January 21, 2010
New song player on the website…
Hey everyone,
Our awesome web designer has been able to put a media player on the left panel of the website. Now, we can continue to record some songs for you and add them to the playlist. I will add a post each time we add a new song.
We have just added “Preko Planina i Mora.” You know this song in English as, “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.” Please remember that we are working on our language and we still miss up on the songs at least once every time. But, I’m sure you don’t mind.
Here are the words in Bosnian:
Preko planina i mora Tvoja mi ljubav dolazi I srce svoje otvaram Puštam da Ti ga iscijeliš Sretan što spoznah istinu Ja dajem slavu Bogu svu Zauvijek o tom pjevaću Bog daje ljubav najveću Mogao bih vječno slavit Ja o ljubavi Tvojoj pjevat Osjećam da plešem Iz sveg srca sad Kad svijet vidi svjetlo Svi će plesat tad Ko što plešem jaWe hope that you enjoy the song. We love you all and always love to hear from you. Also, our web designer has added the option to add comments to the posts, so feel free to talk back (however, we get to approve the comments, so make your comments wisely 
So that all may know,
Billy and Jess.
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January 10, 2010
A Sarajevo Story in Bosnian (with translation)…
Ne davno, ja sam slušao priču (Recently, I was listening to a story). Probao sam razumjeti najviše (I was trying my best to understand). Želio sam razumjeti puno (I wanted to understand a lot). Žena je pričala priču (A woman was telling the story). U njenoj priči, ona je rekla, “Finska” (In her story, she said, “Finska” – which means “Finnish”). Mislio sam ona je rekla, “Svinska” (I thought she said, “Svinska” – which means “Pork”). Ne bih mogao proračunati zašto ona je pričala o svinska (I couldn’t figure out why she was talking about pork). Zato, nisam razumio priču (Therefore, I didn’t understand the story). Na kraj, ja sam pitao moj prijatelj ako ona je rekla, “Svinska” (At the end, I asked my friend if she said, “Svinska”). On je rekao, “Ne! Ona je rekla, ‘Finska!’” (He said, “No! She said, ‘Finska!’”). Smijao se meni (He laughed at me).
This is a true story that I wrote into Bosnian for language class. I thought that you would enjoy a new funny story in a different way. It is a good way to let you see some more of the language (and maybe even learn a little bit).
Love you all,
Billy and Jess.
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January 1, 2010
Samaritan’s Purse Distribution
Many of you are familiar with the ministry of Samaritan’s Purses. Well, we receive a shipment of them each year to distribute to the children here in Sarajevo. Here is a little video of the program we had to do this. It was made by another guy on our team here who is very talented at this stuff. Thanks, Casey.
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December 24, 2009
The Streu Digital Christmas Card 2009
Here is our Christmas card to you. We love you all very much. Enjoy.
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December 9, 2009
Music the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Way
I hope you enjoy this as much as we did. This was when we were at Bible School. These are some of the new friends that we made during our time there. Later, I got to sing “Stand By Me” with them, but we didn’t catch that one on video. Prijatno!
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December 8, 2009
Sarajevo Story 8
Šta ima?! (that is, “What’s up?!”)
I’m very sorry that it has been awhile once again since the last story. Please know that we will try to keep the stories coming as often as possible. It definitely helps us as well to have these stories recorded. I guess they are kind of like building an altar as the Israelites would do to help them remember. So, here you go…
It is amazing how music can bring people together and make relationships happen.
We try to meet every Friday at our office for a time to practice the Bosnian worship songs. So, a couple of Fridays ago I was on my way down the stairs in our apartment building, with guitar in hand, to head to this music meeting. This particular Friday, there ended up being a gentleman waiting for someone at the bottom of the stairs.
I noticed the man (whom we will call Sanel) looking at my guitar and he looked me in the eyes and began talking. Just to let you know, when you are in a foreign country where you know just a little bit of the language, it can sometimes be pretty scary when someone starts talking to you. However, I have an idea now that God had this encounter under control.
My strength with the language so far has been speaking it, but understanding what someone says to me has been a challenge for. To my surprise, though, I was instantly understanding what Sanel was saying to me. We began to talk about the guitar and music (that’s right…in Bosnian). Next thing I know, he wants to see my guitar and asks if he can play it. His daughter also happens to be a music professor in Sarajevo.
