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?