Hi...
So, I'm a little embarrassed by the fact that I've been in Slovenia the past few weeks and promised you updates and there has been absolutely nothing happening on this blog. I was ready for this trip to be different than last year's, but I did not expect one of those differences to be a lack of internet time!
Anyways, I'm home now and am excited to tell you a bit about the trip. As always, there is a lot more I could say than what would fit on this page and I would LOVE to talk more with any of you if you should so desire. Until then, here's what you need to know:
The timeline - I was gone from June 22nd to July 10th. My first couple of days were spent in Ljubljana (Slovenia's capital) for camp training with the Tennessee church team. Then we had a week of English camp at the seaside in Crikvenica, Croatia. After camp, I spent time connecting with old and new friends in Celje (where I was based last year) and Slovenj Gradec where the Wynns (awesome Josiah Venture missionaries) live.
Complements to Petra. She takes good pictures!
Camp basics - English camp was a week in Croatia this year with around 35 Slovene high school students, 16 Americans from Tennessee (6 who I knew from last year), 3 summer interns, and 2 JV missionary families (Brooke and Johnny and Trisha and Hondo, as well as their adorable kids). The camp theme was Collision: the evening talks explored what happens when good people and bad people collide with God.
Caleb Wynn, age 3 and Kinsley Stevens, age 1
My role at camp - This year, I did a bit of everything. I was babysitter for these cute MKs when needed (normally in the mornings when campers were in English class), I sold ice cream and pop in the afternoons, connected with campers when I could, and helped set up late night games and decorations. It was more behind-the-scenes than when I was an intern, but it was awesome to be a part of camp in a new way and get a more big-picture perspective on how the church body works together and how God works through us.
Pirate night... Arrrrrrgh!
Camp highlights - Pirate night on an actual boat. Playing with Caleb in a kiddie pool. Chatting with girls from last year's camp (including two who were in my room with me). Hearing and seeing how God had transformed past campers from last year until now. Serving coffee during coffee night and seeing how God uses even the small things for his glory. Getting sun. Eating all our meals outside. Watching the extremely talented, dramatic, and caring American team make camp a blast. I could go on, but I'll stop there.
Me with some of the Americans
After camp - After camp I had even more time to connect with people. I expected things in Slovenia to be different this year, and though things were, it was awesome for me to just feel like I could fit right back into life there. It seemed normal in a lot of ways. So, getting to hang out in Celje again, visit the church there, and spend time with friends like Polona, Maja, Andreja, and Petra was great. The Amazing Race (camp follow-up) went well and so did the team's debrief. And though two weeks isn't nearly long enough, I got to see most of the people I wanted to and even had time to have a girl's night at the Wynn's house and shop a bit.
Me, Maja, and Mana and Margaret (two of the interns)
Lessons learned - This one is a hard thing to sum up, but I think this year's trip allowed me to prove to myself that what I said I learned last year, I actually did learn. I got to put into practice the areas I grew in last summer, including asking good questions, relying on the Holy Spirt, and having a servant's heart. Overall, it was good to have some things reiterated and built upon.
Prayer requests - Camp is over, but God is still heavily at work in the lives of the Slovene campers, as well as in Slovenia in general. Please pray that the students will continue to process through what they learned at camp and that truth would ultimately be what prevails. Pray for energy, compassion, and wisdom for the JV interns and missionaries as they continue to connect with students and the culture there.
God is doing amazing things and once again, I am so grateful that I've been able to be even a small part of the bigger picture in one of my favorite countries overseas.
