October 21, 2018

Creating a title for the blog each week is harder than the actual writing.  Maybe I'll just start using the date rather than trying to be clever.

We had a great branch outing yesterday.  We went to Mira and Franz's house in the country for a picnic.  We would say bbq but that doesn't really happen in Bosnia.  Not like we think of bbq at home, anyway.  Their home is about 30 minutes outside the city, in a lovely setting by a stream.

Many of our members and some people being taught by the missionaries have no transportation so we rented a van to get everyone there.

Franz did the cooking for us

Franz had the fire going and the meat cooking when we arrived.  He did a great job with ćevapi and chicken wings.  We all brought fruit and veggies, chips, drinks and desserts.

Branch members waiting at the food table

The afternoon turned out a little cooler than we thought it would be, but it didn't rain.  It was nice being out in the country with lots of room for the kids to run and play.

Janey and Kaiya playing soccer

Janey and Ian doing ?  Kind of looks like she put Ian in a trance

The "big" kids playing football

Paige was too small for the ball games so played with the many cats in the yard

Elder Daines, Elder Thompson and Rick Twelves

Rhett Rhees, Sara's dad, Shay Wood

I know Sara will be reading this, so I'll apologize for not knowing your parent's names.  I certainly should by now.

John talking with Sara; Zayko is standing at the end of the bench by Elder Thompson

Sara and her parents started coming to church a few months ago.  They are such good people and we have grown to love them.  Sara lived most of her life in Switzerland and has a real gift of languages.  She speaks Bosnian, German. English, and Italian.  I probably missed a few.  She is smart and capable and is always the first to help us with whatever we need.

Sara's mom holding Sommer Rhees

This is my favorite photo of the evening.  Sara's mom was so delighted to hold the baby.  Sommer wasn't complaining, either!

It was transfer announcements on Thursday.  We were out of town all day at a project but found out we will have 5 Elders in the city with us.  There goes our food budget again!  Elder Daines and Elder Thompson are both staying in the city.  They will be in a trio with an Elder that was in the MTC with Elder Thompson.  Elder McNeil is coming from Banja Luka and will train a greenie arriving from the MTC on Tuesday.  As much as we love having Sisters in the city, it truly is easier having all one gender.  We don't have to be with them as much, they can all ride in the same vehicle together, etc.  They arrive Wednesday night and we leave Friday morning for Paris.  We feel kind of bad abandoning them when they first get here.  But not bad enough to stay here.

Thursday we went to inspect a water project that is finally completing after about 5 years.  It is a very long story, but the first contractor went bankrupt and stole most of the equipment for the build.  Then the terrible flooding occurred in 2014 and a landslide destroyed the site.  LDS Charities agreed to absorb the loss and start again in 2017.  Now about 300 homes are enjoying clean, drinkable water with enough regulated pressure to reach the homes and land in the area.  The gentleman from the municipality forgot to bring the key with him so we only saw the outside of the hut.

Hrasno water project hut

I know it's hard to be impressed just looking at a little utility hut, but what's inside and the pipes taking the water to the homes are the important things.

I am fascinated with the haystacks around here.  They all look like what I pictured in the story of Heidi in the Swiss Alps.  We have watched them cut and collect the grasses and build up the stacks.  Some are perched on hillsides and supported so they won't fall over or slide down the hill.  They are a work of art for me!

Haystacks in the country

A work of art

I think we need one of these beauties in our yard at home

I won't be sending a blog next Sunday.  We will be in Paris, too busy playing to write.  But we'll have extra to talk about the following week.