Croatia and Slovakia

For Photos check out...... http://www.flickr.com/photos/26991059@N00/

A few weeks a go I co-directed the first ever Slovene Girls Camp!! This was a huge first for me and I was a little nervous as to how it woudl turn out. There were 26 of us all together that gathered on an Island in Croatia. The weather was beautiful and the atmosphere of the camp was really precious as well. The week was built around the theme of Beauty. With this theme we also talked about the Prince (Jesus Christ) who longs to know our hearts. Overall it seemed like Camp was a huge success and girls are already asking about next year!

Two days a go I returned from a week and a half in Slovakia where I worked at Josiah Venture Missionary Kids Camp. This is a camp that has emerged from a ministry headed up by Becca McMartin (a former Multnomah Student and missionary kid from Haiti). At camp I worked with The Ducks, a group of seven, 8year old girls (none of which had ever been to camp before!). And I thought directing a camp was challenging!! Although it was a lot of work, I had a fabulous time, running around, playing silly games, and singing fun camp songs!!

Co-Directing
Camp went better then I had expected and even hoped!! On a more personal note, directing was on of the most challenging things I have even done! It definitely pushed me into many areas that I am not very strong in and challenged my trust in the Lord. Wheh! I really could not have done it without my Slovene Co-Director Glorija. She was definitely my right hand girl! I also had the privilege of working with Laurel Jenkins, a close friend of mine from Multnomah Bible College. Laurel is working with highschool students with her husband Brad on a military base in Germany with a ministry called Malachi. Laurel brought four of her highschool girls to Croatia to help out. It was so fun to work with someone I already knew so well and deeply respect!! After returning home Josh Patty mentioned to me that he was dreaming about how we can do multiple all girl camps next year! Im not sure if Im quite ready to think about that yet....!

Girls Camp
There were 26 girls (leaders included) that came to camp. It was small but very sweet and intimate! Every morning we would listen to a story from Dubrovka (the Pastors wife of the church we attend). Her stories would address different issues such as identity, significance, and spirituality. The afternoons were filled with laying out on the beach and doing different Art projects. After dinner our night program would begin. Based on the book, Keeping a Princess Heart in a Not-So-Fairytale-World, we discussed issues of beauty, pain, and ultimately how Christ is the Prince of our souls. It was the gospel in very different words, but very powerful and effective! My heart is rejoicing when I think about how this girls camp met an incredible need in the country of Slovenija and Im excited to see where it takes us!

Josiah Venture Missionary Kids Camp
This was my second summer of working at JVK Camp. This is a camp led by Becca McMartin; her target is the kids of Josiah Venture, kids that are third culture kids. These kids are unique because they are not fully from the culture of America, or of their Eastern European home, but have in fact formed their own culture with pieces of both cultures. This camp is significant because it is one of the only places where these missionary kids feel as though they truly belong--with other third culture kids. Becca has done an incredible job ministering to these kids and I was privileged to join her for a week. It's not at every camp where you hear, "I cant read my English Bible, I can only read in Czech!". It was a fun week!

The Ducks
All of the Josiah Venture kids are split up into different groups based on their age. I worked with the Ducks last week. It was their first time ever at camp and they were really excited to be there! Words that I would use to describe them are: Sweet, Sensitive, a bit Sassy and Spunky. I really felt like the mother duck, everwhere I went I had a little trail of girls following me. It didnt take long to fall in love with them!

Thanks for taking the time to read whats going on in my life! Pictures will be coming soon...

A Czech Circus???

Ok, so random fact I forgot to mention....at our last conference (in May) our whole group was surprised with an exclusive, private showing of a Czech circus traveling through the area. Everyone loaded into 3 charter buses without being given even a hint of where we were headed! I live the most bizarre life!

The Circus Master is missionary Dan Hash who wore a headset connected to Mel and Lucka who fed him "translation" of the real lines being spoken. We laughed so hard we hurt as we listened to his improvisation. 

