Sunday April 7, 2019

Monday was a beautiful spring day so we went to Vrelo Bosne park.  The translation of Vrelo Bosne is Spring of the Bosna river.  It is a public park spread over 603 hectares (1490 acres) at the foot of Mount Igman in Ilidža, which is about 15k from the center of Sarajevo.  It is the source of the Bosna River, with lakes full of fish and swans and small green islands.

Clear water pond at Vrelo Bosne

Waterfall under a walkway

The area serves as a habitat for various plant communities and animal species.  Six streams from the Vrelo Bosne source area flow into the Mala Bosna watercourse, which is home to several indigenous river trout.

This handsome swan posed for us

Road leading into the park

We took a carriage ride into the park.  The lane is full of ruts and holes so it wasn't a smooth ride but the horse knew where to avoid the biggest holes and we arrived safely.  We walked the 4k back out to the car.

This stream wasn't very deep but was clear and clean

Tuesday morning we drove to Zagreb and met with Croatia Baptist Aid.  They recently opened an integration center for refugees that have received asylum in Croatia.  It is similar to the one we helped Jesuit Refugee Service with last year.  We met some very nice people and offered our help.

We had some free time to walk around the center square.  We have never been there in the morning when all the vendors are in the market with their red umbrellas extended.  It is a beautiful market - we are impressed with the wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables they offer - outdoor - all year round.

Zagreb outdoor market

It's strawberry season - my favorite

Perfect radishes

Even fresh lemons

The fresh flower market is down below the food market

Lots of variety for bouquets or planting

Daffodils and lilacs

We have a major vision project going on in Bihać.  The vision specialist flew into Zagreb with his daughter.  We picked them up and drove to Bihać Thursday morning.  We had a short visit with the canton Minister of Education, then visited an elementary school classroom to watch them conduct vision screening.

Vision screening in the classroom

From the school, we went to the hospital to present the donated eye equipment and for a press conference.  We're so glad the specialist, Dr. Tanner, was in the spotlight and not us.  The gentleman in white is a doctor training in the ophthalmology department of the hospital.  He translated for the press.

Dr. Tanner answering press questions

Checking out the new equipment

All the important people

The woman on the right is the head of the ophthalmology department at the hospital.  We went to lunch after the meetings and I noticed she was wearing some funky looking shoes.

Suvada's funky shoes

John mentioned that I love shoes and we instantly bonded.  She gave me her email and phone number and said that next time we are in Bihać, we will go shoe shopping.  My ophthalmologist at home just wears sensible shoes and has never invited me to go shopping.

We returned to Zagreb that afternoon so Tanners could catch their flight home Friday morning.  We stopped at Kutina on our way home to see the progress of the new kitchen in the refugee family center.  The ugly kitchen has been demolished, the new window is installed and the tile is almost finished.

Newly installed window that actually opens and closes properly

New floor to ceiling tiles

IKEA will come to install the cabinets in about two weeks.  We thought we wouldn't be around to see the completed kitchen but we just might be lucky if they stay on schedule.

We had to buy new beds for the Sister's apartment.  We spent Saturday morning taking apart the old bed and hauling it down 3 flights of stairs to the dumpster.  There was also a large couch in the bedroom that had to be disassembled and moved into the storage room.  Now there is room for two proper beds in the bedroom and we won't have any more complaints of backaches.

It was fast Sunday as usual for us today.  We will watch conference at the chapel next Sunday when the translations and voice-overs are completed.  We have been streaming the sessions and watching at home.  The missionaries have been joining us for the morning sessions, which start at 6:00 pm for us.  The afternoon sessions begin at 10:00 pm and are past their curfew so they will need to watch those later on their own.  We did NOT get up at 2:00 am to watch priesthood.  Conference weekend is always a spiritual boost for us.  We are looking at the blue skies over the conference center and all the beautiful flowers on Temple Square.  It is making us a little anxious to return home!