Church Retreat...

Our church took off for an incredible weekend on the Croatian Coast!! I got to practise my Slovene--a lot, we had a baptism where Neja was baptised, Yuri (a guy that Miso led to the Lord), a few of our other youth, and an entire family! 11 Baptisms in all. Also during the week there were new Believers, open hearts, and many questions asked. The last day all of the youth went out for ice cream. It was pretty incredible to see how much the youth has grown, even since a few years a go... It was truly an incredible weekend.














Meagan, me, Neja, Anna.














Peter, Katja, and Taja. An entire family getting baptisted!














Terry Jackson baptising Neja. This was so so fun to watch!!!














Yuri rejoicing over his baptism!




















New Friends Boris and Mateja














New Friend Tommy















Andrej, Miso, Tommy, Boris goofing off!














Eating Ice Cream on the Beach!














Naja, Sasa, and I eating ice cream














Yuri, Anna, Naja, and I with the everyone















The youth hanging out right before we left Croatia...My how we've grown!!

Flasback...

Just a reminder that this was the youth a few years a go after our Church Retreat!!

Croatia...

Tomorrow at 3:30 I leave for Croatia. Be back Sunday!

Missing my own party...

So Tuesday was my birthday and yesterday the Jackson's invited us all over to their place to celebrate my birthday and watch 24. Sadly, I was sick yesterday. So they had my party without me. They even sang me happy birthday. Sadly, I missed it.

Cultural Fopaux

Like the good little Slovene gift giver that I am I bought two Gerber Daisies for Naja's mom on the day of her baptism. After I gave them to her she sweetly informed me that giving flowers in even numbers, such as two's, symbolizes death. I was basically saying I want her dead. That was not what I was trying to communicate! Dang it!

Lesson Learned...

Tuesday Night- Ordered my ticket on www.cheapseats.com
Wednesday Morning- Receive an email that my request for a ticket was unable to be processed.
Wednesday Night-Order ticket again on www.cheapseats.com (price increases).
Thursday Morning-Receive an email that my request for a ticket was unable to be processed.
Thursday Night-Order ticket again on www.cheapseats.com (price increases).
Friday Morning- Receive an email that my request for a ticket was unable to be processed.

Friday Afternoon- Walk to Slovenia Travel Agency. Buy my ticket. Walk home happy.

Lesson learned. Im not a fan of www.cheapseats.com!

Slovenija...North Carolina...Portland...

I just bought my ticket to the States! In May I'll be in Portland for my friends wedding. On my way there Im going to stop in North Carolina...cause hey its on the way....and be with my friend Robyn. Slovenija...North Carolina...Portland...and back!

Dr. Seuss...

Every Tuesday my friend Naja and I get together. Sometimes we sit on my couch, drink tea, and pray together. Other times we walk to a coffee shop, sit out in the sun, and laugh and laugh and laugh. Today it was snowing. So I took out my blanket, poured us some tea, and read her the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh the Places You'll Go." It was great!

So...be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

What the world?!

Last week it was 70 degrees and sunny. Today its 32 degrees and snowing. What the world?! I cant take this kind of inconsistancy.

Sponge Bob

So, Anna flew into the Ljubljana airport Wednesday evening. I walked to the gate to pick her up and then as she stood on the sidewalk waiting with her luggage I ran back to get the car. Now, for the past few months the key to my car hasnt been working very well. It sticks in the lock pretty bad. Its been one of those things I just havent gotten around to getting fixed. This time as I stuck my key into the car door it started sticking again. It would start to turn and then just stop. I tried over and over again but to no avail. I started to get a bit panicky. Would I have to call someone to come pick us up?? I decided to try one last time. I jammed my key into the drivers side door and turned really hard, It worked!!! I hopped in the car and began to stick my key in the ignition. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something large and yellow. Sitting on the dashboard staring back at me was a large Stuffed Sponge Bob. I sat there for a second wondering if it was some kind of joke. I dont normally carry a stuffed Sponge Bob with me. Infact, I never do. Where did it come from?? I turned around to see if there was anything else out of place and noticed small dog decals on my back window. It slowly dawned on me....I had just broken into someone elses car. This was not my car! I sat there completely frozed, I had NO idea what to do!! Then I sprung out of my seat and slammed the car door shut and began to walk away, then I realized the car door was left unlocked! I put my key into the door to lock it, but then there was that darn sticking again. It would not budge. After opening and shutting a few car doors I finally got all the car doors locked and I took off running!! Sure enough four cars down was my car. Identitical to the car I was just in but without Mr. Sponge Bob Square Pants!! What an ordeal!!

