Beautiful Montenegro Springtime!

What a beautiful time of year to be living in Montenegro!  The trees are full of blossoms and gaining new leaves.  The rocky mountains have turned green from the rain and warmer weather.

During the final week of March, we participated in a wheelchair training with specialists from Salt Lake City.  The week long training was held in the Red Cross facility at Sutomore on the coast.  Thirteen participants from all over Montenegro came to receive training on evaluating and measuring recipients for new wheelchairs provided by LDS Charities.

This was the first time in the wheelchair program that in-country people were prepared to train their fellow countrymen.

At the conclusion of the training, a closing ceremony was held with President and Sister Grant and the President of the Montenegro Red Cross.

During the month of April, we have been busy trying to finish and close several projects before we return to America.  We were able to visit the main school in Pluzine to celebrate with the Head Mistress and some of the students.  LDS Charities provided desktop computers for their lab and laptop computers for the teachers to use at the outlying country schools.

On the way to Pljevlja to close the homeless shelter project, we drove through the beautiful Tara Canyon.  Our souvenir for this fun trip was a flat tire from one of many rocks falling onto the road from the steep mountains.  We're always amazed by the crystal clear blue-green water in every river.  Due to lack of snow during the winter, the Tara River is lower than normal.

 LDS Charities was able to provide new windows and some renovation to the inside of the homeless shelter in Pljevlja, which is the only shelter in Montenegro.  This was a great improvement to the facility, but there is still much to be done.

One of the unusual pine trees growing out of the rocks in the deep canyons of Montenegro have a flat top.

On our return trip from Pljevlja to Podgorica, we had to stop and take a break by the beautiful Tara River again.  This was a peaceful, quiet spot this time of year....not bad for a "selfie".

We were excited to have the new Day Care Center in Podgorica open.  LDS Charities was able to provide special learning toys and supplies for the children to use.

LDS Charities provided the computers for a children's reading room for the National Library in Niksic.  Also donated was a laptop, project and screen for cultural and social seminars.  The first event held hosted over six hundred people.

On the return trip from Niksic to Podgorica, we decided to visit Ostrog Monastery.  This Monastery is built into the rock and is located on a high mountain cliff.  It can be seen for many miles in all directions.  Many people throughout Europe visit Ostrog during certain times of the year.  The road and the scenery were breathtaking.

Just before returning home to America, we made a final trip to the beautiful Montenegrin Coast.  We visited both Kotor and Budva old town "stari grad", and enjoyed a wonderful spring day together.

A beach not far from Budva old town.  Notice the beautiful clear water in the Adriatic Sea.

Old town Budva from a distance.  Most of the old town areas by the Adriatic Sea are right on the
coast with huge walls built for protection.

As we reluctantly came to the conclusion of our wonderful day together on the coast, this was our parting view of the Adriatic Sea.  This is one of the many sights and experiences that we will miss as we conclude our Montenegro mission adventure!

Spring Comes To Montenego!

                                                                                        

  It's beginning to look a lot like Spring in Montenegro!  The trees that loose their leaves in the fall are starting to leaf out again.  Bushes are starting to blossom and daffodils are showing up everywhere.

Our early morning walks are full of different sights and sounds.  They are made more pleasant by beautiful Spring scenery.

                                                                                                

Speaking of sights and sounds on our early morning walks - this is a sidewalk / parking lot with cars parked wherever there is space.  It's not unusual to be walking down the sidewalk and have to step aside for a car trying to find a place to park.  Parking space in Podgorica is sometimes hard to find.

Spring has also brought a few storms to Podgorica.  One Sunday afternoon and evening, we watched a strong thunder and lightning storm pass through  the city.  With it came very strong winds, rain and hail.  This shows an accumulation of hail on our back balcony,

                                                                           The morning after this violent storm, we noticed thousands of little "gabonzo beans" that had blown off the trees onto the sidewalks.  They made walking on the sidewalks very interesting

The same storm brought so much water to the mountains that the Moraca River rose about twelve to fifteen feet in a twenty-four hour period. 

One project that we were able to close during the month of March was with Komanski Most, a center for adults with disabilities.  LDS Charities provided a greenhouse to be used for work therapy for some of the residents, and also for a fresh vegetable supply for the facility.



