ROM 2012 FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS

Close to one hundred young adults, leaders from over ten countries, gathered together for several days in Ohrid, Macedonia to talk about leadership of service and integrity, peacemaking, reconciliation, and building of serving communities – and all of those from the perspective of following the person of Jesus. Watch this video postcard featuring moments captured at the ROM Regathering 2012 in Ohrid, Macedonia, Sep 26 - Oct 1, 2012. Photos included by Jeremiah Collins, Donald Grabovari, Zeljko Rajkov and Tihomir Kukolja.

TRAIL OF FRIENDSHIP VISITS ROMANIA

The ROM Trail of Friendship 2012 Southeast Europe in July was an amazing adventure pursued by the Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (FLR) and Renewing Our Minds (ROM) team consisting of Martha S. Weiss, Brett McMichael, Minela Pervanovic, Mihaela Kovacs, Bojan Ruvarac, Marko Stupar and Tihomir Kukolja. We visited nine countries and met with 200 friends, mostly ROM and EDS/EDI alumni, their families and friends. We ate with them, talked with them, asked many questions, visited their places of work, service, worship, and stayed in the homes of some of them. This video postcard features the five days we spent in Romania at the beginning of July, visiting Timisoara, Sigishoara, Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest. We are hoping to come with the video highlights featuring other eight countries we visited soon.

THIS TRIP WAS CRAZY

Photo: Martha S. Weiss, Minela Pervanovic, Bonnie Ray, Adelina Beqiri-Minci and Mihaela Kovacs visiting the main mosque in Prizren, Kosovo.

Martha S. Weiss from Seattle WA, USA wrote this report covering her ROM 2012 Trial of Friendship Southeast Europe one day after a month long Balkan trip was over. Martha was a member of the traveling team of seven who visited Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro in July 2012.

It has been a long, excellent time away from home but just about this time on every trip I'm ready to be home.  Ready to see my family and friends, ready to sleep in my own bed and ready for the life I have in the Seattle area.  

Our ROM - Trail of Friendship journey is officially over. Our last day as a team was yesterday as half of the team headed back to their homes in the US, Serbia and Bosnia - Herzegovina. The four of us will have a debriefing day tomorrow and then I leave on Saturday.  

I have been without Internet or without time but tonight I'm in the ROM office of Hope House in Fuzine, Croatia with internet and time. This is the place where ROM has taken place the past 13 years. It is a very special place. A beautiful, quaint village with a beautiful lake to walk around or boat on. Hope House is a yellow, huge, concrete, renovated building built on a hill above the village. It doesn't sound charming but it is. It's very special being here because the building has been sold so we don't know if ROM will ever be here again, so it's a sentimental visit as well. 

The final part of our trip - following Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo - included Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro.  We went to the cities of Tetovo, Skopje, Ohrid, Tirana, Kotor, Niskisc, Podgorica and lastly Zagreb where our team said good bye. I have to say we had a great team. I was the oldest, of course, four were the same ages as my kids and the other two mid 30's and 50's. We all got along so well, a few little bumps but all in all a great group that complimented each one. We survived long van trips, the 12 hour trip across the Montenegrin mountains, arriving several times into cities way pass midnight and windy, scary roads all with out complaining.  

This trip was crazy.... nothing like I thought it was going to be. The cities, towns, villages were so much prettier than I ever thought. The hills, mountains, countrysides were breathtaking. Meeting with ROM mates was inspirational and encouraging. The stories of how ROM effected their lives, made them the persons they are today or changed them were enlightening and I'm so glad I could hear the stories, travel to nine countries and experience the difference ROM is making.  This trip was also crazy because people were so generous. We were treated to a quaint hotel in the center of Tirana, and a beautiful hotel in Tetovo. Had a special tour up to the hills of Macedonia to a sheep farm and ate homemade cheeses. We had coffee at the Mayors personal summer home on the top of the hill overlooking the city of Tirana. Met with the Mayor and other government officials in other cities along the way. Toured royal palaces. I never expected that and I definitely didn't bring the right clothes for all those meetings.   

Through it all our second to the last day I think was our most memorable. It was the saddest, most moving day for us all. I'm still not sure why were we there for this day nor am I sure what to do with it.  

