trip devotional guide - the Bosnia International Servant Trip

2016 New Jersey Synod
Bosnia International Servant Trip
Devotional Guide
June 22 - July 3, 2016
www.facebook.com/BosniaIST
www.servanttrips.org
DAY 1
DAY 3
DAY 2
Wednesday June 22
Friday June 24
Thursday June 23
drive to Rama,
prep for CNH
Fly from
Newark to
Sarajevo
Team
Purple
New Jersey Synod
Bosnia IST 2016
Arrive in
Sarajevo
Rama
FC 1
Sarajevo
drive to
Srebrenica
Trip Itinerary
RON
on the plane!
Room Over Night
DAY 5
DAY 6
Sunday June 26
Camp
New Hope
Team
RON
DAY 7
Monday June 27
Tuesday June 28
DAY 8
Friday July 1
FC 7 Jajce
FC 8 Sipovo
Sipovo
Sarajevo
Mostar
Jajce
Friendship
Camp
Team
rest in morning,
then drive to
Gradacac
FC 3
Gradacac
FC 6 Sanski Most
Drive to Kozarac
FC 4
Trnopolje/
Kozarac
RON
Gradacac
Sercem do Mira
Sercem do Mira
Jajce
DAY 12
Sunday July 3
Full
Team
Fly Home!
Trnopolje/Kozarac
RON
Room Over Night
USA!
4
Gradacac
3
Sanski Most
6
7
Šipovo
Jajce
Srebrenica/
Leptir 2
8
Friendship Camp Team
CNH
Camp New Hope Team
Rama
Rama
FC 2
Leptir
Srebrenica
DAY 11
Saturday July 2
drive to Jajce
Rama
Room Over Night
DAY 10
Thursday June 30
Camp
New Hope
FC 5 Mostar
Rama
Room Over Night
Srebrenica
DAY 9
Wednesday June 29
drive to
Mostar
Camp New Hope
Sarajevo
DAY 4
Saturday June 25
1
Full Team
Mostar 5
Sarajevo
Wrap-up time;
Farewell Party
Sarajevo
We are a traveling people.
You are invited to join the journey of the 2016 Bosnia
International Servant Trip through this devotional guide and
in daily prayer. Each day at 6 PM Bosnia Time/12 Noon
New Jersey Time, the Travel Team stops what it is doing for
a time of prayer. You are invited to pray with and for us.
6/22
Day One
Departure
6/23
Day Two
Arrival
6/24
Day Three
Sarajevo • Camp New Hope prep
6/25
Day Four
Leptir • Camp New Hope
6/26
Day Five
Srebrenica • Camp New Hope
6/27
Day Six
Gradačac • Camp New Hope
6/28
Day Seven
Kozarac • Camp New Hope
6/29
Day Eight
Sanski Most • Mostar
6/30
Day Nine
Jajce
7/1
Day Ten
Šipovo
7/2
Day Eleven
Sarajevo
7/3
Day Twelve
Departure and Return
Day Thirteen
Going back out
The prayers found at the end of each day’s devotion and on the back
cover are taken from Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for
Peace, by John Philip Newell. © 2011
Day 1
•
June 22
•
Departure
The Travel Team departs New Jersey, South Dakota, Minnesota
and Germany for Bosnia-Herzegovina.
_____________________________________________
The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day,
to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night,
to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by
night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire
by night left its place in front of the people.
Exodus 13:21-22
It must be nice having pillars of cloud and fire to lead you on
your way; to have unmistakable visual confirmation that God is
directly leading you. It must be nice…
What calls you forward today?
With what people do you travel today?
You are invited to use the blank spaces provided with each day’s
devotions to write your own thoughts, reflections and prayers.
For the gift of this new day
for waking again from the dreams of the night
for our bodies strengthened and our minds renewed
thanks be to you, O God.
Day 2
•
June 23
•
Arrival
The Travel Team arrives in Sarajevo, the capitol and largest city
in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
_____________________________________________
See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of
wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16
In this passage Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples with
instructions and warnings.
