Another Update!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're all doing well! I am sitting at "Om Cafe" in Sarajevo, using my friend's computer to update you. This is the one cafe in Sarajevo (out of about 300) that looks like a Starbucks- go figure that the American's would flock to it :) Anyways, I truly cannot thank you enough for all the prayers, emails, and fb messages from you all. God has definitely been answering prayers and it has been so amazing and encouraging to see Him working in my life and in the lives of the Bosnian's that I have met!

We have had great success in the Leadership Seminar, the Relationship Seminar, and our two Svaki Students meetings. I have enjoyed meeting the students and I am excited for our weekend as we are able to bring some of them with us when we go rafting! Apparently the Neretva River is a very easy river to go down which will allow for plenty of time to look out onto the beautiful scenery in Mostar, Bosnia. Also, we are going to the Tunnel Museum on Friday to learn more about the history of this beautiful, yet war-torn country. These two events will be so fun, as we can bring students along with us and we can get outside of the city!

I realize that I haven't told you much about where I am actually living. I am living on the top floor of a building on Strosmajerova (which is a street that is literally in the "center" of town, right next to 2 Cathedrals that play their bells every 15 minutes- and play for about 5 minutes at 6:45am, meaning that I am learning how to awake early in the morning). I walk up 84 stairs to get to my apartment, of which I share with 4 other girls (we share 1 bathroom and each share a bed). The past 2 weeks have been great in that I have been able to really get to know the girls on my team, and it has made me very thankful for my own room at home :) Each day we have a meeting in the morning, either a language class or a team meeting and then we spend the day on campus handing out flyers for our upcoming events, or just meeting students and going to coffee with them!

Going to coffee is a Bosnian's favorite pastime, as it is a part of their culture to go sit at a cafe for 2 to 3 hours a day (Their lifestyle is very similar to the lifestyle explained in Acts 17 when Paul was in Athens and speaks to the scholars who lived there and spent their time talking about about and listening to the newest ideas of the day). It was hard adjusting to this lifestyle at first because I am accustomed to American lifestyle of go, go, go! But, it has been good for me and for our team to A) get to know the students and B) get to grow in our walk with the Lord! I have learned so much about this country and its people in the past two weeks and have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to grow in my faith and trust in the Lord. God has been showing me many things about myself since being here and I am excited to see what else He has in store for me.

Certain things have been a struggle for me and our team living here, including even getting to the internet to write to you! But, we have gotten accustomed to living in Sarajevo. We just know that there will be constant inconveniences but that through our recognition of things that we often take for granted living in the U.S. we see that living here for 6 weeks really is not bad at all! It has been great getting to know all the team members and I think we are all really enjoying our time here. In Romans 5 Paul talks about struggles and perseverence. He says ˝And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perserverence; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.˝

I hope you are all better informed about my trip and please know that though I cannot update this blog often, I am thinking about you! Please continue to keep me in your prayers!

With love,
Megan

p.s. CONGRATS to my Sis for her awesome speech on Tuesday night and good luck in graduation on Friday! I miss you and all the family that is in town, know that I LOVE YOU all!!