The Youth Group that lives down the hall

We used to have our own youth group. 
Actually, we had two.
One for Jr. High kids and another for Sr. High kids.
Remember that?
Leading games, Josh with his guitar and a row of teenage guys standing next to him, strumming for all they were worth as we belted out, "Pharaoh Pharaoh! Oh, baby let my people go!"

(Ok so this is actually from our interning days under Steve Keels but you get the idea.  Hi Joe!)

And then somewhere along the line, we started training young leaders.  And those young leaders became very competent!  They started leading games, music, giving great messages at youth group.

We are so proud of the generation of young leaders that have grown up here in Slovenia!  Students and young adults who are loving each other and sharing the gospel of God and their lives as well.  Youth groups, music groups, sports teams, small group bible studies; all of them designed to reach out to young people. 

It's just that it happened so fast!  It turns out that I'm the mom of a bunch of those young leaders now!  Last week we were discussing getting Kendra to her Jr. High group on time.  I told her that we would just meet her brother Blake there.  I casually said, "I know he's got the message tonight so I'm sure he'll be on time." 

And then I heard myself. 
I got all emotional as I realized that even now we are turning over responsibility to yet another generation of young leaders. 

 I'm proud of these young leaders.  Especially the ones who live down the hall from us!

Days until Christmas

Before I was married I just assumed that we would spend one year with my husbands family and the next year with my family.  That's the way it was when I was growing up.  Why would it be any different when I got married?  Maybe because I married into the Patty Family!  They have always lived in different countries and been spread around the world since long before I came around!  So we have seen each other for Christmases.  Sometimes we get Christmas with one brother or the other.  Sometimes Mom and Dad have come to visit.  Once we were in the states for a couple months on furlough and got to spend the holiday with my parents.  But the idea of flying all of us back to the states at high season for just a couple of weeks has never been a viable option.  Until now.

Decorating the tree last year.  Can you see Kendra in the corner?  She thinks she's so funny!

Rebecca in 2012 decorating the tree.

Every 3 years or so the Patty Family tries to have some kind of a reunion.  Each year we get a little smaller as the grand kids are involved with jobs, getting married and starting families of their own.  We realized we are reaching the end of being able to count on all of us being there.  We sat around the lunch table with Josh's brother Dave saying, "How and when could do this with all of us?"  Christmas came up and right after it the realization that our family is the only one overseas this year.  With the rest of the siblings being in the states we wondered if this might be the year for us to do our first ever Patty Family Christmas!

So the result is that we are counting down the days until our first ever Christmas in Denver!  And we are so excited!  

One year ago tonight.....

It was one year ago tonight that Klemen came over for dinner and joined us for family night.  That really wasn't unusual.  He's done it so many times!  We laugh because when he first started popping in on the one night of the week we reserve for just "us" time; no one really had the heart to turn him away.  When there finally was a night he didn't show up we all felt like it just wasn't family night without him!


But one year ago was a particularly special family night.  It was the night we all drew our own version of what Luke is holding in this picture:  The Bridge Illustration

We were having dinner on the back porch.... you can see everyone sitting there in the back ground.  That's Klemen in the red shirt. Josh had said to the kids, "Next week all of you (even Luke) are headed to English camp.  While you are there you will meet some people who don't know Jesus and don't realize that He died to pay for their sins.  I want all of you to be able to explain the Good News with nothing but a napkin."  

We always make a plan for family night.  Sometimes it's just a movie or going for a walk and other times it's a discussion or even a lesson.  We'd decided this would be our family night before we knew that Klemen was going to join us.  We had been sharing with him over the years but in recent days we'd been discussing more and more what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus.  So we charged ahead with our plan for the night and everyone got a marker and a napkin and started to draw.

We drew mankind and God separated by sin.  Alongside were written the verses Romans 3:23 and 6:23.  Next we drew a cross as a bridge between the two and wrote across it John 3:16 because God loved us so much that He sent his one and only Son.  Then we drew an arrow showing that while we can believe we have to respond by doing what Romans 10: 9 &10 talks about and confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and you will be saved.  

