It has been a long time since I wrote..

OK, where to start..

I have been going to college and now this year is almost over. It
has been a great experience to be able to study what I really want to
do someday; to be a elementary school teacher. I can build on my
experiences from when I was with Vedat.

Something very special happened when I returned home. Very soon after
I got back a young man from my Church came to me and said that he
likes me and that he is praying for me to be his wife. That was a very
pleasant shock and I don’t know how but I just found myself in love.
It all went so fast with me coming back home, getting in college and
then having him come to me, but God knew the right time, so after
prayer and counseling we got engaged.

That and getting in college took me for a ride in a whole new
direction. I am very thankful to Jesus that he knows the desires of
my heart and that he is fulfilling them. But it seems like sometimes
when you get what you wanted for so long, it is hard to believe that it
actually happened and you don’t accept it right away. It is like that saying
”to good to be true”, sometime I find myself praying about things but when they
happen I can hardly believe. But God is good and he knows our hearts.
And little by little I hear Him saying : “Don’t worry, it is OK.”
I love Him for he is so patient with us, and always there to help us
when we get lost.

OK, here is more about my fiance. His name is Josip (Joseph) and he is
ministering in one of our local Churches which is the first one that
started out side of Zagreb and that is in Sibenik.
That is where he lives. Sibenik is a town on the coast and it is 4
hours away from Zagreb. Sometimes it gets hard because we don’t get to
see each other except on weekends or when we have a big Church event
where we do things together, but praise God we are able to talk on the
cell phone and Internet a lot.

Tomorrow we have a big event called “Srcokret”. That is a big
christian conference that will be held here in Zagreb. It will gather
young Christians from all the part’s of former Yugoslavia. We will
have workshops and a big concert on the main square here in Zagreb.

Here is the website for it, http://www.srcokret.com/ it is in English
too so you guys can look and check it up. That is something that we are
working on now since we are the host town. I am looking forward to that
and I know it will be great.

This is also the last month of my classes and after that I will have a
few exams to take and this first year of my college is over. The
college life is good. With the regular ups and downs. I like to learn
about teaching and working with kids, so that is good and I am
enjoying it, but I did had some hard times with other student’s that were not
so approving of my beliefs and lifestyle.

Our country is very traditional that it is very hard to tell people about
Jesus and how wonderful he is. It seems like you need to break all
that they know in order to tell them something new, because there is
so much frustration and anger toward what they heard and have not seen
from Croatian Roman Catholic Church.

It is so sad to see among young people how their
hearts are so hardened. There is so much hurt and pain which results
with rebellion and anger that we who know Jesus need to deal with and pray
for, so that our own hearts would not get discouraged and closed for
what God wants to do. God is teaching me about true serving that comes
from a heart that seeks only Him. A heart that gives all because there
is nothing that could compare with the presence of Jesus.

I see that Jesus want’s to completely turn my heart to be like His and
that He does not want to do it without my cooperation. It is so hard
to behave like a servant, and Jesus is challenging me all the time to
be like Him and minister to those in need like He did and I find
myself so unwilling to give myself completely to Him.
That is why I love Him so much. Because He is with me and has that
child like faith for me, that has hope and does not want to quit. He is my
Friend and my Father. I love Him. He is my hope. Because of Him I
know everything will be OK. Because of Him I know he will finish his
work in me. Because of Him I know it is worth it.
God is encouraging me to pray and wait as he is pouring out His Spirit
and bringing his work to completion, cleansing His Bride and
announcing to everyone that He is coming soon!

It is like living two lives, one on earth and one in Heaven. On earth
I am a regular person, student..and in heaven I am a bride and a child
of the most High God!
That is so cool!

OK, I hope I gave you a little insight of what is going on in my life
and I do want to say that I think about you and remember the
blessings God gave me through you.

You are my family and we will see each other again.

Vedat is doing good form the last that I heard.
I haven’t heard from him for a while but I did talk some with his hosts
and they said that he is improving nicely. Praise God! His is doing
his work and he will finish it!

Let me know how what is up with you and how is everything going in
U.S.

I will keep you updated on how is everything here…hopefully more
often..

Love you all and be blessed!
I WROTE THIS BLOG IN MAY WITH BEST WISHES TO POST IT, BUT WAS WAITING TO GET SOME PICTURE OF JOSIP AND ME (WHICH IS NOT SO EASY SINCE HE LIVE’S IN ANOTHER TOWN).  AFTER THAT MY COMPUTER BROKE DOWN SO HERE IT IS.. SORRY..

