The Church is Official

On Friday the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially recognized as a religion in the country of Bosnia.  The elders have only been allowed to proselyte in the last 6 months.

In answer to your question "Do we have the Internet?"  NO.  We we are still able to sit in the entry of our apartment and use the Landlord's very weak signal.  It would be nice if we had a desk or a chair there, but a kitchen chair works. 

We returned to Croatia on Tuesday as we had an appointment with Caritas (Catholic Charities Organization) in Varaždin on Wednesday.  We have to admit that it is really nice to be in our other apartment in Varaždin and sit down at a desk or on a couch to work on a computer.  It is even nicer still that both of us can use the computer and laptop at the same time.  But enough wishful thinking. 

We met with Caritas to determine if we would be able to close a wheelchair project which has been ongoing since 2010.  It looks like we will be closing that project, however the program director that we met with indicated that they would like an oven for their soup kitchen.  This may be something we can do.  We are hesitant to do many projects so far away from Tuzla as it will require us being there a lot, but we may be able to handle this as they already know which oven they want as well as the cost and where to get it. 

Wednesday was also Gary's birthday.  He received several well wishes and Happy Birthday greetings from friends and family on Facebook and a couple adorable singing videos from grandchildren and even a singing phone call from our Humanitarian file leader in Germany.  It was great to have so many remember us out here on the other side of the world.

We actually made two trips from Bosnia to Croatia (Did I mention it is nearly a 5 hour drive each way?)  We left our Bosnia apartment keys in the Croatia apartment.  When we arrived back in Bosnia, we discovered our mistake and had to make a return trip.  We won't that mistake again.  It wasn't all bad because we got a lot of work done in Varaždin while we were there.  However it will be good to finally have just one base of operation.  We are anxious to begin doing humanitarian work in Bosnia.  Here is so much need and opportunity here.

We have two young elders with us here in Tuzla.  Once we get the Internet working in our Tuzla apartment, we hope to take them with us to work with organizations like the Red Cross, as well as Catholic and Muslim charities.  It is hard for them to talk to people on the street or knock on doors in the town and have people actually listen to the great message they have.  We hope to help them get involved in the community with us.  Gary went out with them Saturday evening to talk with people and they discovered that some people are willing to talk to them once they know they were from a "serious" (or real) organization.  The elders have been here for two weeks now and have not had a chance to teach anyone.  We have not had anyone come to church either, so it is the 4 of us.  We need some investigators.  There are 3 young men in town who lived in Salt Lake City about 7 years ago.  Two of them are members of the church and have good memories of their life there.  There are various reasons why they do not come to church, but we have invited them. 

We have decided to fast for the elders to have some one to teach, the young men to come to church, and that we will get the internet.  We ask that you will remember us and the elders in your prayers as well.

Next week we are looking forward to meeting with our counterparts from Novi Sad, Serbia who know about some projects that involve Tuzla and the surrounding area.  We really want to get started in the Humanitarian part of our mission.

I have been trying to put a picture in, but it is not happening.  If I stand in the very corner of the apartment by the door, I can stay connected.  I am going to try to post this.  Maybe tommorow - somebody does not want me to post this, but I am going to try anyway.

Here is a picture of us by our car which Gary says is not an egg car.  It sure does not hold much.  But at least I was able to post it.  Here is to a better week this week.