We have gotten to know the history of the Balkan region fairly well over the last year. Much of the history is steeped in wars, changing borders, and ethnic differences that exist to this day. Or at least were an issue over the last 20 years. We did a lengthy presentation for the Senior Missionaries to let them know that the wonderful members have experienced so many challenges in their lives.
From the Romans, Byzantine Empire, Huns, Ottomans, Austrian-Hungarian Empire, Nazi Germany, Yugoslavia and through to the present day countries, there have been the horrors of war and ethnic cleansing.
We decided to tour Jasenovac Memorial, a museum and memorial in Croatia, dedicated to almost 700,000 men, women, and children who lost their lives during World War II in the concentration camps in the Jasenovac area. Serbs, Jews and Romas were rounded up and either worked to death or killed over the course of 4-5 years of the war. The museum was respectful of the horrors that took place, but for anyone who has read the history, the museum did not capture the depth of the tragedy.
