Hallo Almal
Ons is oppad terug SA toe. Ons gaan eers vir so 10 dae in Switersland vakansie hou. Vriende van ons wat naby Zurich bly, gaan dieselfde week wat ons daar is met vakansie, en hulle het ons genooi om in hulle huis te bly. Ons sien nogal uit daarna om die mooi land te gaan verken. Ons sal seker 6 Augustus land in Pretoria. Ons gaan ook ons ouers groet in SA en ons hond in P.E. gaan oplaai. Stephan sal weer die 20ste Augustus begin werk.
Ons het nogal 'n stoomwarm week gehad. Die aircon wat hulle 2 weke terug kom regmaak het, het weer gebreek en ons het behoorlik warm gekry in hierdie "apartment". Die temperature was so tussen 42 en 45. Dit het ons egter gedwing om nie net in die koeligheid te bly nie, maar om die moeite te doen om ons vriende te gaan groet. Ons was Saterdag weer Panceville toe en het heerlik met die familie daar gekuier. Sondag was ook ons laaste diens by die kerk en kon ons almal groet. Ons het na die diens saammet die egpaar wat die kleingroep lei gaan eet by hulle huis. Ons gaan hulle verseker mis.
Daar is baie dinge in Serbia wat ons ook gaan mis: die rivier, die woud, opwindende taxi en bus ritte, die fort, die lekker sjokolades en GROOT hamburgers, ons stort, die baie bankies en parke, rollerblade en roomys langs die rivier, mooi ou geboue, ens. (Stephan voeg by wat kort - my beskrywings is maar beperk) Daar is ook 'n paar dinge wat ons nie sal mis nie, maar ons sal maar fokus op die positiewe :-).
So baie soos ons dit gaan mis, sien ons ook uit daarna om terug huis toe te kom. Dit sukkel maar om alles in te prop in die tasse en ook al die reelings wat nou getref moet word vir vakansie, ens.
Ons sal weer foto's op die blog sit wanneer ons in Switserland is. Sal julle op hoogte hou.
Dankie dat julle die avontuur hier in Serbia met ons gedeel het.
Volim te
Stephan Irene Nadia Anandi
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Rollerblade in Belgrade - Afr
Hallo almal
Dis seker tyd om weer van ons te laat hoor.
Daar is op die stadium onsekerheid oor wanneer ons presies gaan terugkeer SA toe. Intussen woon en werk ons maar rustig voort. Ons geniet die lewe langs die rivier. Ons het soos baie ander mense ook lus geraak om die rollerblade ding te probeer. Die kinders het omtrent vinnig geleer en wikkel nou behoorlik hier af langs die rivier. Ek en Stephan het vir ons elkeen 'n paar gekoop. Stephan is die eerste week uitgeskakel weens skaafplekke en ek die tweede week weens 'n harde val. Ek sal hopelik volgende week op die been wees. Stephan het gou herstel en hy lyk nou al soos 'n pro. Ons probeer ook gereeld by Kalemegdan uitkom - die groot park met die fort. Dis net so 15 min se stap.
Nadia en Anandi het intussen baie stap fiks geword (ons ook). So ons kan nou ver afstande saam met hulle afle. Hulle het ook baie kreatief geword met speelgoed (die meeste van hulle goed het in SA agtergebly). Hulle maak gemors mooi. Mens kan nie glo wat hulle alles uitdink nie. Hulle is ook goeie maats en ons lag baie vir hulle speletjies wat iets soos die gaan "en toe se jy .. en toe doen jy dit .. en toe..".
Met ons gaan dit ook goed. Ons mis net vriende, wat moeilik is om te maak as mens nie die taal verstaan nie. Met die onsekerheid wil mens nie uit jou pad gaan om te probeer om die taal te leer of vriende te maak nie. Want jy gaan dan dalk more alweer weg. Maar dis miskien die geheim om te leer .. leef vir vandag en maak die beste gebruik van elke geleentheid. Amper soos Dorry se "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..". Maar dis maar iets waarmee ons sukkel. Ons gaan binnekort met vakansie. Maar visums is 'n probleem en ons sal maar sien waar ons uitkom. Ons sien baie uit daarna waar dit ookal gaan wees.
Liefde
Stephan en Irene
Dis seker tyd om weer van ons te laat hoor.
