Ciao Ciao...

Anna left for America yesterday morning.
It was one of my hardest goodbyes.
Our apartment seems quiet and empty.
I miss her.

Goodbye Cakovec!

Its amazing how quickly people can grow so dear to your heart. As I was waving goodbye to some friends they started serenading me a special goodbye song. Yesterday by John Lennon and Paul McCarney...

YESTERDAY, ALL MY TROUBLES SEEMED SO FAR AWAY,
NOW IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THEY'RE HERE TO STAY, OH, I BELIEVE IN YESTERDAY.
(the rest of the song is a very sweet goodbye song, but I just taped this verse!)

And speaking of dear friends, here I am with the Vuletic family.

A Starbucks Coffee date...via the phone!

You know the kind of friend where you can be yourself 100%?? The kind of friend where one minute you are laughing so hard that you can barely breathe, and then the next minute you are talking about deep things of the heart? The kind of friend where you can pick up anywhere you left off and you are instantly right there. No explanations, excuses, or reasons. Just deep, sweet, friendship. Thats my friend Robyn.

We just had a coffee date. She sat in her North Carolina Starbucks and I sat on my flower chair in Slovenia. We both drank a cup of coffee and caught up on our lives. We talked about fabric softener, broken dishwashers, relationships, camps, and hummus. It refreshed my soul.

We also called our friend Becky. She's getting married...TODAY! Both of us were asked to be bridesmaids. But...we werent able to make it. So we did three-way calling and sang her "Happy Wedding Day to you". Becky's amazing. She is another one of my most closest friends. I will have to do another blog entry about her amazing-ness one day. Cause this small paragraph isnt doing her justice. We love you Bex! Happy Marriage!

I am so thankful for good friends.













Me and Robyn at a Halloween party in college.

















Bex and I at that same party.

Camp Video!!!

It's about 14mins long. See what my camp life is like!

Favorite moments at the castle

Every year I walk away from this camp with memories, favorite moments, and new friends. Here is a little peek into some of those...













Last year David (middle) gave a talk that impacted Polona (right). This year Polona got up and shared her testimony. Deeply impacting all those who listened--including me. It was one of my proudest moments seeing her step out in faith and speak about Jesus!













Favorite roommate Sonja (plus Kim who isnt in this picture)

















Quite possibly the best part of the day was my meeting every morning with these two. We would talk about the day ahead and how we could stand with each other. It was always really encouraging. These guys are awesome! David (left) was the American Team leader and Miso (right) was the camp director.













Never in my life have I heard thunder so loud! I felt like the entire castle was shaking. Caleb and Joey almost instantly came running and shouting about how they watched lighting strike about 5 feet in front of them! What a day!

















Definitely my most Asian Moment. We did Asian night for the first time. It was a blast!!

















Stickiest Moment by far! I now have a new skill. Making cotton candy!













Happiest Moment. With my little brother Caleb and my other brother (in the Lord) Gasper. Two guys I care so much about!!













Most embarrassing moment. Walking in on these guys in the upstairs room as they were practising for their skit. Nothing else to say about that!













A very surreal moment. Again, watching my brother connect with people I love so dearly! Caleb and Tomy just chilling!













Wow, watching these girls serve, love, and share Christ with the students at camp. This might have been my favorite moment of them all. At one point these girls were students coming to camp. Now they practically are running it!! These girls are incredible!!! Mateja, Naja, and Polona.

home!

Im home and very tired. We went out to see the movie Hancock after only being back for about 30mins. I think I could have skipped out on it. I was falling asleep during the previews! Tomorrow I drive my brother to the Zagreb airport (two hrs away), and then drive back, and then have a camp reunion. I cant wait to crawl into bed. More stories and pictures to come!

Concert!

A few days a go I went to see Matt Redman and Hillsong in concert!! The concert was in Zagreb Croatia---a few hours south of Ljubljana. I was amazed at how many Croatian Christians I am connected to! I was continually running into people that I knew--including my brother Caleb! Caleb is interning in Rijeka, Croatia this summer with Campus Crusade. Next week he will come and help out with our English Camp!

Forgotten Anniversarys

I totally missed my four year living in Slovenia anniversary! It was June 1st! Missed it. Didnt even think about it. It was actually Brooke who remembered for me! Congratulations to me! Four years living in Slovenia. I am not sure when it happened, but Slovenia has become my home. I love my life here.












Another anniversary I forgot. My precious dog passed away a year and a half a go. I really believe until you loose a dog, you dont really know how hard it is. Copper was the only dog I had growing up. He was a great guard dog--a bit too good actually. Not the friendliest dog if you didnt know him. But our family sure did love him!!

So here is to important anniversaries--- that I completely forgot this year.

