Camp starts tomorrow!!

Just thought I would send a quick update while I have a chance. Czech is amazing so far and God is SO GOOD and has been so faithful! Got here with no problems and have spent the last few days getting to know one another and the Czech team and spending time with Daniel.We had practice tonight for camp, and I am really excited! It just sort of hit me as we prayed and sang worship songs all together that I was half way around the world worshiping the same Lord and Savior with people I couldn't communicate with in their own language, and yet the fellowship and worship were just as sweet! Gives a whole new perspective on heaven and when all the nations will bow down...how glorious it will be!! Praise God!!!We were talking to one of the Czech team members. we asked if his family went to his church and if they were believers. he said yes, but not always. His mom went to an english camp when he was 2 and became a believer and then his dad accepted Christ five years later when he was 7. He said, "so I am here because of your predecessors." What an encouragement going into camp!!!!We leave for our first camp tomorrow. Thank you all so much for all of your prayers!!! Tell everyone Hi and love from the Czech Republic!

So, yes, here I am all packed with everything on my back, ready to go to the Czech Republic. Granted, I still have 4 days and this was just a practice round to make sure everything I needed would fit, but fun(ny) none the less... at least A.J. thought so when she took my picture.

Kind of exciting to head off overseas with everything I could possibly need in my back pack... makes me feel all adventurous! One thing I have loved about college is that feeling of adventure and not being tied down by anything. That whole idea is a bit exagerated on this trip and I am uber excited!

Lord I don't know where this is going, but this is how I got here...

This is a picture of the church we will be serving and working alongside in the Czech Republic to teach English camps during the next 3 weeks. As I was preparing prayer requests and such for this trip, I was forced to relive the last few months and how this trip came about in the first place. As many of you may know, my heart was set on returning to Wilmington for a month long trip this summer. I knew the second I returned home from our 10 day trip last summer that I wanted to go back. Tom's work just resonated with my heart... I held off hope though and waited until spring and where the pieces fell for timing this summer.

When the trips for this summer were introduced and then later on during a talk about Wilmington, my heart nearly lept out of my chest with excitement. The dates worked perfectly and I would still have time to work on my thesis and get in some physical therapy hours... in my mind, I was going. I filled in my missions interest card and checked Wilmington as well as the Fort Collins and Greeley projects for the time that I would be here, leaving only the Czech trip unchecked. Wilmington required an application process as Tom would only be accepting 6-8 people to go for the summer. I was so confident that this was where I was supposed to be that I didn't really have any doubts as to my being accepted...life was good, everything was falling into place for everything I was doing, this wouldn't be any different, right?

Then one Thursday night after Bible study, my world crumpled around me. All of my friends were dealing with some really tough stuff, and then I receive the e-mail that says I would not be going to Wilmington. My heart shattered... how could I be so wrong and misled in my plans for the summer? My mind immediately wandered to the "why?" questions and even to blaming others, anything that might explain how everything had run so amuck...

The next day, a Friday, a small group of us were going out to my roommate's ranch for the weekend to work cattle and hang out. Just before we left I checked my e-mail. I had an e-mail from Kevin, our former college pastor and now one of our church pastors. He encouraged me with the Wilmington stuff and asked if I had considered the Czech trip... he explained that he thought my gifts would be a good addition to a team there. Floored, I quickly grabbed my bags and jumped in the car to head out to the ranch.

It was an amazing weekend where each of us could work through everything that was going on. Tired from working cattle and humbled, I came to terms with the fact that Wilmington was just not where I was supposed to be just yet. I would just become okay with remaining in Fort Collins to work and hang out when I would think about Czech. I prayed and talked to several people about my dilemma. I was worried about finances; I was worried about time; I was worried about my parents okaying it...I explained it as a door being slammed right in my face as I attempted to go through the doorway, and as I sat dazed and confused on my rear end in the middle of the hallway, I realize there is a window open right beside that door, but now I couldn't figure out if I should go for the window or just keep walking down that hallway to see what else may await me.

I went around in circles and up and down for a couple of weeks. I would be so encouraged and ready to go when something would remind me of something else, or I would be hesitant because of how sure I was about Wilmington... how could I be so sure about anything at this point?

Finally, we were at Concert of Prayer in May. I was in a group with some amazing young women and we prayed for Czech and for the Czech team and I begged for an answer I had to have by Wednesday of that week. I can't really explain what happened during that service, but I have never prayed so fervently... I was in tears and I left immediately after it and called my Mom. I told her I was going and she said okay... she's usually worried about more details and I think she asked about a few things, but for the most part I had no idea of any details at that point, I just knew I was going. I walked back into church and Kevin greeted me and asked if I had any idea at that point. I was probably just beaming as I was able to tell him "YES" once in for all!

So, since then God has completely confirmed my decision. I love my team and I am excited to get to know each of them better as we serve along side one another. God has completely provided financially for my trip and given me time to get things done here before I leave. I will be able to go home before classes begin adn spend time with my family as my younger sister goes to college. I have gotten to know Wendy and Jay more and more as leaders of the trip. I was super excited from camp about teaching and am REALLY looking forward to teaching the English lessons and building relationships with the Czech students. We met with one of our Czech students who will be at Camp I and that totally helped calm any fears I had about working with them. I am also considering a more teaching focused career, either at a university or in extension services, so this will help with considering that.

However, even with all of these confirmations, I really have no idea why I am going to the Czech Republic in 6 days... I can only explain it as God said "Go!" and I said "Okay." Which in and of itself is exciting, because nothing on this trip will be of me... all the glory will go to Him who got me here and there in the first place. But at the same time I know God will work amazing things in Czech both in their hearts and mine. I pray He will use me as an instrument in a dark nation and that these camps will not only help them with their English but that they will receive the gift of salvation, the love of Christ, and hope in a dark world. As my roommate told me yesterday... "you're gonna have some Jesus stories!" What an honor and a privilege! Praise God!