Klemen took careful notes and wrote down each verse and translated the important words into Slovene like Confess, Believe and Accept.  He slept over that night and after the guys had turned the lights out Blake asked him, "Where do you think you are at with God?"  They had a great talk!  And I LOVE to hear Klemen tell it.  I'll never forget him telling me the next day, "My heart just started pounding out of my chest because as Blake was explaining things to me I started thinking, 'Whatever he tells me to do next I'm going to do!'" And he did!  That night, one year ago tonight, Klemen accepted Jesus payment for his sins and asked Him to be his Lord and his Savior.  

We have seen the fruit of his decision all year long and we are so proud of him. This year Blake and Klemen are part of the Slovene staff team at English camp (and Becca too).  Would you pray for them as they continue to lead others as they follow Christ? All three of them are a part of the band leading songs at camp. Klemen will also be a part of leading the late night events.  We are praying that many more young Slovenes would know what it means to accept that gift and know and love God.   And we are praying that He'll use Klemen and people like him to do just that!  

Just one more piece..... this spring Klemen decided to be baptised at our annual church retreat to Crkvenica.  If you'd like to hear him give his testimony in person you can click on this link: here

A fresh new look

Here's Becca back in January 2012 just before we jumped in the car to go get her braces on.  Although she has always had a pretty smile, some of the teeth you couldn't see needed the work.  I will admit I felt a bit nervous about working with an orthodontist in a second language; but since both Josh and I had braces as kids we knew it would be inevitable that some of our children would need to navigate this hurdle here in Slovenia.

The Lord led us to Dr. Pavšič and we liked him right away!  He spoke clearly and kindly and (at that time) had his grey hair pulled back in a pony tail. He has to be the grooviest orthodontist I've ever met!

It's only been a year and a half long process and I don't think Becca has minded them at all.  In fact I suspect she might even miss them.  Braces are the new black, y'know.  

But today all that changed and here is our finished product!  

Same kind of warm as Dad

Josh's brother Dave is our boss and the president of JV.  He writes a letter every month and sends it out to the folks who give and pray for the different ministries around Eastern Europe.  It's a great letter and if you are interested in receiving it let me know and I'll get you on the list.  When I read them I always get a sense of the genuiness of real people, following the Lord on His agenda. 

This month he wrote this letter.  I just had to copy it here on our blog for you all to read. I can't wait for Luke to get home from school this afternoon to read it to him! 

 

Dear Friends,

One of the challenges of living overseas is that family is often very far away.   Our parents live across an ocean, and now so do two of our kids, studying at college in the States.  So it is a special treat for me to have my brother Josh on the Josiah Venture team, leading our ministry in Slovenia. 

I was with him last week and enjoyed a wonderful evening being family and talking about what God is doing in Slovenia.  Relating to his delightful children was a special joy for me.

As I was on my way home to Czech, Josh’s wife, Kristi , sent me a text message with a  quote from their six year old son Luke.  “I miss Uncle Dave”, he said.  “He’s the same kind of warm as my dad.”

Way to make your uncle’s day, Luke!  I had a long drive to smile about that one. 

But then I started looking at the towns and villages I was passing through.  So few of the people who live there know Jesus.  Because of that, they are far, very far away from God’s family.  

What could possibility reach them?  For most, God is either a relic from the past, or an icon from the old, empty stone church in the center of town. 

Luke’s comment tapped into the dream I have for the Josiah Venture team.  That we would be the “same kind of warm” as our Dad, to these people. That our presence would bring the Father near to everyone we meet.  

In the middle of September our entire team gathers together for the JV Fall training conference.  Our theme is the lost, and how we can reach more of them with the good news of Jesus.

Thanks for helping us bring Him near,

Dave Patty

President, Josiah Venture

My Fazana!

Rebecca after her first day of school

This isn't the normal picture I've seen moms posting on Facebook for the first day of school.  But out of all the pictures we took on Monday, this just seemed to be the one that said it all!  It's the annual tradition here that the upperclassmen get to write the letter F all over the new Fazani (Freshmen) and they got Rebecca good!  But as you can see, she's loving every minute of it!

You might remember that there were some tense days for us regarding school this spring.  In April it was time to turn in high school applications.  We prayed about it, listened for the Lord's leading and Rebecca felt led to Gimnazia Poljane and specifically to the Classical Program which has a strong emphasis on languages including Latin.  Josh and I both agreed with her and so she put in her application.

