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
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October 28, 2009
UPDATE!!!
We just wanted to give all of you a quick update and praise!!! You may remember a couple of our stories about “Betsy” and “Dave.” Well, they came to a saving faith in Christ last night! This is such an incredible blessing and praise.
Another praise is that they shared this moment with a local believer and not with any of us (foreigners). This is a huge answer to prayer in many ways!
Please continue to pray for “Betsy” and “Dave.” Pray that they encourage their children in Christ. Pray that they encourage each other in their marriage. Pray that they persevere through any persecution they face from family and friends. Pray that the believers here depend on Christ and each other…not on foreigners.
Thank you all for your prayers!!! We just had to share this with you real quick. More stories to come…
So that all may know,
Billy and Jess.
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October 26, 2009
Come to School With Us!
Šta ima? (There is your Bosnian lesson for the day…it means, “What’s up?”)
Here is a new video for you. I got the idea for this video from another guy on our team (thank you so much for the idea, Casey). We thought that all of you would enjoy going to language class with us as well. Apparently, YouTube wasn’t crazy about me using “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” So, I changed it to “Bus Driver” by Caedmon’s Call. They didn’t like me using that one either. So, I think I finally found some music for it.
Enjoy!
So that all may know,
Billy and Jess!
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October 20, 2009
Football!!!
It’s the sport of kings…
Better than a diamond ring…
That’s why we’re here to sing…
FOOTBALL!!!
Well, not in the sense you may be thinking. “Football” means something totally different to us now since we have moved outside the United States. (However, don’t think we don’t miss our Tech games!)
As many of you may know, the World Cup is happening next year. Just recently, the Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) national team just qualified for the World Cup. We have had amazing opportunities to see culture here through watching a couple of games at a cafe very near to our home. In fact, this is where we have made a lot of our local friends (for example, Jess’ friend Didi).
We missed watching the first game that happened right after we moved here. But, we certainly found out about it as we were able to hear cheering and yelling from our balcony all around us.
Also, let me give you one more quick story. The last game that we went to, we walked into the cafe and started making our way to the back through the crowd of people. Before we got through, some of the guys up front started telling us to sit with them and made seats for us. This definitely helped us see feel like a part of our new home.
Well, here is a video that I took shortly after the BiH national team won their game clinching their spot into the World Cup.
Prijatno (Enjoy)!!!