Zagreb at Last

Two flights, a bus ride, several taxis, ten bags, a stroller, and three flights of stairs later… here we are! The trip went very well, much better than we anticipated. Pastor George and Carol Arman greeted us at the airport with flashing cameras while P. Tomas and Eva waited for us at the bus terminal. One of the Croatian disciples came with the Buliceks to help load up the bags. Camden did very well for her first Trans-Atlantic exploit and is now sleeping soundly in her new crib we just purchased yesterday (a story in itself). When I say “purchased it yesterday“, what I mean is we carried it on our backs several miles, crammed it into a bustling street car, and again walked it up the street and three flights of stairs to our apartment… I must say it is rather adventurous to travel by public transportation in a foreign country. We really are enjoying ourselves and learning to appreciate the Croatian way.


This morning we met at the Armans apartment just down stairs for the daily prayer and morning class (recent messages received via mail from Baltimore). We also had a sweet time of communion and worship together after which Pastor Tomas stood up and reminded all of us to “please pass our cups to the center isle.” The fellowship we have here is very healthy as it is close and focused. We know that God is doing a great work in us as a couple.
Zagreb is a smaller European city but it has all the markings of a crowded metropolis, and might I add, a ripe harvest field. Tonight I am enjoying Zagreb’s cool evening air, a refreshing exchange for it’s seemingly relentless sun. The tram cars don’t help the situation either, they are more like mobile greenhouses with little moving air and exotic smells, though yielding great panoramic views of the city life. The good news is that they are upgrading the system with new air-conditioned, street level models (no steps to climb), with comfortable seats and spacious standing room. One of them comes humming down the rails in the old cobble stone streets every now and then and if you are lucky it‘s going your direction.

While we are on the subject, earlier today Susanna and I received our official public transportation passes, with photos and all. It’s a big step in our initiation to becoming Croats. The passes enable us to travel on any public service (bus or tram), in any direction, unlimited trips, for a month at a time. The cost is about 210 kunas each, that’s approximately $35 [the currency rate is 6 kunas per US dollar]. Not a bad deal considering we were spending 3x’s that a week on gas in the states.

(pictures coming soon)

All details aside, this a wonderful experience with abundant opportunities for ministry. People are people. This evening we had our Tuesday night Bible study at the Gradska Kavana, an upscale café in Jelacic Square (the main center of town). We had a good time around the Word of God with some kava s’ mljecka (coffee with milk = latte) and four Croatians joined us. It is something to watch the eyes of new believers as they listen with much interest to the scriptures being taught and preached, and spoken of with honor and value. The Bible is familiar to people yet foreign, a personal relationship to the Word of God is non existent, as is the case is most cultures today. What a calling, to study the Bible, to win the lost, to disciple believers, and to love the brethren!

Pray for these young believers and the many others that have met with the team over the last months. Pray that the Lord will lead us in our evangelism specifically, for the renting of a building to meet in and the finances to go along with it, for a translator for our meetings (that’s an important request), and pray for us as we continue to make the proper adjustments to get settled here in Zagreb with Camden and all the expenses that we encountered upon arrival.

the tanguayZ