The President really was here!

Mr. and Mrs. President Bush

So yesterday I was buying fruit and the Fruit Guy informed Anna and I that Laura Bush was eating at the restaurant right around the corner. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity, Anna and I marched up to the front of the restaurant to meet the 1st Lady. I asked the Slovene security gaurd at the front door if it was ok for us to come in and meet the presidents wife. He seemed pleasantly amused at my question. The American Secret Service man wasn't so amused. He told us that she was upstairs having a meeting and that we wouldnt be able to see her. He looked like he worked for Jack Bauer. He didnt let us in. But I bet if I had yelled, she would have heard me. I think she would have liked to meet Anna and I. Oh well.

President Bush came in last night to meet up with his wife. You can read about it here

For a funny story about how a neighbor's stray chicken ended up in my living room, check out Anna's blog: http://www.stepaniangirl.blogspot.com/

Wonderful Letter!

I got this letter today. It made my week! My friend Kim and I used to go on mission trips to Mexico when we were in high school. She is so dear to me, and so is her son!

Hi Christina,
You are my mom's friend, I am 5 and I live in Papua New Guinea. I really like to play bats in my room because I have a closet with a place to hang upside down. There are no clothes in my closet because my clothes are in baskets. I have some questions about Slovenia. My mom is typing for me while I talk. Are there castles there? Is there a king? Or a Prime minister? Are there secret agents there? Is it cold? Do you eat pizza there?
Good bye,
Ian

What a day...

8:30am Prayer meeting.
10:30am Went to Visa Office to renew my residency. Long line. But got it, first try!!
12:00am Drove to the gas station to fill up and replace a light bulb that was out. The light bulb never worked. I asked for someone to help me. They couldnt
figure out why the light bulb wouldnt work. They told me to go to an Electrician.
1pm Went to my Mechanic. He knows me. Im always there. Turns out we were
plugging the lights in wrong. He fixed them. And some others I didnt know
were out. Then he tested my brakes and told me they should pass the DEQ
(tehnici pregled) test.
1:30pm Go to Tehnici Pregled (DEQ). Turns out ANOTHER light bulb is out. What in
the world? But they pass me. There was no line either! Bonus!
1:45 Wait in line to Register my car. There was definitely a line. I register it.
2:30pm Wait in line for insurance. Small line, but felt like I waited forever! I get insurance.
Recognize one of the workers from last years fiasco.
3:00pm Finally get my insurance Im official!!
3:30pm As Im nearing home I pray for the closest parking spot possible, because Im
EXHAUSTED and it feels like 100degrees F in my car (37 C). The closest one
available was available. Thank you Jesus!
3:45pm Make photocopies of all my papers for documentation and my landlord.
4:00pm Fall on my bed and go to sleep.
5:00pm Awakened by my doorbell. Hand off the papers to be given to my landlord.

Its days like this where I sometimes look back and ask myself, what the heck did I do today!? Anything? And yes, it helps to write it out to remind myself that I did in fact do something. And this something was important. And this something took all day!

Sad Bananas...

Last year after the disaster of getting my car registered, (see my blog entry Its as Easy as 1,2,3..or Not), and knowing (thinking) that this year required a significant number of less steps, I decided to give my self a mere two weeks head start--thinking that would be plenty of time! Sadly I'm finding, its not.

I need to register my car. As I gathered my papers I noticed my EMSO (Slovene SSN) is about ready to expire--I need this for car registration. I need to first renew that number. But to renew that number I first need a housing contract. And my landlord is in Italy.

Why didnt I start earlier?!

Worse case scenario I cant drive my car and have to go through the long and expensive process of starting from scratch. Thats a sad scenario. But...what can you do.

Maybe Im becoming a more seasoned veteran, or maybe I just am tired of drama. But, Im not too stressed about it. I was the first day when I realized everything. But now, I guess what happens happens.

Im going to go do my pilates now.

Conference in Czech

The theme was Back to the Basics. In different sessions we learned about spiritual warfare and how to stand as we work to create a movement of God across Eastern Europe. I loved it. I spent time with friends that Ive known for years. Brad and Laurel Jenkins, and Matt and Sharon Mormance came to visit!! I connected with my dear JV family. We even had a Hawaiian Luau!

I was challenged to think deeper. Encouraged to grow. And of course, Invited into worship.









We stopped at Burger King on the way through Vienna























Spring Conference wouldnt be the same without JV Kids!!! They put on quite the musical! If you want to watch hop over to Terry and Lori's blog!











Family Day! Aloha! I learned that I am a decent hula hooper, but Dave Patty... could probably practice more!
















Matt and Sharon. I like them a lot.