Here are some pictures of Šibenik

And here are some pictures of Josip and I

These are taken at our friends’s wedding      

.

There are three things that are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent in a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.                                                                         Proverbs 30:18-19

Hi team!

We have returned from an incredible journey!  Vedat’s homecoming turned out to be more than we could have imagined.  His reunion with his mom and 3 younger brothers was so beautiful and heartfelt.  They have missed him tremendously.  He stayed with his family in their small flat for 5 nights and was able to pick up his language within a day.

Any concerns we had about him being accepted, his health, and language were unfounded. God was moving so visibly during this time. We were blessed to be a part of it.

We were moved by the graciousness and hospitality demonstrated by Hatem, Vedat’s mom. Each day that we visited her, she made sure we were served with cold drinks although she has so little. She was so loving and protective of Vedat. We will never forget her sitting with Vedat when he first arrived and placing her palm against his and smiling as she realized how much he has grown.

While Vedat was reconnecting with his family, Steve and I were able to spend time with Bob Hitching and Sinisa Narazdin (Serbian human rights worker who has been a part of Vedat’s journey since the beginning) to talk and plan future work within the Konic refugee camp.  The door to minister to these Roma gypsies in the camp is wide open.  And we have the added benefit of being so welcome there due to our relationship with Vedat.

One of the afternoons we spent leading an art camp, with about 30-40 children who had gathered in front of Vedat’s building.  We had big plans, which changed moment by moment as we worked with the kids!  We used sidewalk chalk, colored pencils and paper, and bead stringing to connect with the children in an artistic way.  They loved all of it and we were surprised at their abilities. 

We came away from this trip convinced of a few things:

• Vedat needs to stay closely connected with his family
• God is revealing a larger ministry to us in the Konic refugee camp
• We need to faithfully pray that God will keep a burden in our hearts for this little corner of the world, to share His gospel of love and hope.

~Steve and Susan

Friday - May 30, 2008 11:30
we made it here to the hitchings,  the flights were fine, i am very tired.  we will have dinner soon and then off to bed!  hope all is well there.

Friday - May 30, 2008 12:28
It is so good to here from you.  I miss being able to call.  I am glad things went well and I am so proud of you!
Sincerely,
Steven A. McCarthy
Art S.A.L.T.
Belmont Ridge Middle School

(Hey!  It was from work, o.k.? )

Sunday, June 1, 2008 12:45 (Message sent via Yahoo! Messenger)
Hey there.  Hope all is well with everyone. They boys and I have been praying together for your trip.  Tyler was so dear, praying for you all, that nothing would be stolen so that you could deliver the gifts to Vedat’s family safely, without any glitches.  Ian was so cute praying for you to have a safe trip and Vedat moved me with his prayers for his family, that they might understand all that is going on with his body and his medical needs.   Call us.  We miss you so.
Love,  Steve
(I received no reply, so I sent the following email)
Sunday, June 1, 2008 13:12
Hope all is well.  Could you have Susan call today?  We miss her.
Steve
(She called and we spoke briefly.)

Monday - June 2, 2008 11:20
\hey
\i am here in podgorica, we went and visited vedat’s mom and family today at the camp.  words cannot describe the experience.  tomorrow we will go and take family pics.
\hatem would like to see vedat on webcam, someone close by has a webcam that she can view.  bob seems to think that you can hook up the video camera and use that, or maybe go get one from walmart the brand is logitech.  we would like to have a live webcam on vedat wed morning around 7am. your time.  \i am not sure how this all works, but for hatem , it will be great.
perhaps bri has some experience with this and could help.
tell vedat that everyone was asking about him, all the teen boys hanging outside.
\i can check email here at the hotel, so let me know what you think  love,, the wifee

Monday - June 2, 2008 21:17
After receiving this, I got on the phone with Verizon and they helped me get Bree’s computer working on the wireless network.  She has a web cam in her laptop.   Doesn’t God think of everything?!!!!!  I am glad that you have had such a moving experience.  I could easily be a bit jealous but then I think of how my birth certificates arrived the day after you left.  It is obvious to me that you were meant to go this round.  Only He knows what the future holds but I am sure that this is not the last trip to Montenegro.  Hope all continues to go well with you all.
Love,  Steve

Susan does not return until Friday, so I am sure that there will be more to come.  I will add them as well.  Please continue to pray for us as we battle the forces of darkness.  This sounds ominous and weird but we have come to find that Satan is alive and well and roaming the earth.  God has plans for Vedat and Satan seems to know it.  He appears determined to thwart those plans.  Fortunately for us, “Greater is he that is in (us) than he that is in the world!!!” 1 John 4:4.

