A different kind of Adventure...

ts so amazing to think back on the year that I have experienced here in Slovenija. I said I would come here and be here for one year exactly, and then go back to the States. And yet, I feel the Lord calling me to step deeper into Him, to step deeper into realtionships with those around me and to step Deeper into this culture that I am slowly becoming adjusted too.

Two nights a go thousands of students flooded the streets of Ljubljana for a "Welcome to Summer" Party. Students everywhere could be seen doing drugs, drinking, and enjoying all of the pleasures this life has to offer. As I walked among them, I felt like a small flame of light in a world that was so so dark. Although seemingly happy and enjoying themselves, I saw so much brokenness, so much emptiness, and so much blindness to Truth.

Tomorrow morning we get the chance to step into relationship with these same students! We will be getting on buses and heading out to a castle in Austria for our first of two camps! Sunday June 26-July 3 Camp I in Milstatt Austria and then our second camp, Tuesday July 5-12 Camp II in Osilnica Slovenia. At these camps we will have the opportunity to develop relationships with them, and become a part of the work that God is already doing in them. It is so exciting to be about the work of God!

Already we are feeling the weight of this Spiritual Battle that we are stepping into. We need your prayers More then ever right now!!!! So for the next two weeks will you commit to be praying for us??? I am attatching some prayer requests at the end of this email. Thank you so much for your part in creating a movement of God among the youth of Slovenija.

Prayer Requests:
Health for David as he is directing the first camp. As well as health for Anna and myself (we are all feeling not quite 100%!).
That kids would have eyes to see their lostness and need for a Savior.
That they would see the hope found in Jesus Christ
For me as I teach 3 hours of English a Day!!!
THANKS FOR BEINGS A WARRIOR IN PRAYER!!!!

A few moments of thought...

I only have a few moments before worship nite starts. I am helping Anna put up some brown paper that we will later right on...Who Jesus is according to the book of Colossians. Today I walked downtown to a little craft market and I bought a few gifts. I then went to an all church picnic, which was just delightful. I am a bit tired and raspy--i have a smokers voice, but don't worry mom i haven't started smoking, its from being sick. Sl, im looking forward to a night of worshiping with my friends. And these are my few moments of thoughts...

Breathing Deeply

Recently I was in the Czech Republic at an Intern Training for Josiah Venture English Camps that I will be involved in this Summer. Student from America come to the JV Headquarters to be trained before setting out to many different countries across Eastern Europe. My position was unique because I did not have a team of Interns for Slovenija that I was leading (I WAS the intern). My position was to help lead a workshop on Living a Lifestyle of Evangelism. After my workshop I realized that I didn't have any other responsiblities that I was initially called to. So, I then felt a draw to take upon myself the responsiblity to connect with the Student Interns that were at the conference. I was immediately drawn to enter into their story and become a part of what they were involved in for the summer. However, after recognizing in myself an intense exhuastion every time I started up a conversation I realized that I actually did not have to connect with these students. Infact after that week I would probably never see them again. It was then that I began to pull out and use my free time to journal and spend time with Lord. I spent a lot of time thinking through what the Lord had called me to this summer and wrestling thru the many questions that were on my mind and heart. I also took a few long afternoon naps!! I left the Cech Republic feeling deeply refreshed. I feltl ike I was able to step out of the cloud the so often hovers over Slovenija and see clearly the Lord's work in my life. It was exciting. It was challenging. And it got me thinking about many different things. Get Ready Summer...Here I come!

An empty apt, chocolate,too many Friends, and The Lords Return...

So Anna is gone. She went off to America and left me all alone in our tiny little apartment in the attic of the church. Well, my dearest roommate will be back soon--three weeks--but until then, I am living the Miss Independent Life! So this week has consisted of me drowning away my sorrows by eating a lot of ice cream, chocolate and watching a few too many episodes of Friends! Ugh I feel sick just thinking about it...

