Visit to the Serbian Palace

We were very blessed today because of dear friends, the Harvey's, to get the chance to tour the Royal Palace of Serbia.  With two little girls, going to a real palace where a real princess lives - BIG DEAL.
SOME HISTORY
The Serbian Monarchy began around 1804 with the first Serbian Uprising against the Turks. Eventually Serb monarchs ruled the Yougoslovian nation before WWII.  With the Nazi invasion of Serbia in 1941 the monarchy was exiled to London and would stay in exile until 2001.
RETURN FROM EXILE
In 2001 the new government of Serbia invited the Prince back from Exile.  The King (Peter) had died in 1970 (and is buried outside of Chicago, the only monarch buried in the USA).  Alexander, the prince was raised in England and returned to Serbia with his greek wife in 2001.  They hold no power but act as heads of State and a symbol of Serbia's past.
THE PALACE
The palace was began in 1922 and completed in 1924 by the present princess Grandfather.  The compound was designed by two Russian architects.  It is done in a Serbian Byzantine style but the basement is much more Russian.  The basement has the movie theater, built when films were silent and the whispering room.  King Alexander had this designed with a fountain so he could have important meetings and not be overheard.   It consists of the Roayal Palace, and small Orthodox Church, and the White Palace.  The Royal palace is where the family lives today.  Tito and Milosevic never lived there but used it to Entertain guests.  The White Palace is used more for entertaining.  It also served as Milosevic's office.  It was in the White Palace where he refused NATO's urging to leave Kosovo, resulting in the 72 day bombing of 1999.
The church was desecrated by the Communist.  They carved on the Icons and shot holes in Jesus's head in the top of the dome.  They also stole several peices of Art.  Tito used the church to store cleaning supplies.  Prince Alexander has refurbed the church and today it is used to Celebrate holidays and the royal family's Slava.
OUR TRIP 
We had a terrific time and a great tour.  We were able to see both Palaces as well as the Church.  It was quite and Honor and the girls were super excited.  We are very thankful for the opportunity.  Here are a few pics you can see more on Facebook:

Here we are in front of the Palace with the pool and Gazebo Behind us and at the Kings Desk

Swim Poolin

Our AC was on the fritz today (our terrific landlords do have someone coming to look at it) so we decided we needed to cool off.  We had been told of a pool up the hill so after lunch we headed that way.  We were way impressed.  First it was super cheap, less then $5 for all of us.  We took some snacks, found a shady tree to put down our blanket and headed to the water.  It was a super place, kind of like a big YMCA.  They had a gym, tennis courts, and three pools.  One huge olympic pools and then two smaller pools.  The water was great, a little chilly (which was what we wanted).  Now we are in Europe so modesty with kids is a little different.  There were several kids around Miki's age with nothing on, and lots of girls up to K's age don't wear tops.  Now for us this was a little strange, but its the norm here.  Miki did not even notice, but you know K did.  Over all a great day and we will definitely go back. 

Here my girls are under the shade tree!!

Here we are in the kiddie pool - very refreshed

Moj Drugovi iz Amerike

My friends from America!!!  This week we had our first visitors from America.  Rod and Keith from Lakepointe Church were in the area and stopped to spend a day with us.  This was very exciting because for the first time we were able to show off our city to friends in the U.S.  They got to go Stevens style and rode a Tram to Kalemegdan.  We were able to tour the fortress and walk Knez Mihilu ( the walking street, with all kinds of great shops and Austrian architecture) in the city center.  We met with a great evangelical leader here in Belgrade and had Serbian Pizza for lunch.   In the afternoon we were able to spend some time at our flat.  The girls loved having guest and Miki and Rod had an intense game of go fish.  After dinner we treated them to a Serbian desert, the palechinkae, it like a giant crepe stuffed with all kinds of sugary goodness.  Of course we made sure they had Eurocream.
For our family this visit was indescribeable, what it meant to us.  To be prayed for, to talk about our work, to share the vision for Serbia, such an encouragement.  We feel so blessed to be a part of a body like LPC, that is really focused on the Kingdom, and taking his Name to the nations.  We look forward to partnering with folks from LPC and sharing his name with Serbia.

Miki's Serbian

Miki's school also read a story.  Each kid had some lines in Serbian.  Here is a video of Miki telling us her lines before we went to the play.  After she said her lines everyone hooped and hollered for the little American girl speaking Serbian.  After the play all the parents told us what a great job she did.  Here is a sneak preview.

Mikki's Acting Debut

Michaela's class had a performance today.  They did Chicken Little, and Miki was Foxy Locksie.  She tricks all the animals into coming to her cave so she can eat them.  For her first role, she got to play the villian.   Here is a clip, it's hard to see her but you can here her.