We are back to the mosque's call for prayer, light switches outside the bathroom (fun for teasing brothers), and sun-dried crunchy towels. We started with Mladen picking us up at the airport and kindly lending us his car. We returned to our old second apartment at the edge of town, through what seemed like the old rush hour traffic but now in the early afternoon. The roads just get busier and busier.
We saw our old friends whom we hadn't seen for 5 years, as we missed Osman and Mersija last year, and of course, had Bosnian coffee and tea. The kids are all growing up, showing the passing of time, but the rest of us just get a bit more wrinkly or lose more hair. It is always a bit of a shock to drop suddenly into another language. Keep up, brain.
Thankfully, the beastly hot weather they have had all summer left with a passing storm (no air conditioning here), so the temperature is still in the 90s but not over 100. We braved the rain to get a few groceries. Mersija made delicious hot pita, krompirusa-potato pie, which we were delighted to consume. Reham's children showed us the new kittens. We struggled with being exceedingly tired, watched a movie, to keep us up later, then finally off to needed sleep.
The call to prayer was about 5:20 in the am though not as noticeable as it used to be. I had forgotten all the busy and noisy traffic on this main road out of town. Needing to cool the house requires open doors and windows and we are grateful for so few bugs here with no screens. I'm glad I brought my slippers. Shoes off at the door. Merle already banged his toes on those pesky raised thresholds. My feet and legs were so swollen from sitting up all night on the plane, but much better after some rest. I'm such a wimp. How did the followers go without bread for three days, as they listened to Jesus?
The grapes are ripening, and the delicious pears and apples are falling off the trees. The market is always beautiful with it's many colors. Supplies are always needed for the sparsely furnished apartment, and with recommendations from Vanessa as to where to shop, we were able to make the bed a bit more comfy with a stretch jersey knit fitted sheet over a pad made of a blanket. Not the smooth soft sheets of home, but adequate. I do so love the mountains around the city. It is browner as the rain has been in short supply so far this year, but still beautiful.
Hanging out at Mladen's place, Luster, is always fun, but smoky, my least favorite thing about coming to Bosnia. We love visiting with all the guys that come and go there.
We visited a dear friend who is struggling with cancer, though I was concerned because I woke up with a sore throat. Nihada encouraged us to come; we would sit outside. I felt worse by the time we were back home and we both ended up sick for 4 days, sleeping and eating a little soup or crackers. Was it Covid? Nihada nor her family got sick from our germs, thank goodness.
We have visited many dear friends, and spent hours catching up with everyone, often being fed pita, made fresh as we waited for the yummy goodness, as Refika made for us.
Our dear friend, Hamo passed away just two weeks ago, which was crushing. Of course, we are all so sad. I had already put together a photo album of our families spending time together over the last 25 years. I hope it is a treasure to Halima and Hikana, as it is to us. Samir was also visiting, another dear neighbor friend. We took his family to the coast way back in 2000 when they didn't have a vehicle. Later, we visited with our neighbor, Halida, also the sister of Hamo, Saturday morning and learned her news.
We visited with joyous Violeta and Husein, visiting here from the north Atlanta area! Husein worked with Merle in 1996-7 when they came as refugees to the States after the war, and couldn't speak English, nor could we speak Bosnian. It was wonderful to catch up with all that has been going on in their lives, on this side of the ocean.
We had the opportunity to go to Boracko Jezero (Lake) where the Evangelical Church of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) has a camp,Emek Baraka It is being upgraded in a major way with a beautiful new building that can house 100 or so! The hope is that it could be used three seasons, rather than just one. The large industrial kitchen is wonderful and such an improvement over the facilities we had 25 years ago when we took our children to camp, sleeping in tents, often in the rain. Much furniture is still needed for the large conference room and they want to set up a coffee bar at one end of the large room, but more funds are needed. The lake is so gorgeous wrapped in lush mountains. Merle built a zipline and a low ropes experiential learning/Team building course years ago that needs updating with new lumber. We had the chance to walk along the canyon a little when a group went climbing. Merle finally saw the dreaded viper snake, a poskok, after 25 years! Ivica, the climber with his hands raised, told Merle last year that as a youngster he thought Christianity was boring and only for old ladies, but then he met Merle and everything changed.
Steci are burial stones from centuries ago that are located in various places in BiH. There were some up on the mountain we stopped to see on our way home.
We visited with our dear friends, Sutka and Zejnil, who hosted us last year, and fed us a delicious dinner of meatballs and mashed potatoes. Their older son, Haris, came by to visit. Their younger son, Emir, and his wife Regina, may come to visit from Moscow. We hope to see them. Their apple tree produced three or four big beautiful apples this year, after praying over the pitiful ones from last year! I was shocked, but I shouldn't be! Sounds like my God! Having Google translate comes in handy when the washing machine is in German. If you look closely, you can see that it is translated into English. Beautiful sunsets. ❤️
Dejan joined us at New City Church coordinated by the Sassers, in English, for fellowship Sunday. Eden and her brother Jack were there along with a number of other youth, and their parents. Loneliness can be a big factor in youth when friends are few and far between, and move away too soon. It was lovely to catch up with everyone since last year.
Merima spent Sunday afternoon with us, taking time off her police job to visit. And Dejan came over to eat dinner with us. I was able to share one of the Heart of the Problem books with him. He raised his eyebrows when I said this introspective book could transform Bosnia. "Really?"
Merle went to Mladen's property to help him harvest hazelnuts several days. Mark and Kay have moved to Tuzla, but had business in town and were able to stay a night with us.
Please keep us in your prayers as we navigate life here, to use our time wisely and be led by the Spirit. There are many discouraged believers and unbelievers. But the faith of Dejan's mother, Ljiljana, grows as she reads her Bible daily, which is such a huge encouragement to us! May God bless her abundantly!
We come to encourage, to bring light, truth, and love. I walked past just as the previous maintenance man from the local school where our kids went to Bosnian school came out of a random house, and I called him by name, Sifet! I was so surprised to see him! He remembered me, too, though not my name, I think. He was surprised when I spoke to him in Bosnian. I hope it was an encouragement to be remembered by name. I miscalculated and didn't bring enough of a medicine I take, but thankfully was able to replace it here. It is wonderful to run into old friends at the local Apoteka (Pharmacy) and post office, and they remember us!
Thank you for your prayers and contributions to God's ministry through our lives as we serve. We need and so very much appreciate your support.
"I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective through knowing every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you."
Philemon 6-7.
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