Daar is op die stadium onsekerheid oor wanneer ons presies gaan terugkeer SA toe. Intussen woon en werk ons maar rustig voort. Ons geniet die lewe langs die rivier. Ons het soos baie ander mense ook lus geraak om die rollerblade ding te probeer. Die kinders het omtrent vinnig geleer en wikkel nou behoorlik hier af langs die rivier. Ek en Stephan het vir ons elkeen 'n paar gekoop. Stephan is die eerste week uitgeskakel weens skaafplekke en ek die tweede week weens 'n harde val. Ek sal hopelik volgende week op die been wees. Stephan het gou herstel en hy lyk nou al soos 'n pro. Ons probeer ook gereeld by Kalemegdan uitkom - die groot park met die fort. Dis net so 15 min se stap.
Nadia en Anandi het intussen baie stap fiks geword (ons ook). So ons kan nou ver afstande saam met hulle afle. Hulle het ook baie kreatief geword met speelgoed (die meeste van hulle goed het in SA agtergebly). Hulle maak gemors mooi. Mens kan nie glo wat hulle alles uitdink nie. Hulle is ook goeie maats en ons lag baie vir hulle speletjies wat iets soos die gaan "en toe se jy .. en toe doen jy dit .. en toe..".
Met ons gaan dit ook goed. Ons mis net vriende, wat moeilik is om te maak as mens nie die taal verstaan nie. Met die onsekerheid wil mens nie uit jou pad gaan om te probeer om die taal te leer of vriende te maak nie. Want jy gaan dan dalk more alweer weg. Maar dis miskien die geheim om te leer .. leef vir vandag en maak die beste gebruik van elke geleentheid. Amper soos Dorry se "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..". Maar dis maar iets waarmee ons sukkel. Ons gaan binnekort met vakansie. Maar visums is 'n probleem en ons sal maar sien waar ons uitkom. Ons sien baie uit daarna waar dit ookal gaan wees.
Liefde
Stephan en Irene
Rollerblade in Belgrade - Eng
Hallo everyone
It is time for us to write again.
There is uncertainty about when exactly we will return to SA. In the mean time we are working and living peacefully. We enjoy life next to the rivier. We also got the idea like many other people to start rollerblading. The children learned very quickly and are cruising down the river in the evenings. Stephan and I also got a pair each. Stephan got hurt in the first week and me in the second week because of a hard fall. I hope to be up and rolling again by next week. Stephan recovered quickly and now looks like a pro. We also try to get to Kalemegdan often - the big park with the fort. It is 15 min walk from us.
Nadia and Anandi became very fit with all the walking (we too). So now we can cover great distances with them. They also became very creative with toys (most of their toys are at home). They make garbage beautiful. We are amazed at what they come up with. They are also very good friends and we laugh a lot at their games that goes something like this "and then you say ... and then you do this ... and then".
We are also fine. We miss friends that are difficult to make if you do not understand the language. With the uncertainties we don't want to put too much effort into language learning and making friends. Because tomorrow you might be gone. But perhaps that is the secret to learn .. live for today and make use of every opportunity. Like Dorry says "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..". But it is something we struggle with. We are going on holiday soon. But visas are a problem and we will see where we will be able to go. We look forward to it no matter where it is.
Love
Stephan and Irene
It is time for us to write again.
There is uncertainty about when exactly we will return to SA. In the mean time we are working and living peacefully. We enjoy life next to the rivier. We also got the idea like many other people to start rollerblading. The children learned very quickly and are cruising down the river in the evenings. Stephan and I also got a pair each. Stephan got hurt in the first week and me in the second week because of a hard fall. I hope to be up and rolling again by next week. Stephan recovered quickly and now looks like a pro. We also try to get to Kalemegdan often - the big park with the fort. It is 15 min walk from us.
Nadia and Anandi became very fit with all the walking (we too). So now we can cover great distances with them. They also became very creative with toys (most of their toys are at home). They make garbage beautiful. We are amazed at what they come up with. They are also very good friends and we laugh a lot at their games that goes something like this "and then you say ... and then you do this ... and then".
We are also fine. We miss friends that are difficult to make if you do not understand the language. With the uncertainties we don't want to put too much effort into language learning and making friends. Because tomorrow you might be gone. But perhaps that is the secret to learn .. live for today and make use of every opportunity. Like Dorry says "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..". But it is something we struggle with. We are going on holiday soon. But visas are a problem and we will see where we will be able to go. We look forward to it no matter where it is.
Love
Stephan and Irene
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Belgrade 7 - Eng
Dear friends
This time it is me, Stephan writing to you. We have not written for a while, but maybe it is because there did not happen as many interesting things recently. We are still in Belgrade, stay in the same house and wear the same clothes. While you in S.A. are freezing, we are sweating. It only cools down when it rains - lekker thunder storms.
