1997 Summer Friendship Camp

for

Children in Bosnia

"A Journal"

This page provides insight into the beginning summer friendship camp for TWI for the Children.  In 1996 and 1997, after the war in the Balkans, I had spent a year in Sarajevo and had been visited several times by my wife.  At Easter 1997, we made a decision to host a friendship summer camp for children in Bosnia and invited two friends who would be vacationing in Europe and our daughter, Lisbeth, to join us for these camps.  Little did we know that this was the beginning of our work to assist the people in need in the Balkans. This page is my recollection of the wonderful events that transpired in August 1997.

August 8, 1997: Team arrival in Sarajevo

At about 10:30 PM, Vjeko and Azra came by to check if the team had arrived by van from Zagreb . We made coffee and ate some of the cake that Borka, my landlady, had brought up in anticipation of the groups arrival.  Vjeko and Azra are our dear friends from Mercy Corps who have been so instrumental in putting together this Friendship Camp.  They have done the coordination with the schools to be visited and arranged for interpreters to help us during the Camp.  Additionally, they will arrange for school lunches to be served to all of the students during the camp.  We can't do without them and the Lord has provided us with the best of friends. 

About 11:00 PM, after we had eaten most of the cake, the team arrived.  I helped Ermin, our driver, and Nathan unpack the van and believe me, we were fortunate that we had such a large vehicle as every inch was filled with camp supplies.  We all hugged and kissed as I had not seen Bobby and Lisbeth since Easter and put the supplies in the middle of the living room --camp stuff filled the house.  The donations and supplies are from so many wonderful people that we can never thank them all.  Vjeko and Azra then explained Saturday's itinerary in Zenica at the orphanage.

Saturday 8/9/97:  The Orphanage at Zenica

We were up early Saturday Morning to be ready when Vjeko, Azra and Ermin arrived to go to the Orphanage in Zenica.  I  bathed in my plastic measuring bowl (the water does not come on until 0700 and I can heat up some water from the coke bottles in a small coffee pot on the one electric eye on the stove).  This is no big inconvenience as I have been doing this all year.  The girls and Nathan awoke at 0700 and there was a mad rush to get into the main bathroom.  Bobby filled me in on the trip from Zagreb .  Seems it was a real adventure.  The girls were taking pictures of the crossing into Bosnia on the ferry and the Serbska guard almost took away their camera. Ermine, a great Bosnian, took special care of the group despite getting a little disoriented and getting at least one traffic ticket for unexplainable reasons.  He is super and we are finding more and more that we cannot do without him. 

We had our breakfast of bread, jam, coffee and leftover cake.  At 0930, we were ready, dressed and out front when Ermin arrived and right behind him, Vjeko and Azra.  We followed Vjeko up the highway to Zenica, using the detour around the collapsed bridge and arriving right on time in this small town, larger than a village, but smaller than Sarajevo .  Although we had a  problem finding the orphanage, everyone in town knew where it was located and we soon pulled up in front to be greeted by the Director and several children.  We were taken to the Directors office for the customary coffee and discussions concerning the purpose and organization of the facility.  This orphanage is one of the oldest in the country and also one of the largest as it serves as a feeder orphanage for smaller facilities that cannot accommodate the children.  It had 110 children in the facility ranging from infants to 17 years.  Their funding as well as facilities and supplies have been severely crippled by the war.  There is an ongoing real need for funding for food as the meals consist primarily of green pea soup and a little meat with bread and water.  This is repeated until other vegetables are on sale in the market.  Additionally, they needed clothes, shoes, school supplies and medical supplies that their clinic personnel can use like vitamins, cough medicine and other over the counter medicines to deal with the cuts and bruises of active children. Most of the children had lost parents in the conflict,  some were killed in front of the children.  One child had been present when her mother committed suicide in front of her.  These children harbor lots of very traumatic memories that will require treatment. 

We followed the Director on a tour of the orphanage and saw first hand a dedicated group of staff workers divided into family units caring for up to 20 children in each group.  The children appeared to be well cared for and happy, but the need for food, clothing and supplies is real and immediate. We left coloring books, crayons, balls, and a tetter-ball set with the orphanage and after group pictures in which one could see the real child, we had to say a sad but hopeful goodbye. 

