NAPREDAK| noun. Translation: PROGRESS

A month of progress is worth celebrating! We have seen progress in language learning, relationships & ministry, and our family’s growth. 

Language:
Jeremiah and I took our first exam of the semester. We saw great improvements from the last time we took this exam, and it all seemed way less overwhelming. We have definitely gained some confidence! More importantly than test grades, we attended a couple social gatherings where there were non-English speakers present and we were forced to practice speaking! This can be a rare occasion for us because we currently live in the capital city where more people speak English. When the person we are speaking with can default to English with us, it gives us an easy way out. But this isn’t the case for the entire country, or for every generation of Croats, so we are staying committed to being able to speak with every Croat we come across. Being in a room for hours with the family members or friends of a friend who don’t speak English challenges us in the best way, and is usually quite encouraging. We are thankful that most Croats are very understanding that their language is difficult and they show us a lot of grace. 

Relationships & Ministry: 
Right now our ministry work is predominantly through our relationships with others as we are full time language learners. We still have a role in the International Ministry at our church and we really enjoyed celebrating the Croatian version of Thanksgiving (mostly only celebrated among Protestants) with food from all over the world. I am amazed every time we gather as a community and I get to try food and hear stories from believers that are from all across the globe. It paints a picture from Revelation 7:9. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb”. Please pray specifically for M and her daughter who are seeking asylum from their home in Ukraine. Pray for C and the dangerous political situation of his home country Nigeria. Please pray for R & M who are working hard to establish a better life for themselves where they freely live out their Christian values and have some great opportunities to promote their work in their home country of Mexico. There are many other beloved brothers and sisters that we ask that you pray for by praying for the International Community at Baptist Church Zagreb. 
We also had a sweet evening on Croatia’s holiday Svi Sveti (All Saint’s Day). We didn’t go to a graveyard and decorate the graves of loved ones like most Croatians, but we spent the evening at a friend's house having conversation over tea, playing games, and having smores alongside roasted chestnuts. This was a beautiful picture of the blending of our home culture and our host culture as roasted chestnuts are a favorite fall treat here in Croatia, and of course we couldn’t go through the fall season without smores. 

Our family: 
Our family has seen growth in a few ways, but the first that comes to mind for me is the third trimester of this pregnancy! We are getting more excited to welcome our newest family member, but we ask that you pray for strength and health as we push through this final stretch! 
Louella and Mabel are showing signs of their own language progress! Louella taught us the Croatian word for snack: užina. Mabel knows how to say “No! Mine!” in Croatian which I’m sure she has learned from her “friends” at preschool. Louella’s love for learning and growing is inspiring to see, and Mabel’s kind soul wants to pray every time we pray as a family. 
We have learned so much about managing our stress and our family well as we face the different stressors that come with living abroad. We are so thankful to have found healthcare providers and are receiving the healthcare we need. Jeremiah and I even completed wellness exams for our Croatian driver’s licenses entirely in Croatian! 
Our family is so well loved and taken care of that friends and neighbors have given us so many of the baby items we needed. We were given a baby bed, stroller, car seat and clothes! Wow! Praise God! Mabel even just got her first haircut in a salon which was made possible by the generosity of a family member and our language progress. 

With love, 
​Anna