During that waiting period we really felt the truth that faith is a muscle; the more you use it the more it grows!  We started to hear rumors about the point system and how high it was at Poljane.  Then we heard that all the kids who applied to Blake's school made it because they had extra space.  We began to doubt if she should have applied there.  Even some kids from school started giving her a hard time and telling her that Poljane wasn't for her and she'd never make it in.

One day she came home and told us about how she had told classmates that she felt like this was where God was leading her.  But she was beginning to get nervous.  What if she didn't make it in and He looked bad or she looked like a lunatic?  We remembered the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they had said, "We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." Dan. 3:17-18

Rebecca joined them in saying, I know you've led me here God.  You do what you think is best.  I'm not holding you to a place where you have to do this for me.  I still trust You.

Rebecca and Josh at the Croatian coast

While we were still waiting to hear if Rebecca had been accepted she told this story and told the people at our church retreat that she wanted to mark this waiting period with an act of obedience.  So in May Josh baptised her in the Adriatic Sea and we waited on the Lord.  

The next week she met with a woman to test her to see if she should receive an exception for school entrance because it appeared she wouldn't have quite enough points for acceptance.  Rebecca said it was such a delightful experience.  This woman said she could see that despite the challenge of language that Rebecca seemed just the sort of person who would do well in high school.  And with a little bit of help from tutors she expected she would do quite well. On that day Rebecca received an exception and Poljane has accepted her.  

She started on Monday and is loving every minute of it already!  She still has to study hard and prove that she's earned this exception but our girl is growing into a young woman who is trusting the Lord with all the unknowns and believing He can rescue her at any moment and in the way that He thinks best.  

Welcoming the Werdebaugh Family

Yesterday our new teammates, Shawn and Christena Werdebaugh arrived in Slovenia!  We are delighted to have them and their 4 sweetie pie kids stay with us during this next transition to their new home.   At dinner tonight I got a hint of the amazing story the Lord has woven to direct them here.  It just reminds me that when we obey He takes care of how it will all come about! 

I found a letter

I found a letter in a pile last week.  

We have lots of letters in lots of piles to tell you the truth. But this one was one that would change my life.  

Only I didn't know it at the time.  

On February 27,1988 some of us youth group kids gathered at the Norquist's house in the basement.   The Norquist's basement was sort of sacred ground for our church.  Many things found their starting point at that home. 

 This particular evening Randy Alcorn was sharing. He talked about being a missionary in whatever context the Lord calls you.  He told stories about people who served sacrificially at home and abroad.   Several things stand out to me from that time but none of them more than this.  

Randy asked us, "If you would be willing to go if the Lord sends you to another country, then I'd like you to write your name on this list and we will ask the elders to pray for you regularly." 

My thought was how could I say I wasn't willing if God sent me? Of course I would.  But He wasn't going to send me.  I'm not so good with new or unfamiliar things.  My mom says she once had to carry me out of the shoe store because I refused to walk in the new shoes she'd bought me.  I drive the same way all the time because it's the way I know.    I can eat the same thing every day!  It's familiar. But, I wrote my name on that paper fairly confident that I wouldn't be one of the ones being sent.  

Two weeks later Randy had sent the letter I mentioned.  

It starts off, "Dear Kristi, Hi!  I'm sending this letter to all the people who said, "Yes, I want my church leaders' prayer and assistance as I consider whether God would have me serve Him in another country."  He goes on to suggest some books we could read and also tell about a trip his family was taking to visit missionaries our church supported. I think my favorite line was, " "Maybe ten years from now we'll be visiting you on the mission field!" 

Just a few weeks later I had met Josh and turned in my application to attend Multnomah Bible College. 

10 years later  Josh and I had served in England and at that time we were in Germany leading youth groups for military kids. We already had two children and were on the verge of our move to Slovenia just 2 years later!

I love being a missionary and feel so blessed by the life we've lead, though I never would have guessed it! And I love being from Good Shepherd! I love that I grew up in a safe and nurturing home church as I kept taking small steps along the path that the Lord was lighting for me. I'm grateful for wise leadership that knew how to strengthen and encourage growth.  

