September 6, 2009
A Sarajevo Story (1st edition)
Zdravo!
So, this is the beginning of a new specialized blog we will post for you…”A Sarajevo Story.”
We have had to figure out which mailbox is ours at the apartment by just trying our key on each one. Then, once we found it, we were able to figure out which intercom buzzer is ours. So, we thought we had it all figured out…
A team member came to meet us at our apartment so we could have coffee together. She got to the outside door and buzzed the intercom we told her to buzz. After receiving several unexpected responses, she finally gave us a call and I went downstairs to let her in. Well, someone else went downstairs as well to see who kept buzzing their intercom.
It turns out that when Jess and I were trying our keys in different mailboxes, I was using the wrong key. Our key works on two mailboxes. So, we were unintentionally able to meet a new neighbor which became an incredible experience and what I believe to be a total “God moment.”
Fortunately, our team member has been here for 7 months and can speak a fair amount of Bosnian. Next thing we know, we are being led upstairs to our new friend’s apartment. We catch Jess and another team member on our way up and find ourselves in our neighbor’s apartment not understanding a word being spoken. The woman introduced us to her husband and brought out a platter of fig newton type cookies and some type of orange drink. Here is what our other team member was able to catch through our hour with these new friends…
I reminded the woman of her son. This made her very emotional. She told us a story about watching her son get hit by a grenade during the war. He is still alive, but lost the bone marrow in his leg. The woman was also very excited because our other team member is from Holland and her son is living in Holland right now. She also told us about when a sniper shot into her living room and almost shot her. She took the bullet out of her purse and passed it around the room.
This is just a little bit of what we experienced, and we definitely have not shared everything with you. It was such an incredible experience, though. The Lord definitely wanted us to meet these people. After reading so much about the war and these people, it was finally made so real to us. Plus, we have some new friends to build relationships with already.
Sorry for the long post, but we just really wanted to share that story with you. I wish we had time to write our every story for you, but there is not the time yet. We will try our best, though. Keep praying for these “God moments” for us. We love you all and can’t wait for another Sarajevo Story for you.
So that all may know,
Billy and Jess.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful blessing from God! Your story is especially touching to me and I cried as I read it. I am reminded that every moment is a “God moment” when our hearts are open to God’s Gracious Love.
It’s amazing how God’s Love has touched so many in your story…you, Jess, your team members, this mother and father in Bosnia that have lived through devastation and grief, and all of us reading your story.
I love you two so much and I’m praying for God’s Abundant Will and Woundrous Moments in your lives.
In His Amazing Grace,
Mom (Streu)