At work things now changed so that we will come back to S.A. God willing only in January. The users of the system that we are busy configuring cannot spend enough time on the project and it is affecting our progress, but I believe that we will get there eventually. We are still waiting for the Croatian visas to come through. We have never experienced as much red tape - not even when we had to get Anandi out of India after being born there. After struggling for a month there were still a 7-step list of consecutive things that had to happen before we can have it.
At least we went to Novi Sad with the train one Saturday. It is much smaller than Belgrade, but beautiful and with lots of character. Have a look at the photo-album for Novi Sad. First we went to the Petrovaradin fort which has a great view of the Danobe river. Irene used the day to work on her hobby of collecting, drying and identifying field flowers. There are several imposing churches and other buildings on the city square as well as lots of flowers. And as it should be with any proper plain there is the scattering of doves and statues and stalls. Tied to every lamppost is a pot of flowers. And of course there is a McDonalds... After the meal we went walking the little streets and came to a beautiful park. Another one of those fairytale experiences that seem to cross our path every now and then.
We received in a roundabout way a parcel containing the childrens' roller-blades. (Thanks to Nicolai and Sarah) So we see more of the river nowerdays. It is fun to go for a stroll and roll next to the river in the evenings. Many a head turn to look in amazement at Anandi's comparative skill for her size on the roller-blades. And sometimes we stop for an ice-cream or to take photo's. Look at our album
of the Danube river for a few nice sunsets.
Seeing that we are going to stay longer, I thought it a good idea to spend more time on language-learning. The language they speak here and in Croatia is almost the same. So we got some software that teach and drill us and then I practise every afternoon with the taxi driver. Mostly this is a stranger whom I have to first inform of my endeavour to learn the language. I think they actually enjoy to teach me. Most of them cannot speak English so it is interesting. But it is not easy. As our friend, Andre, says it is a language with a cronical vowel-shortage with words like Cetvrtak (Thursday) and srtsa (heart). Then they have an affinity for 6-syllable words which I cannot remember. But the worst is the grammar. It is worse than Hindi or German and all words bend any which way or so it feels.
Sunday will be the Comrades marathon and I feel a bit nostalgic thinking about it. I am still running, but have scaled down a lot. Sadly so because the opportunity to jog is excellent here with the river and Kale Megdan so close. I think it is because there are so few people running here and almost no races.
Ministry is slow now. Please pray for an internet friend in India who became a seeker this week.
Anyway we will keep you informed about our comings and goings.
Your longing friends
Stephan, Irene, Nadia and Anandi
This time it is me, Stephan writing to you. We have not written for a while, but maybe it is because there did not happen as many interesting things recently. We are still in Belgrade, stay in the same house and wear the same clothes. While you in S.A. are freezing, we are sweating. It only cools down when it rains - lekker thunder storms.
At work things now changed so that we will come back to S.A. God willing only in January. The users of the system that we are busy configuring cannot spend enough time on the project and it is affecting our progress, but I believe that we will get there eventually. We are still waiting for the Croatian visas to come through. We have never experienced as much red tape - not even when we had to get Anandi out of India after being born there. After struggling for a month there were still a 7-step list of consecutive things that had to happen before we can have it.
At least we went to Novi Sad with the train one Saturday. It is much smaller than Belgrade, but beautiful and with lots of character. Have a look at the photo-album for Novi Sad. First we went to the Petrovaradin fort which has a great view of the Danobe river. Irene used the day to work on her hobby of collecting, drying and identifying field flowers. There are several imposing churches and other buildings on the city square as well as lots of flowers. And as it should be with any proper plain there is the scattering of doves and statues and stalls. Tied to every lamppost is a pot of flowers. And of course there is a McDonalds... After the meal we went walking the little streets and came to a beautiful park. Another one of those fairytale experiences that seem to cross our path every now and then.
We received in a roundabout way a parcel containing the childrens' roller-blades. (Thanks to Nicolai and Sarah) So we see more of the river nowerdays. It is fun to go for a stroll and roll next to the river in the evenings. Many a head turn to look in amazement at Anandi's comparative skill for her size on the roller-blades. And sometimes we stop for an ice-cream or to take photo's. Look at our album
of the Danube river for a few nice sunsets.