We then returned to Sarajevo and had Ermin drop us in the old city near the destroyed main  library.  (This library was shelled until it was just a shell and all of the priceless manuscripts were destroyed.  Austria funded the rebuilding of this historic and beautiful building.)   I took the team into the old city to eat at "Morrisons".  This is probably the best Muslim food in town and served in buffet style.  The waiter behind the counter lets you point at the foods on the counter and he serves you a gigantic helping in a steel bowl.  This together with pita bread and yogurt is a delicious meal.

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8/10/97: Picnic on Sunday before the First Day of Camp on Monday.

We left the house early with Ermin in the van and Vjeko in his station wagon.  Everyone was on board to include Irma, Vjeko's daughter, and we picked up Amad and his brother at Vjeko's home on Antuna Hangiza  Street above the main train station on the hill across valley from the Grand Hotel.  We headed for Hadzici then over the mountain to Konjic where we made a left on a very small road and began a steep ascent over yet another mountain to the lake at Buradica.  What a beautiful drive and with the rock and roll music playing and all the kids talking and singing in the van the trip went quickly.  We rolled into the campground by the lake fairly early in the day, but already the place was filled with half of Bosnia enjoying the beautiful weather.  It seemed that every person in Bosnia who could not get to the seaside was at the lake. Each family group had staked out its own spot and started their own fire and as lunch-time was approaching, beginning to cook their food.  One family proceeded to skin a lamb and put it on a spit over the fire.  We were joined by more if not all of Vjeko's extended family -- plus some.  I had provided some meat and potato salad, thinking that only Vjeko, Azra and Irma would be with us -- mistake, when Bosnians go on a picnic, everyone from the grandparents to the smallest baby comes.  It was like Jesus feeding the multitudes, everyone gets enough food and there is always food left over.  These people truly enjoy life and have a wonderful time with so little.  They enjoy the outdoors and mostly the realization that they are alive, together with their family, and that people are not trying to kill them.  They are satisfied with the simple pleasures of life. 

The houses by this beautiful mountain lake had been completely destroyed during the conflict and the stark, shelled out buildings provided testimony to the terrible fighting that took place here.  But now, the ladies changed into their bathing suits behind these buildings and the other end of the destroyed complex was used as an open air toilet.  I was a bit frightened as the place was an ideal location for mines, but I soon was doing as the locals do.  Soon, everyone was in the lake (icy cold from the snow that still remained on the top of the mountain).  It seemed that every half naked girl in Bosnia was sunbathing and for a predominantly Muslim nation, there was a noticeable lack of basic modesty.

I sat under the trees by the road and read my newspaper, relaxed, ate, slept a bit and looked-on enjoying the beautiful sights of nature and other beauties, smells of food cooking and sounds of traditional Bosnian music and people simply enjoying their families.

We packed up all the gear and family and drove home at around 6:00 PM to be met at the outskirts of Sarajevo by a "war-time" traffic jam just like in the States when everyone comes back to the city on Sunday afternoon from the countryside and the seashore.  Where do all of the cars come from? We finished the day with coffee and desert at Vjeko's house before he took us home and to bed.  What a super day with wonderful people and new friends.

August 11 1997:  First Day of the Friendship Camp: 

Monday morning came too early, I got the team up and they made for the bathrooms that by that time had running water.  We were all set  when Ermin showed up with the van and we loaded all of the camp supplies on board -- bags of balls and bats, more bags of art supplies, crayons, paper, and name-tags (it is impossible to understand what it takes to run a Friendship Camp until you actually participate).  Vjeko led us in his van to the school in Ilidza.  This section of Sarajevo is South of the city on the road to Mostar.  It was on the front lines during the heaviest part of the fighting and sustained a great deal of damage, both in physical damage and human life.  Ermin, our driver, interpreter and security guard had fought there during the war.  A large percentage of the children attending the school and the summer camp have lost at least one parent and some have lost both and are living with relatives.  The village now hosts the headquarters of the SFOR in Sarajevo .  It is a beautiful area near the mountains and home of the park that has a famous Austrian style hotel and tree lined paths winding down to the beginning of the Bosnia river. 

