Please know that our dear friend, Janet Leff, has died. The date was Dec. 21, 2017 at 5:50 am. Janet’s home was in Bedford, Ohio. We miss Janet. Janet took the two of us under her wing, touring us around Medjugorje and its outskirts. Whether it was families in need of food or firewood or medical cards or transportation or unpaid utility bills; Janet taught us to follow her and Father Svet’s lead in looking on these as “opportunities” which God has provided. Janet’s interactions and love for Croatian Catholics, Bosnian Muslims, Serbians, Evangelical Protestants and Romani Gypsies was truly inspiring. We lived in Medjugorje for 10 years; Janet was there before us and we are glad and grateful that she was. Janet’s passion constantly revealed itself in her mission of helping the under privileged, the alcoholics, the drug abusers, the unwanted (medical needs included). |  |
 | FERTILIZER: Dijena has a cow that produces not only milk but fertilizer. There is a market for this but the fertilizer must be mixed and stored for a bit else it be too strong and “burn” the young crop in the field. proj. 1/2018 |
| Zeljko (husband of Dijena) is looking better and it is good that he is able to take care of the animals (bunnies included). PTSD takes a heavy toll in this country. |  |
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| The fertilizer is bagged; we have found recipients who need it but cannot afford it. Dijena & family also have an older goat (5 year old); the goat must go but where; who would want an old goat? Well, Mary did. proj. 1/2018
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 | Dragica already has her own little goats and goat young ‘uns. proj. 5/2018 |
| Ivan and Marina are fine with what they have. proj. 8/2018 |  |
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| December; Christmas is coming; Maja is volunteering at Holy Family Rehabilitation Center as part of her University education in “Special Needs”. proj. 14/2018 |
| Maja comes through with an opening Christmas song. proj. 14/2018 |  |
 | And an opening squeeze from one of the fellows. proj. 14/2018 |
| The goal is to light up the room and the residents. proj. 14/2018 |  |
 | It seems to be working! proj. 14/2018 |
| We spot Sister Krunoslava, one of our favorite people. Sister is the Medical Director of this Center. Humanitarian assistance is always needed and appreciated. proj. 14/2018 |  |
 | Ivan is planning to visit Janja, Niki & Teresa today; cannot go empty handed so it is shopping time. We have sent a list of their preferred foods and the funds to buy it. proj. 3/2018 |
| Teresa has been looking over the garden hoping to see a sprout or two peeking through. None of the three family members are able to ‘go shopping any more. proj. 3/2018 |  |
 | Niki is spending more and more time in the bedroom. He has not been able to walk for several years. proj. 3/2018 |
| The groceries are delivered; Teresa has made her way into the living room. proj. 3/2018 |  |
 | Saboheden & Sabrina. What a big (and nice) surprise? Saboheden has found a wife! Sabo is one of the Romani Gypsies near Stolac; energetic, enterprising, certainly one of our favorite people. Couple ‘matching are usually arranged by the parents. proj. 22/2018 |
| Our Lady of Kibeho is a book authored by Immaculee about the appearances of Our Lady in a small village in Rwanda in central Africa. The apparitions began in November of 1981 to 3 young children; ending in 1989. Approved by the local Bishop and recognized by the Vatican. The Virgin appeared to them with the name “Mother of the Word”. The name given to the Marian sanctuary at Kibeho is “Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows”. We were particularly excited when we read (page 36) that at the very first apparition, Our Lady told Alphonsine to join the Legion of Mary. Wow! Glad that we are already members. Our Blessed Mother showed one of the visionaries a black Rosary which she called “the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows” and asked that it be prayed.Our Lady asked that all her “children”; not just the Catholics pray a daily Rosary. |
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| Inspiring but what could we do? We are in a small group of Legion of Mary here in North Port, FL. We chat with Marina and Ivan and we all agree to start a Legion of Mary group auxiliary in the Medjugorje area! Here is Marina getting the prayers together! proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | All the new members should have a statue of Our Blessed Mother, Queen of Peace…… proj. 26/2018 |
| …and Rosaries; everyone would love a new Rosary…. proj. 26/2018
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 | Vicka usually gives her talks on this balcony; here Vicka is speaking to a group of Korean pilgrims. |
 | All the articles should be blessed. First by one of the local priests then they will be taken over to Vicka’s. Vicka (one of the Medjugorje visionaries) receives an apparition of Our Blessed Mother every day. Vicka will ask Our Blessed Mother to bless these articles.
proj. 26/2018 |
| ..this “selling job” will be (we hoped) very easy….Mrs. Beljo likes the plan… proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | …Jelka likes the idea… proj. 26/2018 |
| …Dragica feels all is looking good…. proj. 26/2018 | ll |
 | Dijena welcomes the idea of the prayer group. |
| Mirjana (one of Dragica’s six daughters) would also like to be involved. Mirjana will be getting married in June, 2018. proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | … the group and interest is growing…. proj. 26/2018 |
| ….we just do not want to talk about it; we need to do something…. proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | ,,,Sr. Krunoslava is told of the plans and listens with interest…. proj. 26/2018 |
| Janja is bed-ridden and is more than willing to do her part. proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | Niki and Teresa certainly look happy with their new friend. Teresa promises to attend if she can get a ride. proj. 26/2018 |
| LOM (Legion of Mary) Auxiliary …it got done. Here is a snap of the first get together in front of Our Blessed Mother Statue. proj. 26/2018
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 | The group then made their way to the Statue of the Risen Christ out back of St. James Church and gave thanksgiving for the blessed day. proj. 26/2018 |
| The group gathers around the foot of the Risen Christ. proj. 26/2018
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 | They sit and pray the Rosary and the Legion of Mary Catena. proj. 26/2018 |
| Then all gather at a local restaurant to break bread together. proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | Wonderful to spot Teresa in the group (Ivan has provided transport) talking to Marina and Zeljka. proj. 26/2018 |
| Guessing that the young ‘uns are gathering at an adjacent table. Martina is in the forefront doing the ‘selfie; looking proud! proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | Each of the mothers brought a son or daughter; some children & young adults were left at home because of illness or disability so each of the mothers takes home a pizza. proj. 26/2018 |
| Good that Dijena and Zeljana are part of the group. proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | Dragica came with Kata; one of her six daughters. proj. 26/2018 |
| Mrs. Beljo and daughter, Ana, have their pizza in hand. We hear that both Mrs. Beljo and Ana were so bubbly and out-going at the table conversation. proj. 26/2018 |  |
 | …and meanwhile, back in Florida, Julie and Marty have finished the creation of our local Legion of Mary Queen of Peace banner! |
| Our group gathers around our new banner! We celebrate the 1 year anniversary of our LOM group. |  |
| We were pleased to run across this tapestry and ordered it from Italy; it costs around $50.00 and it is just so beautiful. ww.holyart.com/religious-items/tapestries/our-lady-of-medjugorje-tapestry-measuring 11.8 inch x 17.71 inch. |  |
 | One of the Legion of Mary tasks in North Port, FL is to pray weekly Rosary at various local Assisted Living / Nursing Homes etc. The picture is of Mary S. and Mary. We were privileged to know and to pray with Mary S.. We are sorry to learn of her passing.
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