Seeing that we are going to stay longer, I thought it a good idea to spend more time on language-learning. The language they speak here and in Croatia is almost the same. So we got some software that teach and drill us and then I practise every afternoon with the taxi driver. Mostly this is a stranger whom I have to first inform of my endeavour to learn the language. I think they actually enjoy to teach me. Most of them cannot speak English so it is interesting. But it is not easy. As our friend, Andre, says it is a language with a cronical vowel-shortage with words like Cetvrtak (Thursday) and srtsa (heart). Then they have an affinity for 6-syllable words which I cannot remember. But the worst is the grammar. It is worse than Hindi or German and all words bend any which way or so it feels.
Sunday will be the Comrades marathon and I feel a bit nostalgic thinking about it. I am still running, but have scaled down a lot. Sadly so because the opportunity to jog is excellent here with the river and Kale Megdan so close. I think it is because there are so few people running here and almost no races.
Ministry is slow now. Please pray for an internet friend in India who became a seeker this week.
Anyway we will keep you informed about our comings and goings.
Your longing friends
Stephan, Irene, Nadia and Anandi
Belgrade 7 - Afr
Hallo almal
Hierdie keer is dit ek, Stephan aan die woord. Ons het nogal lanklaas iets geskryf, maar dit is ook maar omdat daar nie soveel interessante dinge gebeur het met ons nie. Ons is nog steeds in Belgrade, bly in dieselfde huis en trek nog dieselfde klere aan. Terwyl julle in S.A nou koud kry, sweet ons. Dis koel net af wanneer dit reen - lekker donderstorms.
By die werk het dinge nou so verander dat ons eers Januariemaand gaan terugkom as die Here wil. Die gebruikers van die stelsel wat ons vir hulle insit sukkel om tyd te spandeer aan die projek en dit knie-halter ons vordering, maar ek glo ons sal wel daar kom. Ons wag ook nog in spanning vir ons Kroasie visas om deur te kom. In my lewe het ek nog nooit so baie "red tape" beleef nie nie eers toe ons so
gesukkel het om Anandi uit Indie uit te kry na sy daar gebore is nie. Na 'n maand se sukkel daarmee was dit steeds 'n 7-stap lysie van goed wat ons nog moet kry en doen om die visas te kry!
Ons het darem so een Sondag bietjie Novi Sad toe gegaan met die trein. Dis heelwat kleiner as Belgrade, maar mooi en met baie karakter. Kyk bietjie na die Novi Sad album. Eers was ons na die Petro Varadin fort toe met 'n fantastiese uitsig oor die Donou revier. Irene het haar nuwe stokperdjie om veldblommetjies te pluk, te pars en te identifiseer op groot skaal beoefen tussendeur. Die plein in die middestad het verskeie mooi kerke en baie blomme. En soos op elke plein wat sy sout werd is, was daar die duiwe en die standbeelde en die stalletjies. Aan elke lamppaal is daar 'n pot met blomme vasgemaak. En natuurlik is daar 'n McDonalds... Ons het na ete in die ou straatjies afgestap en in 'n pragtige park uitgekom. Nog een van daardie sprokies-ervarings wat ons elke nou en dan hier teekom.
Ons het ook met 'n ompad 'n pakkie ontvang met die kinders se roller-blades in. (Dankie Nicolai en Sarah) So ons sien nogal meer van die rivier deesdae. Dis tog te lekker om so bietjie in die aande te gaan "stroll en roll" langs die rivier. Anandi laat behoorlik die koppe draai omdat sy so goed skaats vir haar grootte. En soms koop ons roomys en neem foto's. Kyk na ons album van die Danube rivier vir
'n paar mooi sonsondergange.
Met die dat ons nou langer hier gaan bly, het ek gedink dit sal dalk die moeite loon om bietjie in die taal in te grawe. Die taal wat hulle hier en in Kroatie praat, is byna dieselfde. So ons het sagteware gekry wat die taal behoorlik in jou indril en verder oefen ek elke middag met die taxibestuurder - meestal 'n wildvreemde wat ek nou eers moet vertel van my planne om die taal te leer. Ek dink nogal hulle geniet dit om my te help! Maar dis nie maklik nie. Soos ons vriend, Andre, se dis 'n taal met 'n kroniese klinkertekort met woorde soos Cetvrtak (Donderdag) en srtsa (hart). Dan het hulle 'n voorkeur vir 6-lettergreep woorde waarvan ek nog nie een kan onthou nie... Maar die ergste is die grammatika. Dis erger as Hindi of Duits met vreeslik baie verbuigings.
Sondag is dit die comrades en ek het nogal heimwee as ek dink aan laas jaar. Ek draf nog, maar het heelwat afgeskaal - bly net so aan die gang. En dit is nogal snaaks, want die geleentheid vir draf hier langs die rivier en by Kale Megdan is uitstekend. Maar miskien is dit omdat hier maar baie min mense draf en hier is nooit wedlope nie.
