Cinema, Cappuccino, and Chaos

So Rhesia, and I went to see a movie at the new cinema in town with our friend, Amra. I knew it was at the same time as a football game, but didn't really give it that much thought. Little did I know what I was getting into...

My first taste of Bosnian excitement and fanaticism for the game we call soccer. As we left the theater after seeing Suragati (Surrogates) we headed to Metropolis to grab coffee and talk about what we had just seen. We walked across the sidewalk at the BBI Centar and there was trash everywhere from tons of people standing and watching the match at the huge screen on the side of the centar. We got to the cafe and sat down and what sounded like a riot started on the street right outside of the cafe. Hundreds of fans with Bosnia i Hercegovina flags and scarves and shirts and jerseys and all kinds of paraphernalia we everywhere running down the street, yelling, shooting off firecrackers (i hope) and going crazy. Bosnia had beat Estonia 2-0 and now they are very hopeful for the match against Spain on Wednesday.

I tried so hard to pay attention to the discussion we were having- about the war and Amra's thoughts on that. We also talked a lot about why we like the movie and how we would feel if we had surrogates to go out and live our lives for us and the ethics behind that. I kept shifting my gaze to the insanity going outside- wanting so much to go be a apart of something that crazy, yet at the same time wondering how you can be this crazy for a sport. America has nothing like it.

There were traffic jams everywhere because of the sheer number of people in the street and driving cars and on top of cars and hanging out of cars and running across the street, basically mass chaos with policia present, but just kind of watching just in case.

On the walk back home, Rhesia and I ran into some more of our friends!

slippers, coffee, and sleep

I have no idea what the previous obsession was with food, maybe I was hungry!

I'm sitting on the couch contemplating how different my life has been since coming to Sarajevo. I'm processing that different doesn't mean bad, just what it implies- not the same. I need some more hangers for my closet, but the reason I don't have them is not because I'm too lazy to go get them, it's because something that simple requires walking 5 min. to a tram stop, riding it for several stops and walking about 10 min. to Mercator (their version of Target), but then whose to say they actually have hangers. It's very hit and miss over here. One day they have them , the next day you go back to get more and you end up getting something different because they are out of the baskets or hangers or whatever you got before. The same thing happens in grocery stores, you kinda have to be flexible with what you want to eat- your kind of milk, etc.

I think that makes me grateful for the things I do have, though. I'm so thankful for having two great roommates that have bent over backwards to help me find things and really feel at home. I discovered that some of my "can't live withouts" include sheets that fit my bed, a clock, a coffee maker (and filter for it), slippers (thanks, Judy), and at least 7+ hours of sleep on my almost comfortable bed. The acquisition of each of these is a feat in and of itself.

Two weeks and counting...

I can't believe I've been here two weeks! I've met people and walked more than I have in my life and eaten so many different foods I can't keep up.

Today I tried Palačinke (crepes) at Cafe Brasil. They were pretty good-wish I'd taken a picture. They had bananas and chocolate inside with sladoled čokolada (chocolate icecream) and slag (whipped cream) on top! mm mm good!

Bosnia is known for specifically two foods: Čevapičiči, and Pita. Very interesting these are too. Čevapičiči is similar to Turkish kofte, or ground beef with onions and other spices rolled into logs (for lack of a better word). It is served usually in a big hamburger/type bun with lettuce and ajvar, a red sauce.

Pite (pie) is dough filled with meat, cheese, potatoes, or spinach. I haven't tried the one with potatoes, but the others are ok. Kinda greasy, but filling.

Unlike the great city of Istanbul which has every restaurant you could want, (Ok not Outback, but close) Sarajevo has a lot of restaurants that serve Čevapi and Pite and Palačike. They're everywhere. We did find a great Italian restaurant near where I live in Grbavica last night!

Probably the place that I have frequented the most is Torte i to. It's a small cafe two buildings over that has great tea, non-smoking, free wifi, and most of all cheesecake! Apparently it's where a bunch of people from the US embassy hang out because it's non-smoking and everywhere else is. The cheesecake is also a welcome comfort food. I've probably been there at least every other day or so since it was not until today that I was able to connect at our apartment.