Our small two-vehicle convoy drove into the small village and at the end of the trolley line from Sarajevo , between the market square and the main shops was the school.  It contained a nice gym and a couple of open spaces where we could conduct art and crafts activities.  At each of our Friendship Camp locations, we had to set-up quite quickly as the students were already lined up (it seemed for miles) outside the door when we arrived.  Some had been there since 7:00 AM that morning.  When we set up, we put a table at the entrance and had each student sign in and make a hand print on a large sheet of construction paper.  This was done by drawing the outline of their hand and then writing their names inside the hand outline.  This was great fun and it gave us time to make the nametag for the student and pin it on them.  This showed that they belonged to the camp and let us organize the groups by color coded nametags.  (The blue name tags went to games, the red went to crafts, etc.)

While we were setting up, Bobby met with the school Director and discussed the itinerary and the time we wanted to serve lunch.  I didn't know how far the 5 DM per person would go in buying a lunch.  We looked to have about 100 people a day at the camp so they had contracted with a local shop to have lunches.  Nathan and I set up the games and the balloons in the gym and put out basketballs, volleyballs, and Frisbees.  The kids after in-processing, then came into the gym and had some time to play games on their own.  It soon became bedlam.  After 15 minutes, we had most everyone registered and I blew the whistle and called the children around me.

Additionally, Jasmina, Azra's sister, who teaches at the school, helped us interpret.  Azra's other sister brought her twin boys Sead and Haris, both  spoke excellent English and were out of University for the day.  The niece, Amina, was about 16 and very pretty so she had no trouble getting the boys attention and the young man, Sejdic Strel called Keko, was also 16 and a wrestler so the young girls gave him their undivided attention.  It was amazing the number of young people who speak very good English so with the help of the relatives and the children who spoke English we were able to get across our instructions.  Actually, there is a lot of sign language and love involved.  We give free hugs and lots of pats on the shoulders.  The children love Lisbeth, Nichole and Nathan and look on Bobby and me as their grandparents.

First thing always, I taught the multitude how to say "sit down" and "stand up" in English and the sign to keep absolutely quiet.  I found that when I told them the story of the Indian Brave who held up his hand with two fingers extended to signal the hunting party to stop and maintain absolute silence, that when I held up my hand with two fingers, the entire group of 100 children held up their hands with two fingers and stopped talking and playing.  It was magic! 

Bobby then told the group the story of the "Dream Catcher".  "This is the story of the Indian medicine man who constructed a dream catcher web which he hung over the Indian Brave as he slept.  When good dreams came to the Indian Brave, they went through the web and passed into the dreams of the Indian Brave making him happy and strong.  When bad dreams and nightmares tried to get to the brave, the dream-catcher web caught the bad dreams and prevented them from hurting the sleep of the Indian Brave.  Therefore, each Indian Brave and Squaw worked tirelessly to make the best dream-catcher possible to give them only good dreams."

We then broke into color coded groups and constructed our dream-catchers. The kids made some beautiful dream-catchers and the homes in Ilidza must have been full of Indian dream-catchers over the beds of the children.  I know that even today, these dream-catchers are catching all the nightmares and thoughts of war and disappointment and letting only their good thoughts and dreams through.  Nathan and I led games such as relays and volleyball until lunch. 

Lunch was special and there was so much food at each plate, that I thought I couldn't eat my portion much less have a young child eat all that was on their plate.  However, they ate every bit and some wrapped up leftovers to take home.  They also had coke and desert.  After lunch, we had a sing-along which Nichole led with Lisbeth.  Then we played more games; constructed "Friendship Bracelets" and lanterns and did some dancing (which all of the children and the teachers loved).  The 3:00 PM completion came before we realized it.  I knew that the first day was over when Ermin looked in on us.  We quickly had the children gather up their crafts as many of their parents were arriving.  We sent them home with the promise of another super day tomorrow.  We ended each school day with "traditional Bosnian coffee" with the teachers and gathered up the sports equipment and left-over crafts.  We finished up about 4:00 PM and then home to Sarajevo to change our clothes and grab a bit of rest.

That evening, we walked down the hill, through the market and up the stairs by the side of the destroyed cable car which formerly took people from the area near the stadium up to the apartments on the side of the hill.  This is a pretty steep climb and we were pretty out of breath and with the exercise we had done during the day, we were beat when we reached the top.  Then over the crest of the hill and down the street to Vjeko's house.