I reread the blog entries over the past few days and have cried tears of joy as I look at how God has moved so mightily in Vedat’s life.  We continue to see God’s hand in this time that Vedat is with us, and are grateful for the privilege of ministering to him. 

Vedat’s body continues to show signs of healing and recovery even though he is a year post surgery.  Each week, he is able to walk better!  When he is in our home, he walks unaided, at school, he uses a crutch.  We have sent his wheelchair back to Shriners.  That was a powerful moment  for all of us.  Physically he is not the same boy who came to us to live last July.  He is almost totally independent with his personal care and wants to learn to be responsible for his own needs.  When we reflect on where he has been and the things he experienced these first 14 years of his life, we are humbled by his ability to face each day with such a positive attitude.  He has not been given over to bitterness and resentment, but seems to look forward to each new day.Vedat is getting ready to complete the 6^th grade at our neighborhood middle school and has done so well.  He has a number of classes with an English as a second language teacher and has made huge progress in speaking and understanding English.  He is reading every night before bed, he loves books!  It has been a good year for him educationally.  To think that this is probably his first full year of school is indescribable!  He has surpassed everyone’s expectations.

Vedat seems to be growing spiritually.  He thanks God for all the healing that has happened in his body, continues to learn about the Bible through Sunday School, church services and real life experiences here in our home.  As the language barrier becomes less of an issue, we see his understanding of spiritual things growing.  We know God is pursuing him and drawing Vedat to Himself.

Vedat’s time with our family has been life changing for us.  God has used this time to work in our lives just as He has worked in Vedat’s.  He has taught us to love unconditionally in a way that we did not understand before.  He continues to teach us about spiritual warfare and the battle that rages all around us.  Every day we are reminded of how inadequate we are to minister to Vedat, and as a result, we depend on, and rely on, God’s wisdom and grace more fully.  We thank God for this opportunity to be part of this huge plan that He has for Vedat.

We ask that you would join us in praying for the following issues:

Full healing of Vedat’s body, that he would recover all body functions that he had prior to surgery.

Spiritual growth for Vedat

A breaking of the spiritual bondage that has gripped Vedat’s people for generations.

Clear direction as to God’s plan for Vedat’s future.

For our marriage, that God would help us to be like-minded in the decisions that need to be made for Vedat’s future.

Some of you may know that I was trying to get into college and praise God I
was successful and got in. The college is an hour away from Zagreb..

I would also like to share with you about our trip to Montenegro to visit
with Vedat’s family.

Our team: Zrinka, my mom, two brothers from our Church (Toncek and Nikola)
and I, left on August 20th.

The trip was long, but we were so blessed to enjoy the beautiful nature of
Croatia and Montenegro. On the next day, we arrived to Podgorica, capital of
Montenegro.  There we met Sinisa, who helped us  find a place to stay, which
was a student dorm in the center of Podgorica.

This is us (Toncek, me, my mom, Zrinka and Nikola)

The next day our team had our first visit to Vedat’s family. They live in a
part of the city called ‘Konik’ which is a big community of gypsy refuges. A
lot of those people got there in the time of the war and continue to live
there.

(this picture is taken in Vedat’s neighborhood)

In that settlement, most of the families live in barracks and have very low
standard of  life. A few years ago, some German organization built a
building for twenty four families and that is where Vedat’s family is living
now.

(this is the building where Vedat’s family lives)

It looks like their conditions are much better in the sense of a place to
live in, compared to the barracks around it. They have a little flat and it
looks adequate.

The first day, when we came to visit with them, we brought Vedat’s family
some gifts. They seemed happy to see us and finally meet “little me”. I had my
laptop and some movie clips of Vedat that were recorded recently and we
shared all that with Vedat’s mom and family.

Vedat had sent some toys to his brothers and they where very excited to open
and play with them. It was so precious to see how they enjoyed getting
something from their older brother. Hatem (Vedat’s mom) was also happy but
sad at the same time as I  handed the gift Vedat sent her. He was saving
money in the States to buy his mom a watch and a silver ring, and when he
got it I was in charge of delivering it to his mom. My mission is now
completed It was very busy at Vedat’s house that day as everyone came to
see us and hear news about Vedat. We had coffee and after talking with
everyone for a little while we left, saying we will come again tomorrow to
do some things with the kids.

