Our 2nd Baptism

On December 1st we had our second baptism in Tuzla.  The young man who was baptized back in September was able to perform the baptism.  The spirit was very strong and we can feel things are starting to pick up in this part of the vineyard.

 Our two newest members

Sunday was Bosnian Independence Day, but it was celebrated on Monday.  This was only celebrated in the Federation of Bosnia, not the Republic of Srpska.  If this is hard to follow, don't worry.  We are having a difficult time understanding it all as well.  We can not begin to imagine what these people have gone through.  But everyone we meet is very kind, friendly, and helpful. 

Our week consisted of a visit to a school in the town of Sapna (Sap na).  Sapna is close to the Serbian border.  The people in this town are refugees from the war.  People did not live here during the war, because this is where the fighting was.  They have now returned and attempted to start over.  What we will be doing is to help get tables and chairs, a television, vacuum cleaner, DVD player, and a CD Player for a classroom which will be made over so that they will be able to have a kindergarten (They currently do not have one).  Children go to primary school (5/6 years old to 13/14 years old) and secondary school (14/15 years old to 17/18 years old). In Sapna both schools are at the same location.  Some of the students in the kindergarten will have disabilities. 

Students on the Playground

 



Potential classroom

 

On Wednesday we had the opportunity to go to Sarajevo and visit a school for the developmentally disabled and distribute some more school kits. It was great.

 A delighted young man

Two very happy young ladies

 

If you remember we had sign up for English classes last week. The final count was 101. The Elders taught two beginning classes on Tuesday, two intermediate classes on Wednesday, and one advance class on Thursday.  The classes consist of approximately 20 people in each.  We can tell that this is and will be a fun experience.

 

Gary explaining what a "yard"is (not the measuring kind).

 Students hard at work.

 

Tuesday we received a package from our children.  They sent us a Christmas Tree to hang on the wall of our apartment.  Included in the package was ornaments, a star and all the supplies to hang them.  On the back of each ornament was written a Christmas memory of our children, their spouses and grandchildren.  We read each and every memory and hung them on our tree.  They do have some Christmas decorations here, but being a mostly Muslim country, we were not sure what kind or a tree we would have.  We have heard that Christmas is not really celebrated here, so this tree is perfect.

 

Merry Christmas to All

Aunt Sara helped Lizzy's boys make us ornaments

 

  

 Even the Elders wanted a picture by the tree

 

We look forward to being able to listen to the First Presidency Devotional, but it will have to be Monday night as we will not be getting up at 2am to watch it live.  We have not had snow yet, but with our new decorations and the ability to listen to Christmas music on the Mormon Channel we are starting to feel like it is Christmas time.  May you experience the spirit of Christmas in your activities is our wish.  Till next week . . .