The ROM mate we came to visit in Podgorica is Sinisa.  Sinisa went to ROM 2005, 2006 and a couple more. Today he is the one person who works with the refugees from Kosovo located in Podgorica, Montenegro.  I can't tell you how many hundreds of people live in these two camps but I can tell you the camps are nothing more than cardboard and wood rooms.  Every once in a while there will be a building or two built by other organizations but all in all it is pure poverty. The housing is something like I saw in the slums of Nairobi. 

The number could be in the thousands and there are two camps. The people who live here fled for their lives from Kosovo in 1992 and even though the Montenegrin government allowed them to come here they seem to have nothing to do with them. The people are Albanian and most of them are Albanian gypsies or Roma people.

The day we were to go to the camp was the day a fire started at 5:30 am. I remember hearing sirens but by the time the fire truck(s) came 90% of the largest of the two camps was burnt to the ground.  Clearly our day with Sinisa was changed.  At noon we drove to the camp. It was very uncomfortable to be there, not knowing what to do, if anything.  It was so sad, people, mostly children were going through the smoldering heaps. To make matters seemingly worse it began to rain and not Seattle rain, a downpour, the first rain in months.  

We eventually ended up at the other camp in a building with one room. This was a church building. Took off our shoes, sat on the furniture this room had while other refugees joined us in a special church service.  I couldn't understand 90% of it but I didn't have to understand I knew these people were pouring out their hearts to God. Sinisa and two other refugees led the singing while others prayed, sang and cried.  By the end of our time the room was packed with 30 - 40 people.  

There was some interpretation during the meeting. I know three of the people there were from the other camp and lost everything they had. One man will be housing in his one room an additional 8 people. It is his wife's uncle and family.  Already in his one room lives 6 people but he says he will do it because God loves him and he will show that love to others.  He doesn't know where the money will come to buy food but he is trusting God. Trusting God, loving God, serving God was what was on their hearts. Sadness, grief and sorrow too but not, "Why?" Not, "Where are you God?" Their faith was inspirational. 

Every trip is life changing, and this one especially.

Martha S. Weiss, Chairwoman, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation

TRAIL OF FRIENDSHIP AND CULINARY DELIGHTS

Photo: Brett McMichael High up in the mountains of Durmitor in Montenegro.

Brett McMichael, a member of the ROM 2012 Trial of Friendship Trip, writes about his experiences last summer in the Balkans.

The Tradition Continues

Leaving the USA on June 20^th I arrived just in time for the beginning of “Kamp Krijesnica” (or Camp Firefly in English). This is the camp I started way back in 2001 for children and teens who have cancer. Located in the picturesque lakeside village of Fuzine, Croatia, the camp is a favorite way to spend a week up in the hills away from the heat.  This year, as in years past, we had 35 children and 15 volunteer staff.  Daily activities included arts and crafts, sports, social games, drama and music.  With a mixture of new and returning campers, the “veterans” were more than willing to show the “newbies” the ropes.  Towards the end of the camp nearly everyone begged us to lengthen the camp by at least a few days if not a month!

One highlight of the camp was the Adventure Academy.  The children and teens confronted physical challenges such as the high ropes course, for example, swinging bridges high up off the ground and natural obstacles, such as climbing up a steep mountain and exploring small caves.  Since the children were well harnessed they were quite safe, but they still had to overcome their fear of high places for example.  When they conquered these challenges you could see their big smiles light up their faces.  This activity was a sure way to boost their self-esteem.

Trial of Friendship and Culinary Delights

After the camp ended I embarked on a bold adventure to visit 9 countries in the Balkans from July 1^st to the 25^th.  I was in Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and back to Croatia again. I wasn’t alone however, I was accompanied by other folks from the ROM (Renewing Our Minds) leadership team.  As you may remember in years past I was a part of ROM, which is an annual gathering of young adults from all over the Balkans.  The goal of ROM is to encourage the next generation of young leaders to be active in peace building and reconciliation in their communities and nations.  Also ROM teaches how to be leaders of integrity and humility, based on the principles of Jesus, the ultimate servant-leader.

This year instead of having the ROM Gathering in Fuzine, Croatia we decided to visit past participants in their respective countries.  The leadership team wanted to visit these former participants to listen to and encourage them in their work, community service projects and studies.  Also we wanted to hear from them about their thoughts regarding ROM.  We asked such questions as, “How did ROM affect you, what stayed with you from ROM?”  And, “How can ROM be improved, is there something we should add or take away?”  We also asked if ROM dealt with Jesus in a balanced way or if we were too heavy handed or too lacking in this area.

