Although the time of the corona virus pandemic and the work activity of many people around the world and travel has been kept to a minimum, we must live and move the world as much as opportunities allow.

Last year at this same time, due to the outbreak of the corona virus pandemic, our dear volunteers Simon Kreft from Germany and Mathilde Crete from France had to leave. They were sad that they had to leave Jajce just at the most beautiful time when the city is taking on the most beautiful colors and when they have made friends, but with great hope that they will return soon. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

A year later we are very happy to have the opportunity to host a young practitioner from Germany, Maximilian Neumeier. This young man will be a part of our team for three weeks in which he will have the opportunity to get to know our work, be a part of it and give his contribution, get introduced to the beauties of the city and hospitable citizens of Jajce. In the next few lines, he introduced himself to all of you. If you meet him, greet him and smile because there is no better welcome than a friendly smile.

– My name is Maximilian Neumeier. I am a student from Munich, Germany. As part of my religious studies, I decided to come to practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thanks to Dr. Rainer Oechslen (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria), who connected me with COD Jajce, and others. Christl Catanzaro (LMU Munich), who was the co-organizer of the 8-day stay in Sarajevo, where I had a unique opportunity to learn a few things about the former life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Since Bosnia and Herzegovina is a religiously diverse country, the practice in Jajce will give me a great insight into the way different religious communities manage to live together. During my stay in Jajce, I hope to better understand whether, and in what way, religion unites a society divided by war.

Since I have never been to Bosnia, and besides, I have never been this far in Eastern Europe, the view of countless abandoned and devastated houses, as I rode the bus through the beautiful mountain landscape, awakened in me a bitter-sweet first impression.

Fortunately, my second impression, after meeting people and tasting Bosnian coffee, was more sweet than bitter, and my initial discomfort disappeared thanks to the hospitable hosts, both in Sarajevo and in Jajce – Maximilian wrote in his presentation.