Luke's second birthday

June 30th Luke turned 2 but he woke up with a fever of 103! It was a bummer because we had attended Elisa Takalo Lund's wedding the night before and afterwards jumped in the car to so we could wake up at my parents the next morning and celebrate Luke's birthday together. But he just didn't feel up to it.
It ended up that he had come down with Rosiola so his fever was very high for the next three days then finally he broke out with the rash and felt better. So we waited until the 4th of July for his party. Which is kinda funny because last year that was the day we celebrated with the Jacksons and Woodards because of camps. And it was also his original due date!

My girls and The Battle Hymn of the Republic

One of the camps you've been praying for is one that my bible study girls are leading. In the spring they let drop the fact that they didn't think they'd be at English camp this year. I was stunned. These girls love this camp! What could be keeping them from it? How about the call of God on their lives? Barbara and Maja explained that although they love to go to camp and wait for it all year. They felt like this time it was their turn to not just be involved but to take ownership in leading others like they'd been led. They felt like they could share and apply what they've been learning at the camp that is led by their local Catholic church every year. They wanted kids attending to get more than games and hear a bible story that they didn't know how to apply. So we did a crash course in preparing them to introduce kids and leaders alike to Jesus in a personal way through a camp setting. I am so proud of them! Please pray for the follow up that is critical after a big event like this! And also for protection for them as the enemy often attacks after ground has been taken.

We are loving being in the US for the 4th of July. When we sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic I was so moved. I wept over the line, "As He died to make men holy let us live to make them free." Those are the words I'm praying... a battle hymn for the Republic of Slovenia!

Tihi Ocean

Becca, Blake and Kendra in front of Haystack Rock at the Pacific Coastline.

Camping Season is here!

As you may know, in the summers we make a big thrust towards taking students to camps. When we first arrived we started off with English camps but as we grow we continue to look for new in roads into kids' hearts.

It's still a new country and what we are doing is still very new. This is hard fought over territory. And because there's not much happening evangelistically in Slovenia, satan is going after those who are involved in this movement of God reaching the young people of Slovenia.

Our teammates who are leading and directing are very aware and prepared. And yet the push is very strenous and often filled with dark opposition.
Please join us as we pray from this side of the ocean. Here's some things we're praying about.

* Because of "complications" we've had to cancel one of our camps and change to a combined effort. A lot of prayer and effort went into the planning of these camps so to have to make a change requires a huge challenge. Pray that we'll see God's leading and directing as we rememeber that Jesus was often focused on interuptions and "accidents".

* Students who have not been able to attend or are afraid to ask their parents if they can attend an evangelical camp.

* Teams who have been sent by churches in the US and Ireland. Pray for them to make wise choices about where to direct their engery and to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Especially as they pour themselves out in a new culture and a spiritual war zone.

* Our staff and teammates who will be leading and directing 8 camps throughout the summer as well as arranging for follow up. It's a deep kind of weary that you feel at camp....but also the best kind!

Patty Family Reunion

Here are just a few cousin shots from our family reunion trip to Telluride, Colorado.
This pic is Tyler pointing out some big time construction equipment to Luke. One of my favorite things about being in the Patty family is the way our kids love each other. They have played together non stop and can't seem to get enough of each other. And the creative influence is better than putting your kid in some kind of work shop! Tyler and Caleb sang in church one Sunday. They were great! I'm ready to put them on my iPod! And Blake is ready to bust out that dusty guitar we've got in the garage!

We did several day trips including Mesa Verde where I took this picture of Becca, Claire, Kyrie, Blake, Kendra and Jonathan. Later on when we returned to Denver, the older kids went to the Jr. High program together while the younger ones went to the kids program.
We got a taste of American heritage and had a picnic near an old abandoned railroad. Kerith, Justin and Caleb join Blake and Jonathan on the rail fence.

Continental Divide

After we landed the whole Patty family came into town and we headed out on our family reunion to Telluride Colorado. On the way we stopped at the Continental Divide. Josh's dad explained how at this point water poured on one side flows towards the Pacific Ocean and water poured on the other side flows towards the Atlantic Ocean.
He handed each family two bottles of water labled Pacific and Atlantic and we got the chance to send some water to each of those two oceans.

Last Day of School!

Yesterday was the kids' last day of school. Their school mates are in until June 24 but since we are flying today we got permission to take them out early. They all did very well and there was lots of excitement around our place last night. No school and a trip to the states! Yee haw! Rebecca sent me this text message "I am done,finishig scool with a 5!" 5 is equal to an A so that was her overall grade! Now we just need to work on her english spelling! Off to go shove the last things in our bags!