September 27, 2009
Sarajevo Stories – Part 4
Dobro jutro ili dobar dan (“good morning or good day” – depending on where you live)!!!
Sorry it has been a little while since our last Sarajevo Story. We try to be very intentional about keeping all of you as updated as possible, however times occasionally get very busy. So, we have some catching up to do.
This edition of “Sarajevo Stories” is going to contain several small stories for you. We are about to leave for a team retreat for the next 5 days. Therefore, you need an update before we leave.
First, we have been able to begin a relationship with our “Bosnian care family.” We will call them Dave and Betsy for you (we will be changing names in these stories, but want to give you some kind of names because it makes things more “real”). Some of you might remember us explaining being put together with a “Bosnian care family” during our first three months here. The purpose of this family is to have someone to help us practice language and learn the culture. We have been able to meet with Dave and Betsy a couple of times now, and they are definitely a blessing. A friendship has definitely begun here. Betsy taught us how to make Bosnian coffee. She also speaks a little bit of English and does a good job to teach us the language more. We are planning on going to barbeque with them before too long so that Dave can teach us to do some Bosnian cooking. They have a second home off of the Drina River here in Bosnia and we might get to even go with them some weekend. Dave is an avid fisherman and I am working on making some stuff happen with this.
There was a God moment that we talked about in our first Sarajevo Story about a couple that we got to meet. Well, we got the opportunity to go visit them again one night last week…and we will call them Richard and Sandy. An average visit in Bosnia is about 2 hours. That is how long we spent at their apartment…and neither one of them speak any English! Needless to say, the first hour was very awkward. Then, praise the Lord, something happened over the course of the second hour and a great relationship has begun to be formed. As we were leaving their apartment they were telling us that we must come back (at least we think we interpreted this correctly, thanks to our trusty dictionary that fits in Billy’s back pocket…he carries it around everywhere). Sandy gave Jess a hug and a kiss on both cheeks…giving us confirmation that we are welcome.
Recently in our September newsletter, we told you about our friend from the pizzeria (who we will call Didi). This friendship has continued to grow for Jess. They have started to run together. We actually stayed with Didi the other night until she closed the pizzeria and walked her home.
For Billy, he has been able to build a friendship with Amos, our next door neighbor. We have already given details of their first encounter in the September newsletter. He and Billy swapped phone numbers the other day and talked about a double date in coming days. This is exciting!
Lastly, this past week we have had a short-term team from Atlanta here. They gave a few programs to the children in the neighborhood. We believe that 8 kids made a decision for Christ over their time here. Jess and I were blown away being on the side of the long-term missionaries this time. We reminisced about our times on short-term mission trips and remembered how amazing there were in our lives. However, you have to go back home at the end of the week. This time, we realized that we get to stay here and continue following up with these kids that were reached out to over this past week. We are so blessed and want you to know that this is what you are getting to be a part of as well. Thank you for you support and love.
Well, that definitely gives you an idea in a nutshell of how God continues to provide for us in this place. Continue to pray that the Lord gives us boldness in ministry and more open doors for relationships. We love you all.
So that all may know,
Billy and Jess.