Croatia/norther Bosnia, and Emergency Relief in the Balkans

This is E/S Erickson They have been humanitarian missionaries for Croatia and northern Bosnia for almost 18 months and have done much to help the people of these 2 countries. We visited with them from the 16th -20th of Feb. and were able to meet many of the people they have worked with. They are a wonderful couple and have touched many lives. They were featured in a national news spot featuring people that have helped and made a difference in Croatia. They have been on TV several times and people on the streets are beginning to recognize them. They have left their mark on Croatia, and this humanitarian mission and Croatia and Bosnia have left a mark on them. You can not serve a humanitarian mission without being changed, we have seen it in every couple that we've met in these various countries.

This is a symbol of the city of Varazdin, Croatia which is found in many of the the streest of the city and is the city where the Erickson's live. It is a beautiful town of maybe 200,000.

This is Dr. Golubovic, She is the national Secretary general or head of all the the Red Cross in northern Bosnia. I presented her with a certificate of appreciation from the Church for all the time we have worked together to help the people of Bosnia. This was at a ceremony were together we presented newborn kits to new mothers, and hygiene kits to others in the community with needs, and also wheelchairs. The event was covered by 2 TV stations, newspapers and 2 radio talk show host. One of the tlak show host has the largest audience in Croatia, so it was quite a big deal for the local couple and the red Cross.

These two ovens were purchased to help to help a Catholic Charity running a soup kitchen. They feed over 430 people daily who need help. It was very touching to see the response of the volunteer staff when the Erickson's walked into the kitchen, they were greeted with a lot of hugs and kisses and broad smiles. The people receiving the daily soup meal are unaware of good this great couple do, but they are very grateful for the meal. For many it is the only meal of the day. Unemployment is high and the pay for the jobs that are there is low. That is why these people are so used to black market dealing, it has meant survival.

One of the projects that was done in by the Erickson's in Croatia this years was to help fund this play/therapy room for disabled children in a rehabilitation hospital (primarily the only one) in northern Croatia. It is now a bright cherry room with a lot of toys and games for the children where before it was just a grey cement floored room. This little girl is unable to walk and spends most of her day on the floor leaning against something. She can't sit up by herself so life has some definite challenges, but look at that smile anyway. I couldn't read the Croatian words so I read the pictures to her. She didn't seem to mind my inabilities and was appreciative and sweet anyway.

This Picture does not mean much until you realize in was taken from a 3rd story window. Once you know this it gives you a greater appreciation for the depth of the snow. For many communities there was no school for 2 weeks because of the snow, which sent 5 countries into a state of emergency.

Consequently we have been very busy these past two weeks with emergency projects in the Balkan countries. Winter storms with severe cold temperatures hit the Balkans the beginning of Feb. dropping record amounts of snow in the mountain villages. In Romania for example some villages reported between 12-15 feet of snow. All roads and rail lines were closed the only way to access these villages was with snow cats and snowmobiles, where these could not go the military took food in with helicopters. Many villages were stranded with inadequate amounts of food and firewood for heating. The Church combined with the Red Cross in 4 countries to bring emergency food, blankets, and firewood to thousands of trapped villagers. Thousands of dollars were sent to help these people, and because of the Church's organization we were able to respond immediately to the urgent calls for help. During the course of years the Church has developed a very good working relationship with many local and national relief organizations in the Balkan countries and has quietly done a significant amount of good. In 2011 over a $100,000 in aid and services were provided to Croatia and northern Bosnia alone, but you'll never hear about it. All this money is donated by members throughout the world to help others, none comes from the tithes of the Church.

This blog I've written about the good of this couple and the Church have done in helping other, and I haven't even touched on the spiritual blessing of being a member of the Church. These blessing are the greatest of all because they don't as a rule deal with "things", but with happiness and relationships and with peace.
We hope you have a good week, we love you all Oma and Opa