thought bucket

Pictures as promised to follow…

We’ve been studying Nehemiah as our main text for our team.  Each week we look at a new chapter while trying to keep the continuity of the narrative intact.  God has really blessed us with the story of Nehemiah and so far it’s been a blue-print for our experience here (pardon the extreme summaries).  The first chapter is all about Nehemiah learning of the state of Jerusalem and responding through prayer and a broken heart.  Chapter two is his plan and bold ask to the King to allow him to go rebuild and then close inspection of the walls upon his arrival.  The third chapter brings opposition from the powers around Judah.  The fourth chapter sees conflict and oppression from within the Jewish community.  Nehemiah is an amazing leader and prayer warrior.  Each week as we’ve read on in the story of Nehemiah we see ways that God is using the text to speak to us hear.  For many on the team it was a huge risk to come on this trip.  Many parent’s aren’t too excited to sent their kids to Bosnia. “Isn’t there war there?” (For one student in particular, Charlene, we’ve had to continue to go before the authorities to ask permission to allow her to come with us.  Just today Nicole went with her to the Croatian embassy and pleaded over and over for them to allow her to submit for a visa so she can debrief with us.  Many times they said “no” or that we don’t have exactly what they want, but eventually they come around.  It’s looking good, not there yet, but looking good.) There is plenty of opposition to God’s “rebuilding” in Bosnia.  We face our own conflict within our community.  We are thankful for the model of Nehemiah who is often before God in specific prayer.

As I write this I am in the 9th floor (girl’s) apartment because once again we are locked out of the 15th floor (men’s) apartment.  After the open-mic night the team put on Tina and I arrived to find all the men outside the apartment door saying the lock wouldn’t turn.  After a couple hours of exhausting what little brain power we had, we gave up and slumber partied at the Bauer’s apartment and here.  The next day the locksmith came.  The company name: Hudini (although both guys that came had shirts on that spelled it differently.)  He was able to get in and temporarily fix the door, but said the problem would happen again if a part inside wasn’t replaced.  We decided to wait for the landlord to make the decision (and hopefully pay).  But, here we are on Tuesday now and we’re locked out again.  I think the landlord is in town now, so maybe this will all get worked out.  Fun side note: This time we’re locked out around 10am instead of midnight.  That means our cook has to use the 9th floor apartment.  Turns out we didn’t have all the pans and bowls that she needed, but with the help of some of the EUS staff we’ve got that under control.  Next step: plates….anybody?

I have been proud of the way our students are engaging and initiating with Bosnians.  I continue to wrestle with the tension between leading by example and stepping to the side to allow the students to work.  I think that pastoring and leading may not be the exact same thing, although there is plenty of overlap.

That’s all you get for now, enjoy the pictures.  Hopefully we’ll be able to update from Croatia.  Ciao.

You’ll see the night view from our room, Senad giving a little history lesson about the city, Nicole leading one of the English conversation groups, and our wonderful friend: Espresso.