Rebecca's high school search

Rebecca this summer

Well, it's Rebecca's turn now to choose a high school.  As you may know from when we were going through the process with Blake, students apply to get into one of many high schools here in Ljubljana.  Based on the number of applicants and the number of points you've gotten from your grades over the past three years you are either accepted or sent to another school for the second round. 
Most schools hold out 10% of their spots for this second round.  So it's a tighter squeeze to get into your second choice. 

It's a very strenuous process for everyone involved.  We spent a couple of days this month visiting high schools and listening to all the details about why their school is best.  It really reminds me of what I went through at the college level!  While Rebecca has had a bit more success in primary school than Blake had it's still questionable if she'll have enough points for some of the schools she's looking at. 

Those were the thoughts I was turning over and over in my head as I was headed home the other day.  Suddenly I stopped and told the Lord, "I am sorry."  You would think I would have learned!  Look what He's done for Blake!  The many doors the Lord opened to put him not only in the right school but in the right class!  The guy is growing by leaps and bounds!  He's always been a great kid but he's showing initiative and responsibility to higher levels than we've ever seen.  He's got a positive feeling about school like he never had AND his grades have radically improved!

I completely understand why the Lord had the Israelites rehearse the good works He had done in their lives.  It's so easy to forget.  Or to explain it away.  To think this time it'll be different and the Lord won't show up. 

I know that He has a plan for Rebecca.  That He loves her and is thinking about her as much as he does about Blake.  That he also has a specific task for her at her high school.  And that if He wants her in one school in particular then nothing will keep her out.  But if he chooses to use a lack of points to give her direction that is His business and I don't want our girl anywhere other than where the Lord wants her!  And the really delightful part is that's what she wants too!  We've raised a girl who is trusting the Lord to lead her and willing to go where He sends.  What more could I ask for?

Girls Eye View of London

Kendra and Rebecca in front of Big Ben

The girls and I had an opportunity to go to London a couple of months ago.  This is a trip I've dreamed of taking them on for a long time.  Josh and I lived in England near Oxford for the first 2 years of our marriage and that country has such sweet memories for us.  It was a delight to take them to all the sites and sounds that I have loved so dearly!

We called our friends Zack and Jennifer Brown and asked them if their offer to visit still stood.  They welcomed us to Bedford with open arms and even gave up their own beds for us to sleep in!  

A bit tired but still having fun on the tube!

Jennifer and I worked on a little itinerary for our couple of days there.  She mentioned that the John Bunyan museum was nearby.  I told her that I thought John Bunyan had been an American legend.  After a couple of emails back and forth I realized my mistake!  I was thinking of PAUL Bunyan and his big blue ox Babe! Unfortunately it was closed for the winter at the end of October. As Jennifer said, " Bummer.  I was really looking forward to seeing how he carried the blue ox out of the City of Destruction up to the Celestial City." 

Lydsay and Jennifer Brown

It was Lyndsay's 13th birthday one of the two days we spent in London itself.  She was such a trooper despite coming down with the flu that evening.

I can't begin to tell you all the moments we had on this trip.  The girls developed a loved for London theatre and are now known to burst into song spontaneously.  Well, I guess they were known for that before.  But now they burst into songs from Les Miserables!  :) 

Also, each girl prepared a personal tour of one of the main attractions.  (that was before Zack went out and treated us to the London pass so we could actually get into the attractions rather than just stand outside and gaze longingly! ) 

Lyndsay's portrayal of the Crown Jewels and London tower was every bit as informative as Peter the Beefeater's rendition!  Kendra had us laughing hysterically over Big Ben being created by a man named Ben who was so big he couldn't see the time on his tiny little wrist watch so he drew up plans for the giant clock tower.  And Rebecca informed us that there is actually a statue of our own George Washington in Trafalgar Square standing on soil sent over from the US since he'd claimed to never be on British soil again!  

We left feeling very loved by the Brown family, encouraged by the rare opportunity to travel together just us Patty girls and refreshed as we headed into the winter semester!  Unforgettable!

Blake at Ledina

Last month Blake started high school as a 10th grader at Gimnazija Ledina.  That one sentence has a LOT behind it!  But what it mostly has behind it is the Lord's hand!

