(June 29, 2005) Hello Family and Friends,

I can't believe Independence day is almost here, my has this year flown. It's almost been a whole year since I've been back to the field. As I was thinking about this letter my mind kept wandering back to the word "Independence" and to what that means. We are truly a blessed nation as Americans to be an independent nation; however we seem to be losing that independence slowly as far as our Christianity is concerned when we look at what happens on Capitol Hill, but that's another story. Living here in Kosova most people's hope lies in the future. They truly believe that if Kosova becomes an "Independent" nation that "everything" will be better. Even though there are some perks to being "Independent" I see ways in that it draws us into deeper problems. Just as the Kosovars will realize when that time comes. I believe that instead of us trying to be "independent" God calls us to be "dependent". Dependent on Him! All through the Scriptures, God is constantly trying to draw people to Himself. Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy-laden and I shall give you rest" Mt. 11:28. When we are independent in ourselves to make the choices we need to make, we fall flat on our faces, but when we are dependent on Him and on His scriptures we have the wisdom, strength, power, discernment, gifts that we need to accomplish what He asks us to.

There is a new believer here in Gjilan named Valon (a teenager) who was approached by his dad why he was spending so much time reading the Bible. So Valon gave his dad his testimony and told him about Christ. Valon's dad was very upset and told him that he can't go to church any more. Valon said, "But dad, I NEED to go there, that is where I learn and get encouragement." Then his dad said, "And I don't want you reading the Bible anymore." And Valon said, "But dad, you can't take my Bible away, this is my BREAD. I NEED this." His dad then told him that he needed to make a choice, give up Christianity or move out of the house. Valon was devastated, he didn't want to move out and he most certainly could not give up his "Bread." He met with the German missionaries and prayed with them, the next day his aunt died and the family was going through the burial service. At that time Valon's dad came up to him and kissed him and hugged him, showing no anger. The storm is calm for now. Here is a boy who realizes his hope is not in "independence" as a nation, but in "Dependence" on Christ.

While in Africa I had the awesome blessing of witnessing the giving of a Bible in the Gourma language to a pastor and his wife. Missionaries had been working on the translation of that Bible for 70 years. This couple Ntema and George, had been waiting for 45 years for the completion of the Bible. When my missionary friend Bev handed the newly printed Bible to Ntema she danced and cried of joy. George was sick at the time and couldn't even sit up and in his weakened state, he took the Bible and held it close and said, "You've given me a piece of my heart." What an incredible scene!

Where does your "Dependence" lie? Where does your hope lie? In your nation, or your God? I pray that your Bible will be that that you are dependent on, just like Valon, Ntema and George.

There hasn't been much progress as far as the OT program is concerned since my last letter. Pray that there will be some progress in that area. I'm going to begin Albanian language study again to fine tune my writing skills so that I won't need to be dependent on a translator, pray that I will retain what I learn and that the grammar will really stick and be understandable to me. (The Kosovar Albanian language does not use the formal written grammar, so it's much easier to speak than to write.)

Last Friday here in Gjilan we had a concert of prayer where 170 believers around Kosova came and praised and prayed to the Lord together. Continue to praise and pray to the Lord with us for Kosova that they will turn their eyes away from the false thought that "independence" will fix everything and turn their eyes on Jesus.

Please pray for our teammate Brenda Aderholdt, serving in Macedonia. She fell and broke 5 ribs and is in a lot of pain. Please pray for quick healing.

There is a change in my mailing address. Kosova now has postal codes, so my address is now:

Thank you so much for all of you who given gifts toward the ministry here, sent packages and given personal gifts for vacation. I had a great and restful time in Burkina Faso. Thank you for your prayers, and Blessings to you all as you celebrate on the 4th,
Love, Dianna Ullrich

Ntema and Bev

Bev and I in Burkina

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