Prayer Requests

The greatest gift you can give someone is prayer. I am grateful for all the text and messages from you all that are praying for me, the country of Serbia (both the saved and lost), our team and future campers. Below are some specific ways that I ask you pray in the next few weeks:

1. Kingdom Focus: As all of us on the team are focused on our lives and daily living, I ask you pray that we stay focused on desiring God and His work not our own plans. That our minds stay fully engulfed in the Spirit's guidance both now and during our trip. That we have ample time to devote to the camps, campers (FB and Skype) and preparations. It is easy to get off task or focus on our purpose for going. 
2. Safety: Our team will all be flying out at different times. Heather flies May 24th; Aleks June 4th; myself July 1st; Ross will fly alone from Ireland and the rest of our team meets us in Novi Sad, Serbia. Please pray for opportunity to share Jesus' love on our flights and in the airports, travel via car, bus, train, taxi, easy layovers, weather, delivery of all baggage and a peace of mind that God is in control of each thing that goes right or wrong (wrong in our mind's not God's). Rosie's team always has someone that has a delay in luggage delivery. Please pray this does not happen this year as it is just the devil's way to try to stop or make less comfortable the God's message of truth. 
3. Unity: As the team departs, it is hard to continue to work together. In just a few weeks time of bi-weekly meetings, we have bonded so much. Please pray, though apart, we stay united for God's work in and for Serbia. The more we have to Skype in, the harder planning becomes of who is bringing what, etc. The more united and one we are, the more effective God's love is demonstrated. 
4. Preparation: Pray for energy, new and fun, and effective ideas. God knows the campers and what is best for their needs and personalities. Personally, I will be one of the three English teachers which means I have to create 8 English lesson plans. Please pray as I am new to this teaching part but am super excited and know that it will challenge me and be great! Fortunately, Rosie, our leader, is a ESL teacher and has fantastic ideas. 
5. Camp Promotions: There are 3 interns in Serbia. Heather is one of them. They will begin going into the schools of Serbia (as their school year runs longer into the summers than in the USA). They are starting the first week of June promoting camps to Serbs. Pray for opportunities, excitement and willing campers to come to hear the Gospel for most likely the first time in their lives. There is a fee to campers to cover food and logging. Pray that finances are not a block to any camper to come. 

As a team we are praying for the following:

Ø We pray that we will give attention to your words, O Lord, that we will incline our ears to Your sayings. We pray that we will keep Your words in our heart for they are life to us and health to our bodies. Proverbs 4:20-22

Ø We pray that our walk with you will be so close, O Lord that our ears will hear a voice behind us saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Ø We pray that whatever we do, we will do heartily, as to You, Lord, and not to men, knowing that from you we will receive the reward of an inheritance; for we serve You Lord.  Col. 3:23-24

Ø We pray that we will totally understand that as You, God, loved Jesus, Jesus has also loved us and that we are to dwell in that love. John 15:9

Ø We pray that you, Lord, will guide us continually. Isaiah 58:11

Ø We pray that we will always remember that to obey is better than to sin and rely on a sacrifice to cleanse us. 1 Samuel 15:22

Ø We pray that the fruit of Your Spirit –love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control—will mature in us and be evidence to those who know us that we are your followers. Gal. 5: 22-23

Meet the Team

The unity and strength of our team is dynamic! I love each of these teammates so much. Their desire to glorify the Lord is relentless and encouraging. We have such different spiritual gifts that is it so exciting to see God's plan to unite us unravel. It makes for a fun team. To the right is a picture of our eight team members. I have been praying for our team since June of last year as I began to pray if I, myself, would be returning. It is fun seeing all the preparations come together as our roles are divided. This team has lost two members for various reasons, yet below is the team God chose for THIS summer's unique dynamic and outcome. From left to right:

Ross: He is from Northern Ireland hence the photo-shopping. He has been in Serbia for years and years and has dear relationships with campers that continue to come year after year as disciples them via Skype. We praise God for technology that allows for him to join us. Also, we are grateful of all three camps, he will be joining ours to serve at as he comes to as many he is able to each year. 

Paul: This is Paul's first year. He goes to the same seminary near Louisville as Aleks. He was a late joiner. However, his knowledge, depth and desire to see God's Word come to life is challenging in an awesome way. Aleks, who is a Serb herself, has begun to teach Paul Serbian which he has quickly picked up. It is neat that all of our team has a passion to learn the culture and language of Serbia. 

Rosie: She is our fearless leader! She is the most godly women with a heart for Serbs that I know. Her wisdom and knowledge is inspiring. I hope someday I can lead teams each summer to Serbia like her. Rosie has such a way at making all feel welcomed, while challenging them in their faith in a fun, teacher-like way. She has such a gift of teaching. It is her church, Graceland Baptist, in Louisville that we are partnering with. They are handling our travel and support graciously. 

Aleks: She is a native Serb living in American going to a seminary in Louisville. When she heard about this trip via Rosie, it gave her an opportunity to follow her passion to bring Christ to Serbia. Growing up in Serbia, she understands the religion and culture of the people so well. This also breaks her heart. It is the perfect asset to our team to meet them where they are. She will head out June 4th to be with her family before camps start. 

