The Break Is Over

During the holidays and as the new year begins, Croatia takes a kind of hiatus. Many things, places and businesses slow down, if they do not come to a complete stop all together. People take a break and slow down from their usual routine. They take a break and take time to rest so that they are refreshed and ready for what the new year will bring. Our team decided to follow suit over the past few weeks and took time to rest, to enjoy the holiday time, to be together and with friends around us, and to study language in the free time we had.

This week is the first week of everything beginning again and daily routines being back in full swing. Students are back in school, businesses are open, and the city is busy. So this week has meant the same for us. This week is the beginning of a busy time for us of school, language classes, volunteering, research, and visitors. This week began with us beginning a three week intensive Croatian language course at a Language Academy. And already, only two days out, we are realizing that the class is allowing us to learn a ton but is pushing us to think and to take in as much of the Croatian language as possible during each class. Also, in the next few weeks, each of us will begin to again plug into the different places that we are serving and volunteering in the community here. And next week, the Scotts, will finally be arriving to be here with us, and we cannot wait to be able to help them get settled in! 

As I was thinking through the time of break and rest that just ended and got ready for and entered into the normal busy routine of daily life, I have been thinking about how awesome it is to be here in Croatia, and to be able to be a part of life here in the different seasons, times, and rhythms of life. To be able to more fully learn about the culture and life here in Zagreb, by having the opportunity to be a part of life here and to share life during the different times of life. We get to be a part of the busy times of life, the restful and refreshing times, the holidays and celebratory times, and the day to day normal routine times of life. We get to be a part of and understand what life is like here in its many different times and phases. We are experiencing some of the different times of life for the people here and get to live in those times with them. And I am thankful to be able to be a part of life here, in all its different seasons.


Hope