I am HERE. We are living in the capital, marked with a star. It’s pronounced, Skope-ye.
We have no visa to stay here, so we are making plans to head back to Germany at the end of November when our 90 days of visa-free travel ends. Then we will get another 90 days to stay visa-free in Germany.
We’re curious to get together with our refugee friends in Germany to see how things are now. Refugees want to get to Germany because they give free housing and a monthly allowance. That’s seriously why many only want to go there. They aren’t fleeing for their lives. Most are coming from Syria, and when they fled for their lives, they ended up in Turkey, Lebanon, or another country closer to their country of origin. Now it seems many are just looking for a better life.
We know the grass always looks greener on the other side of the border, so to speak, but some in Germany now are forced to live in tent cities because there wasn’t enough prepared housing for the influx. There is also increased violence. Some of those who fled Islamic countries because they became Christians are now forced to live with Muslim refugees who threaten their lives. It’s a mess of a situation. We don’t know if we can be of any use other than loving those refugees God brings into our lives.
We still have till the end of November in Macedonia. We don’t see any refugees here, and we’ve looked for them in the city. They seem to be just heading by train straight through. Macedonia is my favorite place, and I’m loving being here with my old friends. At least once a week we get together with someone for dinner. Tomorrow we’re meeting a family we met through EP. They’ve just arrived in Macedonia to start an orphanage. It is my hope we will be able to get a visa to stay in Macedonia if nothing changes in Germany. There’s nothing easy or certain about obtaining one though. Thanks for caring.
While we were away, Macedonia built tons of statues and monuments. Below is the city square with an enormous Alexander of Macedon on his horse; he’s better known as Alexander the Great.
Thanks for the updates and insight into what’s going on in the world. Will pray for your safety and the ability to get a visa for Macedonia.
Praying for your family Lee and that you will find God’s peace where ever you end up and that you will be able to quickly obtain the visa’s you need to serve where God has placed you. Thank you for working so hard on the curriculums.
Fellow homeschool mom
Courtney S
Glad to hear you all are safe and thriving; getting refreshed in the company of old friends. God bless you and your family, Lee! Keep following the Lord’s leading; He’ll never steer you wrong!
Grace and peace,
Vanessa
Would you mind if I copied and pasted this email on Facebook? Americans have a hard time knowing or believing what we see in the media. It’s wonderful hearing the news directly from someone living in it all. God bless you and your family, and Godspeed wherever your travels take you. Thank you for keeping us updated. Please do so any time you have the opportunity. With love in Christ, Kelly
Thank you for all you do!! Praying!!!
Thanks for the update. It looks beautiful there. We love using your site, I am very thank-ful for all your hard work. I pray that the Lord protects you and your family where ever He leads you.
I pray for you and the whole family’s safety . All of you are allways in our minds . I thank God for Easy Peasy everyday .
Praying the Lord grants you the desires of your hearts! So glad you are enjoying Macedonia and old friends. May you be encouraged and uplifted through them. In the mean time thank you for providing our family a great well thought out and affordable curriculum, close to 40 days in and we love it! God bless you and your family as you continue in ministry.
Wow what an amazing report! So interesting to hear a description of what is going on, from your area of the world. So, you are from Macedonia originally? And you were visiting Germany? I once visited Albania, as a friend (from here in the USA) was working there for many years. She is now in Hungary. love, Loretta in SF Bay Area
Praying for you and your family! Thank you so much, you are such an encouragement for your labor of love! May you be strengthened and may our King of King favor you and your family visas to stay in Masedonia for His name sake and his glory! You are loved by our Everlasting Father!
Thank you for loving God and his people!
Leonor R
Praying for your family Lee, that God would keep you safe and open doors for you where He wants you to go!
Thank you for the update! I hope you and your family are doing well. Good trip to Germany. We just came back from Austria and the situation on the border is not good, many trains are being cancel and it is getting harder and harder to cross the border…even for non refuges like us! I’m agree with you, many of them are not fleeing for ther lives but for the good opportunities they see. God
Bless you and your family!
I wonder if there is something wrong with migrating for better opportunities. Many Americans are blessed with being born American because their ancestors fled to America for better opportunity. I’m not sure why it is important to point out that they aren’t fleeing for lives but just for a better life. If Germany is willing to provide opportunity to people, are you saying it’s wrong for them to take that opportunity? I’m not trying to cause an internet fight. I just want to understand where you and Lee are coming from. I would think, as Christians, we should hope all people have opportunity.