Another amazing thing is that he tells me he has a piano (at least, I’m pretty sure he says this). Jess loves to play that piano and has been wondering where she could find one to play. I love when God gives us encounters like this. However, I was leaving for Bible school for two weeks a couple of days later. I got his cell phone number and told him we should play guitar together.
So, like I said, God is good and He continues to open doors for new relationships like this. As for this story…it is to be continued…
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November 26, 2009
Zahvalni smo…
The title means “we are thankful” in Bosanski…and we are most certainly thankful. First, let us just say Happy Thanksgiving. Second, we are so incredibly blessed.
We had the opportunity of getting to spend some great time with our new “family” here in Mostar. There is another couple with our organization that lives here in Mostar, and they are from the U.S. We were able to go to their home and have a wonderful meal (chicken, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and even pumpkin pie), play games, and watch a few videos (including the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special). We even got to watch a little bit of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…technology is crazy.
We are so very blessed and thankful for so many things…especially each and every one of you. We love you all and miss you very much…especially on the holidays.
Blessings,
Billy and Jess.
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November 21, 2009
Sarajevo Story Sedam (that is #7)
Well, it is actually a Mostar story this time. We are currently in Mostar for 2 weeks for Bible School and we have already been here for one week. It has been a wonderful time so far. The first week we had a couple from Croatia here to teach a marriage course. They did a great job and we got to really dig into the word through the week. Jess and I were able to talk to them right before they were leaving and they asked if we would like to go to a conference for couples who want to learn how to give seminars together. We are not for sure if this will happen, but we think it is an exciting opportunity.
We are just hanging out for the weekend here and on Monday we will begin a week on studying the New Testament (from Hebrews through Revelation). It is fun to be back in school. And, it is really school…we have exams and everything. It is great!
So, you are waiting for a story. Someone from our team was showing the weight room that they have here at the school. There was a scale to weigh yourself in the room. Well, we have made grown pretty close to a new Bosnian friend here…whom we will call “Anes.” Anes got on the scale first, and no one thought anything of it…he is really skinny. Then, I got onto the scale…
Before I finish the story, let me tell you a little about Anes. I have never met anyone with as much of a heart for serving people. This guy blows us away. He is constantly talking about loving Jesus. He is actually in the room right now singing a psalm…literally. He is reading the psalm and just singing it out loud (he doesn’t care how his voice sounds or anything…he is just worshiping the Lord). Well, besides all of that, Anes speaks just a little English. Therefore, he tends to speak one word or phrase at a time (I can relate right now…haha). This cracks us up because the timing of his English words when he thinks of something is perfect.
So, I got on the scale. Anes looked at the scale and said, “Whoa…King Kong!” As if I didn’t already have enough nicknames.
Volimo te (We love you),
Billy and Jess.
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November 9, 2009
Bit of Bosnia #1 – Sarajevo Rose
This is another first edition of a new portion of posts we will put on our website. We will call them Bits of Bosnia. Each one will give you a little piece of Bosnia that will share the culture and history with you. I hope you enjoy them.
As you walk through Sarajevo, you continually find your attention drawn to certain marks on the sidewalks and streets. When you approach one of them, you find a collection of holes in the ground that almost make a design. It sometimes looks as though someone purposefully put these markings in certain places as an artistic expression.
In reality, the markings are grenade blasts from the Bosnian war in the early 90s. Some of these have been filled in and painted red (or filled in with something red). These are called “Sarajevo Roses” and mark grenade blasts where someone was probably killed.
We can’t keep from thinking that these must be a raw reminder of what happened in this place. Please pray for hearts in this country. People are still very much stuck in the past. Pray for hope and the love of Christ to fill their hearts.
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November 2, 2009
Bosanski Worship #1
Zdravo!
Here is a new category of posts that I am going to put up now. I thought that you would all joy an occasional worship song in the Bosnian language. Here is your first edition along with words below. I hope you enjoy.
Otvori Mi Oči O Bože <— Click link and download
Otvori mi oči, o Bože,
Oči srca mog
Jer želim te vidjeti
Jer želim te vidjeti
Vidjeti Tebe uzvišenog
Na prijestolju slave i časti
Izlij svoga Duha na nas
Kad pjevamo:
“Sveti, Sveti, Sveti”
Želimo Te vidjeti