Day 3 Feb 11, 2024

Today we joined Krista Kralja in Sunday worship where Scott was invited to preach again. This time he chose John 12 and talked about why he believed in Jesus while others refused. Pastor Milan simultaneously translated. Ja also talked briefly about serving in church and the community since volunteering is not popular outside the US. At the end of service, we presented the church with gifts of communion trays, cups and Sunday school supplies that are not readily available in Europe and prayed for them.

Afterwards Ivan took us to the city center to see the Rijeki Karnival, a 10-hour long parade passing through the Korzo. About a hundred troupes large and small danced in front of the center and 6 other stages. One dressed up as pigs made fun of the minister of agriculture who ordered the death of all pigs during swine flu last year. We’d left after a bit to lunch with the pastor who chose a Chinese restaurant that served fried bananas, apples and lychees for dessert.

Later on, Ivan and Ludmila Babic took us to another seaside town of Opatija. It was built as a resort area for the Austro-Hungarian Court with grand hotels, terraces and gardens. Over a gigantic meat platter, we looked back on God’s plan for our lives and how he’d been so faithful through similar housing trials. God had been good to us.