Back from Camp!

What an incredible week!  Teen camp was like the teens themselves - roller coaster of emotion and activity!  There were deep lows, where we were discouraged and frustrated.  But then we had incredible highs!  I won't go into the lows, but I do want to share some of the highs! 

God brought an incredible brother in Christ to share from God's Word each day.  He went through the story of Joseph (Genesis).  Out of this grew the main theme of the week: Decisions.  Every decision we make affects the rest of our lives.  The teens were challenged to consider every decision they make.  We also had small groups in which we discussed the "I am" passages in the Gospel of John where Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life;" "I am the Light of the World;" "I am the Bread of Life;" "I am the Good Shepherd;" and "I am the Vine."  Each of the five groups had amazing conversations about Jesus. 

The greatest high came Monday morning.  After testimonies and the final lesson about Joseph, the teens were given the opportunity to respond to the Gospel message.  More than 20 of the teens (there were only 41 campers total!) stayed after the session to talk with and pray with the leaders!  Some of these teens had run from the tent after previous sessions, ready to get to free time or the next activity!  But half of the teens remained!  Some were crying, many were seeking - truly seeking - the Lord!  We leaders were able to talk with and pray with them all.  It was amazing to see the Lord save and transform lives!  The majority didn't want to leave, and an impromptu worship service began.  For the next half hour (at least), we sat in the tent with these new brothers and sisters, singing praises to the Lord, hugging, encouraging, praying, and just rejoicing!!!  To God be the glory!!! 

Thank you for your prayers for the teen camp!  Please pray as efforts are made to follow up with each teen.  Pray for each as they return home - most to homes where parents are not believers and don't understand.  Pray for each as they return to their friends, that they would stand firm and be a light to their communities. 

To see some pictures of camp, you can look at my Facebook page or follow these links: 
Album 1, Album 2

Teen Camp

Tomorrow we will be off to camp.  Ok, we've been going out to the camp every day for the past two weeks or more.  But that was to get the place ready for the actual camps!  And the first starts tomorrow!  And I've been asked to be one of the teachers!  So, I'm off to camp for a week.  I'll be with the teen girls, which will be fun. 

Please pray for me during this week!  I so desire for the Lord to use me as He chooses.  I so desire for the teens to take steps closer to the Lord - if they are believers, for them to grow closer to Him; if they are not believers, for them to come to know the Lord who loves them!  Pray as I lead small groups and discussion times.  Pray for me to be able to clearly communicate God's truths in Serbian.  Pray for strength in the heat and activity.  Pray for the entire camp - for the Bible teachers, for the activities, for safety, for the teens to have a great time, for there to be open hearts, for a great week!

Summer in Serbia

One of the reasons I love summer in Serbia - I was able to get all of these flowers at the outdoor market for about $1.  They are so beautiful and smell so wonderful!  Brings me joy!

Family visits, flight delays and fire ants (long post with pics!)

The past few days have been quite busy!  And there hasn't been a whole lot of sleep!  Here's a snapshot:

Friday - Scott and I took a bus to Belgrade, then got on an overnight train to Budapest to see my brother and family who were there for vacation.  It was a long, hot trip - especially after one of the gals in our cabin closed the window!!  As soon as she got off, the window was back open.  And there was a guy in the next cabin who decided to talk for hours, in a very loud voice, relating the entire history of the Serb people (in English) to a German guy in the same cabin with him.  At 2am, that is anything but interesting!  He finally stopped talking, and I got about an hour of sleep before we arrived in Budapest at 5am.  Scott and I took buses to where we met Mark and Donna.

Saturday - Family!!!  It was so wonderful to spend the day with Mark, Donna, Benjamin, Mary and Abigail!  Lots of talking, playing games, going for walks, a quick trip to Ikea, more talks, hugs, and fun!  What a blessing to be able to spend a day with family!  Scott and I got back on the overnight train at 11:30pm.  Thankfully, the window stayed open the entire way back and we were able to get a few hours of sleep. 

Abigail, Scott and Benjamin hanging out

Scott with McDonnel cousins and Hathcock "cousins"

Scott and Benjamin

Mary and Donna

Loved being with Mark and Donna!

So thankful for family!!!

Sunday - arrived back in Cacak about noon and went straight to sleep!  Slept about four hours, then, um, I really don't remember.  Oh, and the travel and heat made my feet and ankles swell!  I had canckles!  Yuk!  Thankful that after 3 liters of water, elevation and lying in a cool room brought the swelling down.

Monday - went out to camp for a couple of hours, then headed up to Belgrade to pick up a team.  On the way up, Karl got a phone call saying that the team had missed their connection and wouldn't be coming in on the 2:30pm flight - they were rescheduled for the 11:30pm flight!  So, Karl and I went on to Belgrade, ate lunch at KFC, watched Transformers, then went to a friend's house to visit until the flight came in.  The team finally came out about 12:30am, and we headed to Mrcajevci.  We arrived about 3:30, helped them unload and get settled, then went home.  We got home at 4:30am and went straight to bed!

