VUKOVAR

1
VUKOVAR
CROATIA - 1999
OUR TRIP TO WAR-TORN
2
VUKOVAR
A CITY OF SURVIVORS
The city of Vukovar is located on the Danube
River in eastern Croatia, right on the border
with Serbia.
During the Yugoslavian civil war, this city was
under siege by Serb forces for three months and
fell to the Serbs in November 1991.
Incessant bombing by Serb tanks artillery
caused extensive damage to nearly every structure
in the city, forcing most Croats to flee.
CROATIA
We were shocked to see so much needless
destruction. Its hard to imagine the loss pain
these people were forced to endure.
3
WHY VUKOVAR?
Prior to the war, Vukovar had been a very
prosperous city having textile and agricultural
industries as well as a cargo port --A very
wealthy town.
Entering Vukovar
Via a make-shift bridge that replaced
the bombed-out bridge
It is said that this area of Vojvodina has the
best soil for agriculture in all of Europe, which
made it a very coveted area. The Serbs basically
wiped out the city with their bombing
perpetrated ethnic cleansing on its people after
invading.
Unloading donations of clothes, shoes goods at
the local Caritas center.
4
VUKOVARS PLIGHT
Vukovar reverted to Croatian control in 1998
since then there has been a flow of Croatian
refugees returning home
Former Vukovar Train Station
ONLY TO FIND
No Jobs, No Homes, No Hope!
Deb At Destroyed Center of Town
5
DESTRUCTION EVERYWHERE!
Over 90 of the city was bombed-out. Leaving only
gutted ruins of their former prosperity.
The remains of an Historical Palace.
Heavily damaged apartment buildings are now
inhabited.
6
THE LEGACY OF WAR!
DESTRUCTION PAIN AND SUFFERING!
Whats left of a residential neighborhood.
Sonia Martha in the entrance of what used to be
a nice state-of-the-art gymnasium community
center.
7
THE CHALLENGE TO REBUILD
Rebuilding homes has progressed slowly, but it
has not been as difficult as rebuilding lives!
This certainly has been the greatest challenge
for the many Croats returning home after spending
years as refugees in other countries.
Deb Brisa say Hello!
An occupied house being slowly rebuilt
In Croatia, Serbs are considered a minority yet
in the city of Vukovar they comprise 70 of the
population. After the war, Serbs began reaping
special benefits privileges from their minority
status established by the UN preference for jobs
welfare benefits etc., while Croatians do not.
This complicates aggravates living conditions
for Croatians that are trying to peacefully
rebuild their homes lives co-exist with Serbs.
One of the few houses totally finished. The home
of Božo Jelena, where we stayed.
8
WATCH OUT FOR MINES!
There were still over 2,000 mines in around the
city alongside the roads, making it very
unsafe for everyone, especially children.
MINE WARNING SIGNS!
Its extremely dangerous to get out of your car
wander on the side of the road in this whole area.
9
OUR MISSION Delivering Aid, Comfort Hope
Unloading a trailer full of donated new clothes,
shoes other goods from Western Europe.
Debbie Brisa spent many hours sorting through
clothes to distribute.
Many returning refugees were struggling to make a
living rebuild their homes. It was difficult
for them to obtain even the basic necessities.
10
MEETING FATHER ZLATKO
When we departed from Zagreb we had no idea of
where wed stay or how wed operate. The only
lead we had was a name Father Zlatko, a
Franciscan priest. He worked out a place for us
to stay facilitated our ministry to others in a
great way.
With Father Zlatko in front of his Church. During
the war, they received so much shelling that its
a miracle its still standing. Now its being
rebuilt stone by stone just like their lives.
11
Lord, Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace
Singing the Prayer Of Saint Francis at their
semi-destroyed but beautiful medieval Basilica.
Brisa Debbie singing On the Wings of a Snow
White Dove during mass.
Father Zlatko commented that he was very
impressed by his congregations reaction we
received spontaneous applause a standing
ovation which he had not seen happen before.
People were moved to tears when they heard our
songs.
12
The Wonderful People We Met
OUR GREATEST GIFT TO THEM
Sharing Gods Love by means of prayer, comfort
listening to their stories with an understanding
heart.
Our new friends Božo Jelena opened their home
to us treated us like kings during our stay. We
were impressed by their kindness hospitality.
13
THE MINISTRY OF COMFORT
Helping Heal The Wounds Of War
Practically everyone had lost a loved one during
the war. More than material aid, what they
appreciated most was our willingness to listen to
their heart-cry the pain they were still
experiencing.
Sandra endured the worst of the war in her
basement nearly lost her life when the Serbs
tried to dispose of the group of refugees they
were evacuating. A UN Convoy saved their lives.
Martha Sonia with Goran, a law student, that
translated for us.
14
A PORTRAIT OF MANS INHUMANITY TO MAN
MASS GRAVES
Another Memorial at a Mass Grave of 200. These
were patients, doctors nurses of a local
hospital taken captive by Serb troops
slaughtered without mercy.
A Mass Grave for one thousand innocent civilians
massacred by Serbs forces.
15
Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes and there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any
more pain.
Empty graves waiting for thousands of
not-found-as-yet bodies of missing persons.
Cemetery for war victims soldiers. Keeping the
memory of loved ones alive.
16
MINISTERING TO SPECIAL OPS EX-MILITARY
COMMANDERS.
We believe that one of the main reasons the Lord
sent us to Vukovar was to meet minister to
these soldiers as they were in desperate need of
the Lord received His Word with Joy!
Deb between two Giants Pajo Želko.
MANY LIVES WERE CHANGED FOREVER!
17
The Symbolic Water Tower
During the heat of combat the challenge was to
keep the Croatian Flag flying atop this tower.
The Serbs would shoot it down and the Croatians
would put it right back up.
Brisa Debbie with Ivo, ex-soldier, our guide
protector, in front of the famous Water Tower. He
was one of the guys who would put the flag back
up.
18
The UN should operate the way you do help
others with sincerity instead of wasting
resources in vain talk politics
Our Last Day in Vukovar
Comment by the former Minister of the Interior
A traditional Fish Soup meal in our honor. We
were introduced to the former Minister of the
Interior later led him many others to the
Lord.
19
THE PLAYGROUND PROJECT
When we asked the Lord what else could we do to
help this city, He showed us to build a
Playground for the children.
With donations from businesses in Western Europe
the help of fellow missionaries, it all came to
fruition. Our co-workers local residents
together built a beautiful State of the Art
playground.
Stephen a young helper working on a rope
bridge. This boys father was killed in the war.
Now parents no longer have to worry about their
children being maimed or killed by mines while
out playing. The mayor provided the land heavy
construction equipment the whole town
participated in the project working hand-in-hand
with our fellow missionaries volunteers.
20
FRUIT THAT REMAINS
Neither is he that planteth anything, neither he
that watereth but God that giveth the increase.
1 Corinthians 37
More follow up trips have been made by
missionaries in the area after this initial
pioneer effort. The lives of our friends there
have drastically changed forever as theyve
learned to forgive move on with their lives.
We believe that the people of Vukovar now have a
better chance to truly heal from the wounds of
war, rebuild their town, prosper once again.
Link to About Us Our Outreach in Various
Countries