Another project that we closed during the month of March was with the Klinicki Center in Podgorica.  Stethoscopes for the some of the doctors and nurses were provided by LDS Charities.



In preparing for an upcoming wheelchair training to be held in Sutomore with our partner, the Red Cross, we enlisted the help of our elders to assemble needed toolkits and supply bags.

The exciting culmination to our month of March was the baptism of Sasa Markovic.  After our acquaintance with him for the past seventeen months, we were happy to see him baptized.



February in a Flash!

During the month of February, we were excited to have two new projects approved.  The first is working with a school system in Pluzine, which is located in a deep canyon by a beautiful lake.  LDS Charities will provide computers to help their students and teachers.

The second approved project will be providing closets for bedrooms and a book shelf for the library of a safe house for women and children in Niksic.

We were excited to have our son, Jeff, who was on a business trip, spend a few days with us in Podgorica.  While he was here, we were able to show him some of this beautiful country of Montenegro - the coast areas and Moraca canyon, including the Moraca Monastery.  He was a little nervous on the roads, but we had a wonderful time.

We've always felt quite short here compared to all the tall Montenegrin people.  This huge bench is found at the entrance to old town in Kotor, one of the places we visited with Jeff.

President and Sister Lotric from the ANM Presidency visited Podgorica from February 19 to 21.  We enjoyed having them take part in our Sacrament services.  It was wonderful to have twenty-three in attendance at our meetings.  After meetings and visiting, we enjoyed lunch at our apartment with the Lotrics, Nenad and the elders.

During the month of February, we have been working to close some of our older projects.  It's always a "sacrifice" to drive to the coast to work on projects.  LDS Charities provided an exam chair for this health care center in Tivat.

On our return trip from the coast to Podgorica, we drove through this "rock desert".  It was interesting to see the different formations and shapes of the rocks.  Not much to see but rocks!

"February" showers, and we do mean showers, bring lots of water into the Moraca River.  Normally there is a nice rocky beach about ten feet below this kayak club.  We have watched the water levels in the river rise and fall during the month according to the storms that pass through.

The showers have brough pretty purple and yellow pansies throughout the city of Podgorica.  Spring is definitely thinking about coming one of these days.

The month of February has flown by, and our time in Montenegro is winding down.  With two short months left, we have many things to accomplish, including a project to submit, several to finish and a wheelchair training to prepare for.  Needless to say, we won't be looking for things to do.

Happy New Year 2016!

The day after Christmas brought Tricia and Erik from Utah to Podgorica.  What a joy it was for us to see them walk through the door at the airport.  We had so much fun being with them and visiting fun sites around the area.

Our visit to Old Town Dubrovnik, Croatia where we celebrated New Year's Eve with Erik and Tricia.





                                                                             

                It was interesting to see all the Christmas decoration in Old Town Dubrovnik.








We took a boat tour around an island off the coast of Dubrovnik.  We had quite a narration of the rocky island by the captain, a very interesting fellow.  He called this "the pirate's cave".









     

At the end of our day, we were able to catch this beautiful scene of the sun setting in the clouds over the Adriatic Sea.

On our tour with Tricia and Erik, we visited Mostar and the fun shops in Old Town.  Bosnia has a heritage of copper and silver works which were displayed in this little shop along the cobblestone walk.

The end of our tour was Sarajevo, Bosnia.  This was a fun and delicious place to eat (shown to us by Elder and Sister Dever).

These "plank" dinners included potatoes, salad, steak, chicken shish kabobs, and bread.  What a yummy meal!

On January 12, Podgorica Branch welcomed an American family.  They make a wonderful addition to our Branch.

So far, the winter in Podgorica has been pretty mild, although we have had a few cold days.  One morning on our early walk, we noticed this cold temperature.  This is the coldest temp we've seen in Podgorica in fifteen months.

Yeah!  We finally succeeded in obtaining our visa extentions.  Sister Taylor is legal until May 3, 2016; Elder Taylor can stay for another year.

The Podgoric airport, our "home away from home".  We recently made five trips in five days.  We certainly know our way - even in the dark.

