Kathy and the Our Serbs Group are in Serbia celebrating Christmas. Here we publish her thoughts and words each night before she goes to bed along with the pictures she shares with us…join her here as she brings you along for the journey!
January 11, 2019
Hello All,
We are back home, arrived late Thursday night. Had to cut the trip short as we were scheduled to go to Vrnjacka Banja for a dinner event with our Milica partners that we adopted last year.
Milica is a wonderful organization for Breast cancer to help women and their families during this painful time.
We brought over 80 special bras that they are in need after the surgery and are very expensive in Serbia. Lynn was able to secure these bras (as usual that she manages to get the job done) and we were excited to bring with us.
Unfortunately, there was a very strong snowstorm and too dangerous to drive to Vrnjacka Banja that is about 2 hours away from Belgrade. Mira and Zoran will deliver when it’s safe to drive.
I am glad to be home, but I also feel as if this was one of our best trips for Christmas. It is long, exhausting, sad, happy, but most of all so gratifying for us that we are able to accomplish all that we do.
OUR SERBS is a very small, but mighty organization that keeps growing and getting better every year. We thank all that help us by donating things that I take every year, clothes, candy and wishes.
The Christmas dinners that VDS soup kitchen passes to our people would not be possible if it weren’t for all our donors. As I said before we need you to spread the word of the needs that we take with us twice a year, once To Kosovo and Christmas as now.
I’m also so happy to see that other organizations are following us by starting to help Kosovo. God Bless all by finally seeing the needs.
THANK YOU ALL FRIENDS OF OUR SERBS,
KATHY
Here’s some great coverage we got during our trip:
Humanitarian organization "Our Serbs – Our Serbs" from Chicago is in cooperation with the Religious charity care provided firewood for seven families: Jekić with four kids, Panic with four children, Miller from Grabovac with six children, Popovic with four children, Jankovic with three children, Filic with ten children and B with six children.
We hope that the families this December which brought ogrejale in their homes and that the Christmas and new year's holidays to welcome the end of the warm hearth.
The value of these donations amount to more than 100,000 dinars.
CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO READ MORE!
In the festive Christmas show "Let's Be People", our guests are Vladimir Markovic, Secretary General of the Religious Charity Trust and members of the humanitarian organization from Chicago "Our Serbs" - founder and president Katie Fanslow (Katarina Dojcinovic), her daughter Tracy Armstrong, Mira and Zoran Gušić and Lin Svilar. We are talking about their joint humanitarian mission, about the recent ceremonial division of Christmas packages, but also about other activities. The very sincere, open, warm human story of each one, separately, on how to be merciful, human and generous, and fulfill themselves with joy and love of their own lives.
CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO READ MORE!
January 8, 2019
Good morning All,
We got to sleep a bit later this morning, AWESOME!
As always today is the day we spend with Mira and Zoran at their lovely home.
A lot of great food, good conversation talking about the past week and plans for the future of Our Serbs. We talked about next summer
and where our help is needed and how we can make some of those things happen. All we need is time, a lot of help and people to spread the word.
I know that we will never solve all the problems of Serbia or Kosovo
Metohija, but we can surely make life a little easier for our people and especially our children. As Serbs especially us that are fortunate to be where we are in USA, we must, I repeat, we must help a little bit at a time.
PLEASE
Going to bed now, we have one more big day and I will write to you after that one.
January 7, 2019
HRISTOS SE RODI,
Christmas Day started out with a beautiful snow as we headed to St Peter and Paul which is the oldest church in Belgrade that has not been damaged, absolutely beautiful.
Went for the Christmas liturgy. We then went to the soup kitchen where I was again delighted to assist in making the Krofne! Shortly after that, we begin handing out the Christmas dinner packages to the many, many hungry (and mostly homeless) who waited for hours in the cold for their meal which this year included a small package of sweets.
Needless to say they were a big hit! I’m happy Our Serbs is able to provide these meals for these people, they are hungry and thankful for these dinners that they would not have on this Christmas Day. Working with the VDS soup kitchen staff of volunteers is so easy and working with Father Vladimir and Djakon Bratislav is a real pleasure.
After the hours of passing out the meals we were able to visit with the staff and many volunteers to celebrate, sing, and thank them for a job well done. We realize that what we do on this very day, is really what Bozic/Christmas is all about!
I hope you and your family had a wonderful day.
January 6, 2019
Today began with a visit to the soup kitchen to help prepare for the 1,700 meals to be given out tomorrow. They are very organized and ready.
Then we headed over to see Daniella at the Shelter for abused, street, and children of trafficking. I have remained friends with Daniela and this shelter so we stay in touch, She filled us in on the great news that they will be moving within the next month to a newer and larger facility. They are very excited and we are very proud of her because she is the new director. We spent a few hours and she always makes a great spread for us to eat. (Hungry or not). Nichol has always joined us on this visit, they also are very good friends.
We then attended St Peter and Paul Church with Father Vladimir for Banje Vece. Beautiful large snow flakes with the fire was incredible.
Enjoyed some hot wine and enjoyed some of the friends we made in the last 3 years. Went to a friends house for dinner, that has become a tradition.
Now, back to the hotel and ready for bed.
January 5, 2019
Hello All,
It’s the 5th. already, and we are still going strong. Today was a strange day for me, some very sad visits and some very positive and encouraging.
The first family to Panic Borka from Mirijevo/Belgrade.
