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Saturday, July 21, 2001
NM-Bosnia: from Lizzy
Hi over there from over here
Family and friends,
This is Lizzy Ryan writing from Sarajevo, Bosnia and I will be giving you my perspective and impression of what I have seen. Tonight is the Coffee House, which I am sure you have heard of. I am sitting outside with Christmas lights hung up for decoration and free drinks being served to all and any who enter. They are called in from the street and are welcomed by smiling faces. With this email I have been given a chance to reflect and take a chance to look around, I can't keep from smiling while I hear the music and watch our team dance with the nationals that God has blessed our journey with.
Among the joys of Bosnia the reality is that this country is grieving and I catch glimpse of their pain each day. From the church window is the overwhelming view of the graveyard that the war helped to fill. We walked through a neighborhood yesterday that Nesho grew up in. Jessica was able to hear him remember his childhood, where he learned to ride a bike, his playground. Almost in the same sentence were the sights of the playground after grenades destroyed his childhood. I have heard a couple testimonies of the nationals and almost all have left out the time during the war - they want to forget.
On one of our first days in Sarajevo we took on a touristy role and went to the Tunnel. When the war was going on the majority of city of Sarajevo was surrounded. The airport marked one boundary not covered but the UN controlled that and did not give access to the 'prisoners'. With free land on the other side of the airport they started digging from both ends. Although the tunnel did not mainly act as an escape route, it brought supplies into the city. Now the tunnel has collapsed, but we were able to view about 20 meters. Along with that there is a museum and explanation. The son of the household spoke English well and explained the process. He was taken to fight at 17. In some ways it looked as if he had no emotion, as if he had talked about it so many times. On the other hand he was forced to re-live the war each day. Our conversation continued and by the end you could sense his anger and resentment for the Serbs and Croats. This was so discouraging for me to imagine that the ethnic groups would never mix. I had assumed that the nationals involved with the church were all
Bosniaks, but yesterday someone asked the pastor. I was shocked to find such a diverse mixture - - the power of Christ.
Two days ago we were given a chance to tour the UN here in Sarajevo (Chris had a friend he went to high school with). The majority of the time was spent discussing the problems of Bosnia and the UN’s involvement. It was hard seeing the pictures and discussing the past and future of the country and realizing a lot of the people did not know Christ. For the last five days eight of us, including four nationals, have gone to the Orphanage to stain the wood work there. Most of the children are on the coast for vacation and so the orphanage feels very empty. But the times we spent hanging out of windows were filled with singing in both languages, sharing testimonies, kidding around, and making friendship never to be forgotten.
There are two nationals that are on my heart, Amir and Mak. Both have not come to know Christ, but are always around the church. Mak in particular is in my prayers. He has just started his nine month commitment to the army. He has a bible with him but I would like you to join me in prayer for his understanding and hopefully some fellowship there.
Time is winding down here with only two days left. This place is hard to leave - to echo everyone else these people are family, they are such a blessing and joy. My time perception is really off, time is supposed to go fast when you are having fun and fortunately some aspects of the trip feel slow. It feels like we have been here a good chunk of time. We are changing locations and I would ask you to lift our team up, we are tired and need encouragement and strength to stay motivated for whatever lies ahead. Day by day our flexibility has been stretched which has been a tough journey.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
In His,
Lizzy Ryan
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