Wat die bediening aanbetref het dit nou 'n stil tyd binnegegaan. Bid gerus vir 'n internet vriend van Indie wat skielik 'n soeker geraak het.
Nou ja, ons sal julle op hoogte hou van die draaie wat die lewe met ons vat.
Julle verlangende vriende
Stephan, Irene, Nadia en Anandi
Hierdie keer is dit ek, Stephan aan die woord. Ons het nogal lanklaas iets geskryf, maar dit is ook maar omdat daar nie soveel interessante dinge gebeur het met ons nie. Ons is nog steeds in Belgrade, bly in dieselfde huis en trek nog dieselfde klere aan. Terwyl julle in S.A nou koud kry, sweet ons. Dis koel net af wanneer dit reen - lekker donderstorms.
By die werk het dinge nou so verander dat ons eers Januariemaand gaan terugkom as die Here wil. Die gebruikers van die stelsel wat ons vir hulle insit sukkel om tyd te spandeer aan die projek en dit knie-halter ons vordering, maar ek glo ons sal wel daar kom. Ons wag ook nog in spanning vir ons Kroasie visas om deur te kom. In my lewe het ek nog nooit so baie "red tape" beleef nie nie eers toe ons so
gesukkel het om Anandi uit Indie uit te kry na sy daar gebore is nie. Na 'n maand se sukkel daarmee was dit steeds 'n 7-stap lysie van goed wat ons nog moet kry en doen om die visas te kry!
Ons het darem so een Sondag bietjie Novi Sad toe gegaan met die trein. Dis heelwat kleiner as Belgrade, maar mooi en met baie karakter. Kyk bietjie na die Novi Sad album. Eers was ons na die Petro Varadin fort toe met 'n fantastiese uitsig oor die Donou revier. Irene het haar nuwe stokperdjie om veldblommetjies te pluk, te pars en te identifiseer op groot skaal beoefen tussendeur. Die plein in die middestad het verskeie mooi kerke en baie blomme. En soos op elke plein wat sy sout werd is, was daar die duiwe en die standbeelde en die stalletjies. Aan elke lamppaal is daar 'n pot met blomme vasgemaak. En natuurlik is daar 'n McDonalds... Ons het na ete in die ou straatjies afgestap en in 'n pragtige park uitgekom. Nog een van daardie sprokies-ervarings wat ons elke nou en dan hier teekom.
Ons het ook met 'n ompad 'n pakkie ontvang met die kinders se roller-blades in. (Dankie Nicolai en Sarah) So ons sien nogal meer van die rivier deesdae. Dis tog te lekker om so bietjie in die aande te gaan "stroll en roll" langs die rivier. Anandi laat behoorlik die koppe draai omdat sy so goed skaats vir haar grootte. En soms koop ons roomys en neem foto's. Kyk na ons album van die Danube rivier vir
'n paar mooi sonsondergange.
Met die dat ons nou langer hier gaan bly, het ek gedink dit sal dalk die moeite loon om bietjie in die taal in te grawe. Die taal wat hulle hier en in Kroatie praat, is byna dieselfde. So ons het sagteware gekry wat die taal behoorlik in jou indril en verder oefen ek elke middag met die taxibestuurder - meestal 'n wildvreemde wat ek nou eers moet vertel van my planne om die taal te leer. Ek dink nogal hulle geniet dit om my te help! Maar dis nie maklik nie. Soos ons vriend, Andre, se dis 'n taal met 'n kroniese klinkertekort met woorde soos Cetvrtak (Donderdag) en srtsa (hart). Dan het hulle 'n voorkeur vir 6-lettergreep woorde waarvan ek nog nie een kan onthou nie... Maar die ergste is die grammatika. Dis erger as Hindi of Duits met vreeslik baie verbuigings.
Sondag is dit die comrades en ek het nogal heimwee as ek dink aan laas jaar. Ek draf nog, maar het heelwat afgeskaal - bly net so aan die gang. En dit is nogal snaaks, want die geleentheid vir draf hier langs die rivier en by Kale Megdan is uitstekend. Maar miskien is dit omdat hier maar baie min mense draf en hier is nooit wedlope nie.
Wat die bediening aanbetref het dit nou 'n stil tyd binnegegaan. Bid gerus vir 'n internet vriend van Indie wat skielik 'n soeker geraak het.
Nou ja, ons sal julle op hoogte hou van die draaie wat die lewe met ons vat.
