November 2014

Our last post from Montenegro!

Wow, less than a month left here and we are still meeting with people and inputting projects!  I told Russ we need to stop so we can get organized to train the new couple taking our place!  One of our translators (Sandra) came up with an idea to make educational  "good hygiene" coloring books for the refugee children here.

This is the front cover and Bojanka means "coloring book".  It teaches the children about what happens if you don't wash your hands or brush your teeth, etc.  It is printed on heavy, shiny paper and we are very excited about the project.  LDS Charities paid for the art work and printing for 2,000 and are providing a hygiene kit with each one with all the items in it that the 30 page book talks about to the 360 for the Roma children between 5-9 years in the refuge camp here in Podgorica.  The rest will go throughout the country to other refugee camps.  Included in the hygiene kit for the donation in Podgorica are: tooth brushes, towels, soap, nail clipper, combs and brushes, laundry soap, and lots of other stuff along with crayons!

We also talked with the Paraplegic Association of Niksic (second largest city here) to provide them with 2 looms so that the handicapped can make rugs, bags, table runners, etc. to sell.  That project was approved this week, Yay!

This was our second meeting and the project was also approved this week!  What a great bunch of people!


We also had a wonderful conference of seniors from the Balkans in Slovenia.  It was so beautiful there.  Here is the proof!

 Lake Bled

 

Our Hotel

 Beautiful place!

Ljubljana, Slovenia

When we returned to Montenegro we traveled north for this donation of a swing set for the handicapped and some electronics.

The handicapped children cared for here did not have any playground equipment. So this swing, along with the handicapped merry-go-round (to be donated by the International Women's Club of which I am a member) will be a great improvement.  Now the children can do more than just sit in their wheelchairs on the patio. 

We also had a major vision project finish this month.  LDS Charities not only donated an operating table but a lot of other operating equipment to the vision department of the large hospital here.  And brought in an eye surgeon from Utah to train and teach them how to perform specific surgeries that up until now had not been done here.  The picture above shows Dr. Matt Harris instructing.

Press Conference

Dinner afterwards from left to right.  Rada, Srdjan (They both translate for us), Micki and Matt Harris (the doctor and his wife) and us. 

What an amazing experience this mission has been.  We really appreciate the opportunity to be of service to the people here in Montenegro.  We love this beautiful country and the exceptional people.  We will miss them!   Bye for now and hope to see you all soon, either in Missouri, Utah or Nevada!