At Multnomah when I was an RA, Sharon was my RD, and Laurel my Head RA. I met weekly with both. How FUN to be together again!!! Laurel and Brad Jenkins plan to move to Slovenia soon! We can hardly wait!











The whole group. Can you find me?! Im in the middle towards the right. Holding sweet Abigail Woodard.














Pizza Hut! We stopped on the way home for dinner. We happily and sleepily arrived home at 12:30am.

Weird Day.

Yesterday, Anna, myself, Naja, and Ziva took off for a day at the beach!

It wasnt the day we thought it'd be.

On the way there there was a bit of a car accident-- somehow we werent hit. A car behind us lost control so I had to quickly change lanes so I wouldnt be rear ended. They just missed us. Then, the car started slamming into the guardrail and bouncing across the road, I thought to myself.... maybe the shoulder of the road would be a safer place to be. As soon as I moved the car flew right into the lane I was just in. Im shocked no one was hurt!

Im not so sure Anna and I really recovered from the shock of the accident that day.
Driving afterwards I was pretty shaky. We still went to the seaside. We still had fun. But by the time we got home we were two exhausted girls!

After dropping the girls off at home, we decided to go get a movie at Davids. Just seeing David seemed like a very nice thing to the both of us. But, low and behold as we approached his building water balloons rained down upon us. Nailing my foot pretty hard! Apparently David was spending time with Miha and Mikaja and they wanted to have a little fun. The timing wasnt the greatest but after a few games of UNO we became friends again.














Ziva and I and our ice cream!















Anna, Ziva, Naja, Me















Who knows...it was funny.













Enjoying the Adriatic!

Croatia Travel Log...

Last year I helped out with a camp down in Cakovec Croatia. This year I went down to help with their Camp promotion.















I took the train because it was 20Euros cheaper then driving!! I listened to sermons and watched The Office on my ipod. And in two and half hours I was in Zagreb! **FYI The camp is in Cakovec, but it is for Cakovec and Zagreb students. The leaders of the camp live in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Thats why I went there. In case you were wondering!











I sat in on a camp meeting with these lovely ladies and helped them think about this summer. (l-r) Miriam, me, Ema, and Evelin.
















Then I went to a concert put on by a Croatian ska band, October Light and rock band from Arizona, Transient Phase. The purpose was to invite kids to English Camp. I know the students definitely had a lot fun! Im praying that it brings in a lot of students to camp as well.

The next day Miriam Ema and I had tea and talked about life and Jesus. It was a good conversation and wonderful fellowship. Its so nice to have such Kindred Spirits that live so close to me. I always feel refreshed and happy after I spend time with them. This is a little shout out to you since I know you will probably read this. I like you girls!!

That same morning I went back to Ljubljana. Thats where I am now.

Think About it.

Have you ever noticed that these three words sound alike?

chowder
chedder
chatter

My dear Slovene friend could not for the life of her hear the difference when I said these three words. I must admit, I never realized that these words sounded so similar. And also it kinds becomes a tongue twister when you say them fast.

Camp is coming...

Yesterday we had a a group of about 40 leaders from around the country meet to cast vision and provide training for the 8 camps that we will be having this summer in Slovenia. It was incredible. I was so proud of our students! The coolest things was... I didnt even know all of them! Its great when the movement gets much bigger then you!

Go team Slovenija!!!

Surprise Mom!!

I just called my mom and surprised her with a free airline ticket to come see me! Thank you to Lufthansa Miles and More, I finally got enough miles for a free ticket. Of course, once you pay all the taxes its not exactly free...But, Im hoping it all works out, and soon!

yesterday, today, tomorrow...

yesterday...
When i was in America (ok, not yesterday) I got to speak at my old high school, in chapel. These are some things i liked...

I was greeted by the worship band, three siblings that I went to school with. They were a lot younger then me then. They still are. Philip, Bekah, and David Shepard. I used to babysit and tutor all five of them actually. Last time I saw David, he was probably 7years old. He's in junior high now and was playing electric guitar. Bekah is a senior in high school and engaged. Philip is done with high school and married. Crazy.

During the worship I sat in the back with my old teachers and my volleyball coach. I never would sit in the back. But there I was. Coach Sano and I giggled up a storm. I used to get in trouble for giggling in chapel. She caught me up on all the gossip. I always liked her.

Then I spoke to a group that was probably 4 times bigger then when I attended. Kids actually listened. They came up and talked to me afterwards. I even got an email from one of them a few weeks later. Wild.

today...











I went for a walk and took this picture. The sky was beautiful.

tomorrow...
Well actually a week from Tuesday Im taking a group of girls to Zagreb for an English Camp promo/Concert fest. Im so excited to go on this mini retreat with them. Im praying that all of their paperwork gets through. Would you say a little prayer for this too?