Hello All,

Well here we are again in in Belgrade for Christmas and it's time for my daily blog. I love sharing our stories and pictures with you.

Our flight was like three days, leaving Chicago delayed got to Amsterdam and again delayed, so by the time we got to the hotel it did seem like three days.

Got a good night sleep and this morning it was wonderful to be here and remember why we come for Christmas. Starting early today we headed for our beautiful Hram for an interview on the Hram Television. Then for the fun part, we are visiting families tomorrow, and you know what happens then.

Jasminka, Mira, Zoran and I ran around a grocery store to purchase groceries for our families with three carts full of badly needed items for cooking such as oil, flour, sugar, detergent, and of course some chocolate treats for the one family that has 10 children and the other that has 7 children.

As you remember Milica Center for breast cancer that we support, on our Cruise we raised enough to purchase a car so that they can take patients for their treatments in Vrnjacka Banja. We met with Vesna who is that wonderful women that is the founder of the Center and we are all excited about our delivery of their car.

Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day and I can’t wait to give you the report tomorrow night. It is 1:30 and I’m going to get some sleep.

Talk to you soon.

Kathy

Message from Kathy - Day Two (Published 01/07/2020)

Good Morning;

I bet you missed me yesterday. We were so incredibly tired yesterday that by the time we got back to the Hotel I barely climbed into bed and passed out.

It was a wonderful day, as they all are. The day started early and we were on our way to the car dealer for the final closing of the deal for the purchase of the car for Milica Center. Now we go to our families to visit and deliver the groceries we bought yesterday.

Our first family was the Milovanov Dragan and Marija with all the 11 children that each was more beautiful then the last.

Mirko 17
Katarina 16
Igor 15
Iva 14
Irene 11
Ana10
NIkola 9
Slavica 7
Nenad 4
Lidija 2
and gorgeous Anja 2 months.

Father was employed until recently and now is looking for a job. This is a very poor family, but you can feel the closeness and the love between all of them. The best part is watching the kids taking care of each other. I loved that.

The next family was not such a happy family, a lot of tragedy...Mirko and Lidija Kljajic.

Mirko is a war veteran, blind caused by an explosion and his eye lids were sown. There are 13 of them living in three rooms.

Son, David 30 (wife Branka) child 4 years old and AnaMarija 1
Son, Stefan 23 (wife Milica and daughter Nikolina 3)
Nenad 14, Vladimir 13, Sara 12, and Lara 10.

When we asked if they all lived there together Mirko answered...Where else?

Mirko was cut off from his benefits and I don’t quite know why, but a very proud man and I must say bitter man, because he feels he lost his eyes for his country and the Government took all the benefits. Can’t blame him for feeling bitter.

His sons do want to work , but they need their driving license, of which they don’t have. I asked why not? Well you see, you must go to driving school to get the license, no big deal you may say except it cost 700.00 euros. That is something we should talk about, because that fits with our mission ( helping them to help themself)

Back to the hotel...change quickly and on to St. Sava Hram to pass gifts with our Patriarch Irnje to the kids that are waiting patiently.

Late night and Jasminka and I crashed.

Talk to you soon.

Kathy

This gift distribution happened on January 4th at St. Sava Hram in Belgrade.

Message from Kathy - Day Three (Published 01/09/2020)

Hello All,

Jasminka and I got to sleep a little longer this morning. Mira and Zoran picker us up at the hotel on our way to meet Jacon Branislav and a family of 7 children who used to go on the bus for an hour to the soup kitchen to get a meal. We met at the Mall and put a huge smile on their faces with a brand new pair of shoes. I think you can imagine the feeling that the SMILE 😊 on those faces does to us

Our Serbs. Sladjana and Sladjana Nikolic parents,

NIkola 13, Andrej 14, Valentina 15, Dragomir 18.

On our way to Zemun to a family of 5 children, father Milan Zeljkovic wife died from leukemia. Milan takes care of his father Bosko and the children. Marija19, Milanka 17, Milos 15, Simo 14, and Sara 12. These kids are older and all A students, Milan does not work retired and receives 180.00 dollars a month.

Their priest asked if it was possible to get them a laptop so the kids can get some help to continue their “A” education. Of course we did.

This was a very sad visit, when Milan spoke of his wife he cried and as saying our goodbyes he cried. I could feel the pain this man was going through.

Jasminka's family invited me for dinner, that was a fun time so it helped the sadness we felt.

Time for a bit of sleep. Tomorrow is another day.

Message from Kathy - Day Four (Published 01/09/2020)

Hello All,

The count down has begun 2 more days. Today was not such a bad day and not so much running around. We started with a light breakfast and then on the way to the Soup Kitchen to see how we can help put all the dinner packages for tomorrow’s Christmas dinner that with everyone’s help to Our Serbs we are able to feed many of our people.

Jasminka and I helped all the volunteers put the containers together with cheese, cabbage salad, Pecenje bread, a hard boiled egg for a very pleasant dinner for the people that only see this 2 times a year. We stopped for a nice lunch and ran to change so we can get to Fr. Vladimir’s Church St. Peter and Pavla for the service at 5.

Had a very nice time and watched the fire that was wonderful because it was freezing.

In the hotel now and sooo ready for bed. Talk to you tomorrow good night.

Message from Kathy - Day Five (Published 01/12/2020)

Hello All,

Today was one of those days that you walk away with a feeling of - Wow, I’m exhausted, but what a day. We gave a thousand bags with Christmas dinners to the very needy people that majority of them are from the streets. The rest of the thousand dinners that we sponsor was given in other areas.

Our morning started with going to Church then to the soup kitchen to feed our people that would not eat yet alone pecenje, cheese, bread, salad, cookies. Some very happy and some very sad faces, but all grateful for what the soup kitchen does for them.

After we finished with the distribution of the dinners we were invited to Fr. Vladimir and Protinica Milica’s home for a very lovely lunch. It was wonderful because we had a chance to enjoy a conversation a little more personal rather then as always the needs and the help that is needed and we must try to accomplish.

Met with Nichol who I worked with when I was in my past life and Luka her son had a very nice visit and dinner with them, it has become a tradition for Christmas evening.

Going to bed now, have 1 day left. Always very excited to come to Serbia, but also excited to go home now.

Talk to you tomorrow

Kathy

Message from Kathy - Travel Day Home (Published 01/12/2020)

Hello All,

Well we are at the airport on our way to Amsterdam and then to Chicago. Our last day in Belgrade was a very nice and slow day.
In the morning we went to visit Daniela at the shelter because not only have we always helped the shelter we have become good friends and we always spend time with her and the children.
If you have been to the old shelter you would be so impressed with the new facility it is absolutely beautiful. Daniela is now the director and so proud, as we are of her. Spent a few hours with her and the staff and said goodbye until June.

Went to Mira and Zorane home and spent time with Fr. Vladimir and Protinica Milica, Jakon Bratislav and his wife Biljana just having a relaxing time talking about the last week and the projects we have accomplished as well the future products we would like for 2020.

Said goodnight, went to hotel to pack and get ready for home.

It is 6:00 am and we leave in about 45 minutes. It will be good to sleep in our own bed tonight.

Until the next time thank you for being a part of this trip with us.

Kathy and Jasminka