Pray for Bosnia Herzegovina

Week of June 16-22, 2014

In the News: Emirates Red Crescent distributes more than Dh5m in Bosnia
The Emirates Red Crescent, through its office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has distributed Dh5,142,200 (about $1,400,000). The amount covers sponsorship of 4,274 orphans and 52 children with disabilities in 25 areas belonging to the municipalities of Sarajevo, Tuzla, and Bihac.

The Emirates Red Crescent office in Sarajevo is overseeing the orphan care programs, communicating with them and their supervisors to highlight ERC's keenness to follow up on their health conditions and educational and social development.

The authority also continues providing humanitarian assistance to those affected by the floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina, having reinforced its humanitarian and relief operations to provide greater care to those affected and to protect them from repercussions of the flood disaster. – Emirates News Agency, WAM


Report: American Red Cross Provides Assistance for Balkans Flooding
Posted June 06, 2014
The American Red Cross is contributing a total of $400,000 to support flood relief efforts in the Balkans, including shelter supplies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and distribution of food, relief items and water and sanitation activities in Serbia.

The following are Reports from UNICEF and other agencies.

CRITICAL ISSUES FOR CHILDREN: Bosnia and Herzegovina Floods: Humanitarian Situation Report - 12 June 2014

Bosnia and Herzegovina is facing its most challenging flood recovery due to the heaviest rains seen in the region for more than a century.

Based on the available assessments, 74 municipalities have been affected by the floods (42 in FBiH, 31 in RS, and BD). Amongst these, 9 have been ‘severely affected’ (Samac, Odzak, Orasje, Brcko, Bijeljina, Doboj, Maglaj, Zepce, Domaljevac-Samac), where more than 50% of the affected population and children lives. In these 74 municipalities, more than 320,000 people have been affected including:
• 60,000 children aged 0-18
• 16,000 children aged 0-5.

According to information from Roma NGOs, more than 800 Roma families have been affected by floods. They were identified as one of the most vulnerable groups even before the floods. UNICEF team visited: Samac, Odzak, Brcko, Bjeljina, Doboj, Maglaj, Domaljevac-Samac, Olovo, Tuzla, Sapna, Prijedor, Gradiska, Zivinice and Vogosca.
According to the latest IOM information, 1,560 persons are placed in 39 collective centres (963 in FBiH in 22 centers and 532 in RS in 14 centers) including 276 children (56 aged 0-4 and 220 aged 5-17) but this number is decreasing every day..


Preliminary UN estimation shows that it will cost about USD 210 million to cover immediate priority needs for the next six months in Bosnia Herzegovina, alone, after devastating floods hit the region.
FLOODS  BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA Humanitarian Situation Report 12 June 2014


C. HEALTH AND NUTRITION:

According to the International Medical Corps ‘Rapid Assessment’ of the flood affected areas, 18 health care facilities (both rural and urban) have been damaged. This will impact health services for about 170,000 people. The needs for each health facilities vary greatly from minor damage to total destruction of supplies and equipment. 

At European Initiative, we have received generous donations to help with the floods. We  partnered with an organization called Churches in Action to deliver much needed food and water supplies through Christian churches in Serbia, but the need is just as great in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well. We are currently arranging the delivery of urgently needed supplies, and we are positioning ourselves now, in order to assist long term by mobilizing teams who can help with clean up and rebuilding. We see many Christians showing a desire to go help.


Prayer Points

1)    Regardless of what we believe about God’s involvement in this flood, God has a greater purpose. Lord, we pray for a complete restoration for the families and the economy of Bosnia Herzegovina (B&H).
2)    We see these and other relief organizations and of course the European Union coming in to bring immediate relief. Of course they don’t provide God’s love and the human touch is only felt briefly.
3)    It is disappointing to see that the Muslim world is “all in” and supplying millions of Dollars (there are many others not mentioned above) in aid, yet the Christian community has been slow to get involved. The Balkans is the least evangelized part of the world today. This is our time to be the hands and feet of Christ in word and deed. Lord, wake up the Christian community worldwide, may we unite to bring the gospel and the love of Jesus to the hurting in the Balkans.
4)    The UNICEF report above shows the effect the flood has on children and the medical facilities. Let us pray that the effected hospitals and clinics would quickly get repaired, cleaned up and adequate donations of medical equipment. May the bureaucracy of the government not stand in the way of any aid reaching its destination.
5)    Pray that churches and Christians in B&H will be strengthened physically and spiritually as they focus on helping their fellow countrymen.
6)    The evangelical churches in B&H are small and very few. Let us pray for massive help from Christians throughout the world.
7)    Pray that European Initiative – Balkans will have open doors to organize sources of relief, delivery and follow-up. Pray for adequate funds to come in to meet these immediate needs and secure long term follow-up.
8)    Most of all we want the people to see Jesus as the Restorer of all things and especially may they receive Him as Lord of their lives.
9)    The time is now to evangelize Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lord, please stir up a passion to help the people of B&H.

Here at European Initiative we believe not only is immediate help imperative, but through long-term help, the Church can have a lasting impact. EI-Balkans, with our ability to organize teams for outreach, we look forward to mobilizing such teams to these devastated areas of Bosnia Herzegovina, Serbia and Croatia. If you would like to be a part of a team, contact us at humanitarianaidbalkans@yahoo.com

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Pray for Romania

Week of Dec. 31,2012 - Jan. 6,2013

This Romanian man took off his ragged coat and put on the new coat European Initiative brought him, Jan. 2012.

