збогом

Title is Serbian for "Farewell." Bags are packed and weighed ready to go out the door at "the crack of smack"as Randi would call it! When that might be is at 04:30 when I head to the airport to make several flights back to the mighty Mississippi. I'll get to that more in a bit.

First I must describe my last week in Belgrade. Throughout this past week I went to the zoo, did an Underground Tour, had lots of chinese, words of Wisdom were spoken to me, met new national and African brothers and sisters at Danielle's picnic, and just enjoyed this city that I have lived in for the past 8 weeks. You might be thinking the zoo isn't unusual to ones back in the States. Let me tell you, you are wrong! Have you ever been to a zoo in the States were the only thing stopping tigers or lions from mauling your face off is an electric fence? Well that is what it is like at Belgrade's zoo. The tigers and leopards and you can be mere centimeters apart. It's pretty cool but exactly comforting! Since I can't put up pictures--check out Amy's pictures. The Underground Tour given solely in Serbian wasn't as undergroundy as I hoped or expected from the website. I thought we would be exploring extensive underground tunnels. My bad for assuming such. The one time we did go underground it was to see the bunker Tito hid out in during the second World War. What made everything better was the translations Danielle was giving me. It was hysterical--at one moment she translated "I think a ship hit the fortress" Who knows, it is after all Serbia.

This would only be acceptable in Serbia

Just a WWII bunker!

Beautiful view of the Sava and Danube Rivers

Aside from the slightly miserable heat wave and hormonal rain patterns, my final week in Belgrade was wonderful! I hate to leave this country but have every intention of never forgetting it. The things I've seen, experienced, and learned are countless and priceless memories that have filled my journal.

Here's my flight info if you would like to think of me as I travel back to Mississippi....for your sanity all the times given are in CT.

Belgrade to Frankfurt ----23:05 Sunday night to 01:15 Monday morning
Frankfurt to Houston-----03:10 to 13:50 -----Nearly 11 hour flight
Houston to Jackson------19:33 to 21:02

This is quite literal for tomorrow since I will leave when the sun is rising at 4:30 and land in Jackson well into the dark----"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the L0rd is to be praised..." Psalm 113:3

soaking up serbia

What's the best way to soak up some sun in Serbia, you might ask?

Take a bike ride along the Sava and Danube Rivers! The volunteer team and I were provided the opportunity for a bike tour of Beograd as they concluded their last days in Serbia. If I had a map, you'd be impressed how much we biked. But believe me when I say, we biked a lot! Along the way were a few stops for bits of history. We learned that Kalemegdan Fortress has been apart of more than 100 wars, a lone tower was a wedding dowry, and about the various government buildings seen throughout the changing figureheads.

We took a break and loaded a boat to cross the Danube River to our friend's friend's little beach shack. How did we cross the river? In a jon boat. How many of us? 12 plus our friend plus two others. Total of 15. I had the privilege of sitting on the floor of the boat and the honor to be centimeters away from being in the river. No joke nor exaggeration. The boat kept dropping further down with each new person loading. Let's just say we asked for two trips but was assured one would do just fine.

Literally inches away

We then relaxed for the next 2 hours as we waited for our lunch to be prepared and cooked by Serbia's "Jamie Oliver" as our friend called him. The group got to munch on fish soup for their first time. It was hilarious to see their reactions to the whole fish chunks in their soups. hahaha I must have looked like such last year.

Serbia's Jamie Oliver is the shirtless guy

Their final day was spent touring Sveti Sava (mentioned in an earlier post) and learning the history of the temple. The most interesting tidbit learned was about the word 'Balkan.'  Serbia and its surrounding countries are the Balkans. 'Bal' means love, happiness, fun. 'Kan' means war, revenge, hatred. Complete polar opposites but accurate depiction of this land. Thus the recent movie, In the Land of Blood and Honey produced by A. Jolie is an accurate name for the Balkans.