We then went to see our dear friend Emira who lived close-by in another apartment, Emira had lost her husband during the conflict.  He had gone to get water in the city and a sniper had killed him as he climbed the hill to his home with his water buckets late in the night.  We love this dear family and when our team came into the apartment, we were greeted with the customary Muslim hospitality.  We drank many fiery toasts, which I enjoyed greatly.  This was followed with much wine, cheese, meat, eggplant and ice cream.  We came expecting to say hello, and were treated to a delicious full traditional Bosnian meal.  These are wonderful people and love just flows from them.  They don't have much, but what they have is shared fully with you.  .

We finished at about 9:45 PM and as we all tired and full of food and drink, Vjeko, took the entire gang home in his car.  I ran for the shower, making the last dribbles as the water in Sarajevo quickly turned off. 

August 12, 1997:  The Second Day at the School at Ilidza

Everyone was ready for the second day and the convoy was soon on its way out to the school.  When we arrived, children were everywhere.  The children had gone home and told their friends and we now had twice the number of children as the day before.  We registered the new children and began the second day with a great story by Bobby to all of the students.   We then did crafts, making "Jumping Jacks" and lanterns, and played volleyball, baseball and relay games.  The children loved learning to play baseball.  Lunch was "Burac" which is a pastry filled with meat.  We also had yogurt, cake, banana and coke.  Bobby paid top dollar for the lunch and the children loved it.  We almost lost control in the afternoon as the children were getting to know us and it was a bit more difficult to keep their attention.  I feel that the single day Friendship Camps are more focused and therefore, move quickly.  This makes it easy to work with the children and to maintain their attention.  We finished the day at about 2:00 PM, with a very nice ceremony with the Director of the school.  Bobby gave the school basket balls, a volleyball set, and baseballs and bats.   She received a nice plaque of Sarajevo . The children sang songs with us and we took final pictures.  We had our final Bosnian Coffee with the staff and went over what we would like to do next year.

When we got home, we were met by Milan and Borka, my landlords, all in readiness for a grand BBQ.  We had invited Vjeko and Azra and soon the air around our house was filled with the smell of cooking steak, paprika, chicken and accompanied by delicious potato salad, mixed salad and wine and soda.  Of course we had Bosnian coffee and cake.  We talked until total darkness forced us to break up and everyone went home to prepare for the next day which is a new school in "New Town" Sarajevo   then departing immediately in the afternoon for Tuzla and Gradacac.

We packed all of the remaining equipment in the house as we would be leaving some with the school in Sarajevo and the remainder in Gradacac. 

8/13/97:  Second Friendship School and the Trip North to Gradacac

We were to have our camp at a school that had children from grades 1-9 in the New Town portion of Sarajevo . We took the remaining supplies out of the house and down to the street in preparation for Ermin's arrival.  Our equipment had to be separated into two groups, one for the Sarajevo school and the other for the two-day school in Gradacac. Ermin arrived and we were at the school by 0950.  The school was located in the center of New Town.  It was about a block from the main road through Sarajevo to the airport.  Our friend Ekrim joined the Leadership Team today and it was great to have him.  By the time the twins, Sead and Haris, together with Amina and Keko arrived, we were ready to open the doors to the long lines of children anxiously waiting for the Friendship Camp. 

Nichole and Lisbeth set up in the large entrance hall and Nathan and I set up the balls and balloons in the large gym.  Bobby talked with the Director.  There were at least 150 children of all ages in line when we arrived, so we started as soon as we could getting our usual registration, hand printing, and name-tagging routines completed. We now used three stations and in-processing went really fast.  We used the registration to determine how many lunch meals to purchase.  After two days of camp, we knew these routines and had our schedule down pat. 

This being a one day camp and our need to leave by 3:00 PM to get to Gradacac by dark, we moved out.  This was a very disciplined group of children and very easy to work with.  We started with our basic English class after they had an opportunity to play with the balls and balloons during the "free time" period after they registered.  The English class consisted of "stand up, sit down and absolute silence" accompanied with hand signs.  It works.  The English class lasts about 3 minutes and the kids understand it.  We then gathered for the story of the "color necklace" and we gave a necklace to each camper.  Bobby then told the story of the American Indian dream-catcher and we broke into our groups to make this craft.  Everyone then divided into game groups for relays and then into groups (color coded by name-tag) for baseball and making jumping jacks. 