If you've been tracking with Blake you may know that he's faced some challenges in regard to school over the years.  He's got the whole "American speaking a second language for his primary education thing" going for him.  And then you add to that his dyslexia which isn't severe, but does seem to plague him at the most inconvienent moments.  Throw in the fact that he's been the only Christian in his class and in a society where living out your faith in every day real life is...well, weird.

As I explained in an earlier post, here in Slovenia as in other European countries, kids are slotted toward vocational schools or college prep schools after the 9th grade.  So our daily prayer for the past year has been that the Lord would direct Blake to just the right school for him.

The story is a long one.  I think because the Lord wanted it to be obvious that it was His work and His placing of Blake.  It has many intricate details and things only the Lord could have orchestrated.

In the middle of June, sign ups for high school happened.  We'd left for the states not knowing what God was going to do but believing he was going to do something.

Our friend Metka went in our place to the school sign up with all Blake's papers ready and prepared to do her best for him, not really knowing what that might entail.  She said that when they took her info she was immediately greeted by a friendly lady who said, "Oh yes.  We are all prepared for Blake!  We got a letter extending  permission for him to attend this school and receive extra tutoring in the area he needs it.  The education department believes that he has all the intelligence neccessary to attend this school but may need extra help because of his dyslexia."

You know we asked the Lord for just the right school for Blake but I think the Lord gave him more, down to just the right class.  He's in a great class of kids that he really enjoys. (A bunch of firstborns like him!) He is doing well managaing the school work load and doesn't have that lost feeling that seemed to perpetually follow him.

Thank you for your prayers for him and for us along the way in this process!

Celebrating 10 years in Slovenia with the Jackson family!

 Maybe you've already seen this shot since I posted it on facebook and Josh used it in an update but I just never get tired of looking at these cutie pie kids grown up into such enjoyable teenagers and that Luka is added in the mix now!  But 10 years ago the above picture is what the Jackson girls and the Patty kids looked like when they climbed off the train and entered their new home in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

 And this is the shot of them 10 years later in the same location after they'd spent a normal day in their Slovene public schools, doing homework, chatting with friends, taking tests...... What a sense of accomplishment.  They are doing it!  We are doing it!  We are "delighting to share not only the gospel of God but our lives as well"!

 A couple days later we got together and really celebrated!  We grilled and had lots of yummy things and laughed and remembered.

 I tried to get a shot of everyone.

 Some people got in there more than once.

 I won't say who but her initials are Laurel Jackson!

Even the Aria and Scout joined us!
Not sure what happened to Luke and Blake!  hmmm.  but they were there and a good time was had by all!  What a privildge and a pleasure to serve the Lord alongside our dear and loyal friends the Jackson family.  We love you guys!  So glad God sent us together!

Baptisim!

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated one of my favorite baptisms ever!  Our dear friend Meta who came to one of our early English camps and was a part of the English Club that met at our house was baptised at our church!  

Meta told her story and shared how the Lord has been close to her during the ups and downs of life.  We've seen her grow and be transformed from a girl to a woman during those years.  She's been an excellent lover of God and lover of people.  She's invested her life in the lives of Jr. Highers at youth group and has even begun an outreach ministry to kids in a town 30 minutes from here.  And she's got the most beautiful and poetic heart you have ever seen!  

Meta really experienced a lot of opposition and threats as a result of her decision to be baptized.  But even in that her faith was strengthened and she allowed the Lord to lead her and teach her some wonderful things!  Look at the look on her face in this shot!  I just love it! 

Just before they went into the water Josh asked people in the church to call out a sentence or two saying in what ways they've seen Jesus in Meta's life!  Oh I wish you were there to hear it!  So dear and beautiful!  

After they changed clothes our pastor Zvonko and Josh prayed for Meta and then we sang a song that Meta had written the words for and another friend had put music to!  OH WHAT A CELEBRATION!  

Blake turns 15

We celebrated Blake's 15th birthday today!  (He's second from the left).  It's hard to believe how quickly the time has gone!  He's a great kid with a sharp wit and very perceptive about what is going on behind the scenes.  We're real proud of him.

