Mission: Bosnia
 
 
Why Bosnia?  Bosnia was ravaged by civil war from April 1992 until the signing of the Dayton Peace Accord in November 1995, with a reasonable level of safety not realized until the spring of 1996.   Over 250,000 people were killed during the war, with countless towns and villages raided and completely destroyed.  Those who survived were often displaced within their own country as a result of the physical destruction and emotional trauma that comes as a part of war.  By the signing of the Dayton Accord, it was estimated that over 3 million Bosnians, or half the population, were internally displaced.
     One of the most famous events in the war occurred in and around the town of Srebrenica, in north-eastern Bosnia.  In July 1995, Serb forces invaded an established UN Safe Haven in Srebrenica, ultimately removing and executing almost 8000 Muslim men and adolescent boys.  Today, 11 years after the signing of the Dayton Accord, Bosniaks, or Bosnian Muslims, are beginning to return to Srebrenica.  The pre-war population of Srebrenica was 75% Bosniak, and 25% Serb – with the Bosniak population estimated to be close to 27,000 people.  By October 2004, it was reported that only 2700 Bosniaks had returned to the Srebrenica municipality, Today, with the support of multinational governmental and non-governmental organizations, the Srebrenica region has one of the highest rates of resident returns in the country.
 
Our Mission - Under the guidance of a local contractor, we will construct two small barns for families in need.  Upon completion of their barn, we will offer each family a dairy cow so that they will have milk and cheese for their household, and also for sale/trade in the community.  While in the Srebrenica region, we will have the opportunity to learn more about Bosnian history and culture, enjoy local cuisine, and experience the power of a strong cup of Bosnian coffee.  Through this experience, we will be enriched by exposure to faith practices other than our own, and humbled by the impact of war and violence on individuals, families, and communities.
 
We appreciate your interest in our mission. Raising awareness benefits everyone.  If you choose to contribute financially in support of our work, your are certainly supporting peace and reconciliation by helping a family return home, and by offering them the means to feed themselves and their community.
 
                                    Hvala vam puno!    (Thanks a bunch!)