Nathan and I taught baseball.  We began by having two lines face each other and tossing the ball back and forth.  Most can catch pretty well and we used plastic balls so the children are not afraid of being hurt.  We then progressed to learning how to hit the ball and each child gets to hit several balls that we pitch to them.  We then played a short demonstration game showing them the bases and the rules.  This usually goes right over their heads -- they have no idea what we are doing.  It would be like us playing cricket.

We then served another delicious lunch.  They had "Barack" cut into smaller pieces , with both cheese and meat fillings, and a fruit drink.  We ate in two shifts as the number of children is about 150.  Crafts continued for those not eating and they sang songs after they had eaten and the other shift was in the cafeteria. 

We continued our relay games after lunch and Nichole, Lisbeth and Bobby also worked with their groups making friendship bracelets.  Most of the girls had no problem with this as they braid their hair, but the boys were less able.  These kids were very disciplined and responded quickly to instruction.  All were well-dressed, very clean and pretty as pictures.  Many of the older kids spoke fluent English and helped interpret. 

Nathan was able to get them into a real volleyball competition.  The larger kids -- in their teens - had played before and most served the ball overhead and knew how to "dig" the returns.  We had a good time, but it got a bit too competitive and Nathan had to reinforce the need for everyone to participate and the feeling that everyone is a good player.  We continuously reinforced our camp goal -- "to be friends to all and to continuously help one another".

Bobby had a great closing ceremony and she left lots of goodies such as baseball equipment, volleyballs, speed balls, arts and craft equipment, and one football.  Nathan took lots of pictures of the individual groups and the Director of the school gave Bobby a plaque of Sarajevo .  We then had the traditional Bosnian Coffee with the teachers, said goodbye to our trusty interpreters who had worked so hard for the past several days; loaded the van and Vjeko's car; said goodbye to Azra, who must stay behind at Mercy Corps, and were off, North to Gradacac by way of Tuzla .

The trip north is beautiful, going through pine forests and through breathtaking scenery.   We stopped at a wonderful café just south of Tuzla for coffee and drinks.  The Café was on a ridge and had a beautiful view up and down the valley.  We stayed there about half an hour and enjoyed the view.  We had kidnapped Keko, the young teenage boy from Sarajevo , to help us interpret.  Our team now was augmented by Vjeko, Keko and Jasmina.  It was then that we realized that Ermin, our driver, must also double as an interpreter. 

We arrived in Gradacac at 7:00 PM, and were immediately lost in the village trying to find the school.  We had driven past it several times and the Director had the police out looking for us.  When Ermin stopped to ask one of the local policemen for directions, the policeman knew all about us and was able to point us in the right direction. When we arrived at the school, our entire group went into the office and had the "traditional Muslim welcome" of coffee, brandy and other toasts in honor of our arrival.  Bobby had visited this school before and had left school supplies and computers for their computer center.  We again provided some computers and promised additional help.  During the war, this school had been gutted and all of the computers and everything else in the school was destroyed.  Mercy Corps had reconstructed the school but they needed replacement supplies and equipment.  They are very resourceful and every time we return we see more progress.  It was a beautiful evening with the sun setting bright red over the old Mosque on the hill overlooking the village.  This beautiful little village nestled in the hills of Northern Bosnia , is a true experience to remember.

Over coffee, Bobby and the Director planned the events and itinerary for the next two days. Then the Director showed us to the hotel where we would be staying.  The hotel was a bed and breakfast home in the center of the village across from a open space that was used for the weekly market.  As is the custom in the Muslim home, we took off our shoes at the door and use slippers that were provided by the owner of the house. The owner lives on the second floor with his wife and breakfast is served in their dining room.  We had the entire third floor to ourselves and soon were in our rooms and fighting for the two baths on the floor.  The hotel manager brought us drinks and coffee and provided fruit from his garden.  We were like family! 

At 9:00 PM, the Director met us and walked with us to a restaurant in the center of the town.  Everyone was out walking and soon we were one of the villagers.  We had a super meal and got home about 11:00 PM -- people still walking and talking in the street.  I went to bed, but the girls continued to work on preparations for the crafts, especially the "what color is your day" necklaces to be given to all of the children at the beginning of the following day.  I think they stayed up most of the night setting up for the next day. 