We found out that ROM did indeed impact their lives, in a profound way.  Most said that they never look at themselves or others in the same way as before.  ROM helped them to see others’ perspectives and opened their hearts towards people from other ethnic / national / religious, etc. backgrounds.  After attending ROM many felt they should be doing more for the less fortunate in their communities.  And they were encouraged, realizing that they could indeed make a difference in this world.

Most said we dealt with Jesus in a balanced way, revealing aspects of His life they had never heard of or thought about before, such as Jesus working with a small group of close friends (the disciples) to change the world.  And Jesus didn’t have political or military power or a large bank account. 

We also heard that it is still important to address the past Balkan wars and the sources of conflict even though the young people today may not even think these are so important.  Today most young people see the lack of jobs as an important issue to address, but the past ROM participants said that even though today’s youth may not remember the wars because they were too young or not even born yet, still their current lives are affected by unresolved issues from the wars.  Moreover, their parents and other relatives (who WERE involved or affected by the war) shape the young adults’ current views about other ethnic groups and nationalities. 

Some suggested we take ROM on the road so to speak.  “Why not have ROM in a different country each year?”  Others still preferred to have ROM in Fuzine as a nice, peaceful, neutral place.  Three weeks while OK in the past was seen as too long now.  Maybe we should have ROM for only two to two and a half weeks maximum since most young people have to work during the summer and can not get that much time off.  After all was said and done everyone agreed that ROM is still a valuable and viable ministry that should definitely continue.

The reason we called it the trail of friendship was that as we traveled we met more and more old friends and made many new ones.  And culinary delights, well because everywhere we went we ate and ate and ate!  Not just ordinary food either, but delicious national delicacies and LARGE quantities of these foods!  We found out that there are at least two things that certainly bind the Balkans into one region, their excellent hospitality and their love of meat!

Highlights

Wherever we went if was HOT, way hotter than normal for the Balkan region!  Temperatures averaged between 90 to 100 degrees.  This meant staying well hydrated, which in turn meant visiting a lot of cafes and keeping energy expenditure to a bare minimum during the daytime.

In Serbia the first city we stopped at was Novi Sad.  It is a beautiful city with many brightly colored buildings.  Belgrade, our next stop is the capital city.  Since it has over 2 million people it is full of energy!  While there we had the chance to meet a couple of royals and tour their gorgeous palaces.  Later that day we toured a children’s cancer ward.  I thought to myself, “what a small distance in terms of geography, but yet a whole world apart.”

Romania, much, much more than just the “land of Dracula” revealed to us its historical roots in the small city of Sigisoara, a UNESCO world heritage site.  It was nothing for a building to be more than 500 years old there!  We stayed for a couple days just outside of the city’s center.  Later we had a close encounter with a mother bear and her two cubs.  They were out scrounging for food in the trash of a hotel on the edge of the forest.

We toured two beautiful Orthodox churches in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria.  I lit a candle and said a prayer for small children suffering from a strange, new illness in Southeast Asia.  Some children died within 24 hours of becoming ill.  I had heard about it on a news broadcast and decided that I needed to pray for them.  The churches were so peaceful and had an atmosphere of reverence.  I especially enjoyed hearing the chants in the background.

Sarajevo, Bosnia was a treasure trove of history as well.  Strolling the small cobble stone streets of the old town while exploring the many shops specializing in metal work, ceramic pottery and basketry was great fun!  It is such an interesting city with many faiths living side by side. 

The next place we visited was Kosovo, but in order to get there we had to pass through Montenegro.  The road was very curvy and climbed steeply way above the valleys below.  The views were simply stunning, but also rather scary!  The small guardrails provided little reassurance as we climbed well over 9,000 feet!  The turquoise blue lakes below however were a sight to behold!

We entered Kosovo about 9pm and began looking for a suitable hotel.  The first was too expensive for our budget, the second was affordable but smelled like cigarette smoke and sweat. !The third was kind of well, how should I put it, disreputable, charging by the hour.  We were beginning to lose hope when in the distance we saw the bright neon sign of “Hotel LORD!”  Yes, it proved to be just what we could afford, quite clean and new with a very friendly and helpful staff.