Largest Orthodox church in Europe

Got to meet Darko at lunch

He then went on to challenge us to petition to our Father that this area would be filled with more Bal and an overwhelming joy that can only be provided by Him. May you join us in this petition.

Simple or Hard

Some of the simplest sayings can be hardest to apply to my life.

The saying "patience is a virtue" is the most daunting in my life currently. It sure enough is simple for me to say to others. Six syllables. Four words.

Yet, it is the hardest thing to hear others say to me. Today two dear friends have reminded me that the L0rd's timing is much better and fulfilling than my timing and snappy fingers. In addition, patiently waiting gives Him the glory. And impatiently waiting does no body any good and certainly does not give Him any glory, but I often find myself into the impatient category blaming everyone but myself.

Salty, Sunny Sixth

A week of convictions, challenges, rejections, laughs, new friends, and sunshine! That is my sixth week in a nutshell. Feel free to stop there, but I promise you it will be much more rewarding for you to continue onward.

To say that Sunday was glorious does not do justice. Challenged and encouraged by the two services I attended. Both in which can be summed in one overarching theme: GO. and GO BOLDLY!
The morning international service I attended was led by a national who was a previous president and ceo of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Small world! Later on in the evening, we attended the Roma church. Small room, little cool air circulation, many Roma, same great Creator. Joyful hearts made joyful noises unto our Father. And boy were they joyful!

This past week our volunteer team did a VBS for the precious Roma children. So many adorable children came and heard about Moses, about Redemption, sung some great songs, and were endlessly loved on. Kids kept coming each day; by Thursday, there was over 65 kids and youth!

Not many empty seats!

Reenacting Moses as a baby

Learned about Moses leading the people out of slavery at the park

On Monday, Amy and I walk in and they all scream our names. They bring such joy to my life and I know this past week they were bundles of joy to the volunteer team. How I am dreading leaving my adorable Roma kiddos behind. Meanwhile on Tuesday, we take a handful of small ones outside to teach them new songs. While we sing, we gather more kids and young teenage girls who have already had children. We were forced to move away from our strategic location of shade because our songs (not our voices) bothered the national. We found out Wednesday that the reason our songs bothered the man is because he is the man in charge of mosque down the alley. He complained to the Roma pastor but was quickly rebuked by the neighbors claiming that they (the Americans) were providing fun activities and food for the kids and that his religion did none of these.

The weekend proved to be just as exciting. Thursday I took the team to the flea market. They loved it. But wouldn't you love Ray-Ban lookalikes for 5$?! Moreover, wouldn't you have loved to see me carry back 2 plastic patio chairs from the flea market to the apartment. Friday we took 40 Roma children and the team to Petroland. To see oil? Nope. Water park! They loved it!! Fun day with lots of sun!

Danielle and Annabella

Great gals enjoying the lazy river

Amy and I had a delicious pancake folded with shaved chocolate and strawberries!

Saturday was just as fabulous! Part of Team Belgrade, the volunteer team, and the friends made by the volunteer team that could make it joined together at the cinema for The Amazing Spider-man 3D. Could you see a 3D opening weekend (just made its way here) movie for 500 RSD---$5.30?! No you cannot! Even more so, you cannot put a price tag on friendships. One sweet friendship developed this week with Mimi. I met her Wednesday night at our movie night and invited her to see Spidey in action. I firmly believe she is my Serbian twin! Though I've known her a week, I feel like we have been friends for years.

Needless to say, the sixth week of my summer in Europe has been frustrating at times but worth it to see Him be praised and glorified this week. Was it awesome or lame? Without a doubt, awesome!

Colossians 4:5-6

Pet. Not an animal but Five.

The fifth week of my summer in Europe was full of fireworks! They are a must in celebrating Independence Day and a friendversary. This is now my second year to miss celebrating the 4th in America. It's different doing such. You get a good appreciation for what you've been given and what you're missing. One thing for sure: I was not missing American food because the women of our team whipped up some great BBQ pulled chicken, devilish eggs, and blueberry pie! Delicious!!