8/14/97:  Friendship Camp "Gradacac"

Gradacac School -- in the Hills of Northern Bosnia

We were up early on Thursday morning and I went downstairs  to find breakfast while the others finished dressing.  I found the table set in the living room of the "B&B".  The food was great - consisting of everything from eggs to meats to homemade blackberry jam to homegrown honey and topped with great Bosnian Coffee.  After breakfast, Ermin, Nathan and I loaded the van with the arts and crafts and all of the sports equipment.  The girls ate and made their final preparations -- still making rainbow necklaces. 

We arrived in convoy at the school  to see nothing but a sea of children everywhere.  They must have come the night before.  We were  expecting 80 to 100 children, but there must have been 250 kids running everywhere when we drove up.  These kids were wild!  Bobby and Lisbeth had been coming to this school since November, so we were "known" by all.  We got them lined up and went through the registration process, but with the number of children, we abbreviated the process and moved the kids quickly into the Gym where Nathan and I supervised the "free time with the balls and balloons", which was quickly becoming one of the children's favorite activities.  We did our thing of learning English, the signs and words to develop some sort of control abut I had to finally resort to a whistle to maintain their attention.  We needed every interpreter available and Ermin stepped up big - as Vjeko had to work with Bobby and the Director on a radio broadcast. 

Bobby told the story about the Indian Dream-Catcher and we made this craft.  Trying to control 250 people with four instructors is really a challenge so we did a lot of innovating on the run.  Some of the groups would finish before the others and then these children would find where we hid the balls and soon balls would be all over the Gym.  The team quickly established a great friendship with these kids and this love for them and them for us is a super blessing. After the camp was we learned why the camp activities and all of this "free time fun" was such a treat and a pleasant surprise to all the teachers at each of the schools.  During the communist period, summer camps were used for indoctrination and were nothing like the fun camp which we provided.

I next worried about lunch as Azra was not with us to look after this detail.  How to feed the children with no lunchroom and with only 500 DM per day?  When I went to the kitchen at 11:45, the staff was having a "smoke" break and I did not see any food.  However, at 12:00, we fed all of the children a great meal with a drink.  They ate outside and in 10 minutes, they were back expecting more games and crafts.  We taught songs, dances, ran relays, played volleyball, taught football, and made jumping jacks. 

At 3:00 PM, we sent the children home, tired, but happy with their crafts and ready to start again on Friday.  We met with the Director to plan for the next day and to have a much needed Bosnian Coffee.  I looked out the window and in the rear of the school, the teachers had killed and were preparing a lamb for roasting on a spit.  We found out that the staff was hosting a surprise BBQ for us that night.  What great people! The team then went back to the Bed and Breakfast Hotel and Ermin, the girls and I prepared more craft packages in preparation for another crowd of children tomorrow.  The other male team members went to the local swimming hole to cool off. Ermin and I built "what color is your day" necklaces until our fingers would not function.  Nicole and Lisbeth made Jumping Jacks and Lantern kits. 

At 7:30 PM, we went back to the school where the feast was already in process.  We watched the teachers use an ax to chop the lamb from the spit.  They also had tomatoes, bread, wine, the traditional homemade plum brandy, and beer.  We soon became fast friends.

At 9:00 PM, Bobby, Vjeko and I left the festivities in Vjeko's car to visit the family of a blind child who lived about 20 minutes out in the country from Gradacac.  (Now, Gradacac is out in the woods, but when you drive on a rutted unpaved path to get to a small home in the middle of the night and not knowing what is just over the hill, -- this is faith. )  We were accompanied by Irina, a radio correspondent, who had broadcast during the day about our Friendship Camp.  She knew the route and the also the family, because the Gradacac Radio Station had been visiting the family regularly to read and talk with their daughter, Fahira.  We arrived at the home about 9:45 PM, not knowing if the family would be awake as they had no phone for us to tell them we were coming.  We were greeted with hugs and traditional Muslim hospitality and love.  Fahira, the young girl was 11 years old and coping amazingly well with her situation. 

We left the home to return to Gradacac at 10:15 PM, and Vjeko suggested that we check the school on the off-chance that someone might still be there.  At 11:00 PM, we found the party in full swing with much dancing and toasting.  We were taught traditional dances and after the American team taught a couple of Macarena dances, we boarded the van and returned to the B &B and bed by midnight.  The girls stayed up, still working on craft kits. 

