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!