Sunday June 23, 2019

There isn't much to write about this week - we are down to 8 days until we have to leave Sarajevo.  It has been a week of lasts - last meal here, last walk there, last time we'll see this...  Most of the week has been spent cleaning and packing.  We thought we sent a lot of things home with my sister in April, but we clearly have more than will fit into our luggage.

We did have a meeting with an NGO to finalize the activity on June 29.  The backpacks have been delivered and are being stored in the classroom at the chapel.

In the foyer first so the van isn't blocking the street

Safely stacked in the classroom

The woman in the picture is Senita, the president of the NGO.  Their offices are down the street from the chapel and she noticed the church as she walked by it every day.  One day she dropped in to ask if we might be able to help with some humanitarian needs.  That is how this project was started.

After our meeting, we had lunch at the Blind Tiger, our favorite hamburger place in Sarajevo.  They aren't quite as good as places at home but they come close.

Ingredients for a refreshing drink

I love the mint lemonade at this place.  They bring everything to your table and you mix it to your taste.  The glass has fresh squeezed lemon juice and fresh mint leaves;  the carafe has ice water (a rarity in this part of the world); the little creamer has simple syrup for sweetener.  The fresh mint brings back memories of my grandparent's spring house on the farm in Hillspring.

All ready to sip - it just needs to be twice the size!

Lunch is served - real fries, too

And it's finished, the final Blind Tiger burger

We went for a final haircut on Friday.  John thought he was taking a picture with his tablet but it was on video mode.

Azra, our cute beautician

Azra lived in Houston for many years.  She went there as a newlywed, a refugee from the Bosnian war.  She went to school and worked in a salon most of the time they lived there.  Her husband also learned a trade and they were quite successful.  They have two children who are now in college.  They decided to return to Bosnia 7 years ago because all their extended family is still here.  She opened her own salon and her husband started a chicken farm that sells to a supplier like Tyson who then sells to the grocery stores.  Her husband was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident over a year ago and is disabled.  Azra is always cheerful and happy and has a positive attitude.  We will miss her!

We told the missionaries we couldn't feed them today - the oven is clean, the fridge has been defrosted and cleaned and all the cupboards have been emptied and cleaned.  I didn't want to get anything dirty again so we took them out to dinner yesterday.

Dinner at Vapianos with the missionaries

I have been distracted with last minute details and haven't been taking pictures like I should.  We have three new missionaries - Elder Krmpotich is next to Elder Cooper.  He is from Caldwell, ID and has Croatian heritage (you might have guessed from his name).  He came straight from the MTC.  Elder Thygerson has returned to Sarajevo and is training Elder Krmpotich.  Sister Scofield remained with us this transfer and Sister Roberts came from Rijecka, Croatia.  She is from the San Diego area.

The Rhees family invited us to dinner tonight, which is nice as we are out of food!  We will leave Tuesday for Zagreb to pick up our replacements and will have a busy few days with them.