A Visit to Montenegro

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A Visit to Montenegro

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Introduction

• History
• Geography
• Economy
• Religion

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Map of Montenegro

• Size of Connecticut
• Fertile valleys
• Rugged Mountains
• Deep ravines and canyons
• Sandy beaches along coast

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Political Map
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Overview of Montenegros history

• First wave of Slavs came in 6th century
• Second wave arrived in 7th century
• Slavs were pagan, but converted to Christianity
• Fiercely independent for 1000 years
• Never conquered by the Ottomans
• Fought with Allies during WW I

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Old Kingdom of Montenegro

• The Proclamation of the Kingdom in 1910
• Ottoman Turks finally leave the Balkan Peninsula,
  and Serbs unite

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Later History

• Forced into Union of 6 countries to form
  Yugoslavia communist rule
• Union collapsed after death of Tito
• Forced into uneasy union with Serbia and Kosovo
  under Milosevic
• With fall of Milosevic, hopes for independence in
  2 years

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Geography of Montenegro

• On east side of Balkan Peninsula
• Lovely beaches on Adriatic coast
• High ranges of mountains
• Industrial cities, including Niksic, behind first
  range of mountains
• Sub-tropical climate along Adriatic coast
• Cold winters, hot humid summers inland

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Adriatic Coast
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Budva, on the Adriatic
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Medieval Coastal Town
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Medieval Town of Kotor
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Town of Prkani
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Inland from the coast - the fertile Tara Valley
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Durmitor Mountains
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Rafting on the Tara
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Hot Summers, Cold Winters
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Economy

• Since collapse of Yugoslavia, and ouster of
  Milosevic, many problems
• Country has fertile land, and many natural
  resources oil, gas, coal, copper, lead, zinc,
  nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome, hydropower - but
• High unemployment
• Rising prices
• Poor work ethic (relic of communism)
• Widespread stealing and other crime
• Few markets for shoddy industrial production
  lack of interest in farming
• Hope that independence in 2 years will improve
  things

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Religion in Montenegro

• Most people are Eastern Orthodox
• Some Muslims, mostly Albanian immigrants
• No real gospel witness there in last 1000 years
• 3 church planting works now
• Pray for this crack in the devils hold on
  Montenegro

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Orthodox Church
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Church built into the rock at Ostrog
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Orthodox Priests and Frescoe
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Orthodox Church converted to Mosque
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Podgorica - the Capital City(pronounced
Podgoreetza)
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Niksic (pronounced Niksheech) Montenegros
second- largest city

• Niksic in the 1880s, and now
• Air pollution is still severe

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The Surbatovich Family
Back Row,L-R Christian, Josiah James, Amy
Joelle, Anna Marie Seated Milijana, Vicki and
Stan (Stanisa in Serbian)
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Stans parents moved from Montenegro to
California before he was born, so he is an
American citizen, but grew up speaking Serbian
(the language of Yugoslavia.) He was converted
in college, and became a chaplain in the Navy.
He had a vision to go to Montenegro as a
missionary, and his church sent them out in
1996.
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Prayer Requests

• Helpers to come throughout the year
• 2 have come this year to help
• Gods work among young people in Niksic
• Now running short of young people
• Influence for 2 university teachers in the church
• Pray for 3 new families
• Blessings on Thursday night dinners
• Anna Marie Surbatovich, at college in NJ
• House-building find faithful workers
• Helper for Milan Djurisic to support his new work
• Against spiritual darkness
• Baptisms
• Pray for at least one this year