Julle verlangende vriende
Stephan, Irene, Nadia en Anandi
Friday, May 18, 2007
Belgrade 6 Eng
Zdravo!
I feel like I am behind in writing. So much can happen in two week's time.
We had a wonderful trip to Zlatibor. The trip (250 km) was interesting with the help of a few wrong turns. But every wrong turn got us to the most beautiful places. And so we landed in a valley where all the fields were colored with pastels, with forests of every green shade in between.
Zlatibor is centered around a lake. They are focused on local tourists. I think we were about the only foreigners there.But it is beautiful. We struggled a little bit to find the mountain. I felt a bit like "the Englishman that went up a hill and came down a mountain". The mountain that they boast about is not more than green hills, but it gives the effect of "the sound of music". Our children became small in the distance as they ran through the green fields. And everywhere they stopped to pick wild flowers. Die forests in between gives the most beautiful effect.
We followed the road through the landscape with the Yugo we rented for one day. We saw about 3 cars on road the whole day. The road took us to a cave with a opening of about 35 m. They build a big fence in front of the cave so we could not go inside. Then out of the blue appeared this old man with a key. But our Sripski was too little to understand him. Luckily some Serbian tourist came at that moment and they could tell us about the cave. The man took all of us into the cave with a flashlight. Scary, but awesome! Inside the cave are hiking trails of more than 1 km (I was glad he did not offer to take us). He also showed us a waterfall inside the cave (the river flows through the cave). And everything was free! It was wonderful.
From there we stopped at an open-air museum. There is a whole town of wooden buildings that they preserve. It showed us how people used to live and even live today to support themselves. We were very hungry at that point and stopped at a Serbian restaurant where we had Serbian hamburgers while Serbian folk music played in the background. What an experience!
Our last stop was at a waterfall of 20m. But it doesn't stop there. The water goes down the mountain in two streams and form more waterfalls till it reach the bottom. It was very beautiful. From there we tried to find the road back home. A road sign that said Zlatibor took us to a gravel road where we had a nice drive through the woods. The branches formed a tunnel with their branches. And it is the brightest green leaves I've ever seen. The road also took us to the highest point in that area. We could see on all side into the distance. It was awesome and the quietness around us was wonderful.
We went to visit the family in Panceville again last weekend. It was nice to visit with them. Stephan preached there again (also on Sunday at the Assemblies). He used one good illustration in his message about a cell phone and swiss army knife that he always carry with him in his pockets. The applied it to the Bible message by saying that you either stay in contact with Jesus through pray (cell phone) or you do it yourself (swiss army knife) - John 15.
I feel very homesick. I've heard this quote somewhere "You cannot have roots and wings". I thought about how this fits into the Bible's message. I think established in Jesus we can soar like eagles, doesn't matter where we are. But we are human and I am longing for home, so please write. :-)
Love
Stephan Irene Nadia Anandi
I feel like I am behind in writing. So much can happen in two week's time.
We had a wonderful trip to Zlatibor. The trip (250 km) was interesting with the help of a few wrong turns. But every wrong turn got us to the most beautiful places. And so we landed in a valley where all the fields were colored with pastels, with forests of every green shade in between.
Zlatibor is centered around a lake. They are focused on local tourists. I think we were about the only foreigners there.But it is beautiful. We struggled a little bit to find the mountain. I felt a bit like "the Englishman that went up a hill and came down a mountain". The mountain that they boast about is not more than green hills, but it gives the effect of "the sound of music". Our children became small in the distance as they ran through the green fields. And everywhere they stopped to pick wild flowers. Die forests in between gives the most beautiful effect.
We followed the road through the landscape with the Yugo we rented for one day. We saw about 3 cars on road the whole day. The road took us to a cave with a opening of about 35 m. They build a big fence in front of the cave so we could not go inside. Then out of the blue appeared this old man with a key. But our Sripski was too little to understand him. Luckily some Serbian tourist came at that moment and they could tell us about the cave. The man took all of us into the cave with a flashlight. Scary, but awesome! Inside the cave are hiking trails of more than 1 km (I was glad he did not offer to take us). He also showed us a waterfall inside the cave (the river flows through the cave). And everything was free! It was wonderful.
From there we stopped at an open-air museum. There is a whole town of wooden buildings that they preserve. It showed us how people used to live and even live today to support themselves. We were very hungry at that point and stopped at a Serbian restaurant where we had Serbian hamburgers while Serbian folk music played in the background. What an experience!