Children Vera 17, Zoran 16, Irena 11, Branko 5.
As we walked in the small apartment with only beds and a couple of cabinets, I thought wow it’s really cold. Irena sitting on the bed with a heater at the end of the bed at the foot of her. Of course I asked why it was so cold and got the obvious answer, no wood to heat with. This single mother volunteers at the soup kitchen and also has a job, but not enough income because she has all the burden for support of her children. We brought her oil, flour, sugar, rice and some necessities.
This woman is doing the best that she can. She will have wood tomorrow so that they can at least have some heat. The Condition of this apartment would make you cry.
Our next visit Borka/Belgrade, Tanja and Zivota Stankovic; Tanja is 31 years old who is expecting twins, and has the most beautiful little girls; Andjela 7, Anastasija 6, Radoslava 5, Nikolina 4. We brought them the same oil, flour, laundry soap and also some necessities. Looking at these 4 gorgeous little girls all I can think about their future and the lack of. As I said in the beginning I was very sad with these 2 visits.
This visit perked me up because there was a good possibility for a much better future for this family.
Nikola and Tatjana from Pancevo;
Children Andrea 23, Marija 20, Sofia 14, Nikolina 12, Milena 10.
The children were extremely friendly and well behaved and mother and father who is a military man encourage the girls to excel in school and attend church. They barely survive on a small salary and were so appreciative of our visit and we also brought oil, flour, sugar, laundry soap and some necessities. I left there with the hope of a future for these lovely girls. I felt a lot better.
Our last stop for the day Ivana and NIkola Vracar from Pancevo also Kids; Veselin16, Ljeposava 14, Silva 12, Petra 8, Jovan 4.
This family are refugees from Sarajevo and started a small embroidery business in their home. We were very impressed by this family so very much and felt this will be good.
Our discussion with the kids was very interesting, no television, they read books, one of the girls plays the harp and may qualify for a scholarship. This was another great example of being poor, but high family values and wonderful oilcloth be the future.
We had a lovely visit and they were so appreciative of the food we brought them.
At the end of a long and mentally and emotionally exhausting day we felt much better than it started.
With hope.
Going to bed see you tomorrow with my I pad.
January 4, 2019
Good morning, evening, whatever it may be, I’m beginning to lose the days or time.
Today is January 4th. and what a day it was.
When you do these trips, each day gets better than the last because what is on your itinerary and what actually happens is amazing.
We got up this morning and headed to the radio station for an interview. Father Vladimir, Lynn, Tracy, Mira, Zoran and I spoke about Our Serbs and why we do what we do. We have had the interview in the past years, each time ending up in tears. We all get so emotional about what we do that in spite of you saying (ok you’ve did this before… piece of cake) each time we end up in tears of joy to be blessed in being able to help our Serbia. By the way the wonderful lady that interviewed us also ended up emotional.
Next, rush to the shopping center to meet with Djakon Branislav and the family of 6 children that lost their father 4 months ago by a massive stroke. They were chosen by VDS to receive a pair of shoes.
Mother Anita, son Mateja 15, Justin 11, Efimija 9, NIkola 7, Maria 4.
Anastasija 13, who was home paralyzed from birth due to doctors mistake. After each of them chose they’re shoes, their choice to celebrate was with McDonalds. As you can see beautiful children.
The evening was beyond amazing. The gifts distributed by his holiness Patriarch Irinej and I to the children without parents care and special needs from Zvecanska and from two of the schools in Belgrade.
The Patriarch made a warm speech and the program began in the hall of Hram Sveti Sava.
Inclusive choir “Ison” from Novi Sad were amazing directed by Miodrag Mia’s Blizanac.
We finished the evening across at the main building having coffee, rakia, cakes, and a fabulous evening of singing and loving this special choir.
Tomorrow is another day.
January 3, 2019
Hello my friends,
It was a long trip getting here, but we got here safe and sound. Met with father Radivoj, Mira and Zoran and had a very nice dinner talking and catching up. So nice to see them.
It is Wednesday the 3rd. and today we got up early heading to visit Dejan Stojadinovic, wife Ivana, kids; Damjan son that we are helping to go through culinary school and when he finishes school, he will be able to get a job in Belgrade as a chef. Younger brother Jakov (6th grade) perfect English, little sister Milica 4 years old that wants to be a Doctor. Loved the Dr. set we brought her.
Mother Mileva, grandma Radmila and brother Sasa. Such a beautiful family and made us so welcome.
Father is Dejan who is a student Bogoslovkog fakulteta, author Emisija “Licnost i zajednica” on TV Hram, farmer and policeman in Belgrade.
It was a beautiful snowy day and it took us about 2 hours to get to village Bistrica near Petrovac.
What a beautiful family this is.
They took us up the road in the very huge snowflakes as you can see in the pictures, to see an old lady that they take care of.
She is 93 years old lives by herself in a house that they tell me is older than America. Her husband died about 30 years ago and she has no family. She made Dejan and his wife Ivana promise her that they will bury her when she dies. Baba Cveta was so happy to see us, and we hated to leave her.
As you can see the pictures. it was a wonderful day. Back to Belgrade.
Had dinner and now I’m going to bed, Lynn and Tracy are asleep very big day tomorrow.
We will talk to you tomorrow night after giving 2000 gifts to families at St.Sava Hram with Patriarch Irinej.