(this is Hatem with her new ring and a watch, and on the other picture are Vedat’s brother’s with the toys he send to them)
I was very thankful with how God was leading  us during that time. He is the
only One that knew how long we needed to stay with them, what we need to say
and do while we where with them. And it all turned out great.

The next day there was a nice atmosphere of new friendships and it was just
amazing to see how the kids were so open to us. That morning Sinisa and
Hatem met with us and we went to the big grocery store and bought a lot of
stuff for their home. I was surprised how Hatem was so decent and not greedy
but shy and thankful. That was a nice bonding time for us.

(this are Vedat’s friends in his house and his brothers with me)
Soon after that, we came back to their house and started with the kids
program.
We took them out to the street and started with the games and playing of the
guitar. The guitar was just the perfect hit. Everyone got interested in what
is going on and they were joining the event in such a simple way. It almost
seemed like we had been there for months and they trusted us.

The weather was extremely hot (112 F) and after the games we had to sit down
and cool out for a while. Thankfully we had plastic cups and water to give
out to the kids so they sat down. That was a God given moment for a story
that we had prepared for them. We shared a story about Jesus feeding the
five thousand and as I was finishing the story they were still looking as if
it had just started. I praise God that a lot of those kids understood the
language and where able to follow the story. I knew God made a way for us to
come and reminded those kids about Him and his great love for them.

Hatem was a great host and she was constantly calling us in the house to get
away from the heat. So when we finished the program we went in the house and
there was Turkijan (Vedat’s brother) ready to show us his brake dance. As
soon as the show started, he had his brothers joining him in this
performance. They were so cute as they where trying to impress us.. You
could tell that Vedat is a part of that clan.

In the afternoon we escaped to cool off on the coast for a little while.
Before long we had to fight the big waves. But it was still good.

On our last day with Vedat’s family we changed the strategy by coming in the
evening to avoid the heat. That night was very special. As soon as we got
there the kids started singing the song that we taught them. They were ready
to play and were begging me to play the song again, and again.. Soon after
that we had a puppet show for them and some of the older boys there helped
us. The story was about a unhappy girl that can’t read and a book without
words that her Grandpa gave to her. As he was explaining what the book means
the story of the Gospel was unfolding. After the story puppets sang a song
”Jesus loves the little children” and it seemed like there was a lot of
distraction and disorder but there were some children that where listening
closely.

The rest of the night we just stayed and played there with the kids and had
some conversations with the younger guys there. One of them even took a New
Testament that we had in Cyrillic letters. We also had a lot of CD’s with
christian gypsy music that we gave out that night. One girl said that they
had some Christian’s visiting them from Albania so she knew some of the
songs that we sang.

(on this last picture is a young man who is holding a New Testament and a CD with gypsy praise music)

It is so hard to put things in words and not being able to really describe
the whole picture. I was so blessed to see that the one and only message we
gave out to those kids is that God loves them, and that He is the one that
cares for them and will provide for them and watches over them as they trust
Him.

How special it is to be a messinger of God. The one that takes the message
of love to the broken world lost in sin. The eyes of the children were
revealing the need of that generation there. There is a need for a shepherd
to lead them and it was heart breaking to see that, but not hopeless because
there is One.

Our trip there was mainly to visit Vedat’s family and for them to meet us
and finally see this Vedrana that was with Hatem’s son, for so long. But
with God, you always have to expect more and we did, and we got it. It was
more than just a visit and more than just Vedat’s family, it was really
special.

(This is Hatem, me and Hatem’s friend that would often talk with me on the phone while I was still in the States with Vedat. We finally met.)

(This is Vedat’s family and I, and on the other picture the kids where runing as the car was taking off-that was so precious)

I hope that sometime in the future God will make a way for more people to
come more often and I know that He is faithful and rewards those who seek
Him.

Just yesterday I spoke with Vedat and he is doing much better. What a
blessing it is for him to see his family and friends. They asked me to take
so many pictures so that he could see them. I wasn’t able to see his face
when he was looking at the pictures but I know that his heart was beating
faster as he was watching faces of people that he has not seen in almost two
years.