Ok so this isnt actually me....but Im pretty sure I had the same look on my face the whole time. This is one of the missionary kids enjoying the circus.  

David and Johnny in the back with the rest of my Josiah Venture missionary friends from other countries...I love our lives.... 

Slovene Snapshot...

About a year a go there was talk about having a camp for all girls.
The purpose would be to get girls away to talk about issues of beauty,
purity, and relationships. Time went on and it became obvious that I
was the one that would lead the camp. For the past few months, with
the help of Glorija, I have been developing a program for this special
week. And this Saturday is the first day of camp! It will be on the
Island of Krk in Croatia. A beautiful location!

The significance of this camp is huge! Nothing like this has ever been
offered to Slovene high school girls before. Ever. As far as we know
in the history of Slovenija this is the first! This is very exciting
and also intimidating to me, so I would LOVE your prayers. On the
logistical side of things, we are still in need of two girls to sign
up in order to break even (cost-wise). On the spiritual side of
things the topic we will be discussing is inner beauty. My hearts
prayer is that girls will be experience a new freedom and a
recognition that they are loved with a love deeper then they can
imagine.

Will you pray for us this week?
I will keep you posted!

Two Camps done...

Well I will just let the pictures speak for themselves. Austria Camp was wonderful. I had an all girls class and they were just a ton of fun! We had great discussions at night and fun Shania Twain Dance parties when they got sleepy. The junior high camp that we are doing here in Ljubljana actually ends today. I wasnt super involved in that one because of staff overload. But everytime I would drop by kids seemed to be having a blast. It looks like a group of those kids may join us at church today! Looks like we might start a junior high group this year?? Thank you for your faithfulness shown in your prayers and emails. They lift up my heart like you wouldnt believe!

Ps-You can click on pictures to see them bigger....

And here we all are....What a great week!! 

My All Girls Class. Top Row l-r Glorija, Eva, Meta. Bottom Row l-r Eva, Neja, Ursa, and me. 

My Girls being crazy... 

Student Leaders. These guys are amazing! L-R Gasper, Neja, Miso, Naja, and Mateja. 

Team Slovenia! l-r back Gasper, Naja, David, Glorija, Miso. l-r front Katka, me, Neja, Mateja, Anna.  

Austria Camp

Camp one down...only three to go! I really had a great week with the students and the Lord really touched students' hearts in different ways. Mine included!! We finished camp yesterday and tonight we have a camp reunion and training for our new American Team, busy day. Tomorrow we start camp again! This time it is a day camp in Ljubljana. So I get to sleep in my own bed... more to come...

I love Camp... 

Marusa and I got to be friends this week at camp! 

Leaving for Camp

I can hardly believe its here again...Camp starts on Sunday! We will pile into buses and go up to a Castle in Austria. Im excited to meet new students. For Christ to be revealed. And for new life to be born..... In more ways then one! Kristi Patty is due to have her baby any day now!! Id love your prayers! Drop me a line if you get a chance!

After Bible Study I teach other important practical life talents such as....Walking in High Heels! 

Greece...

Wow, life has been really insane right now!! Im jumping headfirst into camp season, which means every day I am in highschool classrooms talking about our English Camps, afterwards I am planning for the camp that I am directing, an all girls camp in Croatia, and trying to keep up with the girls that I spend time with here. Wheh! Great time for a Vacation!!! Um, yes and no! It was an incredible week, although it sure wasnt the most ideal time to be gone! However a week laying out on the beaches of Greece was maybe just what I needed! Here is a piece of my trip...

Fun Websites:
For More pictures of Greece: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26991059@N00/?saved=1
Video of Katka&Anzej: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZYS7o7S908&search=anzej%20dezan
English Camp: http://www.englishcamp.si/

*Click on pictures if you want to see them bigger!
**In the video clip Katka is in the far left, in the back, strapless pink dress.

At the first Olympic Stadium, located in Athens Greece. l-r Johnny, David, Maja, Me. 

We went to see Anzej perform....Actually we went to see Katka (far right). But Anzej was part of the performance too!!