Charles on Camera… Again! Corner-Setting Ceremony at the Duje Center

Charles was interviewed once again by Bosnian news about this incredible humanitarian project. The day included a cornerstone-setting ceremony. It was amazing day.

          
If you’re wondering why Charles is always the one being interviewed and not me… it helps that he speaks fluent Bosnian!

                                    

 The Sarajevo humanitarian couple we replaced last February, Elder and Sister Stafford, began this remarkable project with the Duje Center, which I’ve shared about in past blogs. We were blessed to see it approved and to attend this special event marking the start of new dormitories for elderly and disabled residents. These new buildings will replace overcrowded housing and provide safe, dignified care through a partnership between the Church and local and national government.

The first photo shows a rendering of the new building. The second photo shows the cornerstone, which reads:
Start of construction of Building #3, Duje Retirement Center. Donor: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. December 2025.

     Elder McConkie and President Cordray both spoke at the event 

Elder McConkie and his wife of the Area Seventy Presidency, President and Sister Cordray, Elder and Sister Smith, Elder and Sister Ballou, Maddie and Jonny Parkenson, and Ivan and Sarah Majc all attended the event with us. We were also joined by several local and federal government officials.


Charles and I were honored to take part in the cornerstone-setting ceremony by shoveling cement 

 

and posing for photos with many of the distinguished visitors.


This is the first of three dormitories that will be replaced over the next five years.




We were happy to give our friends a tour of the Duje Center. The kitchen, completely renovated and donated by the Church, not only serves the residents living there but also provides meals to many in the community through a program similar to Meals on Wheels. The Duje Center grows 60% of its own produce and has a dairy producing milk, yogurt, and cheese. It also provides a barber shop, pharmacy, seamstress, physical therapy, medical and dental care, and laundry services. Over the years, the Church has donated many items, including an industrial washer and dryer, a new heating system, a yogurt-making machine, greenhouse repairs, and a tractor. The new dormitory is the largest project yet, and it’s such a blessing to see these donations touch so many lives and to be a part of it.



The day ended with a delicious feast. The chef, who has a special fondness for our young missionaries serving at the center in the greenhouses, prepared a huge doggie bag for us to take back to them.

What an amazing day! Truly a highlight of our mission and a memory I will cherish forever.



We visited the Dom Porodica home for disadvantaged children in Zenica again, a foster group home. This time, the occasion was a diploma ceremony for about 20 children who completed a beekeeping course taught by our frequent humanitarian partners at the Muslim Aid Association. Charles had the privilege of presenting the diplomas to the children.

 


After the ceremony, we split into teams for a fun soccer tournament. I sat out, but Charles and our friends Jonny and Maddie jumped in! The kids were incredible, running circles around the adults with their fancy footwork. Maddie had some of her own fancy footwork. 


We ended the night with a delicious dinner, though all this amazing food continues to be a serious challenge for my scale! 

Charles and I asked one of the supervisors if there was anything we could get the kids for Christmas. The home houses about 80 children. She said they could always use socks, which didn’t surprise me since they were playing soccer in their socks! A few of the boys also mentioned that they could use some new soccer balls, as they only have two to share.

If you’d like to help Charles and me give these amazing kids some socks and soccer balls, send me a DM and I’ll share my Venmo. 

Thank you so much, any support would mean the world!

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