Kosovo was quite interesting since it was my first time there.  Besides touring Prishtina, we saw Mitrovica where we could feel the tension in the air.  On one side of the bridge were primarily Albanians, on the other side, Serbians.  While the Albanian side was bustling with energy, the Serbian side seemed to have an air of quiet desperation.  I felt bad for the Serbs. Kosovo is still a contested area.  The Albanians want it to be an independent country while the Serbs want to keep it as part of their country.

The lousy economic situation, especially on the Serbian side, is not helping matters any.  Here is where we see ROM in action though as we dined with both Serbs and Albanians at the same table amidst true friendships.  These friendships were forged at ROM over the course of many years.

The next country on our agenda was Macedonia.  Here we were quite literally overwhelmed by the majestic statues and monuments filling the central square.  At the center was their national hero, Alexander the Great mounted on a horse.  The pedestal, horse and man must have been at least 50 feet tall!  If it weren’t for the high cost of these monuments I would have simply rejoiced, but knowing how much it costs this nation, I couldn’t help but wonder if the money could have better been spent on infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads.

Nevertheless as was the case in other countries we met many old and new friends and dined on delicious national delicacies.  One special example was cheese made from sheep’s milk.  We climbed up a mountain and found a humble shelter near the top.  This was the home of a shepherd.  He served us three different kinds of cheese, ranging from very fresh to very aged.  I liked the aged ones better, but was very impressed by his hospitality. He insisted we have large helping of each cheese!

Again crossing over high mountain ridges we entered the next country, Albania.  Quite literally we drove on top of the mountains, affording us breathtaking views in all directions.  Here we dined on lamb, another national specialty.  It was quite good, but the quantity was way too much to finish so we had to take a bag of the meat back to our hotel.  I had been in Tirana before, but way back in 1999.  My, how things have changed - new, wide boulevards, pretty parks, and high rise, apartment buildings under construction everywhere!  We even found American style bowling in the center of the city.  It was so much fun playing with our Albanian friends!

Back in Montenegro, this time we didn’t simply pass through, but stayed to see our friends there.  Unfortunately we arrived just as a tragedy hit one of the Roma (Gypsy) refugee camps in Podgorica.  A horrible fire roared through the camp destroying everything.  Since the camp full of wooden barracks and the weather had been very dry, conditions were ripe for such a horrendous occurrence.  When we came on the scene we could see people milling around half dazed, some were wandering through the smoldering ashes trying to salvage what they could.  Then if that weren’t enough… it started to rain and not just a sprinkle, but a downpour!  We took up a collection amongst ourselves to provide the people with at least some money to buy food and clothing.  We also held a worship service where many heart-felt prayers were shared.  Later we heard the government put metal containers that were made into small houses in the camp. 

We finally did get one day in of swimming though.  As coast of Monte Negro is quite beautiful, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to cool off!  One of our team members also decided to get baptized.  It was a moving, spiritual experience.

Finally the roads led us back to Croatia and the end of our fun, challenging, exhausting, and rewarding journey.  As we rode toward our final destination we reflected on all that we saw, heard, felt and experienced.  It was a trip we won’t soon forget!  Parting was hard since we went through a lot together, but alas we had to say goodbye!

Another Wonderful Camp

My grand trip over my summer wasn’t yet complete.  I headed back to Serbia to help out with another camp for children with cancer.  This camp was sponsored by the National Association for Parents who have Children with Cancer.  Unlike my other camp, each child could bring a parent (or guardian) along.  We had over 60 children ages 3 to 19!  The age range was a challenge but we divided the children and teens according to age group so that the activities they did were age appropriate.  In addition to arts and crafts, sports and games the camp also had swimming in a heated indoor pool, horseback riding and psychological workshops.  I assisted with the psychological workshops addressing such themes as: family, school, hospital, emotions, and even wishes.  Besides good health the kids wanted typical things any kids would want, like toys, sports cars, mansions, planes, etc.  

The camp was held at a rehabilitation hospital in a small town called Ivanjica nestled in the mountains of Serbia.  The hospital had more of a hotel feel to it, so it wasn’t too clinical.  The hospital grounds were forested which provided lots of cool shade during the days.  Even though this camp was longer, 11 days, than the one in Croatia, still the children wanted it to last even longer!