8/15/97:  Last day of Friendship Camp -- Gradacac

We awoke early on a beautiful late summer morning with the many different sounds of preparation for the weekly market coming from across the street from the hotel. The owner showed us the traditional Muslim dress of his parents and told us how the people had survived during the conflict.  Gradacac had been on the front lines and had been the scene of some very intense fighting.  We then loaded everything into the van and maneuvered to get through the traffic caused by the market day.  This scene is never to be forgotten, with all of the people selling everything from food to clothing to video tapes.  All accompanied by music from a variety of recorders all played at the highest volume.  Wonderful!

When we arrive at the school, we were not as overwhelmed with children as on Thursday because the local soccer team had a game away from the town and many of the children were participating.  However, we still had more than 150 kids.  They were still as energetic as the day before and quickly we were into our program.  Today we concentrated on crafts -- everything from making lanterns to "what color is your day" necklaces to "Jumping Jack" puppets. Friendship bracelets were worn by everyone.  We also had a full agenda of football and baseball instruction and more relays and games.  Stories were told by Bobby, Nicole, Keko, Ermin and Lisbeth and translated by any of the Bosnian team available and also half of the children who spoke English.  Because "learning to speak English and being able to practice their English" was one of early request by the children when we began to organize the camp agenda, we were thrilled that so many of them were eager to help.

Lunch was again served and again I marveled that we could feed so many children on the small amount of money we had provided.  We must have really taxed the local restaurants to give us such a feast.  The children danced and sang in the afternoon and again loved to be taught baseball.  Our final ceremony came at 2:45 PM, as we needed time to drive back to Sarajevo before dark. 

At the final ceremony, we gave the school everything we had left of our craft supplies, all of the balls, the bats, the volleyball equipment, speed balls and footballs.  We left with empty supply bags.  The Director gave Bobby a beautiful picture of the city, announced some of the agenda for Friendship Summer Camp 1998: more baseball and American football, along with more Native American folklore and crafts - which was greeted with wild cheers

We left the school with all of the kids exchanging addresses, wanting autographs and hanging on the van and the station wagon.  With only one more day of camp - at the orphanage in Mostar - this was a wonderful way to end our first Friendship Summer Camp partnership with the schools in Bosnia . It was a very beautiful drive back to Sarajevo .  The summer weather was in full force in the Tuzla area but the temperature droped quite a bit as you get back in the mountains of Sarajevo .  We arrived in Sarajevo and Nathan, Nicole, Lisbeth and Ermin immediately left for the city.  Bobby and I finished my packing as I was leaving Sarajevo after a year

Bobby and I had coffee with Milan , Borka and Irina in the back yard and we ate our last meal in this wonderful house where I had lived a marvelous year of my life.  A mixture of tears, laughter, love and promises to return and for them to come visit us filled their back yard. I was really touched that I was leaving such good and wonderful people.  They started out being "just my landlord family", but over the year they had become such dear friends - not only to me but to Bobby - and now the time had come to depart their home and leave Sarajevo .  However, my memories were wonderful and will be with me until I can return. 

Saturday, 16 August 1997: 

Leave Sarajevo , Visit Mostar Orphanage, Departure from Split :

Up very early to get ready for the early start to travel to the Orphanage in Mostar by 10:00 AM.  We cleaned up using water from our ever handy coke bottles and flushed the toilets using water from the buckets under the sink, put the remaining bags out by the street and cleaned up the house. Ermine arrived and we were off to Vjeko's house.  At Vjeko's home, we were joined by additional people, so the group continued to grow.  At 0730, we were off to Mostar with a van and a station wagon.  In New Town Sarajevo, we stopped and picked up KeKo, standing by the side of the road.  We got to Mostar about 0930 and went to the Mercy Corps headquarters near the new bus/rail station.

At Mercy Corps Headquarters, we made final arrangements to visit the orphanage. With  Adi, the Mercy Corps office manager in Mostar in the lead car, we drove to the orphanage in East Mostar .  This orphanage was in truly bad shape.  It consisted of a series of abandoned buildings.  The orphanage had lost its funding support.  Therefore, they were in need of everything including food and clothing, but mainly they needed money.  We felt so inadequate that we could not help, and could only leave the few items of sports equipment that we had remaining.  To pull this orphanage together will require a major effort by organizations larger than ours.  Bobby and I cried when we left, because there is a real need to assist these children and only a few people dedicated to taking care of them. 