Our last stop was at a waterfall of 20m. But it doesn't stop there. The water goes down the mountain in two streams and form more waterfalls till it reach the bottom. It was very beautiful. From there we tried to find the road back home. A road sign that said Zlatibor took us to a gravel road where we had a nice drive through the woods. The branches formed a tunnel with their branches. And it is the brightest green leaves I've ever seen. The road also took us to the highest point in that area. We could see on all side into the distance. It was awesome and the quietness around us was wonderful.
We went to visit the family in Panceville again last weekend. It was nice to visit with them. Stephan preached there again (also on Sunday at the Assemblies). He used one good illustration in his message about a cell phone and swiss army knife that he always carry with him in his pockets. The applied it to the Bible message by saying that you either stay in contact with Jesus through pray (cell phone) or you do it yourself (swiss army knife) - John 15.
I feel very homesick. I've heard this quote somewhere "You cannot have roots and wings". I thought about how this fits into the Bible's message. I think established in Jesus we can soar like eagles, doesn't matter where we are. But we are human and I am longing for home, so please write. :-)
Love
Stephan Irene Nadia Anandi
Belgrade 6 Afr
Zdravo!
Dit voel asof ek agter is met die skryfwerk, want daar gebeur nogal baie in 2 weke se tyd.
Ons het toe 'n heerlike tyd gehad in Zlatibor. Die pad soontoe (so 250km) was interessant m.b.v. 'n verkeerde draai of twee. Maar elke verkeerde pad het ons by die mooiste plekke uitgebring. So het ons in 'n vallei beland waar die landerye met pastel kleure ingekleur is, met groen woude tussenin met elke skakering van groen waaraan mens kan dink.
Zlatibor sentreer rondom 'n meer en is baie op plaaslike toeriste ingestel. Ek dink ons was seker die enigste buitelanders daar. Maar dis pragtig. Ons het wel gesukkel om die berg te kry. Ek het bietjie gevoel soos "the englishman that went up a hill and came down a mountain". Die berg wat hulle so spog oor is niks meer as groen heuwels nie, maar dit gee nogal baie die effek van "the sound of music". Ons kinders het gehardloop deur die groen grasvelde dat hulle so klein geword het in die verte. En orals het hulle gestop en veldblomme gepluk. Die woude tussenin gee die mooiste effek.
Ons het ook 'n dag lank 'n pad gevolg deur die mooi landskap met die Yugo wat ons gehuur het. Ons het seker 3 karre gekry op die pad die hele dag. Dit het ons by 'n grot met 'n opening van 35m gebring. Hulle het 'n groot hek voor die grot aangebring en ons kon eers nie ingaan nie. Toe uit die bloute verskyn daar so 'n ou man wat die sleutel het. Maar ons Sripski was te min. Gelukkig het daar net op daardie oomblik ander Serbiese toeriste aangekom wat ons kon vertel van die grot. Die man het ons met 'n flitslig die grot van binne gewys. Scary, maar wonderlik! Binne die grot is daar staproetes van langer as 'n km (ek was nogal bly hy het nie aangebied om ons te vat nie). Hy het ons ook 'n waterval binne die grot gewys (die rivier vloei deur die grot). En dit alles gratis! Dit was wonderlik.
Daarna het ons by 'n buitelug museum gestop. Daar is 'n hele dorp van houthuise wat hulle oppas. Dit wys hoe mense geleef het en selfs nou nog lewe en hulleself onderhou. Ons was op daardie stadium baie honger en het gestop by 'n restaurant waar ons serbiese hamburgers geeet het terwyl vrolike serbiese volksmusiek gespeel het in die agtergrond.
Ons laaste stop was by 'n waterval van 20m. Maar dis nie waar dit stop nie. Die waterval kronkel in twee sulke strome af teen die berg en vorm nog watervalle tot onder. Dit was baie mooi. Van daar af het ons die pad terug probeer kry. 'n Bordjie was gese het Zlatibor het ons op 'n grondpad gebring waar ons eintlik deur die woude gery het. Die takke het so oor die pad gehang en 'n tonnel gevorm. En dit is die helderste groen blare wat ek nog gesien het. Die pad het ons ook op die hoogste punt in die area uitgebring. Ons kon elke kant van ons sien tot in die verte. Dit was asemrowend en die stilte was wonderlik.
Ons het verlede naweek ook weer in Panceville gaan kuier. Dit was heerlik om weer te kon saam kuier met die gesin daar. Stephan het weer gepreek daar (ook Sondag by Assemblies). Hy het een goeie illustrasie in sy preek genoem van 'n selfoon en swiss army knife, twee goed wat heeltyd in sy broeksakke bly. Die parallel wat hy getrek het met die Bybel is, bly in kontak met Jesus in gebed (selfoon) of doen dit self (swiss army knife) - Joh. 15.
