the team
Dave and Cindy Johnson
After nineteen years of full-time ministry as a pastor, Dave was assisting Kalen Brown at City Church of Billings and studying for his theology degree. An opportunity arose to go on a short-term mission for three months to Albania. He and his son, Jed, went together for the first three months of 2000. Dave had been asked to consider leading this work in Albania, so Dave and Cindy went back together for three months. They determined it was not God’s will for them to lead this work in Albania. At the end of that trip they made a visit to Kosova in August of 2000; their hearts were touched to return to Kosova with the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After studying the history they believe harmony can only be realized as a result of changed hearts. So, Pastor Bob Johnson and Great Falls Christian Center took the Johnsons under their wing as missionaries. According to the Johnsons, the care and covering provided by GFCC is, “a blessing of great magnitude that empowers us fully to accomplish the work at hand.”
Dave and Cindy left for Kosova in January 2001. After living in Gjakova, learning the language, fellowshipping with one Christian church, and making friends with their neighbors and acquaintances, they were asked to be temporary directors of a daycare/kindergarten, built and funded by Humedica, in the small village of Krushe e Vogel.
After the war, Wolfgang Gross, Executive Director of the international medical and humanitarian relief organization, Humedica from Kaufbeuren, Germany, came to Kosova and visited Krushe e Vogel. He asked the widows what he could do to help them. They asked if Humedica could build a daycare/kindergarten for their children. They built a beautiful daycare facility with a second floor private residence for the directors.
Through a chain of events, the Johnsons were asked to take the leadership of the facility on a more permanent basis. “We love the people of Kosova. They have warmly welcomed us. It is difficult to make a way into a small village, as the people are usually closed to outsiders. The kindergarten built and funded by Humedica has opened doors for us to share love, hope, joy, and peace with this village.”
“We enjoy home visits and loving on the children in the daycare/kindergarten.” There are seventy-four children registered as of February 2002. “Our primary responsibility is directing the daycare, but we have a heart to reach out to the entire village. It is a lot of work, but Dan and Amber Litzinger (pictured at left) will join us in March 2002 to help. For that we are truly grateful.”
“The things we miss about the US are not things at all. We miss our family and friends the most. The Internet and occasional phone calls are a joy to us. Of course, the Lord fills the empty places in our heart. We could not have the mental strength to do the work here without the whole-hearted support of our immediate family. We appreciate them for releasing us for this purpose.” “Occasionally we will miss a certain food item, like celery, a good steak, crisply fried bacon, or a glass of ice cold, homogenized, pasteurized milk. Electricity and water are two commodities we would gladly accept in more abundant supply.”
