Dobrodošli Brela!

Here's a bit of last weekend's Croatian experience...

watched the sun come up sitting on this rock

Grace and Peace,

Kaleb

;D

A Weekend by the Sea

So last weekend was probably one of the more memorable experiences of my life. Zoran, Sladan's brother, was getting married in a palace located somewhere in the Montenegrin fjord area. So Jeff, Max, and I woke up at the butt crack of dawn Saturday morning and went for a little drive. And I must say, it was unlike any car ride I've ever taken before. Unfortunately since my camera so conveniently decided to was going to run out of juice the morning we set off, I was unable to capture the spectacular sights and scenery of what was laid out before me...but there was one moment however that I just can't help but tell you about. Keep in mind I'll do it no justice, and you won't be able fully appreciate it unless you've seen it yourself (for a picture is even an unworthy imitation) ...but I sure will do my best ;]

It was a rather foggy day, which made for difficult, and somewhat frustrating sight-seeing. Many a time we came across a canyon or some wide open gorge area, and the air would be so dense that it prohibited any sort of clarity as to how impressively gorgeous the landscape was. It sucked. But then we finally caught a break. As we emerged from a rock tunnel that lead straight onto a blue, canyon connecting bridge, it was as if the world just opened up. You could see everything as you were crossing high above the river. High cliff-faces that hosted lush, colorful foliage. A thin layer of milky white fog that seemed to roll along in the breeze. And down below there ran a seemingly crystal blue river, with faint rapids and a winding path. Then it all disappeared again as we entered another rock tunnel just on the other side. I had to gasp. But in the same breath we unexpectedly popped out again and were driving on a road that ran clear on the edge of the cliff. For the next few kilometers, it was little spurts of rock tunnel and then wide open canyon view. It was literally amazing. Without doubt the coolest road I have ever been on. 

When we finally arrived to our destination Montenegro it just started pouring down sheets of rain...which was equipped with some of the loudest thunder and lightening I've ever heard. (which coincidentally blew chunks because I was going to have to wait outside during the wedding because there were limited invites...which I wouldn't have minded in the least except for now it seemed and though there was no avoiding being soaked in the only clothes I brought for the weekend haha...so I just prayed it would let up a bit) And since we were a few hours early, we decided to go look around some and see if we could find us a Kafic to get some caffeine in our systems. We didn't drive round long before we came to a quaint little place that appeared to be lit by candle light. It was strange, but we went in and sat down. Come to find the power had been blown out and the electricity wasn't working...hmm. Anywhoo it made for a little old-fashioned coffee and conversation by candle light. It was neat.

The rain did eventually let a up thankfully, and during the wedding I was able to relax out by the water, smoke my pipe and watch the boats go by as the storm slowly made its way off into the distance and the clouds began to clear around me. I truly felt beside myself as I slipped into a total awestruck sort of feeling. You know the kind you get when you realize there's no mistaking that you are right in the middle of the presence of God. Well if you've experienced that before you can just imagine what it was like sitting there. For there really is no describing it. You just gotta cejf the moment. (I'll try to explain cejf at a latter date...but for now just think "fully enjoy")

I was however invited in to the reception. To which I was introduced, to what I believe was my very first five course meal (with all the wine on the house)...Baby's first time!!! And I must say it was an ideal way to break a four-day fast...and really I just couldn't help but smile the entire time. There was so much happiness in the room. Weddings are such a joyful time indeed.

That night, after some fun confusion at the borders, prolonging our arrival time to Croatia, we finally made it back to the conference area where Beth, Liz, and Becky were attending a lil women's getaway on the coast. (They had left the conference, also driving down to Montenegro for the wedding, and then road back up with us to finish out the last remaining day) There weren't sleeping accommodations for us boys, so Jeff and Max both slept in their respective automobiles, leaving me to sleep on the beach ;D Unlike in America, where it's absurdly ridiculous and illegal to sleep on the beaches, here it was totally okay...which I was quite pumped about. So I made my way down to the seaside, finding that it was made up of little tiny pebbles instead of sand. "How odd," I thought, as I made a little nest to lay my blanket down and get some rest in. About an hour later I woke up to a scooter zooming by me and a confused looking man staring me down. I immediately felt the intense urge to poop, only to realize that there were no toilets around, and even if there had been, I would have had to pay for them =/ So after a bit of panicked searching, I made good use of a bush in a flower bed. Realizing that I was stuck with my pants down and no toilet paper, I was left with only one choice...cleaning myself in the sea =] After a bit of cold water on my butt I wasn't too sleepy anymore and decided to pass the time by taking a late night walk (which is always a swell idea). So, I climbed a tree and hid my blanket and pillow up in the tip top, and began to make my way down the coastline. It was one of those nights where you realize how awesome it would be to be homeless, only if you happened to be homeless in a place like this. Either way I had a smashing time skipping stones over waves and stargazing. Man were they bright and vibrant...mmm stars. After a while I made my way back to the "home base" and found a nifty bit of rock to sit on and watch the ensuing sunrise. As the daybreak got lighter and lighter I began to take notice how freaking blue and clear the water was. It's unreal how much different it is when you take sand out of the equation and substitute in rock instead. It was crazy. I just had to properly go swimming in it. It just looked so inviting, and I couldn't pass up that opportunity. So I stripped down to my long johns and joined an early-morning snorkeler for a sunrise swim. It was unbelievable cold. And after about 30 minutes I found that my time spent in the Adriatic to be sufficient enough. Needless to say I spent the next hour or so shivering and chattering my teeth down to nubs, but it was beyond worth it. Then we drove back to Bosnia and made it safely. God's good...

