Jenny

Sep 233 min read

Planting and Watering

Merle and I appreciate you and your interest in our ministry in the world and want to be able to tell you about it. We know how busy your lives must be, and put in lots of pictures and short blips to make it easier and more interesting to see the people God is touching throughour hands and hearts.

We continue reaching out to our friends and neighbors in Bosnia we have known for 25 years, as well as new friends we meet. Jenny made several photo books before we came to share with dear friends and they were very excited to receive them.

Aldijana, Bahra's son Mustafa, and his wife Dina, as well as a photo book for Hamo and Halima. It was so sad that Hamo passed just before we came here. We all miss him.

We went with Mladen to Zenica as he was leading worship and teaching. This is the same fellowship we were with once last fall with Mark and Kathy. Later that day we helped Mladen and Violeta harvest their hazelnuts, with a whole team of folks. It was a big job with 350 trees, but we worked at it heartily.

We spent a day celebrating Refika's Birthday by taking them to lunch overlooking Olovo, a town we had not been to before, and walking around town, and ended up at a Cafe in Vogosca past dark.

Alan and Ferida, Zlatan and Lejla invited us for a cookout in Tarcin in the chilly weather. It was fun catching up and seeing snow on the top of the mountain) in September! Plus great meat on the grill, and dear friends. Merle was able to share some insights about Jesus.

We worshipped one Sunday with Dejana and Remi, had a wonderful lunch, and watched the talented children. It was thrilling to see how Dejana is instructing her children in understanding their identity in Christ to stand up to the prevailing culture that is changing just as the US is changing. Dejana was very encouraged by the filling of the Spirit charts through repentance that I translated into Bosnian, as well as the Heart of the Problem book.

We went to Samir and Mediha's and had wonderful and encouraging conversations, especially with their daughters. Merle was on a roll sharing truth with his natural excitement of sharing Christ. They were excited to receive a book of The Heart of the Problem and because their daughters can read English, perhaps it will help them to grow spiritually. We hope to see them again this week.

Dejan came over a couple times. I'm leaving several books for him. And the neighbor kids brought us apples and pears, so I made apple crisp.

Irfan and his wife Amina, and their darling daughter came over with pizza, and had apple crisp, too.

When I don't have immediate plans, I am studying the Bible or making grape jelly from our wonderful grapes.

We run into people we know at the grocery store or in town, and try to get together in our limited time. I guess we need to come for a longer stay next year. Helen and Bob, Aron, Amina and boys, Kay and Mark, Jean Jacques, Faris and his wife.