This was a pretty slow week due to May 1st being in the middle of the week. May 1st is a big holiday here. As we went out for our walk early Wednesday morning. we decided that it felt like the 4th of July in our little community of Granite, Utah. Even early in the morning people were making preparations for their May Day celebration with their family. Government offices were closed and most stores closed as well. Tradition seems to be that it is a day you spend with family and friends having a BBQ and enjoying each other's company. There were a few Pekaras (bakeries) open early in the day so that people could buy fresh bread but by noon everything was closed down. We went to the weekend house of Emir (our attorney) . He invited several of his friends, the Smartts from Sarajevo, and ourselves. We met and followed Emir out of town about 8:45 am for a 30 minute drive to the weekend house where we cooked meat and had salads. We actually cooked meat 3 times - maybe more after we left at 6pm. Bosnians are wonderful hosts. They feel their job is to make sure everyone relaxes and has enough to eat and they do a excellent job of it. The typical fare is Cevapi. Cevapi is little sausages. They also have grilled chicken. The cevapi is served in a flat bread called lepinje. Lepinje reminds us of pita bread. The cevapi is grilled and then you put the meat in the lepinje along with onions, kajmak, peppers and ajvar (minced red bell peppers and eggplant).
Ema, Emir, and Dijana
Ajvar, Cevapi, and Onions
Susan, Melina, Elder and Sister Smart
Needless to say we had plenty to eat and totally enjoyed ourselves. We left early to come home for a interview with a couple in Salt Lake. They are writing the history of the Humanitarian Department of the church and wanted to talk to Gary about the beginning of the wheelchair program. As we drove up the street to our apartment there were no cars in the parking lots of all the apartment buildings as everyone was spending May Day with someone. May Day celebration continued into Thursday and Friday. On Thursday some of the businesses were open . Friday was the same. But many people had a 5 day weekend. Hence why we had a slower work week.
On Monday we were able to purchase an electronic keyboard for a primary school. All children learn music in school. They have a "music competition" which takes place next week. We were also able to obtain some t-shirts for the orchestra that has their school logo as well as the Latter Day Saints Charities logo. Pictures will follow as the keyboard and the shirts will be delivered after the holidays.
Friday we drove 5 hours to Karlovac, Croatia as the local Church branch has a project there. They have rented some land and have a community garden. We visited the garden last June when we first arrived. This has been a 3 year project. They are in the third year. Hopefully they will have an abundant harvest and be able to provide for themselves.
Karlovac garden June 2012
Karlovac is close to Zagreb so we spent the night in Zagreb. The town has come alive with the pleasant weather. There are many vendors along the sides of the roads and on the street corners. There is also an abundance of outdoor seating for their restaurants.
Saturday we picked up the Ferguson's at the Zagreb airport and returned to Tuzla where we will have a week of meetings and work with the various partners in our vision screening project.
Today we had 28 people at church. It was a wonderful Fast and Testimony meeting. Our little group is growing. It looks as if there are some baptisms on the horizon.
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