It has nothing to do with them seeking opportunity. It’s about them going illegally. I only pointed it out because they don’t have to be welcomed to be kept safe. They are being welcomed when coming illegally which entices many more to take the dangerous trip to get in as well since now it’s much easier to get in illegally than legally. The ones who are doing it illegally are now also getting all of the attention and aid when they are also the most well-off immigrants, having the money to pay the smugglers to get them there. The poorest refugees remain out of the aid spotlight and their applications for acceptance to other countries have been put aside. You have to remember that my neighbors in Turkey were Syrian refugees. We know refugees by name who are now in Germany and many who are still in Turkey.
It was great to see this update – thank you. We will be praying for the visa situation and that the Lord will make clear exactly where you should be serving Him for now. Our family is so blessed by this curriculum! Thank you!
Thank you for this update.
My children and I shall keep you in prayer.
Thank you for all you do.
Kathleen In Florida
Sent from my iPhone
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May God bless you and keep you and your family safe.
We are praying for you and your family. God bless y’all!!
you are i a beautiful place ,, god puts you in the place your supposed to be ,, he may have you there for the peoples lives you are touching , may god keep on blessing you and your family for the work yall are dong,, it may not seem work to you , but the refugees you are coming in contact with , you are a godsend. being a christian shouldnt be something we have to hide from or be afraid of rejoicing in, its crazy how the history of the ancient kingdom, isreal,the northern kingdom, is coming back around, wheres gods name and true faith are becoming forgotten and illegal to speak of,
Praying for you! We are missionaries in Johannesburg South Africa. I just thought you may want to know that although you are in Macedonia, you are also being used by God here. We are working at a children’s home presently and I have been able to home-school my own children here as well as use the curriculum to help out the homeschooling children here on Base. Your curriculum has helped so many here where curriculum. Thank you so much for your work in the Kingdom. It has been such a blessing.
*Curriculum is expensive
We are praying for you and your family! God will provide!!!! 🙂
God bless you for all you do. We will be praying for you and your family in this time. We will also be praying for the refugees. My kiddos are loving EP! They ask me every day “is it time for school yet?” And if we don’t have time for school they are upset. All of them love school now. So thank you again for all you do.
Thank you so much for the up to date real life news:)! God Bless!
Thanks for posting! We are going to continue to pray for your family. Thank you for all you do for others! It is a huge blessing for us 😀
Dear ones, we are so interested in how you folks are doing so this was a great report. I can hardly imagine how brave you are to keep on the move as you are. Praise God that He provides refreshing times for you. He’s so good to us! May you keep sending His presence and rejoicing in Him be your theme for today. Rich and Waynel Walker
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I love this program! Im just missing some electives. Is there anyway to possibly make a curriculum or a 180 day plan for the following high school classes..
Correctional Services
Principal of Laws
If you can do so that would be great and my high school-er would be set for the rest of high school. Just email me with your response.
I am sorry I am not able to create them at this time and do not have plans for them in the near for the near future. You can look through this website and see if they have what you are looking for or close to it. http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/Resources/SharedLandingPage.aspx
cool
Dear Mrs. Giles,
Thank you so much for sharing this cool book, “Answering the Call.” It’s pretty cool to see your kids doing the same thing I’m doing in homeschooling. I also admire the obedience of your kids when you ask them to do something. This school is the best school that I’ve been to. Everything is set up so organized. Also, it’s not so much pressure, which is good. I think you’re a pretty cool teacher and organizer.
We’re praying for you guys! We pray for your safety and for calm nerves.
Thank you so much for what you’re doing!
May God bless you and your family. May his will be done concerning All of you. May GOD cover and protect All of you and all those that are helping to fulfill God’s purchase in your lives. May God’s guidence, peace and joy fall upon you all daily. Thanks for sharing sister in CHRIST.
Prayers for God’s decision of whether you go to Germany or elsewhere! I know He is using you in wonderful ways, perhaps yet unseen! Thank you for this wonderful Home School curriculum that has made it so much easier for a single mom with a full time job to still teach my son!
Praying for you. Thank you so much for sharing all that you do. Are there specific things we as Believers should be praying for in that area of the world. Peace of course, protection, salvation, but things I would not think or know to pray for because of my western view?
Luanna from Florida
praying for you i was in Macedonia last year
Thanks. We’ll be back there in March. To me it’s home.