Brett McMichael

WE NEED MORE OF ROM

Photo: Roma camp Konik 1 in Podgorica, Montenegro was lost in fire on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Marko Stupar, a member of the ROM Trial of Friendship 2012 team, shares his experiences from the trip in July.

Bojan Ruvarac and I joined the ROM 2012 Trail of Friendship trip in a small place in Montenegro on 14^th of July 2012. I am glad I was able to join the second half of the trip and witness great things that many Romates are doing in the region. Among many great experiences I would like to single out  the two that impacted me the most.

First one happened in Kosovo.

Kosovo has been a place of conflict between Serbs and Albanians for the last 30 years, but the last 10 years have been the toughest. Still, as I write this, there are minor conflicts going on and people there don’t live in complete peace.

This was my first visit to this region ever.

As a Serb visiting this part of Balkans, it wasn’t easy for me. The first time I attended a Renewing our Minds Gathering (ROM) was in 2006. This was the time when I got rid of many prejudices towards Albanians. But to take a big step such as visiting Kosovo in person was a challenge nevertheless.

I thought that people would not be friendly towards me and that I will have to face some uncomfortable situations. But what I experience there was completely different! People were amazingly friendly to all of us in the traveling group, especially to Bojan and me. They wanted to talk to us, to treat us; they even refused to talk in English but talked in Serbian all the time. I experienced different Kosovo then the one I see in the news all the time.

Also, I felt huge power of the ROM community and importance of the program. Even thought I had a great time there, I know that there are still many people on both sides who hate each other and that is why I think that ROM is necessary in this region. We need more peacemakers, reconcilers and leaders who are willing to stand firm, not for nationalistic views but as peace builders.

Second powerful experience took place in Montenegro. 

We visited Sinisa Nadazdin and his work with a Roma community. At that very day when we were visiting Podgorica, on Tuesday 25^th July, one of the two big refugee camps - populated by Roma families for the past thirteen years - burned to the ground. Most of the families lost everything they had however little that was.

But still, a group of Roma believer in Jesus gathered in a small church this afternoon to pray and worship the Lord. This was a worship I’ve never experience in my life before. There was a great presence of joy, humility, mixed with grief in that room. They were praising the Lord even though some lost everything they had, or someone close to them lost everything.

It made me think about how self-focused I am often. I had to go all the way to Podgorica to see that there are people in a dire need who nevertheless have courage to trust in Jesus.

It made me also more mindful about a Roma community not far away from me in Novi Sad that lives too in very poor conditions. I would like to help those people somehow. Maybe the first step will be to collect some clothes for them.

Many other great things happened on this trip, but one thing comes out clearly. ROM has a great influence in the region and many who have attended ROM gatherings in the past are now doing great things of service in their communities because they were touched by the spirit of Jesus at ROM.

So my conclusion is very simple. We need more of ROM, and we need to send as many young leaders as possible to ROM gatherings and events so that they can become equipped to change their communities.

Marko Stupar, Novi Sad, Serbia

Welcome to Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum

Photo: Boriana Staykova from Sofia, Bulgaria speaks at EDI 2012 in Fuzine, Croatia.

Justin Kagin, EDI Forum Director, writes about successfully completed Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum seminar this August held in Fuzine, Croatia

Welcome to EDI! This is what I felt God wanted me to say not only at the beginning but to the participants at the final banquet, the last night of the Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum. Welcome to the EDI/EDS/ROM Jesus loving community!  At that moment, I did not feel that it was just the end of an incredible 12 days but rather the beginning of a network of deep friendships and followers of Jesus. 

Already participants of EDI can reconnect at the end of September in Ohrid, Macedonia at the ROM Regathering which will include not only Renewing our Mind (ROM) alumni but Economic Diplomacy Seminar (EDS – a predecessor to EDI), past participants as well.   Additionally, one of our speakers, Leo van Doesburg, Eastern European Representative for the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM), has invited participants to join in ECPM events as well.  Not to mention student groups in Serbia (Evanđeosko Udruženje Studenata -  EUS), prayer and relational gatherings around the region, and invitations by the many speakers and leadership that are passionate to be mentors and resources to the participants throughout their lives. So, I am excited and happy to say that the care and passion for Jesus and his principles will not stop when EDI finished but only just began.

