Trainers from Germany

In order to apply for a Bosnian visa we needed to a couple documents translated from English to the Bosnian language by a certified translator.  We received those documents back on Tuesday.  Back in June we were given the name of this translator by a doctor in Banja Luca (a Bosnian city about 2 hours from Tuzla where we now live) as someone who might help us with housing and translating.  At first we didn't call her because we weren't sure if she was a contact for a project or what.  Finally we called here.  She was an answer to prayers.   Not only did she translate, stamp and certify our documents; she took us to the hospital to get our physicals that are also required as part of the visa process.  Believe us when we say that we would never have been able to do this on our own.  We had blood tests, urine tests, interviews with a psychiatrist and a psychologist and a another doctor who took our blood pressure.  None of these doctors spoke English and we definitely did not know enough Bosnian.   The bottom line is that we now almost everything we need to apply for our visas.  We just need one more document that has been "temporarily withheld".

We were also able to get a written bid from the repair shop on our car.  The information has now been sent to Germany and hopefully we will get the go ahead to begin the car repairs next week.  The repair shop tells us that they have the parts so maybe we will be able to get our car back by October.  We would love to see it in September, but we are learning that everything here takes at least 3 times as long.

On Thursday Elder and Sister Leonards came from Germany to give us training on the computer.  We now are officially trained.  We know how to fill out forms for projects and financial reporting.  Gary was familiar with the programs, but never had to use them; the finance department and secretaries took care of all of that.  We have had a great week being trained and visiting with the John and Susan Leonard.  They even convinced us that we should have a microwave for our apartment.  It is just a little one, but oh so handy to melt butter, heat water, or just warm something up.  You don't realize the conveniences you take for granted until you don't have them.  The Leonards had only been here hours when we realized that they are owners at Snowbird, We had an immediate bond.  The best part of the weekend was they taught Gary to take a "P" day.  Our first.

The Leonards spoke at our church meeting today.  A needed break as there are only the 4 of us here usually.  We had another one of the three brothers we have been trying to encourage to come to church.  The meeting was short but sweet.  We learned about listening to the spirit and nourishing our faith. 

Still working out the "kinks| of the accident but we have made a renewed commitment to "find joy in the journey".http://www.lds.org/liahona/2008/11/finding-joy-in-the-journey?lang=eng&query=joy+journey.

We want again thank you for your prayers in our behalf.  They are helping. We have received several emails of encouragement and they truly do brighten our day.  Again thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Things Shall Give Thee Experience

Monday, the 13th, we had a meeting with the Mayor of Tuzla.  The meeting was basically to introduce ourselves to the Mayor and let him know why we are here and what we would like to do for the community.

The Smartts, Winters, Edina (translator) Anna and Jessica Rowe
Elders West, Shillabeer, and Chandler, Jasmin Imamovic (Mayor), Rowes and niece Audrey

 
After our meeting we returned to our apartment where we had interviews with President Rowe.  Gary and President Rowe went out and bought a desk and office chair for our computer.

The Maughans, the Humanitarian couple from Serbia came over on their way to Sarajevo.  We had a wonderful night in the town centar.

Elder and Sister Maughan, Jessica, Anna, Sister Rowe, Audrey, Susan and Gary

The next morning the Maughan's went to Sarajevo and we stayed in Tuzla because of restrictions following the accident.  When the Maughans returned late Tuesday afternoon, they had all kinds of information about potential water projects and the upcoming Neonatal Resuscitation Training.

On Wednesday Elder Mattson and Elder Baldwin brought our computer equipment down from Varaždin and set it up.  Earlier in the day Gary had bought a mobile Internet device, so they set up the computer and printer.  It was like Christmas morning for us when it worked.  (It was slow, but it worked).

Thursday we were out checking out hotels for the people who will be coming from Frankfurt this coming week when we received a phone call from Elder Smartt telling us that we would be having the internet installed at 2:30.  We hurried home and waited and they came.  It was fantastic! 

Friday we went with the Elders to the Red Cross.  We arranged to have the Red Cross take us to some of the organizations they work with when the Leonards come on Friday.  The Elders will be able to do service at the Red Cross.

Today we had a sister from Bijeljina come to church.  She is a member and has been going to Beograd (Belgrade) but it takes twice as long and she has to cross the border to get there.  She has only been going twice a month because of the cost to go.  Tuzla is only an hour away and no border to cross.  She brought her husband as well.  He is not a member.  We also had an investigator come.  If our attendance continues to grow, we will have to look for a place to hold church instead of in the Elders apartment.  But that would not be too bad.  They need a place to teach English classes anyway.

We are grateful for your prayers in our behalf.  We know many of you fasted and prayed for us.  Our names have been put on the prayer roll at the temple as well.  We can not express adequately the comfort that we have received and know that it was because of your prayers.  We now have the Internet and we are trying to focus on what "we can do" while we work out the accident complications.  Your prayers in our behalf are appreciated. 

The challenges are great, but we know that the Lord is mindful of us.  Through this we have met some wonderful people,   One of them is an attorney, Emir.  Emir is Muslim and has been working with the Smartts in Sarajevo to help the church become a recognized religion in Bosnia.  As we were talking the other day he said, "all of this has happened for a reason, we just do not know why yet."
Yes, all these things shall give us experience.