Ive been thinking about the amount of time that I spend in the Word of God, and frankly wishing that I was a person like Dr. Mitchell (founded Multnomah). What would it be like to just be able to quote chapters and chapters of the Bible. To be on your death bed and not remember anyones name, but to be able to still quote Scripture. Wow. I just wish the Lord would come back--you know? How I long for that day. But then I think about some of the most darling kids that I have met here. And they don't know the Lord. Infact, with some of them, I feel as though I don't know what to do anymore to lead them to Him. Ive been praying for five kids to come to know God. My heart literally aches for them to know Him. To be set free from death and to be born a new. Some of them I think are close too....which makes me think, Salvation is a funny thing. When does it actually happen? Is it automatic? Does it happen in stages? Does one confess with his mouth but then believe with his heart years later? When is a person finally saved? Only the Lord knows the answer to this...

Well, until next time. I think I will watch one more episode of Friends before I go to bed...

My darling Lucy.

My Prom Experience...

Ok, so normally you are 18yrs old when you go to prom for the first time. Its a big deal, you spend money and all day at the Salon getting ready, you vote for Prom King and Queen, or maybe you get to be Prom King or Queen. My life however, is different then that. Oh so much different. My first prom was in the country of Slovenija, after I'd been done with high school for 6yrs. I got ready about 45 mins before I left and I did my own hair and make-up. No salon for me! So, this is the story. Neja invited Johnny and I to come as guests to her prom. Now you have to understand that prom in the states is completely different then prom in Slovenija. Actually prom here in Slovenija is more like a graduation, but a heck of a lot more exciting then graduation in the states. Its like a mix between a concert, a dance performance, a prom and a graduation. Each class does something in front of everyone that came, a dance, hand out "best of" awards, or tell funny class memories. Then there is a video of that class (each Grade is divided up into smaller classes. They are with that class for all four years of hs). After all that comes the dancing. Everyone (students and their dates, NOT guests) goes up stage and they do these choreographied dances! They were soo great! They did some kind of "Cha-Cha-Cha", Ballroom dancing, Slovenian Dancing, and many others. Johnny and I were up in the balcony seating watching Neja and Gasper dance. We felt like proud parents! We took about a million pictures and videos and couldn't stop talking about how amazing they looked and how proud we were of them. It was a blast!! Afterwards we went out for a drink with her parents and Gasper. Then we (Johnny & I) took Neja and Gasper to the Jackson house where everyone (Terry, Lori, David, Matt, and Anna) were hanging out. After oo-ing and ahh-ing over everyone we took pictures and took Neja and Gasper home. What a fun fun night!! Neja went on to hang out until 6:30am the next day with all her classmates. I went home and went to bed, as I am realizing more and more that I am not in high school anymore!!! But alas, I truly did enjoy my Prom Experience.

Neja and I after prom at a pub. I wish you all knew her. She is Wonderful!! 

Smiling big (for the wrong camera) at the Jackson house. Don't Neja and Gasper look amazing!? 

My Slovene Life

There are so many times that I just get this really weird feeling. Its almost like time stops for a second and I step back and look at where I am, who I am with, and what I am doing, and I think to myself, "How in the World did I get to this place?". I am 24yrs old, graduated from Multnomah Bible College, living thousands of miles from my family as a single woman, in a country that I actually never knew existed up until a few years a go...And you know what? I LOVE my life!!! I love the team that I get to work with. I consider them not only some of my closest friends, but my family. I love my job and the students that I get to spend time with every day. It is so incredible to me that my job is to love students, speak Truth to them, and show them Jesus. Even thinking about this brings a smile to my face. I know that the Lord has brought me to this place. And it is an incredible privilege to be counted worthy of following after the cross.

My Intern Team (l-r David Bordner, Matt Baldwin, Me, Johnny Stevens, Anna Stepanian) 

My Small Group Girls (Neja & Naja) 

And this is the life I get to live!!