Visit from our daughter and her husband

We have been so busy and on the road that I let time slip away. The last week of September we had our Zone Conferences again. That takes a full week of travel, when we finished up in Zagreb with our last meeting, Charlotte and John flew in to meet us there. We had an absolute marvelous time with them. The only down side was the weather had cooled down a bit. We didn't get rained on but Helen and Charlotte only got in the Sea one time. We did see beautiful nature and lots of ancient castles and cities. 

We visited Plitvicka National park, it has numerous water features and the changing of the colors of leaves added to the beauty.

We worked our way down the coast staying in Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik. Charlotte wanted to experience the Croation coast so we pretty much went the full length of it.

Alfred Hitchcock is famously credited with saying that Zadar has the most beautiful sunset in the world. That night we would have to agree.

Our day in Split

Our adventures in Dubrovnik - 

After a week we sadly put them on a plane in Dubrovnik to fly to Paris and then home to Heber City. It was really good for Helen to have two of our daughters visit this Fall. It will help her to make it through the grey dreary winter that is coming our way - as evidenced by our drive back to Sarajevo

This winter we won't get to escape to the Montenegro coast for warmer weather and sunshine. Another couple arrived from the US to live in Podgorica so now we don't have to cover both countries. We will miss going there though. We really came to love the country and the people there. When we started going there they only had 3 local members attend church, now they have 60 plus. They are looking for a bigger building to hold their meetings in. We are so happy for the strength of the members there now.

We are happy to see people's lives improve and change as they come to know their Savior Jesus Christ and feel His love. Our time here is going by so fast it's hard to keep track of it. The efforts of spreading the gospel message in the five countries that we work in is accelerating like never before. It is wonderful to see how God loves all His children regardless of where they live or who they are.

Some things I love about Bosnia and Herzegovina

I love the natural beauty of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) - the moutains, meadows, rivers and streams. Much of BiH is cover in beautiful tress and when we arrived in November, the winter season found the deciduous trees brown and striped of their leaves. But as spring came, so did the trees and the hills became green and lush. Lot described the hills as “fuzzy”. Now we are back at the fall and as we drove last week, we could see the colors starting to turn and the leaves beginning to fall. I love the foliage of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The word for honey in BiH is “med” and this area has a rich tradition of beekeeping. Beehives dot the landscape as we drive across Bosnia, and I love watching for them.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has an abundance of unpolluted environment and many plants producing nectar, making it a perfect place for honey production. Honey is locally produced, primarily by small-scale beekeepers and one can purchase locally produced honey at roadside stands or at any outdoor market, as well as small shops at the mall.

The honey color ranges from lightest yellow to dark almost brown – depending on where the bees gathered pollen. There is meadow honey, woods honey and dark forest honey.  Not only is there a range in color, but in flavor also. The flavors are varied and distinct (as well as how fast it crystalizes). Light honey tends to be a mild flavor, with dark honey being a stronger more pronounced flavor. Bagrem (Acacia) honey is my favorite. 

I am delighted by the haystacks I have seen in the countryside. In rural BiH, we've seen very few square tied bales created by baling machines (like is common in Idaho) but rather these lovely hand-thrown haystacks. The begin with a vertical pole fastened in the ground, most often 8-10 ft tall. The hay is then stacked/thrown/organized around that pole, with the finished product sloping downwards to shed rain. I love to see them as we drive through rural areas.  

I love the laundry of BiH. Some people may think this is weird and locals may take offense (but please don’t 😊). Although almost all households are equipped with an electric washing machine, air-drying clothes outside on a clothesline is a long-standing practice. In the winter, clothes are dried on a drying rack on the balcony or in the house. Lot thinks I’m crazy but as we drive from place to place, I enjoy watching for laundry hanging on the balcony clothes lines. 

I think laundry is a great equalizer – everyone must do laundry! Regardless of income, ethnicity or religion, everyone does laundry. I get a little glimpse of who lives at the house or apartment, based on the laundry – those who work in the field/work overalls, women/dresses and/or children/small pieces laundry. I love the socks, and shirts, sheets and underwear all clean and hanging up to get dry. 

These are just a few of the things I have come to love about Bosnia and Herzegovina.