Since I have been assisting newly arrived Serbian refugees to the USA, I have seen so many Baptisms of their children and, in many cases, parents as well. I have attended many weddings and, sadly, a couple of funerals. This has been in just the past 4 1/2 years.
The community here is establishing a Church with well over 200 members....some former communists or simply, just un-churched people.
They have raised sizable amounts of money and are finalizing a land purchase. The plans are even drawn for the Church and the hall.
A Priest, visiting from Serbia, told me a few months ago that he has many new members of his congregation. He is an older Priest who lived through many of the dark years under communism and is quite happy with all the new members of his flock.
My Serbian friends here in the USA are very nice and I enjoy their company.
We had a new family arrive on Thursday. They are so shy and quiet...and so darn thin that I wanted to buy them HUGE MEAL right away!! They have had a rough time and both the husband and the wife have severe and painful dental/gum problems. They are both 30 years old.
Our agency has a group of dentists...one is even a Serbian-American, who will do the dental work for free.
There are many more Serbs on the way....we expect 6 more families before the end of September. I have been told to expect another 18 families by the end of the year.
All the best to you in your work to help settle Serbian refugees. In our area, the Serbian community is more well-established, and is assisting many new immigrants (many of whom are Bosnian and Kraijina Serbs) as well.