Ek voel al baie home-sick. Ek het iewers die quote gehoor: "You cannot have roots and wings". Ek het gedink hoe dit by die Bybel inpas. Ek dink gevestig in Jesus kan ons sweef soos arende, maak nie saak waar ons is nie. Maar ons bly maar mens en ek verlang, so skryf asb. :-)
Liefde
Stephan Irene Nadia Anandi
Dit voel asof ek agter is met die skryfwerk, want daar gebeur nogal baie in 2 weke se tyd.
Ons het toe 'n heerlike tyd gehad in Zlatibor. Die pad soontoe (so 250km) was interessant m.b.v. 'n verkeerde draai of twee. Maar elke verkeerde pad het ons by die mooiste plekke uitgebring. So het ons in 'n vallei beland waar die landerye met pastel kleure ingekleur is, met groen woude tussenin met elke skakering van groen waaraan mens kan dink.
Zlatibor sentreer rondom 'n meer en is baie op plaaslike toeriste ingestel. Ek dink ons was seker die enigste buitelanders daar. Maar dis pragtig. Ons het wel gesukkel om die berg te kry. Ek het bietjie gevoel soos "the englishman that went up a hill and came down a mountain". Die berg wat hulle so spog oor is niks meer as groen heuwels nie, maar dit gee nogal baie die effek van "the sound of music". Ons kinders het gehardloop deur die groen grasvelde dat hulle so klein geword het in die verte. En orals het hulle gestop en veldblomme gepluk. Die woude tussenin gee die mooiste effek.
Ons het ook 'n dag lank 'n pad gevolg deur die mooi landskap met die Yugo wat ons gehuur het. Ons het seker 3 karre gekry op die pad die hele dag. Dit het ons by 'n grot met 'n opening van 35m gebring. Hulle het 'n groot hek voor die grot aangebring en ons kon eers nie ingaan nie. Toe uit die bloute verskyn daar so 'n ou man wat die sleutel het. Maar ons Sripski was te min. Gelukkig het daar net op daardie oomblik ander Serbiese toeriste aangekom wat ons kon vertel van die grot. Die man het ons met 'n flitslig die grot van binne gewys. Scary, maar wonderlik! Binne die grot is daar staproetes van langer as 'n km (ek was nogal bly hy het nie aangebied om ons te vat nie). Hy het ons ook 'n waterval binne die grot gewys (die rivier vloei deur die grot). En dit alles gratis! Dit was wonderlik.
Daarna het ons by 'n buitelug museum gestop. Daar is 'n hele dorp van houthuise wat hulle oppas. Dit wys hoe mense geleef het en selfs nou nog lewe en hulleself onderhou. Ons was op daardie stadium baie honger en het gestop by 'n restaurant waar ons serbiese hamburgers geeet het terwyl vrolike serbiese volksmusiek gespeel het in die agtergrond.
Ons laaste stop was by 'n waterval van 20m. Maar dis nie waar dit stop nie. Die waterval kronkel in twee sulke strome af teen die berg en vorm nog watervalle tot onder. Dit was baie mooi. Van daar af het ons die pad terug probeer kry. 'n Bordjie was gese het Zlatibor het ons op 'n grondpad gebring waar ons eintlik deur die woude gery het. Die takke het so oor die pad gehang en 'n tonnel gevorm. En dit is die helderste groen blare wat ek nog gesien het. Die pad het ons ook op die hoogste punt in die area uitgebring. Ons kon elke kant van ons sien tot in die verte. Dit was asemrowend en die stilte was wonderlik.
Ons het verlede naweek ook weer in Panceville gaan kuier. Dit was heerlik om weer te kon saam kuier met die gesin daar. Stephan het weer gepreek daar (ook Sondag by Assemblies). Hy het een goeie illustrasie in sy preek genoem van 'n selfoon en swiss army knife, twee goed wat heeltyd in sy broeksakke bly. Die parallel wat hy getrek het met die Bybel is, bly in kontak met Jesus in gebed (selfoon) of doen dit self (swiss army knife) - Joh. 15.
Ek voel al baie home-sick. Ek het iewers die quote gehoor: "You cannot have roots and wings". Ek het gedink hoe dit by die Bybel inpas. Ek dink gevestig in Jesus kan ons sweef soos arende, maak nie saak waar ons is nie. Maar ons bly maar mens en ek verlang, so skryf asb. :-)
Liefde
Stephan Irene Nadia Anandi
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