Traci (myself): I am from NKY which is 1.5 hours from Louisville. I'm so grateful to be able to drive down for meetings with my team. This is my first summer on the team. I was an intern for three months and met this team while over there. 

Sarah: She has been going with Rosie's team for several years. If I am not mistaken, this will be her fifth year going. Sarah has such a heart to share the Gospel and love on the least of these. She challenges me in my lifestyle here in America. I am grateful for the role-model she is. 

Heather: She will be a intern in Serbia for six months leaving later this May. She has gone with Rosie's team before and felt called to be there even longer. She will be inviting the campers to camp before we get there. Her sweet demeanor brings smiles to us all. We will miss her at our meetings until we all meet up at the first camp. 

Paul: Paul (Yes, we have two.) and his wife take turns going with the team as their youngest of two daughters is too young to go. Their older daughter went last summer. I met Paul a year ago but love getting to know his heart for the Lord as we meet for meetings. 

Thanks for your prayers for each of us individually and as a united team.

Psalms 133:1   Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Returning to Serbia for a Second Time

Hello to all my trip followers,

I am honored to start writing on here once again because it means I am returning to Serbia! I have so many friends there to return to, hearts that have been molded and grown since I last saw them, and a harvest for many more eager souls to hear who God is and what His great love is. It is humbling to see the Lord's direction for me. It was hard not being able to return for many summers, yet as my heart desired and God willed, here I am again. (Psalm 37:4)

After my final camp in 2012, I cried waving goodbye to the local youth group of about ten students who are one of the few established and fruitful youth groups in Serbia. I was fortunate enough to stay in their city and get to know these students deeper back in summer '12. They had an overnight goodbye party as my flight was 6am that morning. One girl, who I grew closest to me as I stayed with her family many weeks, got to ride along to the airport with me. As I departed from her arms, through a struggle to get loose, I thought, "Lord, I know this is not the last time you will bring me here. Pour blessings on this girl and her fellow youth group until I return again. Empower them to stand up for what they believe and begin a revolution in this country." Even on a layover in Germany on my way home, I stumbled upon a Serbian lady (How often do you run into a random Serbian anyway?) looking for her terminal to Canada. Of all flyers that existed, I stumble upon a Serbian in need? This again brought joy to my heart as I KNEW God had placed this country's need for Christ in my life for a reason. 

Summer of 2013 and 2014 I was unable to go back due to foot surgery. Even though I was in college and the opportunity was there, my feet were in boots, casts or too weak to walk as much as travel and camps would demand. So my prayers for the country, youth and lives I met were continued, but I still desired a ticket back oversea. I maintained Skype relationships, but this was not the same. I knew this was God's choice for me at this time. I had to joyfully accept.

I began working for Century Resources, a fundraising company for students and youth programs in August 2014. The job opportunity arose out of nowhere, and I had no doubt that I should accept the offer (as even the offer seemed unlikely). I knew this is where God wanted me for now. What was even MORE exciting to me was that I got June and July off work with this job. Instantly, I began praising God and praying if Serbia was back on the radar. 

I joyfully emailed Rosie, the team leader of the Louisville team (American team who hosted the Lebane camp the summer I was over there) to ask if there were any open spots to join her team this summer. They would be the closest team in American to join; the others were in Oregon and California. Again, what are the odds that of the three teams, one was only an 1.5hr drive from me?! I had to contain my excitement as I didn't want to share with Facebook and my Serbain friends until I was sure I was going. Man, that was a long few months! On January 1st of this year I announced my return. I thank the Lord that this is real, and I am going back! 

As it was a new year, our pastor at my church gave a sermon titled, "What Breaks Your Heart?" Throughout the entire sermon, I thought, "Serbia! It breaks my heart that there are kids without a Bible in their language (Roma gypsy, Serbians in the Southern parts) Serbia! Where youth treasure and cherish the one and only Bible, if any, they have. Serbia! Where there are students HUNGRY for God's Word, but they grow up being taught Jesus is just another man and have no clue who He is. Serbia! Where a certain saint is given to each family as heritage not a relationship. Serbia! Where kids want to have debates and deep conversations about religion and our "cult" (as some called Christianity). Serbia! Where I have a personality that meshes beautifully to their culture. Serbia! Where parents are desiring opportunity for their kids that they didn't have under oppression. Serbia! Where culture invites you into their personal homes and couches for the perfect opportunity to share Christ's love for them. Serbia! Who is so lost and yet so ready for a harvest." Tears came down my cheek, and I knew that day that Serbia was imprinted on my heart and the Spirit shouted "Serbia" to me so many times. It was no longer a maybe but a definite burden (in a blessing of a way) to share Jesus with them.  

Needless to say, I am ecstatic, humbled, yet a bit fearful as callings are such a bold step of obedience in faith. This is why I am writing asking for your prayer. Maybe God is preparing my heart to whole-heartedly serve this July 1-26th as I am over there, or maybe He is calling me to more. For now all I know is I am to work hard as if working for the Lord not man. (Colossians 3:23)