Do you feel Jesus has sent you out today?
What wolves are out there today?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
Peace where there is war
healing where there is hurt
memory where we have forgotten the other.
Vision where there is violence
light where there is madness
sight where we have blinded each other.
Day 3
Sarajevo Friendship Camp
•
June 24
•
Prep for Camp New Hope
The Travel Team separates this morning. The Friendship Camp
Team holds a camp in Sarajevo for two schools, one ethnically
mixed and one primarily Serb. There are Roma children invited
as well as Joy of Life, a special needs program.
The Camp New Hope Team drives to Rama to set up and
prepare for Camp New Hope.
_____________________________________________
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of
Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples,
‘Who do people say that I am?’
Mark 8:27
Jesus and his followers have a lot of conversations while
traveling. There is something about traveling together that opens
our hearts and minds in new ways.
Who is Jesus for you today?
What do you hear and see in others today that is of God?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
At the beginning of this day
we wake
not as separate streams
but as countless currents in a single flow
the flow of this day’s dawning
the flow of this day’s delight
the flow of this day’s sorrows
your flow, O God,
in the twisting and turnings of this new day.
Day 4
Leptir Friendship Camp
•
•
June 25
Camp New Hope - 1st Day
The Friendship Camp Team holds a camp for “Leptir”
(Butterfly), a program for special needs children in the village of
Potočari on the outskirts of Srebrenica.
Camp New Hope begins; hosting young people and teachers
from 11 schools around the country.
_____________________________________________
Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his
disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he
approached the gate of the town, a man who had died
was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and
she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the
town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her
and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came forward and
touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said,
‘Young man, I say to you, rise!’ The dead man sat up and
began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Luke 7:11-15
What calls you to weep today?
When has your mourning been turned into celebration?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
On this day
the blessings of heaven.
On this day
the blessings of earth.
On this day
the blessings of sea and of sky.
To open us to life
to ground us in life
to fill us with life
and with wonder.
Day 5 • June 26
Srebrenica • Camp New Hope - 2nd Day
The Friendship Camp Team spends time in Srebrenica and
Potočari. This is the site of a terrible massacre near the end of
the war.
Camp New Hope continues; visiting a mosque and Christian
church as they explore their neighbors’ faiths.
_____________________________________________
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is
my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers,
who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him
half dead.
Luke 10:29-30
This passage begins with a question about eternal life, then
rapidly turns into this very personal, intimate story. Traveling
can be a dangerous business. So can asking questions.
How does this passage sit with you today?
How do you connect ‘my neighbor’ with those experiencing
violence today?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
May those who are weary find rest this night.
May those who carry great burdens for their people find strength.
May the midwives of new beginnings in our world find hope.
And may the least among us find greatness
strength in our souls
worth in our words
love in our living.
Day 6 • June 27
Gradačac Friendship Camp • Camp New Hope - 3rd Day
The Friendship Camp Team holds a camp in Gradačac. It is our
first time back to this multi-ethnic town in 6 years.
Camp New Hope continues; seeking to build ongoing
connections among participants and between their schools and
communities.
_____________________________________________
But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when
he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and
bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on
them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to
an inn, and took care of him.
Luke 10:33-34
The Samaritan, the “Other” to the man in the ditch and listeners
of this story, was on his own journey. Note the simple acts in
this reading.
When has someone changed their own journey/life to help
you?
When have you been helped by someone you considered the
Enemy/Other/‘Them’?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
Our heart is comforted
in its awareness of You
Soul within our soul
Life within all life.
Our heart is comforted
in remembering You
Giver of this day
Giver of every moment.
Day 7
Kozarac Friendship Camp
•
•
June 28
Camp New Hope - 4th Day
The Friendship Camp Team holds a camp in Kozarac. This is a
community that continues to struggle in the aftermath of its war
experiences: expulsions, concentration camps, torture. The team
will stay with our courageous, dear friends at Srcem Do Mira
(Through Hearts to Peace), a local NGO.