Thank you for remembering us.  

WE HAVE THE INTERNET

Today we got the Internet. Yesterday the Elders brought our computer equipment down from Croatia and today they installed our wireless. We are in business. Two stumbling blocks removed. There are still a few more and we are waiting on the car repair. However we can do our work at the desk, not in the hall.

ANGELS WATCHING OVER US

Monday, August 6th we were involved in a car accident.  We were making a left turn out of a parking garage and we were hit by a taxi cab.  We were not injured, in fact looking at the car we consider ourselves very blessed.  If the cab had hit us seconds earlier we would not be here telling you this tale.   

"The rest of the story" will come at a later date as there are still too many loose ends and challenging obstacles to relate at this post.

Our week was spent taking care of all the problems (did we mention that everything takes three times as long).  We had set up an appointment on Tuesday to meet with the Red Cross here in Tuzla.  We had to cancel that as well as another appointment on Thursday,  but Friday we were able to meet the people at the Red Cross and look forward to working with them.

Tomorrow, August 13th, we have an appointment to meet the Mayor of Tuzla.  President Rowe, President Smartt (one of the couselors in the Mission Presidency) and their wives, the Elders and the Winters will be attending.  We will let you know how that goes.

We had great hopes for the internet this week.  We were told either Friday or Saturday they would come to install it, but that did not happen.

We did have one positive moment today.  We had someone come to church.  Usually it is just ourselves, Elder Chandler and Elder West.  They only made it for Sunday School, but they came.  We bascially taught him about prayer and prophets.  We are hopeful that he will come again next week.

There are stumbling blocks in our way, but we have decided that if we want the Lord to lead us we have to move our feet.  If we have to use the internet in the hall at least we have internet in the hall.  We have taken pictures on the iPad and send that since we can't send a scan.  We are not going to sit around waiting anymore. We have been in Croatia/Bosnia for two months now, so it is time to get to work.  Look our Bosnia, here we come.

We appreciate your words of encouragement and prayers.   

    

The Church is Official

On Friday the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially recognized as a religion in the country of Bosnia.  The elders have only been allowed to proselyte in the last 6 months.

In answer to your question "Do we have the Internet?"  NO.  We we are still able to sit in the entry of our apartment and use the Landlord's very weak signal.  It would be nice if we had a desk or a chair there, but a kitchen chair works. 

We returned to Croatia on Tuesday as we had an appointment with Caritas (Catholic Charities Organization) in Varaždin on Wednesday.  We have to admit that it is really nice to be in our other apartment in Varaždin and sit down at a desk or on a couch to work on a computer.  It is even nicer still that both of us can use the computer and laptop at the same time.  But enough wishful thinking. 

We met with Caritas to determine if we would be able to close a wheelchair project which has been ongoing since 2010.  It looks like we will be closing that project, however the program director that we met with indicated that they would like an oven for their soup kitchen.  This may be something we can do.  We are hesitant to do many projects so far away from Tuzla as it will require us being there a lot, but we may be able to handle this as they already know which oven they want as well as the cost and where to get it. 

Wednesday was also Gary's birthday.  He received several well wishes and Happy Birthday greetings from friends and family on Facebook and a couple adorable singing videos from grandchildren and even a singing phone call from our Humanitarian file leader in Germany.  It was great to have so many remember us out here on the other side of the world.

We actually made two trips from Bosnia to Croatia (Did I mention it is nearly a 5 hour drive each way?)  We left our Bosnia apartment keys in the Croatia apartment.  When we arrived back in Bosnia, we discovered our mistake and had to make a return trip.  We won't that mistake again.  It wasn't all bad because we got a lot of work done in Varaždin while we were there.  However it will be good to finally have just one base of operation.  We are anxious to begin doing humanitarian work in Bosnia.  Here is so much need and opportunity here.

We have two young elders with us here in Tuzla.  Once we get the Internet working in our Tuzla apartment, we hope to take them with us to work with organizations like the Red Cross, as well as Catholic and Muslim charities.  It is hard for them to talk to people on the street or knock on doors in the town and have people actually listen to the great message they have.  We hope to help them get involved in the community with us.  Gary went out with them Saturday evening to talk with people and they discovered that some people are willing to talk to them once they know they were from a "serious" (or real) organization.  The elders have been here for two weeks now and have not had a chance to teach anyone.  We have not had anyone come to church either, so it is the 4 of us.  We need some investigators.  There are 3 young men in town who lived in Salt Lake City about 7 years ago.  Two of them are members of the church and have good memories of their life there.  There are various reasons why they do not come to church, but we have invited them. 

We have decided to fast for the elders to have some one to teach, the young men to come to church, and that we will get the internet.  We ask that you will remember us and the elders in your prayers as well.

Next week we are looking forward to meeting with our counterparts from Novi Sad, Serbia who know about some projects that involve Tuzla and the surrounding area.  We really want to get started in the Humanitarian part of our mission.

I have been trying to put a picture in, but it is not happening.  If I stand in the very corner of the apartment by the door, I can stay connected.  I am going to try to post this.  Maybe tommorow - somebody does not want me to post this, but I am going to try anyway.

Here is a picture of us by our car which Gary says is not an egg car.  It sure does not hold much.  But at least I was able to post it.  Here is to a better week this week.