Overall, I am extremely impressed and thankful for the quality of the leadership team and speakers, and their dedication to each other and the participants. Truly there was an atmosphere of love and respect that permeated the gathering, touched the participants and made EDI successful. I am equally impressed by the attentive and engaging participants that did not sit passively by but actively engaged in lectures, small groups, workshops and individual discussions to get the most out of their experience. 

The Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum

During EDI around 30 people gathered to engage in an intense, but also enjoyable, series of lectures, small groups, workshops and activities where the speakers and leadership poured not just their wisdom and knowledge but their entire lives into their time at EDI.  EDI was truly a relational gathering where not one of the speakers or leaders came without leaving their imprint on the participants. 

Leo van Doesburg helped start EDI by explaining the history behind Economic Diplomacy in Europe and some key features that would provide a foundation for the days ahead.  Justin Kagin complemented this by introducing Jesus as the best economist in his lecture “the Love Economy.”  He explained how Jesus taught key principles, like paying taxes even to corrupt governments, not charging interest to the poor, giving freely, and loving one another, that when applied can actually benefit the economies of our nations.  After a series of group games to get to know each other better and a relaxing boat ride in the cool beauty of Fuzine lake, EDI launched into the Trinity Forum with moderator and speaker Jack Fallow, Founder and Director of the Center for Organizational Effectiveness. Readings from Ayn Rand, Tolstoy, Greek and Hebrew literature among others, explored different approaches to life and challenged participants to lead meaningful lives and lives of integrity.  Normally reserved for top-level CEOs and politicians, EDI had the honor and benefit of having this curriculum for our young leaders.

This first part of the forum also included insightful principles for leaders to follow by Samuilo Petrovski, Director of EUS.  He explained how good character and humility are central to leadership and that Jesus exemplified leadership. Samuilo later led a workshop on applying these principles to your life while Jack led a parallel workshop on business complexity.  Jack also gave insights into examples of people choosing an abundant life where Religion, Science, and Art interact in their lives to produce amazing outcomes.  Boriana Staikova, working on anti-corruption in the Bulgarian Government, talked to the participants about the complexities surrounding corruption; its definition and examples of how it happens in practice.  She challenged us to think about the ways in which we personally might be tempted to be corrupt and how we might fight it.

Some of the speakers enriched EDI by bringing their families with them.  Robert Maricak, Business Investor and Executives' Consultant, brought his wife, Karmela, and two kids.  In the second week of EDI, Robert and Karmela spoke on the difficulties and joys of managing a career and a family.  How together they complemented each other and contributed to a successful enterprise without succumbing to corruption or tax evasion.  Robert elaborated on these experiences speaking of the different forms of corruption in Croatia and how through listening to God he was able to overcome them.  Dražen Glavaš, founder of ET!K-Education, Training and Kommunication, brought Jodi and his three sons and he contributed by speaking to participants on their goals and aspirations. He challenged them to think about things that make their heart hurt, their passions and dreams.  His “Love Revolution” lectures were some of the many seeds that he helped plant during EDI. Finally, Tihomir Kukolja, director of ROM, came with his wife Christine and their son.  He taught on the importance of following Jesus and not religion as an idol.

EDI was further enriched by Mihaela Kovacs, Founder and Director of Fundatia Baraca Sighisoara, who introduced problems in the region in gender and ethnic discrimination.  In the evening, through drama, she led a practical demonstration of the effects and negative feelings generated by prejudice.  It caused many of us to think on what we might be doing to propagate this and how we might fight against it.  As a complement to these lectures, Eunice Dugalescu, General Project Assistant for ECPM, spoke about the human dignity movement in Europe and around the world and which applied many of the principles of Jesus to politics.  She talked about the advocacy of the movement and the promotion of the concept of human dignity in protecting life from inception to natural death.  Finally, Justin spoke this second week on Jesus and banking and Leo spoke on the vision for the future of the EU (which complemented an earlier parliament game he simulated with participants) and the role model of Nehemiah in carrying out one’s vision.  Having these lectures toward the end provided a sufficient platform for the participants to think and plan their own visions.