I just praise God for who He is and how wonderful his love is for us. He is
a big God with a big heart for everyone, and this is so visible in this
whole story with Vedat. The people, the time, the effort, the finances, all
that has been put together to have this happen is such a visible sign of the
love that Jesus has for us. Nothing stopped Him from loving us, not even the
death.

God is good and I love Him, there is no one like Him.

I praise Him for everything that he has done in my life, and I praise Him
for everything that will happen. And I praise Him for everyone of you and
the great picture that all of us make when we stand together as small pieces
of a puzzle that are connected.

It is a blessing to be in the Kingdom of God and a part of His family.

OK, I hope I was able to up date you on how things went in Montenegro and I
haven’t talked much about my life at home but to put it in a few words
everything is good.

My sister is getting baptized in the next few weeks and that is very
exciting. I will start college soon and a new life style will take place. My
little niece started school so now she is in first grade. With occasional
ups and downs the family life is good.

My Church is having a guest speaker coming and there is a lot of preparation
for that (prayer and evanglzing) and it seems that everything happening in
life is going by fast.

I miss you and I hope that all of you are doing  well.

Be blessed and stay close to the only One that gives meaning to our life.

Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life.  (John 14:6)

Love you.

Our family is connecting with Vedat in a way that only God can orchestrate.  On Sunday, (07.22.2007) Steve asked Ian, our two year old, and Tyler, our nine year old, what they thought about Vedat living with us.  Here is what Ian answered:

Steve:  Ian, why do you like having Vedat here with us?
Ian:  Because he loves us so much.
Steve:  How do you know that Vedat loves us?
Ian:  Vedat gave me a pirate set with an eye patch (map, gold coins, etc.).

Vedat has proven to be very giving.  The week before leaving Chicago, Steve took Vedat to an arcade where the games give tickets that can be redeemed for prizes.  Vedat used his tickets to buy Ian a framed picture of Elmo for his third birthday.

Tyler’s answer to Steve’s question was more developed:

Steve:  How do you like having Vedat stay with us?

Tyler:  It has been very fun.  I have had a great time.  It has been a lot easier for me than I thought it would be.  I hope by the time that he is ready to go back home to Serbia that he is able to do everything on his own.  One of the best times so far has been flying kites.  It was the first time he had done it and we got to teach him something new.

Vedat is experiencing so many things for the first time.  A few days ago, Steve and “the boys” were out washing the cars.  Vedat held the hose while Steve, Tyler and Ian washed.  Needless to say, the cars were not the only things getting wet.     They had so much fun and Vedat laughed constantly.

Up until this point, Vedat has not been able to get in or out of the shower independently.  On Saturday, 07.21.2007, a true miracle occurred.  To put it in Vedat’s own words:

“I was taking a shower and I needed help moving my left leg out of the shower.  You (Steve) had helped me on Thursday and Friday.  Suddenly I started saying something in my language (Roma):   ‘God, help me so I can do everything by myself I was doing before the operation.  Help me to get my legs back so I can shower myself and do everything myself.’   A miracle happened– I took my feet out of the shower when I was done.  If you ask Him to help you, just do it and He will help you.”

Back in Chicago, during a particularly difficult time, Steve talked with Vedat about spiritual warfare.  Steve explained that when God begins to work, Satan always tries to thwart it, any way that he can.  He told Vedat that he was not going to let the event discourage him and together they decided that they would not quit!  They were going to trust God and keep doing the “footwork”.

To hear Vedat now say that he prayed and asked God to step in, that he did not give up but trusted God to work, we believe is a result of this conversation.  God is doing so much in this child’s life in such a short time.  He is living out Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”  And what things he is doing!

Steve and Vedat have finished moving all of Vedat’s things to the transition apartment and are now completely responsible for maintaining his care. Perhaps the greatest surprise for Steve is the discovery that Vedat will require care through the night, at 11:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. We thought we were done with the sleepless nights now that our two year old is sleeping through the night. Please pray that this can be changed.

Regarding Vedat’s spiritual and emotional state, please pray for GOD to give Vedat the courage and peace to deal with these changes. While he is very exited, he is also very anxious. Several of the staff have commented on the change they have noticed in Vedat since Steve’s arrival. He is more enthusiastic and exited about his discharge, but he is also terrified. At one point yesterday, Vedat broke down in tears. He cried that he could not “go on living this way,” that he could not stand the thought of being in a wheelchair, having to work so hard just to do what for you and I is as easy as breathing. He just wanted to give up.