Camp New Hope ends this day. We are sent back out into the
world with new friends, new skills, and new hope!
_____________________________________________
Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple
and began to drive out those who were selling and those
who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the
tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who
sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry
anything through the temple.
Mark 11:15-16
Jesus goes after the people whose tasks originally were to help
the poor and the traveler to faithfully worship at the Temple, but
who changed their efforts toward personal financial profit.
When have you been confronted with the realization that
you are serving yourself alone, rather than serving others?
When have you been filled with righteous anger?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
May we be bearers of comfort.
May we be strong in our soul
to cry at the wrongs of nations
to weep with the bleeding earth
to mourn with those who mourn this night
in the loss of life and lands
in the loss of dreams and hope.
May we be strong in our soul this night.
Day 8 •
Sanski Most Friendship Camp
June 29
• Mostar Friendship Camp
The Friendship Camp Team holds a camp in Sanski Most. This
lovely town, full of muslim refugees from the war, continues to
struggle economically and psychologically.
The Camp New Hope Team holds a Friendship Camp in Mostar,
a city still deeply divided from the war.
_____________________________________________
In those days when there was again a great crowd without
anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them, ‘I
have compassion for the crowd, because they have been
with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I
send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on
the way—and some of them have come from a great
distance.’ …Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the
ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving
thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to
distribute; …They ate and were filled.
Mark 8:1-3, 6, 8
When have you been hungry this week? What do you notice
about your hunger?
When have you been fed with compassion this week?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
May our enemy become our friend, O God,
that we may share earth’s goodness.
May our enemy become our friend, O God,
that our children may meet and marry.
May our enemy become our friend, O God,
that we may remember our shared birth in you.
Day 9
•
June 30
•
Jajce Friendship Camp
The entire team joins up together (at last!) and holds a
Friendship Camp in Jajce. This is a community so divided that
the school is split completely along ethnic lines; bathrooms,
teachers, furniture, administration, curriculum all separate.
Except for our unified camp!
_____________________________________________
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming
a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And
people from the whole Judean countryside and all the
people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were
baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather
belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
…’ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee
and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:4-6, 9
Think of this as the Gospel Mark’s Christmas story: God coming
in surprising ways into our crazy wilderness life and world.
What wilderness have you seen or experienced this week?
What would you want to tell God right now about your life?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
The oneness of the universe
vast and vibrating with the sound of its beginning.
The oneness of the earth
greening and teeming as a single body.
The oneness of the human soul
a sacred countenance in infinite form.
Grant us your longings for oneness, O God.
amidst life’s glorious multiplicities.
Day 10
•
July 1
•
Šipovo Friendship Camp
In Šipovo the team holds its last and largest Friendship Camp.
330+ children from this poor, isolated, struggling community
will be with us today - for the 17th year in a row!
_____________________________________________
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village
called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and
talking with each other about all these things that had
happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus
himself came near and went with them, but their eyes
were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them,
‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk
along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them,
whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the
only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things
that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked
them, ‘What things?’
Luke 24:13-19
This is the first part of a long journey story known as The Walk
to Emmaus, which takes place on Easter Day. Can you imagine
today was spent with Jesus by your side, unrecognized?
What sadness or confusion is in your heart today?
Imagine Jesus asking you ‘What things?’
What would you say?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
Whichever way we turn, O God, there is your face
in the light of the moon and patterns of stars
in scarred mountain rifts and ancient groves
in mighty seas and creatures of the deep.
Whichever way we turn, O God, there is your face
in the light of eyes we love
in the salt of tears we have tasted
in weathered countenances east and west
in the soft skin glow of the child everywhere.
Whichever way we turn, O God, there is your face
there is your face
among us.
Day 11
•
July 2
•
Sarajevo
The team spends its last day in Bosnia-Herzegovina back in
beautiful Sarajevo. Today we pack, celebrate, reflect and party!
_____________________________________________
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he
interpreted to them the things about himself in all the
scriptures. As they came near the village to which they
were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But
they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it
is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he
went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with
them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to
them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized
him; and he vanished from their sight.