"Our" Nenad returning from his two week mini mission in Karlovoc, Croatia.  He had a wonderful time, and it was a great learning and growing experience for him.  We missed him but were so glad that he had this great opportunity.

The month of January has been slow for us with Welfare Service work.  With the holidays and school being out for the month, many people use this month for vacations.  It's been really hard for us to make contacts.  We have been working in the office closing projects and planning for 2016.

Ucini Nekoga Radosnium (Make Someone Happy)

The last Monday in November, we were invited to attend the one hundred fortieth anniversary of the Red iCross in Montenegro.  It was a very gala event held in the historic Grand Hotel in Cetenje, the first capital of Montenegro.  Many dignitaries from the government and the Red Cross across Europe were invited to attend - along with the humble Elder and Sister Taylor.  We were able to understand the entire program because of the translation service provided.

The first Saturday of December every year, the International Women's Club hosts an international Bazaar at the Delta City Mall.  These flags represent the many embassies in Montenegro who participated in this event.

Every embassy has a display of different items - mainly food - from their countries which can be purchased.  If you are rich enough, American foods are especially a favorite.  We were able to visit early and avoid the "huge" crowds.  It is estimated that twenty thousand people visit these displays during the one day event.





The secound week of December brought transfers to the Adriatic North Mission once again.  We lost two of our special elders - one to serve as an A.P. -  and gained two other special elders.

Montenegro is "kind of" getting ready for Christmas.  This billboard sign, which is all around Podgorica,  may bring back memories from years gone by.  Translated it says "Make Someone Happy!"

December has been a busy time of trying to extend our Montenegrin visas.  Hopefully after several visits to the MUP, help from wonderful kids at home and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, we are almost there.

The weather has been so sunny, warm and dry here - which is unusual for December - that we had to take advantage of a beautiful day.  We packed a lunch and walked up Gorica Hill to spend the afternoon.  It was great!

On December 14th, we left early in the morning to drive to Uzice, Serbia to meet Elder and Sister McAlpin, who are welfare service missionaries serving in Novi Sad, Serbia.  They had a need for items to include in hygiene kits for the refugee children.  We had a surplus of the coloring books from past projects and were glad to see that they could be put to good use in these kits.  After a five hour drive (one way) through mountains, fog, frosty canyons, and unfamiliar territory, we made it to our destination.  We met the McAlpins, transferred the books, and started back to Podgorica.  The trip was a total of 500 km. and took about twelve hours.  What an experience!

It is beginning to look like Christmas in some parts of Podgorica.  This lighted tree and fountain are at the Capital Plaza where Hard Rock Cafe is located.

Another decorated tree is located in the area of the University of Montenegro.


















One of our December projects was the new Learning Center/Toy Library here in Podgorica.  We were not able to attend the opening of the Center, but were taken on a tour a few days before.  LDS Charities was able to furnish the heating/air conditioning units and these sturdy tables and chairs.  We were impressed with the bright colors throughout the Center.  This fun light is located in a special "story" nook.

During the month, we were invited to dinner by our friends Pedja and Ana with their little boy, Branko.  We had fun visiting and getting to know them better.  It was also fun see this beautifully restored restaurant.

We had a fun two-day zone conference in Zagreb on December 21 and 22.  During some free time, we were able to tour the Christmas Market and see the decorations.

After meetings, we were able to go caroling (in Croatian), then given free time to view the Christmas Market after dark.

The Christmas Market was in Zagreb city center.  It was fun to see all the lights and decorations and hear the Christmas music being played.  It couldn't help but give us the Christmas Spirt.

On December 24 we were invited to the Red Cross warehouse to be part of a press conference promoting the wheelchair project.  It was very intimidating for us to be standing with the Red Cross Secretary General in front of cameras from two television stations.  Hopefully we represented the church well.  Prior to this press conference, the Red Cross had numerous articles in local papers talking about LDS Charities and the wheelchair program.

Christmas dinner at the Taylor's apartment with our awesome elders and Nenad.  "Santa Clause presented each elder and Nenad with a scarf to help keep them warm throught the cold Podgorica winter.

The highlight of the month of December was having Tricia and Erik travel half way across the world to visit us.  It was so great to see famiar faces come through the doors at the Podgorica airport.  Boy, have we missed our family!