Tommy's Window

Post-war Croatia, Eastern Europe

Although we do minister to people's needs with material goods, we believe our primary purpose is to help others spiritually.

We're surrounded by a materialistic world where the more important values of Love for God & Love for One Another are often neglected. Consequently many people experience a very lonely, sad life & are very much in need of encouragement & hope for their future.

Zagreb

The capital city, which was not as heavily affected during the war as other cities, is now prosperous & the people aspire to many things for their lives in their new-found freedom. They are still healing from the war & there were many orphans because of the war.

• Clowning to Cheer Up War Orphaned Kids in Croatia - Zagreb Clowning to Cheer Up War Orphaned Kids in Croatia - Zagreb
• Martha Sharing God's Message for the Youth of Croatia - Zagreb Martha Sharing God's Message for the Youth of Croatia - Zagreb
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Most Croatian people are very sweet, friendly, helpful, & giving regardless of their ethnic or religious background. Our neighbors & friends surely demonstrated this quality.

• A Dear Friend, Dr. Ivana Klinar, Pediatrician - Zagreb A Dear Friend, Dr. Ivana Klinar, Pediatrician - Zagreb
• Our Neighbors & Friends, Vanessa, Adela, & Azra - Zagreb Our Neighbors & Friends, Vanessa, Adela, & Azra - Zagreb
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Vukovar

Ravaged by war & a formerly rich agricultural area. It's not just rebuilding houses & businesses, it's a total rebuilding of their devastated lives & homes.

• Debbie at the Bombed Out Center of Town - Vukovar Debbie at the Bombed Out Center of Town - Vukovar
• Our Hosts, Bozo & Jelena, & our Translator, Goran - Vukovar Our Hosts, Bozo & Jelena, & our Translator, Goran - Vukovar
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We brought Humanitarian Aid to assist the needy. Through Father Slatko & the Caritas charitable work these items were directed to the right people.

• Boxes of Donations to Caritas for Struggling Families - Vukovar Boxes of Donations to Caritas for Struggling Families - Vukovar
• Franciscan Father Slatko Who Assisted us - Vukovar Franciscan Father Slatko Who Assisted us - Vukovar
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Brisa & Debbie shared the inspired songs, "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove" & "The Prayer of Saint Francis." This church's symbol is a White Dove & they're Franciscans. Their response was spontaneous applause, something that had never happened before.

• Singing On the Wings of a Snow White Dove - Vukovar Singing On the Wings of a Snow White Dove - Vukovar
• The Prayer of St. Francis in Song at Mass - Vukovar The Prayer of St. Francis in Song at Mass - Vukovar
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In the aftermath of such a terrible war for their freedom, the people of Croatia needed someone who would give them encouragement, a listening ear & an understanding heart, not just material aid. This certainly was true with the persons we met who had fought in this war. It was such a traumatic experience & they now needed to rebuild their lives.

• A Traditional 'Fish Soup' Meal in Our Honor - Vukovar A Traditional 'Fish Soup' Meal in Our Honor - Vukovar
• With Our New Found Close Friends at Pajo's Horse Ranch - Vukovar With Our New Found Close Friends at Pajo's Horse Ranch - Vukovar
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Here is the famous 'water tower' where the Croatians flew their flag during the war. The Serbs would shoot it down & the Croats would put it right back up. (Ivo, pic below, was one of them) Vukovar was bombed daily by artillery & tanks, which resulted in many casualties & deaths. Basically every structure was damaged or destroyed & most Croatians had to flee for their lives.

• Mass Grave of over 1,000 Civilians Killed in the War - Vukovar Mass Grave of over 1,000 Civilians Killed in the War - Vukovar
• Brisa, Ivo, Debbie at the Famous Water Tower - Vukovar Brisa, Ivo, Debbie at the Famous Water Tower - Vukovar
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Poreč & Omiš

Poreč & Omiš are two coastal towns of many we visited. At a kids summer day camp in Poreč we did a clown show. They loved it & a local paper wrote up an article about us.

• Kids Get a Beautiful, Meaningful Message Poster - Porec Kids Get a Beautiful, Meaningful Message Poster - Porec
• Clown Show for a Kids Day Camp on the Beach - Porec Clown Show for a Kids Day Camp on the Beach - Porec
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Despite Croatia being such a beautiful country with gorgeous beaches & wonderful people there is a dire problem of drug use among the youth, especially the coastal region.

The Croatian coast, one of the most beauteous, having thousands of islands in the Adriatic Sea, is a very popular tourist attraction among eastern & western Europeans.

• Castle on the Croatian Coast - Omis Castle on the Croatian Coast - Omis
• A Coastal Open Air Market - Omis A Coastal Open Air Market - Omis
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