Good news, Bad news…

Bad news… My computer is having some major issues… at this point it is pretty much completely broken and unusable.

Good news…They have a Mac store in Sarajevo and the people there are awesome! They were very professional and efficient. The store is located in a very convenient place downtown and they are taking care of it for me.

Bad news… (again, sorry!)…It is going to take 3 weeks to get the part they need to fix it.

So due to this velika problema (big problem) I will not be able to be on the internet or post very often.  Which I am sure depresses all of you.  But don’ t worry! I am provided for in so many ways here and at this moment I am using my teammates’ computer. They are oh so generous (love them!) and will let me use it when I need it. But obviously I won’t be as available as I would.

So, life does go on and in some ways it is good to not have an easily accessible computer (as much as I love hearing from you and very much appreciate and need your support) because according to a lot of the materials our team received about language learning the first few weeks are the most important time to be out and about.  This is the honeymoon stage of cross cultural adjustment which is the time where you are the most motivated to learn and take risks. So it has been a good thing to be pushed out of my comfort zone and engage people wherever and however I can. And at this point in my time here language learning is my job. I attend different EUS events and am meeting students at church, but the first few months are dedicated to getting oriented with the culture and really digging into language learning. Let me tell you, it keeps me busy. I have class a few times a week with a tutor who is excellent and she gives me a good amount of homework, but the biggest challenge is starting conversations with people in Bosnian. But I am doing it! As terrifying as it is, it is also pretty fun. Some people I have met work in coffee shops or stores and I try to visit often and practice. They are so patient with me (praise the Lord!) and it has been a good and humbling experience! My prayer is that God would work in a big way in those relationships I develop through language learning. Of course I look forward to the day when we can actually understand each other!

Dobar je Bog! God is good! There are so many great things happening here. Another great gift was that the Evangelical church here had a Balkan youth conference last weekend and Samuil Petrovski (IFES director in Serbia), his wife and his daughter were here in Sarajevo for it! I met Samuil when I was in Belgrade in 2005 and met his wife in Seattle the following year. It is always nice to see old faces and was so great to meet their precious daughter. God is so kind!

So much more to say, but I will spare you all Please keep me updated on you and send me your prayer requests. Will see the next time I can post…