My girls...

I love em! This is at Neja and I at Naja's (middle)18th birthday party. I first met her when she was 15years old. Oh how time flies!

The Lost Daughter...

Yesterday I was in the mall with our highschool students playing a game. As I was walking amongst a sea of people I noticed a little boy. He was probably about 4 or 5years old and he was crying. Nearly screaming. I could tell he was lost and through his frantic screams he started to run. I could tell he didnt know where he was running. As he started to run I saw a woman. She was pushing her way through the people and running towards the little boy. Her son. In one quick motion she picked him up and they stood in the sea of people, arms wrapped around eachother and I heard the little boy sobbing , "Mommy Mommy Mommy" over and over again. Her little boy who once was lost, had been found.

This morning I read Luke 15 and listened to a PeterHiett sermon entitled "Lost Boys and How to Find Them". In Luke, after the son squanders all his Fathers money he comes to a realization. He has sinned against heaven and his Father. He no longer wants to be called his fathers son, but wants to be made one of his hired hands.

I have always read repentence in this place of the story. And yet the text states that the son wants to be his fathers hired servant, an employee. An employee receives nothing by grace. They earn everything. They get the boss' stuff, but not the boss. This boy is still lost. He doesnt want to be a son. He wants to be an employee. "Make me like one of his hired servants." It looks like repentence. But its evil.

So many times I come to the Father for his stuff. What he can do for me. I dont come to the Father to receive HIM.

The father saw his son. He had compassion on HIM. Threw his arms around HIM. And kissed HIM. The son's response, "Father I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son."

True Repentence. The son no longer asks to be an employee. He can only say, "Im unworthy". If I dont admit Im unworthy then I can never know grace. Because the Father in Heaven, IS grace.

I can only receive his love when I am stripped of the idea that I have earned it. I can only receive Him, when I am like that little boy that I saw in the mall yesterday. Broken. Clinging to nothing. Recognizing that I am completely and totally lost. It is then that my Father comes to me, brings me the best robes, puts a ring on my finger and sandals on my feet and gives me Himself.

Good things...

While in Rome I took a day to go visit Palentine Hill. Amazing. I sat under an olive tree and read my Bible. I stood in a field of flowers and talked to Jesus. I climbed up on some old ruins and looked out onto the whole city of Rome! The Lord spoke some good things. He's such a good God who loves to give good gifts to his children! It was just-- Good.

Nice!

Its 60 degrees and sunny today!

Off to Roma..

Im off to Rome.... Every year Connie Patty (www.livingbylysa.blogspot.com) puts on a Josiah Venture Women's Conference. This year its in Rome! So I am presently packing up my bags and picking out fun books to read on our train ride down there. I will be gone until Friday... Thats all!

Remembering the old days...

Remember elementry school when you put out the brown paper bag and everyone got a valentine? At the bottom of the bag would always be a bunch of the heart candies. Hmmm..... Yummy! Yesterday I noticed a bunch of candies sitting on our living room table. I was so excited because it had been a while since I had one. Now, what Id like to know is, when did conversaton heart candies start tasting like chalk? I used to really look forward to those in elementry school. And I was so excited when I picked one up yesterday....Oh to my dismay....chalk. I was so dissapointed.

Junior high + camera + downtown = something fun!

We ran around Ljubljana. Took bizarre pictures. Made strangers think we were crazy. Made fools of ourselves infront of people we do knew. Overall I think the junior high photo scavenger hunt was a hit! Click on pics to make 'em bigger...

Its BACK!

Last night Anna, Glorija and I watched American Idol narrow it down to the top 24. We already have our favorites. Among them is 28year old Chris Sligh. His goal is to make David Hasselhoff cry. He is halarious! And surprisingly an incredible singer too!! We hope he makes the final 5!

Perfect...

Jack Johnson is perfect Day Off music...

Recipe of the day...