After participating throughout EDI, listening to lectures, expressing their stories through interviews, engaging in small groups, and giving us their music, drama and even martial arts talents, participants were asked to give presentations of their own visions to fight corruption in society using Jesus’s principles.  They were excellent and we are confident that many of these visions will be born out.  We are also especially grateful for the participants that volunteered to aid in many aspects of the forum; from putting up decorations, to music, to engaging with speakers during their time at EDI.  Hristina Runceva, a teaching assistant at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and a participant, particularly contributed in that she taught a well-received workshop on economics and conflict resolution.

Overall a successful and fulfilled EDI, to which everyone contributed and hopefully enjoyed.  The seeds for better nations are planted and watered and growing, and I say again at the end here to everyone involved, Welcome to EDI!

Justin Kagin, Director, Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum 2012

                                      

ROM Team Reflects

On the way back to Croatia, following 25 days of travelling through nine Balkan countries in July, ROM Team reviewed the results of the 2012 ROM Trial of Friendship trip. The travelling team consisted of Martha S. Weiss, Brett McMichael, Minela Pervanovic, Mihaela Kovacs, Bojan Ruvarac, Marko Stupar and Tihomir Kukolja. The purpose of the trip was to meet the ROM (renewing Our Minds) and EDS (Economic Diplomacy Seminar) alumni, their families and friends, as well as to meet new friends. Likewise, their intention was to listen, and to learn about the ways ROM is still continuing to impact the lives of those who attended its gatherings in previous years.

ROM Southeast Europe Trail of Friendship 2012 Slideshow

The 2012 ROM Trail of Friendship across Southeast Europe, throughout the month of July, was the most amazing trip undertaken by the Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (FLR) and Renewing Our Minds (ROM) team consisting of Martha S. Weiss, Brett McMichael, Minela Pervanovic, Mihaela Kovacs, Bojan Ruvarac, Marko Stupar and Tihomir Kukolja. The purpose of the journey was to meet the ROM and EDS (Economic Diplomacy Seminar) alumni, and their families and friends, as well as to meet new friends; and to be a source of encouragement to all of them. Likewise, our intention was to receive a valuable input from former ROM and EDS participants about the impact ROM and EDS (Economic Diplomacy Seminar) still has on their lives. All the travelling team members felt that the trip was actually a ROM Gathering taking place in a different way. We called the trip – “Brining ROM to our friends where they are”. The 25 days of travelling were crowded with amazing experiences, joy, excitement and good surprises. We met 200 friends, eat with them, talked with them, asked them many questions, visited them at their places of work and service, and stayed in the homes of some of them. We were warmly received by everyone we had visited, and enjoyed great acts of hospitality where we went. Plus, we would occasionally have some unexpected experiences and encounters that spiced our journey with humor and surprise. This album features a photo essay covering our journey across the Southeast Europe in 25 days, between Sunday July 1 and Monday July 9, during which time we visited Zagreb and Osijek in Croatia; Novi Sad and Belgrade in Serbia; and Timisoara, Sigishoara, Cluj-Napoca and Bucharest and Romania; Sofia in Bulgaria; Leskovac in Serba; Sarajevo and Tuzla in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Pristina, Mitrovica and Prizren in Kosovo; Skopje, Tetovo and Ohrid in Macedonia; Tirana in Albania; Orahovac, Kotor, Niksic and Podgorica in Montenegro; and finally Fuzine in Croatia.

REFLECTIONS ON 2012 ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AND INTEGRITY FORUM

Justin Kagin, Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum Director, and the EDI 2012 team members Leo van Doesburg, Mihaela Kovacs, and Christian and Eunice Vatran, reflect on the Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum 2012 that was completed on Saturday, August 11, 2012 in Fuzine, Croatia.

Hundreds of Roma Refugees in Montenegro Homeless

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Dear Friends,

Let me share a brief account of a very dramatic event our Renewing Our Minds Team witnessed at the very end of our Southeast European Trial of Friendship 2012.

On Tuesday July 24, 2012 we were in Podgorica, Montenegro, and our plan was to visit two Roma camps (Konak 1 and Konak 2) crowded with refugees from Kosovo, who sought their refuge in Montenegro in 1999. The two refugee camps were supposed to be their temporary shelter till a permanent solution was to be found. However over the past 13 years the two camps has become their permanent home, neglected by the Montenegrin Government, abandoned by international humanitarian agencies, and treated as a nuisance by the local population. In short hundreds of Roma families living in the two camps under appalling conditions are stuck in poverty, with no prospect of a more dignified life conditions in the future.

