DAY 2 - FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE

This morning, we spent some time in prayer at “Novi Most” (New Bridge), a Christian organization geared towards building healthy relationships between the children of Capljina. This is a town where segregation is all these children have ever known. Since the war, the walls between ethnic groups have only grown stronger and taller. Serbs, Muslims, Bosnian and Croat children either attend different schools or attend the same school in different shifts. At “Novi Most,” these children have an opportunity to gather after school and learn English, Computer skills or just have fun being young, without the constant reminders of the unforgiveness, persecution and intolerance that undergirds their day to day life. The bullet holes in the red brick primary school and the graffiti which reads “our school,” “our language” on a building once used for detention and torture (now possibly the new location for Bosnian children to be schooled) are a couple of examples of the remnants of a past still all too present in this region. We had the opportunity to spend some time with a few teenagers tonight, during their English class. One asked, “What did you know about Bosnia before you came here?” My answer was, “Nothing. All I knew of was the war?” Perhaps this is part of the problem. There is so much more here . . . lives to invest in. God’s people are here as they are everywhere, and it is Pastor Bernard of the Evangelical Church and the folks at “Novi Most” that saw this vision and cast it. “Novi Most’s” mission is not only to teach skills but to help this next generation, the hope of Bosnia, develop their potential and leadership and build bridges across ethnic divides. It is their hope that these children might, thru this experience, also come to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and that a bridge between “Novi Most” and the church can be created as well. This may not be the case for all, but seeds are definitely being planted. Please pray for Mick and Ali Holstead and their efforts at the Novi Most Centar, Capljina. There are many obstacles and the progress is slow, but they are making a difference . . .for Capljina . . . for Bosnia . . . for eternity.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:13