The guys came over after school and played some xbox and then ate slopey joes before they headed out for  paint ball with Terry, David and Johnny.  We've introduced many of Blake's friends to new menu items like slopy joes, waffles with peanut butter, and other important life necessities!

Many of these boys have been at Blake's birthday party since first grade!  Although they will all head to different high schools this fall, I think that Blake will stay close to this group of guys.

I mentioned in an earlier post that Blake is chosing a high school this year and we would sure appreciate your prayers.  Please keep them coming!  This has not been an easy process.  We've learned a lot in the process and found that some of the situations we thought would be best for him are not lining up.

We believe that the Lord has his hand in this.  That He placed Blake in this country 10 years ago with a plan in mind.  And that he's going to lead us to just the right schooling situation; as well as to where he thinks Blake will be most effective for His kingdom.  

We are about 3 weeks from our visit to the states and we still don't have the school nailed down.   Would you please pray with us?  I'm praying for God's leading to be very clear and for Blake to have peace as he hears from the Lord.

Nick Vujicic in Slovenia

This time last week we were handing out tickets to our friends, neighbors, teachers and anyone else we thought would enjoy coming to this historic moment in Slovenia!  Nick Vujicic, a man born with no arms or legs, who has a very sweet and powerful ministry; came to Slovenia to share the good news in 5 cities in 5 nights!  

I almost don't know where to begin.  

There were so many sweet moments.  So many answered prayers and dear conversations.  So many times that the Lord did more than we could ask or imagine!  Things that Slovenia has never seen before! 

About 2 months ago we got word that Nick had been invited to come to speak here in Slovenia and tell his story.  He was born in Australia but is of Serbian descent.  His honesty as he talks about crying himself to sleep at night asking to wake up with arms and legs.  The not understanding and wrestling with the question of if God is good why would he do this to me?  Then the story that Nick points to as a turning point from John where the disciples ask, '"Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" " Neither this man nor his parents sinned" said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."' And the work of God was displayed and in a way like we haven't seen in our 10 years here!

The churches in Slovenia have commonly wrestled with issues of unity.  But for this event many churches and mission organizations across the country came together to pull this event off!  Just that was a big deal for us!  But there was more!

Nick spoke 5 nights in 5 different cities here in Slovenia.  With such a demanding schedule he was exhausted.   Nick and his team along with the 180 member choir and the organizers drove all over the country to the 5 different venues.  Each city had rented it's largest venue hoping and praying that they would be able to fill it and have more people hear the truth.  

We launched a huge prayer effort writing daily updates and asking you all to pray for the different cities throughout our country.  And each morning as we sent the updates we were astounded!  Every night the venues were packed out!  Often with standing room only!  

Josh had asked our team a month before if they would be willing to drop everything and throw all our weight behind this event.  We have such a skilled and capable team!  They began writing, translating, taking photos, editing, drawing up drafts for a tract to walk people through the gospel, producing a friendly questionaire for obtaining information about those who would attend and developing a plan for follow up.  

  I confess that as I saw the different cities respond I wrestled with belief for our capital city of Ljubljana.  It's different in the city. But we had rented  Stozice.  Our newest and largest stadium where they had cancelled the European handball competion in order to house this event.  

All week long but especially on Saturday our 4 year old son Luke kept singing, "Greater things are yet to come.  Greater things are still to be done in this city. "  It was a clear reminder to me to pray for my city.  To say "I believe!  I believe in you God."  

We sat in the stadium that night with 7,500 or so people and heard the gospel go out in a clear, tight, professional way.  Nick was so warm and loving as well as logical and clear as he explained that Jesus paid for our sins.  And that he made you just the way you are and loves you as you are. 

 A couple of times during the night he spoke in Serbian and the crowd was delighted!  We really believe that Nick was uniquely positioned to share the gospel in a way that Slovenians could really hear.  

In the end there were 14,940 tickets sold!  In  a country where there are 1,500 people who claim to be evangelical believers!   

 And now begins the real work.  

Christians across the country are following up those who filled out the questionaire stating that they are "very interested".  Individuals are being trained in how to walk through a 2 week 4 lesson bible study (that Josh wrote :)) with their friend that they brought and communicated an interest in knowing more.  