Ok, so I really like coffee cake. Last Saturday I made the best coffee cake I have EVER had. It was incredible!! If you have a lazy morning.... make this and enjoy.



Seriously. Im not even messing around. Its amazing. Let me know how it turns out!

Breakfast Coffee Cake

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup nutlike cereal nuggets (such as Grape-Nuts, oatmeal, granola)
2 teaspoons instant espresso granules
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 7 3/4 ounces)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup vanilla fat-free yogurt (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons cooled brewed coffee

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cereal, espresso granules, and cinnamon in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, remaining 1 cup granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add yogurt, butter, and eggs; beat with an electric mixer on low speed 1 minute or until combined. Spread half of batter into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with cereal mixture; top with remaining half of batter. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean; cool in pan.

Combine powdered sugar and coffee in a small bowl; spread glaze evenly over top of cake. Cut into 12 pieces.

Day of Outreach

During my Multnomah Days we would take two days off a year and do work for people in our community. Anything from picking up trash to weeding gardens to cleaning out refrigerators. This year our church here in Ljubljana is focusing on our community. So on Saturday our youthgroup went out into Trnovo (the name of the community) and knocked on doors asking if we could do anything to help as well as picked up trash on the streets. Although people were a bit suspicious of us I think that we made a big impression on them!

Girls Night!

Friday night over 20 of us girls gathered together at Katka's place and had a VERY girly girl night! It was a lot of fun. Facial Masks, Miss Congeniality, and Chocolalte Pudding! We laughed a lot and even had some new faces join us. It was a great night.

Praying for Kamnik

Last thursday Matjea organized a prayer walk in Kamnik (a city outside of Ljubljana, where she lives). According to Matjea, Kamnik is known for it being a city where you can purchase any kind of drug that you want. It also offers no sort of recreation for young people except, bars and clubs. She challenged us to pray big and expect BIG things from our BIG God!

Cheese...

"This tastes just like ice cream...but its cheese....!"

Thanks for the quote Johnny. Im still laughing.

Just something

Meagan Jackson had a birthday yesterday. 14years old! Its hard to believe the first time I met her, she had JUST turned 11yrs old.

Im wearing my hair curly these days. Its my new phase.

My week...

On Tuesday night Anna and I ordered Chinese and watched I Love Lucy ReRuns.

Wednesday night I went to the Opera House. We saw Don Quijote, a Spanish book, put into a French Opera, with Slovene Subtitles. It was Incredible--my first opera and I loved it! Sure wish I would have paid more attention in 9th grade English Literature though...I didnt understand much of it.

Then Thursday we invited our 20year old college student neighbor over to watch the latest two American Idol episdoes. Her name is Tanja. We like being her new friends. We are all rooting for the guy whose goal is to make David Hasselhoff cry. He is halarious. I hope he wins.

That was my week...

Fun moments in Cakovec

Last friday close to 30 of us jumped into cars and drove down to Croatia. What a weekend!! Fun moments were...
Dave Patty teaching on The Roots: Prayer, Community, The Word, Holy Spirit. Worshiping together in Croatian, English and Slovene. Big talks about the Lord. Anna's and my Slovenia Group Sign. Watching every one of our students take scrupulous notes. Octoberlight and DJ from Amsterdam. Going out for pizza. Being together as a youth group!
(click on pics to make em bigger).

Snow and Czech Poetry

I woke up this morning to a white city. The snow finally arrived!

Today is my day of rest, so I sat in my favorite French Cafe, sipped a cappuccino, read poetry from a Czech poet (Daniel Raus), and listened to Jack Johnson on my ipod.

I am breathing deeply today.

searching for you is like
listening long to the sounds of silence
and all at once understanding the voice of the storm
searching for you is like
walking up the long and winding road
and all at once glimpsing the vast valley below
searching for you is like
dreaming long about a distant, majestic person
and all at once meeting him
searching for you is like looking long into the mysterious nature of things
and all at once seeing them through different eyes

Church and The Rubik's Cube

So for Christmas Anna told me that she wanted either a manorra or a rubik's cube. A bit random I thought, but I chose the rubik's cube. It was a HIT! In fact, now anytime everyone gets together, the cubes come out. Yes cubeS. Johnny went out and bought one, after becoming intrigued with Anna's. Then Gasper started bringing the one he has from home. Now it is very common to talk about technique and speed and random websites with new strategies. Yah, thats the latest thing to hit here. Yes even as I write this Anna and Johnny are sitting at our kitchen table discussing the latest moves and playing with the rubik's cube. Fascinating.

