Seed Distribution

Early Monday morning we went with the Red Cross of Tuzla to a town called Zvinice which is about 30 minutes south of Tuzla.  Back in October/November we were able to submit and get approval to distribute seeds to needy familiies who lost all their crops last summer due to the drought.  Normally these people would have seeds from the previous year's harvest to plant the following year.  Since it did not rain for three months last summer they lost all their crops.  We were able to provide potato seed, onion sets, vegetable seeds, fertilizer and fruit trees to more than 120 families.  We met at the feed store in Zvinice where various Red Cross offices  also gathered and picked up supplies to go back to their municipality and distribute the seeds. The people who lived in Zvinice just came to the store to pick up their seeds.  One lady had walked over 7 kilometers to get hers.  We were able to give her a ride back home as there was no way she was going to be able to get everything there.  She lives with her husband and two children.  While she was getting the seed her husband was home turning the soil by hand to prepare the ground for planting.  On Tuesday it was truly a humbling experience to be able to take seeds to a few of recipients.

People waiting for the distribution to begin   

    

    

Checking out the load

Loading it up

 

 Local distribution

 

Making sure everyone gets everything 

 

 25 kg of potato seed

 

A happy receiver

 

Garden is ready to plant

 

Delighted with his seeds

 

Another happy customer

 

Father & Son 

This lady lives alone, her husband died 5 years ago

 

 Very Thankful

 

Each must sign for their seed

 

On Thursday we went to Zone conference in Sarajevo where we learned that we will lose Elder Merl to Sarajevo this transfer.  Another group of new missionaries will arrive on Tuesday. We will be getting another new elder then. 

 

The elders finished this round of English classes. We always give them certificates stating that they have completed the five week course.

 

  

   

 

 

 

We try to use Saturday for our "P" day, but with everything that has been going on it usually does not happen.  Thus ends the week.  We continue to do all the necessary things for our vision screening project.  Hopefully the screening will begin the first week of April.  Tomorrow looks like a trip to Zagreb - unfortunately it is snowing there and they are forecasting snow for here as well.  But we need to go to Croatia to sign a contract with the local Red Cross so that they will be able to get a container of wheelchairs. Hopefully the snow will not stick to the ground.  There is so much travel involved in our mission, but we are thankful to have a car and the ability to travel wherever we need to.