The 4th! I am the Statue of Liberty...not sure about Amy.

Now you might inquiring as to what is a friendiversay? It is the annual celebration of the friendship with someone. Amy and I celebrated our friendiversary on Independence Day because we both knew exactly when we met at last year's 4th party. It was her second day in the country and there she is another Mississippian in Eastern Europe with mutual friends.

1 year friendiversary!

 The week went on as normal with our activities with Roma, youth night, and movie night. We introduced the girls to The Blind Side. They loved to hear the deep southern accents and how tall and big Michael was.
Saturday, on the other hand, was not as usual. We along with our team of 12 went to an Orthodox liturgy. It was a memorable experience for several reasons..it was segregated by gender, you stand the entire time, and an ancient Slavic language is used throughout the service. It is more memorable because we thought it was a normal liturgy service. Instead, it was a Slava day..meaning it was an even longer service to celebrate a saint.

And then the night ended with all of us joining for Fellowship. Twenty plus folks from various walks of life together praising the same Creator in two different languages was a great night! Thankful of each of people there and for the Redemption we have.

Equality

Acts 10:34&35

Then Peter began to speak: "In truth, I understand that G0d does not show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him."

Amen! Thank goodness that America isn't G0d's favorite but that every nation, every tribe, every tongue is equally favorable to Him! I was blessed to grow up surrounded by the G0spel but that doesn't make me more favorable in His eyes. His grace extends to all ends of the earth--even to the Balkans! Praise Him that it does!

Half Full, Half Empty, Half Way

My fourth and midway week was not as exciting as last week's protest and sketchy adventure in Kisac but rewarding all the same. It was a week of fellowship, yummy food, misunderstandings, and laughter. 

A true highlight of my summer is the Roma ESL class. Something about those kiddos bring joy to my life. Despite everything in life, they still smile. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I have smiled in my trials and tribulations. Can you? Each Monday and Wednesday, I see them smile and I am reminded that their lives have been much harder than my life, and yet they smile! Oh how children are sometimes the teacher.

 

Waiting outside the church..they come early :)

Precious boy! We learned how to count and draw specific objects.

Teaching "Head, Shoulders, Knees" to them.

Showing them that what they were eating was in fact the same thing in the picture: a cookie. Something foreign to them. Some didn't want to eat it because they had never had one before. Don't take your cookies for granted!

 Another great moment of last week was Wednesday night..Amy and I took two great girls to an equally fabulous restaurant in the hopes of hearing the concert behind the mall. The concert portion didn't work out but the night was still loads of fun! Though they are only 11, they are nearly as tall as Amy and I and have beautiful hearts to share Love with their friends.

The weekend began with Amy's birthday eve! We ate at Novak Djokovic's restaurant, which is in the building next to us. No biggie. Even better is that we got our picture with the terracotta-ish statue of Nole's face with a racquet.

We ended the night with Snow White and the Huntsman. It's different to laugh at something funny in the movie and then five seconds later everyone else laughs after the translation appears.
Now it's Amy's 24th birthday day! Saturday was filled with awesomeness!! A great American lunch of chili hot dogs and seven layer dip and phenomenal dinosaur cake! Before we could go to Cirque du Soleil's Alegria, we had to get our faces painted in the tiniest chair possible. But Cirque was great! Glad it's them and not me doing all that bending, flipping, and flying.

My midway week concluded with Fellowship. There was 15 in total studying the Word! Even better was the number of college students. It's extremely hard to get college-aged students interested in something that is completely opposite of the world. But the five students there, they get it and desire to tell their families and friends. Even though everything was in Serbia, it was a blessing to be apart of this Fellowship.


This week two teams of 15 each are coming in: one comes tomorrow (4th) is for a fellow organization that will work mainly in Novi Sad and the other is ours and comes the (6th). Our team will be here for two weeks. Please think of both of these teams as they travel, live within the  culture, and teach English.