Our team has taken on the responsiblity of modeling and training folks in the follow up process.  Would you pray for us?  It's an incredible undertaking.  We are in over our heads.  We are overwhelmed and thrilled at the same time!  This is an honor!  This is a priviledge!  This is crazy!

At our team  meeting this week one of our Slovene teammates said, "I'm amazed that it's so normal to talk about the Lord!  I don't know how long this will last but I don't ever remember there being a time when it was so easy to approach someone about the Lord!  I don't want to miss these days!"  

We feel how important this is and how tempting it is to sit back on our heals now that the event is over.  Take a break from all that work we just did.  While the truth is that there are many people with open hearts who need a kind friend to walk this path with them.   

Would you pray for us as we reach out to those around us?  As we continue to follow up this event and prepare for english camps and a full schedule of ministry this summer.  And as we live among these folks looking for opportunities to share the reason for the hope that we have?

Thank you and praise the Lord as the work of God was displayed in our country!

Blake's high school search

Blake is our first born and has had to pave the road in many ways for his siblings coming behind him.  This year has been an especially big one as he is choosing a high school for next year.  Here in Slovenia the school system works a bit differently than in the US.  1st -9th  grade is called your primary education years and then in 9th grade you begin to choose what direction you plan to head in your career through the high school you decide to attend.

Primary school can be very stressful those last 3 years as your grades on your report card determine what schools you'll be allowed to attend.  Some kids will head towards technical schools while others will go on to what is called Gimnazija.  What we would consider high school or maybe College Prep.

At this point in his life Blake is pretty sure that he'll head to the US for college and then make a life for himself in the states.  So really the only option for him is attending Gimnazija. He's applied for one of the local highschools here in Ljubljana but we are also looking into a possible International School program for him that conducts their lessons in English.

It's a great opportunity for us to trust the Lord. We don't know if Blake will have enough points to make it into the Gimnazija.  We aren't sure if the International School will accept him considering that he has done 9 years in the Slovene system.  They tend to prefer that you stay in the Slovene system once you are in. And even if they do accept him there is a school tuition.  Should we stick with public school or head this direction?

What we do know is that we are awfully proud of this kid!  He's attended all his primary education in a second language.  He's really taken responsibilites for his studies to a new level in the last few years and risen to the challenge.  He cares about his classmates and has been reaching out to them and inviting them to youth group and other events.

Would you pray for us and for the Lord's leading in this new area?  And specifically for Blake.  That he would sense the Lord's leading and direction and be at peace.  And for Blake's mom!  Who is trying to let her kid make those decisions and see the Lord at work as he grows to a man.

Fried Chicken for Jesus

A couple months ago I was making fried chicken for a team get together.  Let me just stop right there and say, this shot isn't of me making said fried chicken.  This is a great Thanksgiving shot from when our dear friend Laurie Doden was here and we were cooking up a storm.  But, I felt like for this post I just had to have a kitchen shot!

So back to a couple months ago when I was making Pioneer Woman's fried chicken.

 I don't know if you've been introduced to Pioneer Woman but she is my new friend!  The kids bought me a couple of new cook books for my birthday this year and I have loved them!  I prefer to do once a month cooking, since it frees me up to be more involved in ministry when dinner is made and just needs to be thrown in the oven with a salad on the side.  But someone on facebook suggested The Pioneer Woman's cookbook and I LOVE it!  I love how she loves her husband and flirts with him.  I love the step by step pictures that give me confidence as I follow one of her recipes and her meals are yummy and feed a lot of people!


As I said, I was trying her fried chicken recipe to take to a team get together and I was thinking about how much Josh was going to enjoy this chicken.  I married a man who knows how give compliments!  He often comments on how thinly the tomatoes were sliced or how my banana bread is his favorite. He always notices the little additions or the new things I try.   I knew that we would come home that evening and he would tell me that my fried chicken was out of this world!

I sort of chuckled to myself because if you've ever made fried chicken then you know it is quite a bit of work and mess to boot.  So I thought it was funny that rather than just wait for a night when I could be making fried chicken for my family of 6 and get all the compliments from my husband with less work; here I was making it for 30 people and thinking all the while about how much the guy I cook for every night was going to like this meal!

