldn't wait to grow up so that she could kill those people. In the next breath they were talking about puppies, dolls and dance lessons. I was touched by the contrast in the lives of these girls ages 4-8.
Jasmina* is 72 and lives here in Sarajevo. Her grandfather was a Muslim cleric as were two of her uncles. But her father embraced Communism and became a Yugoslav Army officer. He raised his six children to be atheists. His military service entitled him to early retirement at age 50 and a beautiful apartment in Sarajevo where Jasmina still lives today. Her father did not survive the Bosnian civil war of the 90's. Their beautiful apartment was located near the front line and it became her brother Edin's* turn to take up arms and defend his family. Four years of war, starvation and terror took its toll on this family but also opened the door for something new. In their search for answers to personal tragedy, Edin and his wife found Jesus as their Savior and Jasmina joined them. Today, Edin is a leader in the Evangelical Church of Bosnia-Herzegovina. He is a wise, godly man who is passing a new heritage on to his children and grandchildren.

Thank you for your partnership!

Sincerely,

Kathy Eikost

*names changed

July 13, 2007

Dear Friends,

July 16th seemed so far away when we wrote to you last time – and here it is upon us! In the meantime we’ve enjoyed attending the bi-annual General Council of The Christian and Missionary Alliance where we were able to re-connect with friends and colleagues as well as listen to great speakers. We spent three weeks in Muncie, Indiana learning more about coffee roasting and the café business. We look forward to using these skills in some aspect of our ministry in Sarajevo. Mark was able to perform our niece’s wedding overlooking beautiful Indian Lake in the Adirondack Park. This celebration also gave us the chance to catch up with several members of Kathy’s family we hadn’t seen in years. After the wedding we took a few vacation days to go to Westport, Mass. and enjoy the beach with family. Having said our goodbyes to Kathy’s family we’re now back in Toledo finishing up last minute tasks before we leave the country.

Camp!
Summer is camp season, whether here in the States or in Bosnia-Herzegovina. THANK YOU for your enthusiastic response to help poor children go to camp. Because of your generosity, dozens of children and young people will be able to enjoy a week of fun and good teaching in the mountains. A couple of churches adopted this project for Vacation Bible School. One church decided to give camp scholarships in lieu of Mother’s and Father’s Day gifts – they raised over $500! Just like in America, Bible camps can be a time when youth meet God in a new and powerful way. Please pray for those who will attend camp this summer – that their experience draws them closer to God and to a new level in their Christian walk.

A Year of “Firsts” and “Lasts”
One of the qualities inherent to a year of home assignment (or furlough) is that it is a year of “firsts” and “lasts”. Some of the firsts for us were:
• First hug from our parents
• First rack of barbequed ribs
• First baseball game
• First English language worship service
• First piece of Mom’s apple pie
Obviously, this isn’t the “first-ever” of these things, rather, the “first in a long time”. A month or so ago our brains started registering a similar list of “lasts”:
• Last meal with our pastor and his family
• Last walk with a nephew
• Last trip to the Atlantic Ocean
• Last view of the Adirondacks
• Last lunch with a sister
• Last roller coaster ride
While we hope that these aren’t “last ever” experiences, we are very aware that they could be. It makes us savor each conversation and panoramic view. One blessing of missionary life is that it teaches us to enjoy the present and to be selective about how and with whom we spend our days since they are literally numbered.

Of course, the reality is that all of our days are numbered. How are you spending yours? Listening to political spin; drinking in the latest Hollywood gossip; taking a break to spend time with a loved one? When is the last time you savored a walk on the beach or a football game; or attending church in your own language?

Don’t let the days slip away. The Bible tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. Ask Him (the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last) to help you enjoy them.

Together with you in His service,

Mark and Kathy Eikost

May, 2007

We thank God for a restful home assignment with lots of opportunities to connect with churches during our Winter/Spring tours. As we traveled and spoke in the NorthEastern and Mid-Atlantic Districts we enjoyed renewing old friendships and meeting new people. Thank you for your faithful support (both in prayer and finances) and encouragement.

We have just 6 weeks left before we head back to Bosnia-Herzegovina. We will be moving to the capital city of Sarajevo to begin a new church plant. Please pray that the Lord would go before us. These last weeks will be full of times with family and last-minute reports and doctor visits to be finished before we leave. Once we arrive we need to find a place to live. We want to use our home for ministry, so we want to make sure we are in an accessible part of the city and that we choose something large enough to accommodate guests. Please pray for wisdom.

Thank you for your gifts to the Great Commission Fund which make it possible for us to rent an apartment. We appreciate your partnership.

Mark and Kathy

January, 2007

Here is a true story from our small town of Breza in Bosnia. Sadly, it's all too common. The difference is that we knew this young man personally.

Kathy

Ado was a senior in high school when we met him last year. As a business major his athletic build, good looks and personable manner could only work to his advantage. His father is the superintendent of schools and has all the right connections to help his son get into a good college and further his career.

Ado came to the church off and on for a few months. He liked practicing English with our visitors from the States. He also wanted to know more about Christianity. Ado struggled with drugs and alcohol. At one point in his search for truth and freedom he prayed a tearful prayer of repentance asking for God's forgiveness and salvation.

Then the demands of being a senior took much of Ado's time and we didn't see him very often. In October we returned to the States and quickly got caught up in our lives here. We now get news from Bosnia in bits and pieces.

One morning over the Christmas break we received a brief note from a friend in our Bosnian youth group. He wrote to tell us that Ado died at home from a drug overdose.

Where is Ado spending eternity? How sincere was his prayer? It's hard for us to see past the drug habit with our human eyes. But we know that "man looks on the outside while God looks at the heart".
What's in your heart?

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

Current praises and requests are included in the newsletter above.

Bosnia

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