Sinisa Nadazdin, who has committed the past ten years of his life to helping and serving Roma refugees in those two camps, took us on Tuesday to the camps, only to become unwilling witnesses of an outstanding tragedy. On the morning of our visit fire broke out, most likely caused by accident, in the biggest Roma camp of the two (Konak 1). Extreme heat that has visited the entire region for more than a month made the wooden Roma homes an easy pray to the fire that in no time consumed up to 80% of all homes in the camp Konak 1. Only a few homes were spared. One thousand Romas lost their homes and everything they possessed to the flames.

Our team witnessed children, young people and old, trying to rescue whatever they could - not much really. We saw children and Roma families wondering confused and lost, trying to make sense out of the tragedy.  I heard some of them saying that "it would have been better had they died in the fire than to have lost their modest homes and the few possessions they had. None of us in the team could keep our eyes dry as we pondered helplessly at the overwhelming consequences of the disaster that struck so many Roma families in Podgorica that Tuesday morning.

And yet, in the middle of the tragedy that plunged close to one thousand of Romas in Podgorica into a new stage of miserable existence, we witnessed something beautiful that none of us in the team would ever forget. Sinisa Nadazdin, who is also a leader of a small but growing Roma church community, invited us to their Roma church house for a special prayer service. In no time the small room was filled with Romas, more than twenty, some of who lost all their possessions, which for two hours worshiped the Lord through prayer, music and sharing times in the most beautiful way. The honesty of their prayers, sincerity of the spirit and the simplicity of their faith was a powerful witness to what it means to trust in the Lord even at the time of a great tragedy. A more meaningful worship I have not experienced for a very long time.

The Roma victims in Podgorica, Montenegro who have lost their homes and all belongings need our help. The Government of Montenegro is slow again to provide any meaningful assistance. And yet those people and their families need urgently portable homes, tents, mattresses, blankets, urgent humanitarian aid to sustain their lives at this time. Would you know a person, church community or an organization that could help? Maybe you too can do something too to help?

Information or further questions related to the nature of the most immediate help that could make a difference in the lives of the hundreds of homeless Romas in Podgorica at this time could be obtained from Sinisa Nadazdin, our friend and Romate, who is very well known and respected in the Roma communities in Podgorica. His contact details are: nadazdin@t-com.me , mobile number if +38269352052. Please, ask Sinisa about what you can do to elevate the suffering of the homeless Roma families in Podgorica, Montenegro.

Thank you for whatever you can do. Remember the words of Jesus: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt. 25:40.

Tihomir Kukolja

Renewing Our Minds, Director

Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, Executive Director

WELCOME TO ROM REGATHERING OF FRIENDS 2012

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Last ROM Regathering of Friends in Ohrid, Macedonia in the autumn of 2006

Dear Family of Friends,

It is with great joy that we invite you to attend the ROM REGATHERING OF FRIENDS 2012 in Ohrid, Naselba Sveti Stefan Macedonia at Hotel Klimetica , 26th September to 1st October 2012.

ROM REGATHERING OF FRIENDS will take place in Ohrid, one of the most historic, picturesque and pleasant towns of Macedonia, next to the Lake Ohrid. The Regathering will start with the afternoon registration and dinner on Wednesday, 26th September, and close with breakfast on Monday morning, 1st October 2012.

If you have not received the letter of invitation and registration form please let us know ASAP by writing to forumforleadership@gmail.com. Please read the entire letter of invitation and registration form coming to you by email.

To help us get everything organized and on time we would ask you to send us the completed form as soon as possible, and no later than Monday, 20th August 2012. If you have any questions concerning the cost, or if you are able to attend only for a part of the Regathering, or if you have any other questions please let us know as soon as possible.

Send your completed REGATHERING REGISTRATION FORM to forumforleadership@gmail.com by 20th August 2012, or earlier.

The leadership team of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation is looking forward to receiving your registration and seeing you in Ohrid this September.

Love and blessings.

Tihomir Kukolja

Renewing Our Minds, Director

Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, Executive Director

+1-281-515-3707

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