I wasn't cooking for those 30 people, I was cooking for him and thinking how pleased he was going to be.

And that's when I started to smile and cry at the same time.

I smiled and cried because it was just then that I heard the Lord.

As clear as if he spoke out loud, which he didn't but it was still clear, I heard him say, "I wish it was like that with you and me."  Not condemning.  Not disappointed or anything of that sort.  Just a true and simple statement.

The thing is that I cook and bake all the time for groups of people.  I bake for bible study on Tuesday nights, I host lunch meetings and we have dinner guests often.  I cook for my family every night.  But the truth is that every time I make something I'm thinking about what Josh would like and the way he likes things.

What would it be like if it was like that with me and Jesus?

Well, I guess then I would lead meetings and not wonder if someone thought I talked too long or too much.  I would have my eyes on Jesus and if he liked what I said.

I guess I would speak the truth in love to people while we had coffee and not wonder if they thought I was too spiritual or had good things to offer because my eyes would be on Jesus and I'd be thinking about how he loves it when his people focus on him.

I guess I would lead bible studies thinking about what Jesus was strong about and what things he gave grace for rather than what these people's denomination teaches.

I guess I would speak to peoples needs without worrying if I was being too "preachy".

I guess, that at the end of the day I'd climb into bed waiting to hear the Lord's opinion of what I had done that day, expecting kindness, truth and delight.   Just like when I cook for Josh I'm quite certain he's going to love it and tell me mine is his favorite!

And even if he had to tell me something I did that day wasn't his favorite or didn't line up with His will, I'd be so safe and enjoyed by him, that it would bless me as well.

Whatever I did or didn't do, I'd do it with my eyes on Jesus because I wanted to make or do something that I knew he would love and enjoy.  

I wish it was like that with you and me too, Jesus.

Celebrating Christmas 2010

I confess that I was fighting with blogger and I lost. I have to say that it took the wind out of my sails and I just couldn't get back into the spirit of the whole thing.  But the holidays have come and my family is so fun that I decided to lay down arms and start posting again.  Plus my mother and mother in law have told me it's time and they want to see pictures of their babies again.  So here's a shot of Teenager decorating the tree this year.  I told him to try not to look like he's trying out for the role of "I just killed a man" and the following is what I got.....

 Me: "Try to sparkle a little son."

Blake: "How's this?"

Me: "Ah, just a little less maybe."

 Here's our teenage girl asking the question, "Should we tell Oma that the ornaments she sends us every year are quite strange? " 

 And preteen Kendra is asking, "What message do you think Oma is sending me when every year my ornament from her is a chubby little person?"

But Luka is just pleased with the whole process and doesn't insist on taking weird pictures for me to put on the blog.  Cutie pie kid!

Experiencing technical difficulties

Hmm.  Not sure what is up with my blog but all my side bar info has shifted to the bottom of the blog and I'm not able to click on any of it.  any ideas?

English camp 2010

Every year our family looks forward to English camp and the teams that come from the states to help us host this week for our Slovene students! It is a real highlight!
This year Blake and Becca went to one camp as campers with their youth group. They talked non stop about each person and what fun or funny things they said and did. Then they came home for one night and turned around and went right back to the same place and joined our whole family helping in putting on the Kranj camp.
It was a joy to work with pastor Drago and the student leaders there Tilen and Matic. This is a shot of Tilen who every night did a skit as a Russian at English camp. SO FUNNY! Same night I took this shot he also shared the story of Joseph in a 1st person narrative as Joseph's brother Judah. He is an amazing communicator and did a great job!
Blake is learning guitar and this was his first camp to play alongside Josh when we sang camp songs like "One Day Soon". He's really quick at catching on to the songs Josh teaches him.
10 year old Kendra had her hands full as she watched out for her brother Luke and Caleb Wynn. She's a great playmate and really enjoyed the boys and made it a lot more fun for them while their parents were busy!
The first day Becca felt a bit overwhelmed going from one camp to another but she quickly struck up a friendship with Kaja whose sister goes to our church. Rebecca really enjoyed Kaja and sharing with her about who Jesus is. I think she was special to Kaja too since Kaja just added her to her friends on Facebook and listed Becca as her sister!
I love camp! Such sweet friendship happen there!