Macedonia Mission Trip

September 19-27, 2008

Macedonia (formerly part of Yugoslavia) is a small but beautiful country (population about 2 million) with Mediterranean-- like weather and is located in the Balkans just north of Greece.  Our group will leave Atlanta on Sept. 19 and fly into Thessoloniki, Greece, then travel by bus to Strumica, Macedonia, a town of about 45,000 people in the center of an agricultural valley surrounded by mountains.  Carol Partridge, a United Methodist missionary, will be our host and our accommodations will be at the Miss Stone Center (near the Strumica UMC) where we will also be working to prepare meals for the elderly and disabled of the community.  On Sept. 27 we will depart from Thessoloniki to return to Atlanta.  Our trip is estimated to cost $1911.00.

Though our dollar has fallen against the Euro, about $5.00 will still buy a Children’s Bible in the Macedonian language. About $10 buys a week of five hot “meals on wheels” for a needy home-bound elderly or disabled person. Our project will be to participate in preparing and delivering these meals to the recipients and to offer English lessons to some of the children in nearby villages.  In this post communist era, the economic condition of Macedonia is poor and the rate of unemployment is high.  Government social benefits are negligible for those served by the Diaconia Macedonia, or Miss Stone Center, and that’s why our service and support are so important to this community.  Though their situation seems so dire by our standards, one will never meet a more generous or friendly group of people than the Macedonians.  So, bring casual clothes, lots of smiles, and wear socks because no matter how lean their circumstances, homes are clean and shoes are always removed at the front door!

Your trip leaders are Mike and Judy Boyce who lived in Macedonia for two years and who may be reached by email at mike.boyce@mtbethel.org and moonwaltz8@aol.com