In this sequence of Praying for the Balkans; praying for Romania comes at an opportune, if not critical time. This will be the 5th consecutive year for European Initiative, which is primarily an evangelical ministry working out of Berlin, Germany, to conduct an outreach to Romania in January. The purpose is to bring warm outer-garments (coats, gloves, hats, shoes, boots) to the very poor, primarily Gypsy population in central Romania. By giving away these items, we are able to get into homes and reach families to share the love of Jesus. Last year, January 2012, we saw over 80 people accept Jesus as Savior. Last year we only reached one village, this year we are geared up to reach six villages. We are believing for many to come into the Kingdom. The outreach dates are January 10th thru 16th. Zuzanna and I are in charge of organizing and managing this outreach. We ask for your prayers of covering and enabling so we may partner with the Lord in blessing the people of Romania.

As I have reported in the past, Zuzanna and I have committed to serving with European Initiative. For us, 2013 will be mainly spent setting up a European Initiative base in Zagreb, Croatia; a base to serve the Balkan countries. (We expect to actually move there in June, 2013)

Let us focus our prayers this week on the final preparations for the 2013 Romanian Outreach:
1)    We have an urgent need to pray right now for the shipment of shoes to get released out of the Romanian Customs at the Black Sea port of Constanta. Because these boots and shoes are new branded shoes the authorities are demanding documentation that they were actually donated as “not to be sold”. Let us pray that even though we are in the middle of this holiday time, the documentation will be satisfied and the container of shoes released within hours.
2)    Let us pray that the “Crocs” shoe company, which make this donation, will make this a priority and quickly produce the documentation.
3)    Let us pray that the Romanian Customs will quickly process this shipment and release the container to its destination.

Final preparations for the team of 18 people from America and Europe:
4)    Pray that each team member will have their financial needs meet for the trip.
5)    Pray for Angelic protection, over each team member’s health, travel, luggage and their families and possessions back home. May this be a season of special covering. We rebuke any demon that has an assignment against this team. James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
6)    (We are confident every team member is divinely chosen for this outreach) As each team member submits to You, Jesus, may Your grace, anointing and destiny be full in their lives and ready to spill over in the heart of Romania.

There is also a team of local church workers assembling in Romania:
7)    Lord, we thank You and we are amazed at what You are doing trough “City on a Hill” church in Apata, Romania. (Click link for Google map location of Apata in Romania, Click Here)
8)    Let us pray for Pastor Eduard and City on a Hill as they prepare for this outreach. Lord, we pray  for each Romanian team member as they prepare to assist with translation, logistics and accommodations.  Lord, put an expectation in their hearts to see Your glory over the coming days.

The unreached of Romania:
9)     Lord, we ask for the nation of Romania. We believe it can be a “sheep nation” and we pray against the enemy and all his plans for Romania.
10)    Let us pray for the people in the villages around Apata. May their hearts be prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive the Gospel. Although the Gypsies in this area are down trodden and poverty stricken, may this be the season of turning for them.
11)    Lord, we pray for every individual touched by this outreach; the people in the villages, the City on a Hill church members, the foreign team, and even the custom agents that are holding up the shipment.
12)    We also pray for the Crocs company, Operation Blessing (they first took the donation of shoes); May blessings be on their operations and staff. May profit and peace be their portion.
13)    Let us pray for special blessings on those that gave toward this outreach. They have a major part in this outreach and can rejoice with the angels over every soul that comes to Jesus.

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Pray for Romania

This time last month my wife and I were in Romania. I prayed, that every where my feet stepped, the enemy’s head would be bruised and righteousness would spring up.


I decree: Many in Romania are going to start walking in righteousness before the Lord. This is the year of the beginning of triumph in Romania.

1. Let us pray into this decree. Lord, show your people the joy of following you in purity. Lord, let this be the year they get victory over sins that have ensnared them.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. Freedom! Lord, bring freedom to your saints in Romania. Every man, woman and child that proclaims the name of Jesus is a saint and they need to start enjoying their freedom; the freedom given to honored sons and daughters.

3. Lord, we pray that the Christians in Romania will stand strong in confidence. Doubts will dissolve as they dare to believe the Word of God.
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

4. In Apata, Romania, where I was at last month, there is a church that is reaching out through the mountains of Transylvania with the good news. (Read the report http://freebalkans.blogspot.com/2012/01/romanian-outreach-2012-if-you-are.html) Let us pray for the saints that are walking upon the mountains, going to the villages and sharing the news that Jesus saves.

5. Let us pray for financial help so the good news can go even further. May every dedicated Christian worker have their cupboards full. Lord, bless them as they give.
Psalm 37:25
I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

6. It is cold, cold, cold in Europe. It has been below freezing for weeks now. Almost all of the northern Balkans has snow up to two feet. Lord, remember the poor. May they have heat in their homes. Lord, we just simply ask for fuel.

In February of last year (2011) our prayer focus was on the following report.

Romania has worst living conditions in EU - Romanian Times

Romania is among the EU countries with the worst living conditions, as 43 per cent of its population live in dwellings with no indoor flushing toilet, according to Eurostat data made public today (2/23/2011). Read More at: http://www.romaniantimes.at/news/General_News/2011-02-23/13277/_Romania_has_worst_living_conditions_in_EU

Now this is really hard for me to believe (43%) but I did see it reported at another source.

1) Let us rise up and speak the name of Jesus over poverty in Romania. Lord, You said the poor would always be with us. Also, You said to give to the poor, so we pray for their needs at this time.

2) We pray that the Lord of the Harvest would bring in a material harvest for the poor of Romania.

3) Let us pray that extra attention be given to the infrastructure of pipes, sewage and drainage, even in the hard to reach villages.

4) Let us pray Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.


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