Vjeko wanted to show us one of the oldest restored buildings in Mostar near the old bridge (Stari Most) so we drove into East Mostar and walked down to the old bridge where Bobby and I had planned to have lunch at our favorite restaurant at the foot of the bridge.  Surprise, when we got to the bridge, there were the rest of the group.  We ate lunch with them, bought a few gifts and visit the beautifully restored 14th century home of a rich merchant nearby.  It was quite an experience and much enjoyed by the entire group as we walked through the home and were told about its history and saw, firsthand how the people of Mostar lived during this early period.  We ate figs from the trees and drank rose tea.  We hated to leave, but back to the car and van and onward to the sea.

At the border with Croatia , we changed our money to Kuna and continued up the beautiful Dalmatian coast to Split .  The team wanted a rest stop so we turned in at the quaint village of Brella for a swim. It was then after 5PM and the water was cold, but really felt good.  We arrived at our Pansion "Martin" at 7:30 PM.

Sunday 17 August 1997

  Our last day together as a Team

We arose to a beautiful Sunday morning with high blue, blue skies and the sun painting the Adriatic with a rosy red on the blue green of the sea.  The breeze blew off the sea and into our bedroom on the third floor of the Pansion Martin.  All nine of us had breakfast in the dining room and then we went into Split to determine the times for the ferry crossing to Ancona .  We arrived in the city center and already, the city was alive with people going to church, some going to market and tourists like us just looking around at this beautiful old city.  We went to the ferry office and bought tickets for Nichole and Nathan and then walked all over the downtown area. 

At lunchtime, we left downtown and returned to the B&B for a swim.  We all immediately were out in the Adriatic and enjoyed the cool water.  We went down the water slide and swam out far in the sea.  At about 3:00 PM, we decided to go to a special fish restaurant near Omis.  This particular restaurant was located back in a valley cut into the mountain by the river that runs quickly into the sea.  The trees were abundant, unlike the tops of the hills which are bare and rocky.  The tables were situated under the trees and we ordered delicious fish and meat and enjoyed good wine and more importantly, our special final hours together.

When time came to leave, we were all in tears.  We took pictures, hugged and promised to be together again next year.  These are dear friends and dedicated people who work constantly to rebuild their country.  Vjeko, Azra, Keko, and Ekrim left for Sarajevo at 5:30 PM and we left to return to Split and get ready to meet the ferry.  When we got to Omis however, the sea beckoned and we went to the beach and went swimming.  At 7 PM, I suggested that we start for Split .  This was a bit late as every Croatian and a few others were also returning to Split from the beaches along the coast.  We crept along the road with all of the other cars as cars do on Sunday in the States when everyone comes home from the beach.  Time moved swiftly and soon, we were racing the clock to make the ferry.

At 8:00 PM, we were at the B&B and Nichole and Nathan bolted from the car and ran for the shower as the salt water was still coating their bodies.  We then jumped back into the car with their backpacks and wedged back into the line of cars moving slowly into Split .  We made the ferry with 15 minutes to spare and kissed Nichole and Nathan goodbye and wished them God's speed.  Bobby, Lisbeth and I then returned to the B&B for dinner.  It was sad seeing the team disperse, but sadder still to realize that Lisbeth would be leaving in the morning. 

We went to bed late after sitting on the patio looking at the sea.  The summer camp was completed and the memories and blessings that we had received were beyond description.  We had developed so many new projects and traveled so many miles, seen so many children and loved the looks in each and every face as we played games and made crafts; sang songs and danced our dances.  We had cried with them, laughed with them and prayed with them.  Whether the people were Muslim or Croat,  Serb, or Jew, we didn't know the difference and they often didn't either.  We are all made by the same Great God and He doesn't make bad stuff.  We pray that we had made some small difference in the lives of these children and brought something new into their lives.  We know that these children and our Bosnian friends have certainly changed our lives.  

This was the first of our projects for the children of the Balkans and little did we know how it would impact our lives and the lives of many children in the Balkans.  Click here to return to the 1998 Success Page.

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