Ballet Magnificat! in Banja Luka

Last year, we were offered the opportunity to have the Christian ballet troup, "Ballet Magnificat!" here in Banja Luka and we decided it was an opportunity we couldn't miss. We had a contact who knew someone in the National Theatre, and so when things worked out for us to get that, we knew we made the right decision! 

We decided it would be a fundraising event for the Children's Home and for the special needs school. Ljilja did all the heavy lifting of working out where to host them, their transport, etc and it all came together wonderfully in the end. The story was of the Prodigal Son, and it had such a lovely message of love and reconciliation.

We were a bit concerned that we wouldn't sell enough seats, and although we didn't fill the theatre, it was close, which made for a good time for everyone! Including our volunteers (pictured above with the company) who helped man the doors and hand out programs. The Minister for Education and Culture came with her granddaughters along with the local press - we made the nightly news on the National TV station:  https://www.rtrs.tv/vijesti/vijest.php?id=600092

In the morning, Ljilja and I took some of them on a tour of Banja Luka, and here they are in front of the theatre with the posters for their performance (and looking like very different without their performance make up!) 

In the evening, we had a great photographer come and take pictures, and it captures just a slice of what it was all about:

During the tour, I was chatting to one of the dancers and she said it was hard on their bodies as they travel a lot between putting on their performances - so they go from sitting all day to then putting their legs up straight - kind of like the pic below... and yes, it must be hard to keep limber when travelling! 

Some stunning classical ballet: 

And lots of the whole company dancing together: 

So beautiful! 

At the end they got a well deserved standing ovation, and we look forward to hosting them sometime in the future again!! 

The JOY of the Lord

I found this wonderful colouring page a while ago on thevictoryroad.com and had it for when I would have time to colour... I had heard about the fact that colouring is now becoming the thing to do as adults, and so I thought I would see what it is all about. 

I know that the children I work with love to colour, especially those at the Children's Home, and I know that it calms them, so I could see the benefit for them... And in this crazy life, I know that there are times I long for the calming, stilling, "just being"-ness that something like colouring would bring. 

And yet, I still didn't try it. I didn't find the time. Until time found me... After a crazy trip to three countries and a lot of conference and meetings, I found myself unwell. It was inevitable as in my last destination I was in meetings all day with someone with a cold... oh well.  After 5 days of being good and resting, (even cancelling a trip I was supposed to take) and thinking I was better, I managed to get up and carry on with my normal craziness - and after 2 days of that, I was hit by a second wave of illness worse than the first... After a trip to the doctor and a diagnosis of sinusitis and bronchitis and a prescription of antibiotics and "REST" (she even put it in capital letters so I really would get the idea...), I decided to actually do some resting... 

And so, during the time of rest, I finally found time to do some colouring... and of course I found that I enjoyed it! I love the meditative nature of choosing the colours, focusing on the words while colouring and repeating over and over to myself - the JOY of the LORD is my STRENGTH. In this time when I am without strength, it is good to be reminded!!

I am not really an artist, but I can find JOY in bringing a blank colouring page to life! 

It was also good to know that the world doesn't collapse without me in it. Things carry on without me (I have a good band of people around me to fill in!) and so I can take time to rest and get my strength back up before moving on to the next thing that God has for me...

ART on velvetashes.com