This past semester at school back home in Kentucky my brother and I hung out quite a bit compared to other semesters. He graduated in the spring, so I wanted to spend as much time as possible with him before he was gone. Of course being brother and sister brought its arguing and times of sibling quarrels. At the time I was sort of frustrated and just ready to have him gone despite my deep love for him on the inside. Fortunately, we were always able to apologize immediately, and we were back to hanging out the morning after. I say all this to give you a background of where my life has been.
As I have told you before, I spent the first two weeks in Serbia living with the local pastor's family with two boys and then a girl. Sound familiar? Being the youngest of three and the only girl myself, I can totally relate to the family. We have had great conversations and the daughter and I are really able to relate. As I prayed with her, tears poured down my cheeks. I couldn't imagine life without my brother. Big brothers are such a blessing! God is so incredible to have given me opportunity to feel the same feelings this sister had for her brothers in so many different capacities just 3 to 4 months prior. We have had hours of great conversation about how we love our family. I am seeing how God knew so much about my summer and was prepping me even when I didn't know I would be in Serbia. It is so incredible!
This is not the only way I have seen the Lord at work, but this blog is not the place for such conversation. Even the littlest things, God was using as a way to guide my heart for this summer. I thank Him for the lessons I learned over the past few years as they have shaped and molded me, and even this summer, I believe He is using situations for some future plans I have yet to know of. I realize now I should have been thanking Him at the time for the trials for they were only for joy in the future. I share this so you all too can be thanking God for the trials you are currently facing. His love prevails.
Well, our first camp starts Sunday afternoon at 3:00 o'clock, yes Sunday!!!!!! Campers arrive at 1:00pm to hop a bus to Opovo, a city just outside the capital Belgrade. Please pray for safe travels but more importantly for changed lives! There are close to 45 of us in all! This is a little over expectation, praise God!! Numbers tallied in after we thought we were done! God was indeed at work! There will be 6 Americans coming over from the Portland, Oregon area to help conduct the camps. Their role is more to teach the English, where as the interns and I will be more of behind the scenes workers. We will be building relations, encouraging participation, and just being fun, crazy lovers of Christ! Many of the campers come from the local church, but nearly half are not and have never heard salvation through Christ. So this is a really neat dynamic of students. We have both those making disciples of disciples and those to share the truth and joy of Jesus for the first time! Jesus is a foreign word here for many non-believers. The orthodox church teaches God not the Savior, Jesus. I am so energized, giddy and pumped for camps as it has finally come!!! All the nights walking the city to invited campers has paid off. Again, thank you so much for your bold prayers in so many ways. This would not be possible without each of you behind me! Thank you over and over! I can't wait for my next blog telling you all about changed hearts! God is molding me, and I know, without doubt, He will be changing others! He really does work all things together for the good of each of us. All glory to Him for His work now and forever! Please continue in prayer with me for the week ahead...
Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
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