Luke 24:27-31
In this part of The Walk to Emmaus it is at last revealed at
mealtime that Jesus - alive, resurrected Jesus - has been with
them all along.
Have you seen or experienced the presence of God
this week?
If so, where? Who was with you?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
Guide us as nations to what is deepest
open us as peoples to what is first
lead us as a world to what is dearest
that we may know the holiness of wholeness
that we may learn the strength of humility
that together we may live close to the earth
and grow in grounded glory.
Day 12
•
July 3
•
Departure and Return
We fly home!
_____________________________________________
They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning
within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he
was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they
got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the
eleven and their companions gathered together. They
were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has
appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on
the road, and how he had been made known to them in
the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24:32-35
In this next part of The Walk to Emmaus the two eagerly return
home to tell their story of journeying with Jesus, and are met
with stories of Jesus presence back home!
What burns within your heart today?
What do you want to tell others about this trip?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
Let there be peace in the human soul
let there be wakings to new consciousness
let there be tears of love.
In the life of the world this day
and in our own hearts
let there be fresh tears of love.
Day 13
•
July 4 and beyond
We go back out into the world.
_____________________________________________
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood
among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They
were startled and terrified, and thought that they were
seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened,
and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands
and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for
a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I
have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his
hands and his feet. While in their joy they were
disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have
you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of
broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
Luke 24:36-43
This last part of The Walk to Emmaus has Jesus showing up in
the flesh right in the midst of their sharing stories of his
presence! In the middle of these startled, terrified, joyful,
disbelieving and still wondering people Jesus brings them Peace.
Have you heard or felt or seen Jesus’ saying ‘Peace be with
you’ today?
How might you share the Peace of God with someone today?
thoughts, reflections, prayers
Let heaven’s winds stir the soil of our soul
and fresh awakenings rise within us.
May the mighty angels of light
glisten in all things this day.
May they summon us to reverence,
may they call us to life.
Camp New Hope
Musician
Larry Olson
Emmanuel, Beresford, SD
Drama
Games
Servant Project
Group
Leader
Group
Leader
Rich Wantula
St. Timothy, Wayne
Interpreters
Group
Leader
Begzada Halilovic
Maristela Freiberg
Steve Smith
St. Stephan’s Grace, Newark
Prince of Peace, Marlton
Srebrenica, BiH
Hanna Wantula
Ryan Costa
Kristen Opalinski
St. Timothy, Wayne
St. Stephan’s Grace, Newark
Shelby Matioli
Lazar Jezdimir
Trinity, Reading, PA
Prince of Peace, Marlton
Banja Luka, BiH
Music
Irvin Kenovic
Musician
Sarajevo, BiH
Adna
Hasanbegovic
Kika Weirich-Freiberg
Christian Wantula
Dan Smith
St. Stephan’s Grace, Newark
St. Timothy, Wayne
Our Saviour, Pompton Plains
Sarajevo, BiH
Rachel Kurtz
Minneapolis, MN
Sarah Sebic
Sarajevo, BiH
BiH
Coordinator
BiH
Coordinator
Petar Obradović
Podgorica, Montenegro
Vjeko Saje
Azra Saje
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Sarajevo, Bosnia
Team
Leader
Trip
Coordinator
Zeljka Mitric
Šipovo, BiH
Dzan Bekric
Jason Reed
Cindy Henry
New Jersey Synod Staff
St. Paul, Hainesport
Sarajevo, BiH
Azra Mehmedagic
Visoko, BiH
2016 Bosnia IST Travel Team
June 22 - July 3, 2016
Blessed are the peacemakers
for they are born of god.
(Matthew 5.9)
To the home of peace
to the field of love
to the land where forgiveness and right relationship meet
we look, O God,
with longing for earth’s children
with compassion for the creatures
with hearts breaking for the nations and people we love.
Open us to visions we have never known
strengthen us for self-givings we have never made
delight us with a oneness we could never have imagined
that we may truly be born of You
makers of peace.