...holy cow what a weekend!

Grace and Peace,

Kaleb

The End of the Apple Saga

Guys, I picked the confounded apple. The thought of it falling and going to waste was just too criminal for me to allow. So, I carefully climbed the not-very-supportive tree that literally had hundreds of little branches twisting and intertwining together making it very difficult to see where I was going...and with Becky's guidance, outstretched blindly and picked the apple that I'd been drooling over for weeks. When I somehow managed to get back down, I was finally able to thoroughly examine dreamy apple only to have my heart sink when I rotated it to the side that had been hidden from me all these days and found, as Becky so delicately put it, a giant butthole looking spot that had yellow, veiny streaks coming from it. "Hmm," I thought to myself. My heart sank. I know it sounds silly but for some reason or another this was a big deal to me. I took it inside to show everyone that I had picked the apple (and when I say everyone I mean Beth cos I don't think Jeff cared one way or the other in the slightest haha) and then I took a big ol' bite. To my dismay it was as Beth would describe a "pithy apple." All I knew was that it had a bite like a peach and tasted as sour as a warhead. (Well maybe not that sour...but it was pretty unsatisfactory) Oh well =D Life goes on.

Today was quite an ambitious day for me...and Jeff. I joined a gym with a couple other missionary dudes who just moved to Zenica. (Let's see how that turns out haha) ...and Jeff says he's coming with us and joining tomorrow too. I don't really know what's up with the sudden, "wanting to exercise dealio" ...but I'm excited about it. Plus it gives me the opportunity to learn a whole new side of the Bosnian language. The fitness side. And if I'm lucky I'll frequently get to see scary big Bosnian workout man in there too! Dude would go around to every machine, set it to its max weight, do about 2 repetitions, flex, and then look about the room, making sure everyone knew that he had just so impressively done what he had done. It was intense.

Also Jeff and I have decided that we are going to read through the Bible together before April. He whipped up a spread sheet and everything already. I'm excited about it. Day 1...complete.

So that's about it for now. We've been playing a lot of Settlers of Catan...which I finally won a game of yesterday (with Becky's help...shhh). Oh we visited Sega and Sevda the other day...and on the way got practically run off the road by a massive truck, which forced Jeff to serve big time, which inevitably caused us to hit this fairly good-sized rock, which not only blew out, but demolished both tires on the passengers side. It was quite an unlucky moment. Scary hilarious, no doubt...but unlucky.

Grace and Peace,

Kaleb

Strolling Epiphany

Today I realized why I've sucked butt at blogging lately. It's not that it's slipped my mind...or that I'm too busy doing other things. It's not even that I'm being indolent. It's the simple fact that for some reason I've been waiting for something big to happen. Something to just scream, "WRITE ABOUT ME!!!!" But that's not how it works is it...? Yes, there are going to be some events worthy enough for the "BLOG RIGHT NOW! BLOG RIGHT NOW! ....type feeling." But it hit me today as I was strolling through Zenica, just conversing with Pops, with the sun slowly creeping behind the mountains, and the breeze catching hold my nostrils and stuffing them with that rich smell of burning wood and cigarettes, that as I'm being formed into this man that God is shaping me to be, a more intentional life I must live. Everything is blog worthy. Cos everyday I am learning and questioning and growing and relishing in his presence. Just gotta keep my ears perked up ready to listen, and my eyes open wide ready to see.

The funeral was held today for Slado's (my language teacher) mother. She had been relieved of a painful bout with cancer and today, as her family and many friends gathered around to watch and pay their respects, she was laid to rest on a quaint Bosnian hillside. I do say it was quite a moving experience for me to be  a part of a Bosnian funeral. And as I stood there today, with my heart going out to Slado and his family as they grieved, the thought of Nana crept into my head. When my grandmother died this past summer I was on my backpacking trip with Kevin and wasn't able to be there in attendance for her memorial service. I haven't really thought about it much since I stood on the beach and let the summer tide slowly bury me in the soft sand for hours. (That in itself seemed to be an adequate heeling mechanism) But today I stood, and those same tears returned. It was a time of much needed reflection and appreciation for life and how much of an impact one can have. I miss my Nana, but I know she's free from pain...just partying it up with Jesus. My prayer now is for my widowed grandfather. May he realize that life is a gift. That Nana's life was a gift. And may he not cast his faith and praise aside for hollow relief from loneliness and grief. Pop, you are loved. And you are not alone.

So, for weeks now there has been this apple hanging on the tree just beyond the balcony. Each day it grows and ripens more and more into this beautiful, ruby red, just deliciously perfect looking apple. And each day I'm torn whether or not to shimmy up the tree and pick said apple. My haunting fear is that on the other side, the side not visible to me, there will be some huge, disgusting bruise or tracings of a worm hole that looks far from appetizing...just a downright hideous feature that will attribute to a horrible tainting of it's flawless appearance from the side facing me. So, I'm left to admire from a distance, helplessly salivating in awe of this hanging fruit. This mental dilemma has seriously gone on for weeks. For I really want to eat Mr. Tasty Looking Apple, but I don't want my perception of its unblemished self to be tinged. It's like when you look at something from a distance, and from that distance it looks golden and beautiful...but as you approach it closer and closer you begin to notice its many faults and disfigurements. I really don't want that to happen with this apple for some reason. For the time being I just want the illusion that it's without fault. Watch tomorrow the wind blow and it fall the some fifteen feet, hit the ground and rot. I dunno man. Perhaps this could be a sermon illustration...or perhaps it could just be me being ridiculous and having too much time on my hands to think of such things. haha =P Kako smiješno! 

...hope all is well...

Grace and Peace,

Kaleb