Update

Today I found out that I have $4,505 for Slovakia. This is good because it is a lot more than I had last year at this time. Unfortunately it is about $7,500 short of what I need. Please continue to pray that God will provide! And thank to all of you who are supporting me financially and also those who are supporting me in prayer. This week I am in Hilton Head South Carolina, with my family. This is so great because it is one of the last times that I will be able to spend a significant amount of time with my family before I leave for Slovakia in May. Also please pray for my sister as she is with a team from Blackhawk school that are in Costa Rica serving the Lord for two weeks!

Dependent on God

Well, as I said, here is the next part of what I learned last summer! As many of you know I have a small group of guys that I have led for a couple of years. I have also done a lot of work with youth. My thoughts going into the summer went something like this. "Well I am pretty good at working with youth, God has given me this talent, should be no problem." Boy was I wrong, the first camp was basically a failure. I could not do anything right for the life of me. It was after the first camp that I sat down with God and cried and talked to Him about how I was feeling. It was in that moment God made me aware of something I already knew but had forgotten. It is God that works not me. I was getting in the way. I cried to God to take over and let me follow. It was not going to work if I tried to lead. The rest of the summer was not perfect but it turned out better than if I had tried to be in control. It is great to know that I can give over to God and he will do a much better job than I ever would have!

The Beginning

I was thinking this week back to the beginning of my trip last year in Slovakia. I had no idea why I was there. I remember a number of people telling me it was an amazing experience and hey it was Europe why not try it? My first week I remember thinking, what have I got myself into? I do not want to spend the whole summer here. There was another American there named Robby, he was so excited about the whole thing. I could not understand how he could be so excited about this. I remember talking to him about why he came back, and commenting that this would be the only year that I would do this. I was totally not prepared for the summer ahead and what God was going to do. As I look back I cannot believe my mind set. I had not prepared myself for what the summer was going to be like. I was not prepared for how God would change my heart and how he would lay the youth of Slovakia upon my heart. I was not prepared for the change in thinking that was going to happen. God worked in amazing ways in my life. More to come.....

My Dream

I had a dream last night that really shook me. I dreamt that I was at the airport ready to fly to Slovakia. As I went to the line to get on the plane I realized that I did not have my friend Andy with me (who is also going to Slovakia). Not only did I not have Andy with me but I had no ticket and no bags. I was trying to leave completely unprepared and without my friend. I realized that through this dream God was actually telling me something. I am so excited about this coming summer and all that will happen and the oppertunities I will have. Sometimes this leads me to foget God in the midst of all my hopes and dreams. I realize that I need to remeber that God is in control and is always in control. I need to be focusing more and more on Him daily. I do this in order that he can pack my spiritual bag, my heart, with the things he sees as important for me to take. I also realized that without a focus completely on God I may leave my brothers and sisters behind. I need to trust God and be aware of those around me and how I can encourage and equip them through Christ's power. Please pray for me and my fellow Interns as we prepare our hearts and minds for this summer, that we will Pray and seek God's help in "packing our bags."