800 miles of driving

We had a super busy week with so much going on that it took me while to get last weeks blog completed. But here it is! 

We started off the week on our funday pday with a 10.5-mile hike through the stunning mountains of Bosnia, beginning in the picturesque village of Umoljani.

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The day started out sunny and bright, and everyone was full of smiles as we set off on the trail.  Our goal was to hike to the next village. 

The scenery along the way was absolutely breathtaking!  Charles and I were moving at a slower pace than the missionaries so, we decided to turn back a bit earlier than they did and make our way back on our own.

The younger missionaries ended up hiking over 13 miles! 

We did get caught in some thunderstorms along the way, but overall it was an incredible day. We had to do the end of the hike picture with a little drama.

On Tuesday, our supervisors from Frankfurt arrived for a few days to visit to tour some completed projects from 2024. That’s when the 800 miles of driving came into play, we spent the next few days crisscrossing Bosnia to see them all.

    We first took them to visit some of our Muslim Aid projects. We visited to homes who received a pregnant cows. The projects with Muslim aid with Green houses, beehives and pregnant heifers. It’s incredible to see firsthand how much these initiatives are improving people’s lives.

One of the families we visited shared some of their homemade cheese with us and it was absolutely delicious! These happy cows are free to roam the property. This is the cow we donated and her daughter. Together, they keep the milk flowing and help support their owners' business. When we give the pregnant cows, the new owners are hoping for a baby girl because that means double the milk in the future! 

 It is so beautiful here, it. helps that the apple trees are blooming. Everything is so green!

 Our final stop of the day was a visit with the Red Cross. We partnered with them last October to provide emergency relief after devastating floods and landslides hit parts of Bosnia. The church donated emergency supplies including water bottles, boots, shovels, sandbags, and dehumidifiers to help dry out homes and businesses to support recovery efforts. When it comes to disaster relief the church is quick to respond. I am so proud to be a part of it.

 Our 2nd day of the visits were amazing! Our first stop was to a school for children with mental disabilities called Mala Sirena (Little Mermaid)  In Bosnia, resources for these children are extremely limited. Adisa, the founder, has an autistic son. When she couldn’t find a suitable place for him, she took matters into her own hands and started a school herself. She’s an incredible woman who has truly changed lives for families with disabled kids.  

The sensory room instantly brought back memories of taking my niece Davy to therapy. I think this school touched me in a special way because it reminded me so much of her.

The years, the Church has supported her efforts by donating iPads to help the children communicate, and last year we provided cutting-edge biofeedback therapy equipment. We also helped outfit their new building with heating and air conditioning

Google Maps never fails to surprise us! On the way to our next stop, it led us down a narrow country road that turned into a dirt path…that turned into a small pond! We had to turn around. Fortunately, we were only about 30 minutes late 

We spent the afternoon with our dear friends at MFS Emmaus, a remarkable community supporting the elderly and those with mental and physical disabilities. They currently have 485 people living there. Some need full time care.

Mersiha, the director, gave us a full tour. Our Frankfurt friends were just as impressed as we always are.

            

 We arrived just in time for lunch and were able to see the kitchen we helped fund in action. It was pretty amazing. Not only do they feed the 485 residients. They also supply 3500 meals to elderly right to their door steps. 

  

 

We saw the new heating system we helped install, switching from coal to gas has been a major upgrade. They also received donated wheelchairs. This last month they received this industrial washer from the church. A staff member said they no longer have piles of laundry waiting to be washed and this machine is much easier to laod and unload. 

                     

We visited one of three dormitories in urgent need of full renovation, including adding a second floor so they can reduce room occupancy from four to two, that we are hoping to help with. It will be one of our biggest projects in Bosnia so far.  We’re keeping our fingers crossed that approval comes through soon.

      

        We saw the greenhouses that supplies most of the vegetables for them. We also toured the dairy facility. Our church donated a items to the dairy including a yogurt packaging machine. This dairy not only does it help feed the residents, but they’re also able to sell the extra dairy products to local shops. The sent us all home with some delicious fresh yogurt

                        

 It’s such a privilege to be part of humanitarian work where you can see the lives being blessed.

We cannot visit MFS Emmaus without being fed a 3 course meal before we leave. Their chef is amazing.

 On our third day, we toured a refugee camp that can house several hundred people. Our guide, Dženeta, was incredible and her love for her job showed.  She told us many of the people living there have fled war-torn countries or extreme poverty, hoping for a safer, better life. They come from all over the world, and for most, this camp is just a stop on their journey. Their goal is to reach an EU country where they can build a future with more opportunities. Their stay is anywhere from a few days to a few years

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There were several containers like these ones that could house up to 4 people with 2 sets of bunk beds in each one. She said the camp was expecting a surge of people coming through now that winter has ended. 

  

The housing for families with children are in actual buildings, offering a bit more comfort. 

These seven children who were all cousins from Syria two families, one with five children 

and the other with two. I can only imagine the journey they’ve endured. Many refugees travel on 

foot through Turkey, facing unimaginable hardships along the way.

The camp offers several programs and amenities, including a library, arts and crafts, sewing classes, a multi-purpose room, and even a private kitchen where families can cook traditional meals. The cafeteria provides three meals a day for residents. But I am sure they miss the food from their homes.

Our church helped by donating hygiene kits, medication and funding the salaries of therapists

 who provide much-needed counseling. Most of the individuals who’ve made it all the way to Bosnia have faced many challenges and trauma. 

Once again, I’m humbled and reminded what a blessing it is to serve on this humanitarian mission to  play even a small part in offering hope and support to those in need. This Camp was the perfect last stop of our tour of a few of the 2024 projects completed in Bosnia 

  

On Saturday, we joined MFS Emmaus to celebrate their 26th anniversary. The church was honored with a trophy and plaque in recognition of our support for their incredible humanitarian work with their Duje Center for the elderly and handicapped.

Definitely a proud moment!

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Our awesome communications directors, Brother and Sister Majc from Slovenia, met us there and was able to meet the amazing and wonderful Mersiha

Yes, we were fed again! Balkan food might just be some of the best I’ve ever had. It’s tradition here to feed your guests well with several courses. At this point, constantly being fed is becoming a delicious problem. The “Sarajevo 15” (like the Freshman 15, but tastier) is very real and unfortunately is starting to show.

After dinner, we met the Mayor of Doboj Istok, a Tuzla Canton rep, and the federal Minister of Social Services. Charles used his language skills to gently nudge them about supporting Emmaus, especially for our big project to rebuild a dormitory. To get this project approved, the church prefers support from other organizations, particularly the local government. Their involvement gives us confidence that the project will be completed.

It was a whirlwind of a week...busy, rewarding, and exactly how I love it. 

Here’s to many more weeks like this!