He said he was afraid of being different. (here in the hospital, all the children are in a wheelchair or some device.) Apparently back home, children used to tease him. He told of children throwing rocks at someone in a wheelchair. While this is a serious concern, it is also a tremendous blessing. It means that Vedat is comfortable enough with Steve to open up about his fears, something he does not do often, or with many people.

Vedat is working very, very hard. Steve is exhausted just trying to keep up with his schedule. Vedat’s determination and effort are commendable and should inspire us all. He will change the world someday!

My son, Tyler, and I recently visited Vedat (June 24 – 29, 2007). This was the third trip for me, and I have never seen him in better spirits. Tyler and he connected in a way that only children can do. Looking beyond any cultural / physical differences, these two children became one. For this brief time, they were almost exactly the same in the way they played, teased, experienced life. They were inseparable, as you can see from photo 1 

Tyler couldn’t stay out of Vedat’s chair and rode in it every chance he got. He even got pretty good at wheelies! He said that it was fun and wished that he had one. We talked about how that statement was easy to make when you did not NEED to be in a chair. However, Tyler’s statement caused me to see Vedat in a new light. Vedat has this same spirit. To hear him challenging other patients, even the staff, to races astounds me and shows me that even in tribulation there is joy if we can but allow ourselves to see it. So often, as an adult, I become burdened by the circumstances around me and miss the point of the whole matter. These children are reminders that God is in control.

While visiting, we took Vedat out to see some of the Chicago sights. Let me tell you that God’s hand was in ALL of it! We had told Vedat that we would take him to a Chicago Cubs game. He was thrilled. A day or two before the game, we were visiting and watched Vedat’s therapy. Part of it consisted of walking around a series of corridors that formed a rectangle. (photo 2)   His assignment was to make two laps without breaks or three laps with breaks. Vedat chose two without but on his first lap needed to rest halfway through. After his first lap, I tried to motivate him by offering ice cream after lunch if he did not stop again. This did not quite do the trick, so I told him that we would get him a Cub’s hat for the game. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, his “rocket boosters” kicked in, and off he went, twice as fast as the first lap. He did it without stopping. Watching him, I could see the element of drama that is such a part of Vedat (and all children), but I also saw in him a determination that is inspiring. What will God do with this young man I wonder?!

At one point in our visit, Tyler and Vedat were playing basketball. I was to be playing with them, but two of the nurses had asked to speak with me. They wanted to be sure that we were prepared to bring him home and to let me know that Vedat is experiencing quite an emotional and psychological change due to his leaving the hospital. While he seems resilient and adaptive, we have not yet seen him on a regular basis, daily, weekly, etc. There is trauma to be dealt with as he transitions away from the constant attention at the hospital, and we covet your prayers, not only for his physical recovery, but also his psychological and spiritual well-being.

As the nurses and I were talking, I became distracted by the sound of a piano being played. (At least, the keys were being struck.) I remember glancing over and seeing Vedat at the piano. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the image (vision?) of Vedat as a concert pianist. I could sense that there is some kind of artist inside of him waiting to be released.

The nurses were saying that he is resistant to speaking of his life. Perhaps he lacks the ability to put it into words. He has been through so much in his life already. Yet his endurance is remarkable and, quite frankly, puts me to shame. Tyler and I began talking with Vedat about music. Would he like to learn the piano? He was so excited by the possibility that he and Tyler are already forming a band. They decided that the piano and the drums would be where they would like to start. If there is anyone who would be willing to volunteer to teach Vedat and Tyler piano and / or drums we would welcome it. We believe it to be a great spiritual need for Vedat.

Perhaps the best way to sum up our visit is to show you a picture my son Tyler took of Vedat.  They were in the back seat of the car together. We had the windows down, jazz music playing, and were on our way to the Art Institute of Chicago. The look of pure joy and sense of freedom that this photo conveys is so powerful to me and reminds me of Christ’s true gift to us: freedom from spiritual poverty. Though our physical circumstances may be undesirable, we can experience joy.

I am now preparing to return to Chicago for the final visit before Vedat’s discharge. I have to confess my nervousness at the unknown. However, I am also exited by the fact that God has chosen our family to play a role in this drama.

We ask for your prayers as we enter this transitional phase with Vedat. We ask for God’s wisdom to make the choices He would have us make. We also ask for prayer regarding school for Vedat. We are trying to enroll him in Loudoun County but it appears that we need further documentation and pray that the timing of things would work out for the best.