Oh, I also became a church member at Ljubljana Baptist Church. I REALLY love my church.

Highlights...

Last week was REALLY busy. A few things that I did...

• Hung out for an hour an half with my language tutor AFTER class just talking about life...
• Sat on Kristi Pattys couch and held baby Luka.
• Tried to get on a Slovene Cell Phone plan...will try again in two weeks...
• Began the visa renewal process. Stood in line with a bunch of other foreigners.
• Learned how to do a pirouette in my dance class. Or tried to learn. Its harder then you may think!!
• Gave the talk in youth group about community.
• Got the highest score in bowling! However it was at our junior high event so I was competing against 13year olds...
• Went to Catholic mass and youth group. We sang a song and did The CanCan and a Train. Me, a monk, a priest, a nun, and about 20 teenagers. Wish you could have seen it.
• Last night after church Naja and I ate bowls of cereal and watched Raise Your Voice (ANOTHER Hilary Duff movie).

Friday I go to Croatia for our Cakovec Conference!!! Cant Wait!

Jack Bauer is finally back...

Last night the group gathered at the Jacksons for chocolate cake and 4 episodes of 24, cinema style, projected on the wall.... It was intense, emotional, and at times Chloe still made us laugh. Welcome back to the world of 24!

George Clooney?

Walking back at 10pm from our meeting Anna and I saw a man in his car searching for something. We had this conversation...

Anna: Hmm.... that man looked like George Clooney. Only a bit shady.

Christina: Really? I thought he looked like one of our church elders.

My Day today....

So looking at the clock it is 5pm here, but 8am in the States...


Its so funny to me that my day is nearing an end while so many people I dearly love are just waking up and going to work or school or to wherever people go when they dont have work or school. This is what I did today in case you were curious...

8am-10:30am Prayer Meeting. Walked. It was cold...but not as cold as winter should be.
10:30-11am Hung out with Erin. Helped her with Slovene. Yah, ME help someone with Slovene!
11-1:30pm Took the bus to Obcina (Place to renew my visa). I got a seat on the bus---AND right over the heater. AND the line wasnt very long at the Obcina. I had my Harry Potter book and ipod just in case.
1:30-2:30 Lunch with Anna. Potato Soup. Perfect for chilly weather.
2:30-4pm Random office stuff that I probably should have done in the office. Oh well.
4-5pm Study Slovene.
5pm Update Blog

At 6:30pm we have a highschool meeting at David and Katka's. And that will pretty much wrap up my day.

3 words to describe me these days...
Assiduous
Expectant
Clinging (to Jesus)

Oh the picture is of Erin and I an Ikea kitchen...Im glad she is on our team!! http://www.xanga.com/erinlizzyt

If you wanna see something cool check this out. Its one of my new favorite things... http://www.pandora.com/

Hillary Duff and Popcorn

Had a junior high girls night tonight.... ate tacos, played Dance Dance Revolution, Guesstures and then watched a Hillary Duff movie. The girls loved it. And I did too.......

The Green Grocer

So yesterday as I was buying oranges I was talking with the guy that sells me fruit. We've become friends. This is how our conversation went (he has perfect English)...

Man: "So yesterday my girlfriend and I were looking at a dictionary trying to figure out what you would call me... you know, what do you call the person who sells you fruit? We found the word, "Green Grocer". Is that right?"

Me: "Um...... I dont think we usually say that.....we dont really have those type of guys in America.....

Man: "Well how would you refer to me?"

Me: "I call you, 'The Fruit Guy'"

Man: "WHAT?!! That is so gay. Dont ever say that again!!"

Me: "Ok, I wont... at least not to your face..."

I still refer to him as The Fruit Guy.

The brothers...

So they aren't twins but they kinda look like it here.... Here I am with Caleb and Jonathan on my last night in the States. I fly back tomorrow morning!!

New Years

I spent New Years with my dear friends Mike and Amber, Heidi and her boyfriend Chris. At midnight Chris proposed and she said yes! We had a blast!!