Budapest, Belgrade and Sarajevo

It has been a busy first week of outreach as we travelled down to Bosnia! We started 6am Monday morning as we made our way to the train station, and then made our way towards Prague. We got to Prague around 10am then waited for our train which came almost 2 hours later. A little before noon we got on our train that we stayed on for the next 6 hours which took us to Budapest, Hungary. After 14 hours total of traveling, we were all happy to have 2 nights in one place and a little down time. We stayed there with two friends of Luke and Magdalena's, Will and Kim. They were so nice, and it was awesome that they took in the 8 of us for 2 nights. Oh and their house was like something off of House Hunters International... Yeah. Budapest was beautiful and has so much charm! I think it is one of my new favorite big cities. I also liked that it feels big city but isn't as packed with people.

After a day of exploring Budapest, we got back on another train for 6 hours to go to Belgrade, Serbia. This is where things got a little complicated. One of our guys was kicked off the train at the border for not having a visa, even though we had previously checked to make sure he didn't need one. So him and another student waited in the border station til 2 am to go back to Budapest to figure out the visa complication. God was faithful through it all, and the boys made it back safely and even got some great ministry opportunities on their extended way back to us through Croatia instead of Serbia. As for us, we took a mini bus through the mountains, and I must say it was a little on the horrifying side. Drivers here are a bit scary, but we made it safe and sound! God is so good, and we were all so happy to finally arrive in Sarajevo! We were blessed with a beautiful apartment and great location in the city. The boys finally made it back to us late last night, and we couldn't be happier to have our team all together again. 

So about Sarajevo! First, it's an absolutely beautiful but broken place. The views are like nothing I've ever seen before! The easiest way to explain the city is that it's like a bowl, we are in the bottom surrounded by mountains on all sides. At night lights cover the mountains like blankets, it's amazing. Lastly, my favorite thing would have to be the street markets. Whether its scarves, jewelry, clothes, fruits and veggies or things I cant pronounce they are fun and beautiful. The city is still clearly suffering from the war. Bullet holes cover the sides of so many buildings. There are also Bosnian roses, which are spots where grenades hit and were filled in with red cement many also mark where people were killed. Buildings missing roofs or half burned or just rubble of what used to be a house are all throughout the city. There is a 40% unemployment rate here, which is also apparent on the streets. Elderly, children, mothers carrying babies... They all walk the streets asking for money. The city is hungry, and not just for food. The country is stuck in a spirit of religion. Here you are either Orthodox, Catholic or Muslim. None of them like each other and they are separated by here they live. In the main part of the city is mostly Muslim and outside is separated between Serbs and Croats. 

As for what we are doing here, we are partnering with house churches here to help them and encourage them. They happen almost every day, so we are paired up and commit to one group. Friday nights we also go to a worship meeting and make dinner for the people that come. This upcoming Friday night I get to do a little  children's message, which I am quite excited for. We also do street evangelism, which is new and a little scary for me, but I am trying my best to adjust and step out of my comfort zone. It's not what I thought it was because all I've ever known before of street evangelism is crazy people yelling turn or burn. Reality is basically just talking to people, getting to know them and building relationships. Our lives should be a reflection of the gospel and so evangelism becomes a natural process of just sharing life with people. There is also a city run program which takes begging children off the streets, bathes them, feeds them, tries to find their families and they also teach a workshop to try to help them. So I'm really hoping that we will be able to volunteer with that!

Anyways, the mall which is our Internet source is closing, so I have to come to a close. Love and miss you all! Thank you for your continued prayers and support! See you all in just 12 weeks! xo :)