Yours in Christ,
The McCarthy Family

Two weeks ago I talked with Vedat and he was doing good, he told me how his legs are improving and how he is all happy about that. Praise God! 

It was good to hear from him and find out that he is getting better and better.. 

I also talked with Susan McCarty  two days ago, and we had a good conversation about Vedat and his coming future. I praise God for unity and the same goals that Susan and her family are sharing with me. 
 

God is good and He is taking good care of us. 

I am home and everything is good here. 

Right now I am studying for collage and I am so thankful that God led me so clearly to know what to do right when I came back. 

I would like to study to be a teacher in elementary school and a teacher of English, there is also pedagogy  that is closely related to teaching that I am applying for. 

The other day when I was at my collage I meet a girl there who was applying for that collage too. She was so surprised that she meet someone who is talking about a living God that she asked me out to have coffee with her. 

The whole story began with her asking me questions about my trip to the States because I mention that I was gone for a while..  

I praise God that such a normal thing like studying can have an eternal impact on someones life and is so important and meaningful for my life too. 

God is so much bigger than what I know, He always surprises me with that. 

I think it is just about collage and studying, and then He shows me that it is much more than that. It is His Kingdom and souls that He made for Himself and is longing for them to come back to Him. And little  me that has been given a privilege to have a part in that beautiful love story. 
 

I am so thankful to Jesus because it is so good to see how He is on work in my town and country and among young people here. 

And also to see how my story continues, from being in the States and talking about it there, now I am home and still sharing that same story.

With you guys who are a part of it. 

God is so good. 

OK, back to studying..

I had one exam today and in the next two weeks I will probably have three more. There is a lot of students applying this year so I am trying to get in three different collages so that I have bigger chances to get in one of them. 

This next two weeks will be busy but after that I hope I will be able to rest. 

A lot has been going on but praise God it is all good. 

I have shared with some of you about our beautiful coast.

Some of my sisters in Christ and I went to the coast for an extended weekend and that was great. 

We had a lot of fun and it was so good to relax and enjoy my beautiful country and the sea. 

I hope some of you will come in the future and experience that for yourself.  

I am still planing to visit with Vedat’s family this summer and that is something I am thinking and praying for. 

It is clear how that is of big importance for Vedat’s return home and the relationships that he has there that someone  goes before him and prepares a way for him.

The States and a life there is very different from what he will be going back too.

Even I don’t really know what exactly that means, and that is why I would like to visit and know more. 

I will wrote more about that when the time comes for me to go (God willing) and I will try to write down some specific prayer requests for all of you who are praying for this whole situation. Prayer will be very important and needed for that trip. 

Please pray in this coming days for me and my exams. Please pray for the strenght and concentration for this two weeks as I am trying to get trough all the materials that I have to study to be ready for this exams. 

I am very blessed to have you and to know God more trough you. 

Be blessed and know that you are missed. 

Love you.

Some of my friends from Church and I went to Slovenia to the Hillsong conference, it was great! (Slovenia is two hours away from Craotia)

Here are some pictures from the coast, I was able to go for a weekend with Zrinka and the girls

Zrinka and I

We also visited our Church in Sibenik, a town that is more than 900 years old

I visited with my sister’s family on the coast too

my little niece having fun with her aunt

Each day, Vedat must interact with at least 15 different adults who are caring for him at this point. All of these professionals enjoy him so much and seem to truly want the best for him. God has placed such a mix of people around, some who are very loving and nurturing and others who are more firm and matter-of-fact. It seems to be a good balance for him.

Vedat’s greatest needs at this point are continued prayer for healing both physically and emotionally. His spiritual development may have somewhat slowed at this point without Vedranna’s day-to-day encouragement and teaching. Please pray God will place some one in his day to fill that void.

The doctors have set a tentative discharge date for Vedat in mid July. Steve would go to Shriner’s for about 10 days prior to Vedat’s discharge date to help Vedat transition from his room in the inpatient ward to living in a hospital apartment. Both Steve and Vedat would be learning how to manage his care in this independent environment. Once the doctors feel everything is going well, Vedat will be released to come and stay with us. We anticipate that once he arrives at our home, we will need a few weeks of uninterrupted time to help Vedat settle in to a routine here at our home.

We see the time that Vedat will spend with us as a transition period between life here in the US and life back home. We are asking God to enable us to meet his needs, spiritually, physically and emotionally and to help him prepare for the challenges he will face back home.