Winters in Croatia and Bosnia: Bijeljina

This week we drove to Sarajevo to pick up the Leonards who flew in from Frankfort, Germany. The Leonards have responsibility for 11 Humanitarian couples in the Europe area. We are one of those couples. While in Sarajevo we had lunch in a delightful restaurant which is really an enclosed alley between two buildings.

Elder Leonard, Sister Leonard, Susan, and Gary

On Friday we went to the town of Bijeljina for a wheelchair distribution. The Red Cross of Bijeljina had picked up these chairs from the previous distribution in Tuzla. They had brought the chairs to a warehouse to be stored and then organized a distribution for the surrounding communities. As soon as we arrived we were ushered in front of the media where Gary spoke about the Church, our humanitarian organization, and where the money to help those in need comes from.

Gary and Media

Media and recipient

Perica Gligić, Gary, Elder Leonard, and Nermin

Discussing distribution with Red Cross and Deputy Mayor

After he spoke then they interviewed someone who was there to receive a new chair. Following the ceremony we followed the Red Cross director down the road a little way and had lunch at "Restoran Kenoba". What an delightfully enchanting place, complete with Bosnian decor.

Sister Leonard, Elder Leonard, Gary and Susan

Nermin, Elder Leonard, Gary, Susan and Perica Gligić

When we arrived, the place was empty, but not for long!

Fireplace

After lunch we walked around the complex. It is called "Etno Selo Stanisici". It is an ethnic village, complete with the restaurant, hotel, monastery, replica of the bridge in Mostar, an amphitheatre , a children's amusement park, authentic watermills, and a mini stable. It was so captivating. There were ponds along with cottages which had been moved there from other locations. This is a place that we will definitely want to return to in the summer.