Tuesday - unfortunately, work doesn't stop!  Karl woke me up at 9:30 to fill out forms for the team to register with the police.  Then he went to register them, to try to finish registration for the trailer (on day 5 of that!), and get some other things for the camp.  He was able to successfully register them with the police, but the registration still isn't done.  We went out to camp to be with the team and other volunteers and Darkic.  It was good, but lots going on.  We only wanted to stay for a couple of hours since we were so tired, but we ended up staying for about 6 hours (until 9pm).  On the way home, Karl suddenly put on the brakes and stopped the car - he was having a vertigo attack.  He hasn't had one in years!  I think being so tired, getting over a cold, not having dinner yet, etc. caused it.  I drove us home, and he went straight to bed.  I called my parents and talked to them for a while, then Kelli called (returned my unanswered call!), and we talked for a while.  Then, I was off to bed.  At 3am, the phone rang.  It was Margie (my stepmom) - they were taking Kelli to the ER.  She had been bitten by fire ants and was swelling up.  Margie had given her Benadryl, but they figured they should go ahead and take her, even if they just sat in the parking lot and watched her.  But by the time they got to the parking lot, her throat was beginning to swell, so they went on in.  They gave her a steroid shot and kept her under observation for a while, then sent her home.  She's better now, but, oh, the adventures we have!  Needless to say, it was another night of not much sleep!  :)

Throughout it all, I give thanks to the Lord for His grace and mercy!  I thank Him for allowing me to spend time with my brother and family!  I thank Him for safe travel for us and for the team!  I thank Him for protection on the road when Karl had the vertigo attack!  I thank Him for all He is doing at the camp!  I thank Him for protecting Kelli!  I thank Him for medicine and doctors!  I thank Him for my family!  I thank Him for His goodness!  And He gives me JOY!

Things that still make me chuckle, summer stuff

We've been here 10 years, but there are still things that I see around town that make me chuckle or at least make me take a second look.  Today Karl was at the police station to attempt to re-register the trailer (didn't happen, but should tomorrow).  While waiting for him, I looked down a staircase leading to an outside door.  Near the door, several people were unloading hundreds of rifles and other firearms from a van.  I mean hundreds!  They were just piled in there!  One guy was unloading two or three at a time and handing them to ladies who were wearing latex gloves.  Karl recognized some of the ladies as the cleaning staff!  Not sure whether these are just being turned in (they have a program for that) or if they are evidence for something or what the deal is!  But there were so many!  And some of these rifles were as tall as the ladies carrying them!  Interesting.  :) (I wanted to take a picture, but figured that I better not!)

I've also remembered some things about summer in Serbia.  Some I love, and others, well, that's life!
+ Fresh tomatoes with Somborska Feta cheese on top - my favorite lunch!!!
+ Fresh fruit falling off of trees all over the place!  Yummy apricots, apples, pears, peaches, cherries, etc.
+ Gorgeous flowers on every house (except mine - hope to buy some next week!)!  I'll try to get some pics up soon.
+ Flies in the house flying around the light fixtures (not turned on) - strange, and certainly not a favorite!
+ Cafes coming alive around 10pm with blaring music until wee hours in the morning.  Makes me wonder how someone can sit in the cafe when the music is so loud at our house 100m down the road! 
+ Mosquitoes at dusk - have to remember to close all the windows before then to avoid them in the house.
+ Speaking of windows - keeping them open all night to keep cool, and remembering to close them in the morning to keep the cool in!  But, with windows open at night, we get to listen to the blaring music!  :)

True Service

I was cleaning out some papers today, and came across these notes from a sermon from Robert Foster (Celebration of Discipline) on the Spiritual Discipline of Service.  I thought this was interesting.

Characteristics of True Service
Divine energized - Matthew 11:28-30 (contra: Human effort)
Large and small - James 1:27 (contra: Meritous, status)
Hidden/secret - Matthew 6:3-4 (contra: Reward, acknowledge)
Goal - to serve - Luke 14:13-14 (contra: To get results)
Servant to all - Mark 9:35 (contra: Pick and choose)
Always ready to serve - Matthew 14:13-14 (contra: When I feel like it)
Way of life - Mark 10:45 (contra: Temporary/campaign)
What is needed - James 2:15-16 (contra: What want to give)
Builds community - Matthew 6:1-2 (contra: Glorify self)

Wow!  Am I being a true servant?  Are you?  Lord, make me a servant!

First Week, Great Husband

We've been here a week now, and it's so good to be home.  There is nothing like using your own kitchen utensils and pots and pans!  :)  And, oh, I do really like our bed!!  It is so comfy!  :)  And we got our visas renewed today, so we're good for one more year. 

Karl stays very busy every day meeting with people in Cacak and Mrcajevci to get things ready for the camps this summer.  There will be four weeks of camp as well as hosting a team of teen workers for four weeks.  The teens will help with projects at the camp!  Karl is so thankful to have many extra hands!  But, there is a lot of prep work to do.  He's met with the wood guy to get boards for bedrails for the bunkbeds, he's met with a guy who sells railroad ties to make seating and terracing for an amphitheater, he's met with the authorities at the police station to make sure that everything is done legally and openly to avoid any problems, he's taken the weedeater and lawn mower to the shop for repairs, and so much more!  He is such a dedicated, conscientious and hard worker.  I'm so thankful for his attention to detail, but even more for his conviction to always do the right thing.  He prays and seeks wisdom from others about decisions that have to be made.  It's so wonderful to watch him interact with people, work hard and see wonderful results!  May the Lord be glorified in all of it!

Please keep Karl in your prayers as he does all of this work.  Pray specifically for his health - he has quite a cold right now, but he just keeps going.  Last night he was running a fever and shivering.  But, he was up before 7am, ready to go again!  Pray for him to be able to rest and be recharged every night with a good night's sleep.  Thanks!!!