Not much - Just Making Preparations

Monday we visited the University Klinical Center Hospital (UKC) to see how the next round of vision screening training was going.  The doctors at the hospital are now training teams from each school who will be doing the vision screening in the other 62 schools in Tuzla Kanton (county).  That is 16 groups with 15 people in each group.  Needless to say, we think the staff at UKC Ophthalmology Clinic are the best!  As we spoke with the doctors, they expressed to us the difference this project has made in the lives of the children here in Tuzla.  We learned that they have seen and treated over 100 cases of amblyopia (lazy eye).  If amblyopia isn't caught and treated early in a child's life, blindness in that eye will result.  We have been so thankful that we had the opportunity to be part of this project.

 

The rest of the week was spent getting several projects ready to submit for closure.  Most of our area projects are completed and we want to have them closed before our replacements arrive.  We did receive word that the two new water projects which we submitted have been approved.  Since we have had an unreasonably warm fall (temperatures in the mid to high 70's) the crews are hopefully to be able to start working on the projects before the snow flies.  We still have to get contracts approved and signed.

We drove to Orasje (near the Bosnia/Croatia border) on Wednesday.  We met with the Red Cross officials there regarding how many and what types of wheelchairs will be needed for an upcoming wheelchair project.

Thursday we received some large exhaust fans for a school restroom remodel.  Most of the work had been completed, however we ran into a problem securing large exhaust fans.  With the fans purchased, we will be able to finish and close that project.  An interesting side note: Gary was talking with two of the people we use on a contractual basis and one of them said:  "You (people - Mormons) don't smoke or drink do you?"  The other said, "No they don't, they are better Muslims than we are." 

We did receive word this week that we will be able to meet with the Ministry of Education in Banja Luka in regards to doing a vision screening project similar to the one which has been done here in Tuzla.

As we were trying to find the other pictures (which are lost in cyberspace) we discovered some pictures which we left out from previous posts.  We will include them here.

Our last visit to Sarajevo to meet with partners for vision screening

Kiwi Vines

 

Pomegranates 

 

That does it for the week.  We look forward to our vision screening specialists coming next weekend.  Hopefully we will be able to visit with partners both in Sarajevo and Banja Luka with hopes of furthering the vision screening in both those cities.

 

On a final note one of our young men was able to receive the Aaronic Priesthood today.  It is truly a wonderful feeling to see our members grow in the gospel.  We had the opportunity to have Elder and Sister Goodsell come to our church today and speak.  Elder Goodsell is a counselor in the Mission Presidency. 

 

 

 

Speaking of young men growing in the gospel - this evening (morning in Utah) we had FaceTime with our family - our oldest grandson came on after getting ready for church - doesn't he look like a future deacon?  He is now 10.  They are growing up on us.  We are truly blessed and thank our Father in heaven daily for our family and their support.