Projects Submitted to Germany

We have submitted five new humanitarian projects to the Area Office in Frankfurt, Germany for their review and approval.  One is a Major Initiative (there are six Major Initiatives) a clean water project for Bosnia.  If they approve it in Germany then it will go to Salt Lake for their approval.  This is one of the water projects that we told you about last week. 

The other four projects are called Area Initiatives.  Area Initiatives are reviewed in Germany and sent back to us if approved.  Two of the initiatives are for school supplies for children in Sarajevo and Tuzla, Bosnia.  The school supplies project entails purchasing backpacks, notebooks, paper, pencils, sketch pads, and pencil bags for children locally. If the families can not afford to purchase the materials, they just don't send their children to school. The cost of the supplies is only about $20.00 a child, so we are hopeful that these projects get approved.  We feel this is a small price to pay to help a child get an education.

Another one is for seeds and fruit trees for poor agricultural families in Bosnia.  This past summer we had three months without rain.  This caused a severe drought and many families lost their crops.  That affected them having no seeds for next years planting as well as they lost trees.  Many of these families have to survice on what they grow.

The last one is some training equipment for a sheltered workshop in Tuzla.  Lotosice has requested equipment to help them improve their vocational training opportunities for program participants.  All of the participants have disabilities on one form or another. They have a woodworking program where they make and sell furniture.  It a humble program with limited resources.  They have a great staff and do good work.



Susan and Merisha at workshop

Enisa and Susan by saw

Susan and Merisha in front of workshop
 

Enisa (Lotosice director), Susan and Gary

 

We are hoping these projects get approved and we can get started helping the people in Tuzla.

We also have a Wheelchair Distribution that has been approved and the wheelchairs have been shipped.  We can hardly wait for the shipment to receive customs clearance and to arrive.  This wil give us, the young elders and the Red Cross some exciting work to do.

Two other things happened this week...

First, we went to the auto repair shop where our car is being repaired.  It is more than half completed.  We might have our car back by the end of this next week!

The second was we bought a new "Bosnian made" coat for Susan.  We get snow in Tuzla and this new coat will be just what is needed.  The sleeves need to be shortened, but there are lots of tailors who can do an excellent job.

New Bosnian made coat

Thus ends another week in Bosnia/Croatia.  We would change the name of our blog if we knew how, but this works for us and as the saying goes "if it isn't broken, don't fix it". We feel truly blessed and appreciate all the prayers in our behalf.  Thank you so much.  As we enjoy the conveniences of modern technology we are truly thankful for all that we have.  We look forward to the General Relief Society meeting next Saturday as well as General Conference the following week.