And
so we arrive at our last four days in Croatia before we head to
Sofia, Bulgaria, to meet the rest of the K Squad for debrief. A few
things to catch you up on before going into details of our first day
in Vinkovci.
so we arrive at our last four days in Croatia before we head to
Sofia, Bulgaria, to meet the rest of the K Squad for debrief. A few
things to catch you up on before going into details of our first day
in Vinkovci.
-
Our
teams have been split up once more. The four guys are doing a few
days of “manistry,” which, as far as I can tell, consists mostly
of killing their dinner with their bare hands, cooking it over a
fire, and peeing in the river. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m not
convinced that I’m too far off. -
The
remaining girls have been split into three smaller teams of three,
and Stacy, Lauren Williamson, and I have been delegated as leaders
of these teams while Tamica takes a break from leadership for a few
days and floats between the three teams. Martha and Heather are on
my small team, which I would like to dub Team Awesome. I haven’t
consulted the other members of the team yet about the name, but I
doubt they’d have too many qualms about it. -
As
far as support raising goes, I’m still in need of $1425 by November
1, which is one week away. I know God works a lot at the last
minute, but He should really know by now that it makes me nervous
when He gets this close to the wire. I think He just enjoys
watching me sweat.
After
church on Sunday, our delightful contact David dropped Tamica, my team,
and Stacy’s team in the city center of Vinkovci with no contacts, no place to
stay, no leads on any places to stay, and no idea where to find
anything in the city. All this spells an awesome opportunity for God
to do something awesome, because, let’s be honest, we’ve got nothing
to lose and a limited chance of anything happening from our own
efforts. First things first: as soon as we had piled the packs all
together, we linked arms for warmth and prayed.
church on Sunday, our delightful contact David dropped Tamica, my team,
and Stacy’s team in the city center of Vinkovci with no contacts, no place to
stay, no leads on any places to stay, and no idea where to find
anything in the city. All this spells an awesome opportunity for God
to do something awesome, because, let’s be honest, we’ve got nothing
to lose and a limited chance of anything happening from our own
efforts. First things first: as soon as we had piled the packs all
together, we linked arms for warmth and prayed.
Within
about three hours, we had learned the names of the three cheapest
hotels in the city. We had also been to all three of those hotels
and learned that they were all significantly more than we could
afford. However, we had learned that there was a park near the river
where a local bartender had said that we could pitch our tents and
probably not get arrested. Probably was good enough for us, and so
we loaded up our packs and started walking.
about three hours, we had learned the names of the three cheapest
hotels in the city. We had also been to all three of those hotels
and learned that they were all significantly more than we could
afford. However, we had learned that there was a park near the river
where a local bartender had said that we could pitch our tents and
probably not get arrested. Probably was good enough for us, and so
we loaded up our packs and started walking.
Before
we turned down the street to get to the river, Tamica and Stacy
stopped at a hotel on the way to see if we could at least rent a room
at the one-person rate to keep our big packs in while we camped out.
By some miracle (oh, hey God), they agreed, and we shlepped up the
stairs to the room to dump our packs and rest for a bit before
heading out again.
we turned down the street to get to the river, Tamica and Stacy
stopped at a hotel on the way to see if we could at least rent a room
at the one-person rate to keep our big packs in while we camped out.
By some miracle (oh, hey God), they agreed, and we shlepped up the
stairs to the room to dump our packs and rest for a bit before
heading out again.
While
we were in there, a man came in and started playing with the controls
on the heater. He asked us (we think; he was speaking in Croatian)
where we were staying, and what we were doing in Vinkovci. We
explained (as best we could) that we were going to be camping by the
river, and that we were Christian missionaries. He asked us a few
more questions, and then motioned for pen and paper. He wrote
something down and gave it to Lauren and Martha.
we were in there, a man came in and started playing with the controls
on the heater. He asked us (we think; he was speaking in Croatian)
where we were staying, and what we were doing in Vinkovci. We
explained (as best we could) that we were going to be camping by the
river, and that we were Christian missionaries. He asked us a few
more questions, and then motioned for pen and paper. He wrote
something down and gave it to Lauren and Martha.
As
it turned out, that man was the manager/owner (we never really
figured out which), and he had just agreed to allow all seven of us
to stay in that room for two nights for 430 kuna. For those of you
keeping score, we had budgeted out about 60 kuna per person per night
for lodging. The 430 breaks down to about 31 kuna per person per
night, half of our budget, and about $6.30 per person per night.
it turned out, that man was the manager/owner (we never really
figured out which), and he had just agreed to allow all seven of us
to stay in that room for two nights for 430 kuna. For those of you
keeping score, we had budgeted out about 60 kuna per person per night
for lodging. The 430 breaks down to about 31 kuna per person per
night, half of our budget, and about $6.30 per person per night.
This
is a hotel. We are paying prices lower than any hostel I have ever
stayed in.
is a hotel. We are paying prices lower than any hostel I have ever
stayed in.
And
in case there wasn’t enough frosting on that cupcake, about an hour
later, the receptionist came up and told us that three of us could
stay in another room on that floor for free. We have two rooms. We
are paying less per night for all seven of us than the listed
one-night rate for one person. And we have seven free breakfasts
following each night of sleep.
in case there wasn’t enough frosting on that cupcake, about an hour
later, the receptionist came up and told us that three of us could
stay in another room on that floor for free. We have two rooms. We
are paying less per night for all seven of us than the listed
one-night rate for one person. And we have seven free breakfasts
following each night of sleep.
When
you start your day by asking God to blow your face off, He’s pretty
good at living up to your expectations.
you start your day by asking God to blow your face off, He’s pretty
good at living up to your expectations.