Moving to Bosnia

Yesterday I left my home and got on a plane that would take me to Sarajevo (after two other flights) and completely change my life as I know it. It was mix of emotions between being so excited that I couldn't believe that I was finally there and terrified thinking, "What am I doing?!?!?" But as always the Lord planned ahead and was with me every step of the way- worrying for me so I didn't have to, allowing me to meet people on my journey such as Maria from Romania, and encouraging my spirit by showing time and time again that He was already in Bosnia!

My team and I arrived late because our last flight was delayed. We found two taxis to cram all of us and luggage in and headed to Grbavica, the area of town where our apts are. Praise the Lord, all of our luggage made it!

His plans, or mine?

As, I was reading and came across this quote:

"Do you want your own plans, or the ones that God has for you? His plans are always better, you know, even though it may not seem that way right now."

It was in response to experiencing the death of a loved one, but I think it applies to every aspect of life. I can't see into the future very far, but what I do see I try to plan out every square inch of if I get the chance. As I look to the Lord more and more for wisdom and His guidance I am reminded that the planning is His job. He has ordained my steps. He knows everything about me from when I would be born into what family, where I will live, what I will do, what I will struggle with and what will bring me huge amounts of joy! He ultimately has the best plans for me and longs to share them with me as I allow Him to.

My response to Him should not be based on how I feel about His Truth, but in faith that He has the best plan for me, plans to prosper me and not for me to fail, but for hope and a brilliant future. As I'm talking to people about what the Lord is doing in the hearts and lives of students in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and challenging them to be involved in what God is doing, I'm reminded that even this does not look exactly like I had pictured in my "plan." My feelings and plans change, but the thing that does not change is Who God is and what He has done for me.

I want to follow His plans even though they are not what I was expecting! Oh Lord help me trust you and live in your love!

Tomatoes, lobster, crayons...

What do these have in common?
the color red.
I got to hang out with some good friends of mine by the pool yesterday and did not think that I would be out there for 3 hrs. So here I am a day later with aloe smeared all over me and drinking my weight in water to keep myself hydrated. Good times!



My nephew, Jacob, has kept us busy in the last several weeks. He was home for 13 days before he was back in the hospital with pneumonia. After a couple weeks in a in the hospital, he came home from Scottish Rite on Wednesday. He is doing well and finally wants to be held. :) I'm definitely not complaining about that. My sister-in-law, Audri, was playing with nephew #1, JD, on the floor and I laid Jacob for some "tummy time" on my knee so he could watch the fun! He loved it and loves being able to see his older brother run around like the crazy 2 and half year old that he is. It's been such a privilege and a blessing to see the Lord work in this little guy's life. To see that He is more than just a little kid that we love that has a whole lot going on with him in terms of developmental challenges, but to know that God knows every thing that is going on with him from the number of times his tubes come out to the number of hairs on his cute little head. He also loves Jacob more than I ever could and has a plan for Jacob's life that is different than the one I would have picked for him and right now that includes visiting lots of people in scrubs!

The Lord is teaching me great things about Himself as I am going through the process of developing ministry partners to go to Sarajevo. I'm getting to spend time with people that I do not get to every day, hang out and help out with my adorable nephews, see my family, and get a greater and bigger picture of who God is and how He is working every day!

I'm exhausted

It's a phrase I use all the time now! My nephew, Jacob, has been home for a little over a week so now the challenges are just as great, just different! He is adjusting to his new environment, the living room of my brother and sister-in-laws apartment, and keeping everyone busy. JD loves to go see "Baby Jacob" and when he hears Jacob crying he has adopted the universal baby voice that everyone uses when talking to babies and says, "It's ok baby Jacob, don't cry!" It is the sweetest thing I have heard and seen in my whole life! He wants to hold Jacob all the time, but Jacob's preference is that he doesn't like to be held very often so it's mostly when Jacob is asleep that anyone holds him, much less JD. I'm still involved in helping out with JD and meals and laundry a couple days a week while Daniel (my brother) goes up to Rome to work three days a week. This has made for several nights of interrupted sleep- hence the exhaustion.

It's also been a theme in my life that God chooses the late hours to speak to me and show things about myself and Him. This has happened several times lately, including last night. It seems that going to sleep "on time" is less of a priority when God uses they laying awake hours to wash your soul with His presence. I'm constantly amazed at how patient He is with me. So often I choose to listen to others' opinions and trust in those rather than seeing His prioroties and plan for me. Yet He redirects me and in the prosses of convicting me show His gracious love and welcoming me back to His side. I'm reminded of something the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." I'm so thankful that he doesn't give up on me!!!