WEBVTT

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People in the church, many times,

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don't understand what I am talking about.

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This is the biggest challenge for me.

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<i>How I can be part of the world as salt,
as Jesus said we should be salt,</i>

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<i>and also be close with God.</i>

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<i>This is the challenge 
for me and for my family.</i>

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<i>To be very close with God</i>

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<i>and to be close with the people outside.</i>

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Mostly, I am working 
with non-Christian people.

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<i>Pastor Jan lives in Košice, Slovakia.</i>

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<i>His passion is working with people</i>

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<i>who don't know about Jesus' love for them,</i>

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<i>especially the Roma community.</i>

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<i>Many people will not 
associate with the Roma</i>

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<i>and find ways to keep their distance.</i>

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<i>Years of cultural differences
have created a barrier</i>

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<i>between the ethnic groups in the region,</i>

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<i>but Jan feels called to reach out anyway.</i>

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<i>He often organizes activities 
with the Pathfinder Club</i>

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<i>and outings for underprivileged
children and youth.</i>

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If you are working with children,
you can touch a parent's heart.

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<i>If I am good for the children,
the parents are happy as well.</i>

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<i>Pastor Jan works 
in the outskirts of Košice,</i>

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<i>among the Roma community.</i>

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<i>With each visit, he brings gifts.</i>

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<i>These simple presents open the doors</i>

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<i>and show them that he cares about them.</i>

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<i>The Roma have challenging lives.</i>

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<i>In this house, 
seven families live together.</i>

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<i>One of the mothers 
is a Seventh-day Adventist,</i>

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<i>and she teaches the children
stories from the Bible.</i>

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<i>Pastor Jan stops here to greet his friends</i>

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<i>and bring a word of encouragement.</i>

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<i>Before leaving, the group 
takes a picture together</i>

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<i>to remember this special moment.</i>

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<i>Meet Monika.</i>

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<i>From a young age,</i>

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<i>she really wanted to participate 
in activities with the Pathfinders.</i>

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<i>But she faced a lot 
of challenges with her family</i>

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<i>because they believed the Adventists</i>

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<i>would not be a good influence in her life.</i>

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<i>Pastor Jan taught Monika 
important truths from the Bible.</i>

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<i>He also helped her 
find strength to succeed,</i>

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<i>despite her family's opposition</i>

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<i>and the scare opportunities
in her community.</i>

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<i>Today, Monika is an example 
to others in her village.</i>

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<i>She is well educated, 
having graduated from University,</i>

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<i>and serves as an educational coordinator
at her town's community center.</i>

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<i>Monika was a very special person.</i>

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<i>She was like a miracle.</i>

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<i>She wanted to know everything about Jesus.</i>

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She wanted to read the Bible properly,

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and then she started 
to teach others the Bible.

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I love to see the children coming
with joy in their eyes.

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They can see that I've changed
because of Jesus.

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I am so happy when they say
they want to be closer to Jesus

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and have a story like mine.

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<i>Monika and her husband</i>

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<i>now lead three groups
of youth and children</i>

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<i>at the local Adventist church.</i>

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<i>They hope to disciple 
others in the community</i>

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<i>and mend broken relationships
so God's church can grow.</i>

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<i>Please pray for Pastor Jan's 
and Monika's outreach ministries.</i>

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<i>This quarter, your 13th Sabbath offering
will support this work</i>

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<i>among vulnerable children 
in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.</i>

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<i>It will also build a church
with a children center in Bulgaria</i>

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<i>and assist Adventist education
in Spain and Germany.</i>

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<i>Thank you for your support
of the 13th Sabbath offering.</i>