We thank God for a good and growing year.  Some highlights of 2009 include, but certainly aren’t limited to –

•    our relatively easily obtained one year work permit!

•    the completion of the fire pit project at camp and the fellowship while working on it

•    Lydia’s 2nd place finish in her 1st Croatian archery tournament

•    seeing God working in hearts and lives at camp

Becoming more involved at our church -Dan helping lead a boys’ group for 12-14 year-olds and Bonnie teaching Sunday School for 6-12 year-olds during the Bible Study time

•    a time to reconnect with Dan’s mom and step-dad on their trip to visit us this fall

 

•    the beginning of a small home school co-op that Bonnie and the girls are involved in

•    Dan’s 40th birthday and those painful shingles – could there be a connection?!

•    Ellie Beth joining a fencing club

•    On a sad note, Bonnie’s dad Gene is struggling with Lewy Body Dementia with Parkinson’s disease.  Being so far away is hard.  

•    the completion of the carved verse sign in the dining room – thanks Terry!

  •    Cooking and hanging out with Jane, Donna, Carrie and Nancy during MK camps

•    new co-workers, Juice and Beth Ortiz

•    Another hard thing, our team mates, the McCollum's, resigned from SEND and returned to Minnesota

•    Bonnie working on her Croatian and ping pong skills with Rahela

•    all of us being together at the EBS camp this summer

•    Catie, Zelphia and Aurora Peterson’s visit in February

Give thanks to the LORD for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever!  Psalm 107:1

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Severin again this year.  It was an international crew - American, Croatian, German and Dutch - but with lots of traditional American Thanksgiving food - or as American as we could make them over here.  Ellie Beth made a triple batch of sweet potato casserole and I made my family's apple raisin stuffing.  It was a great time of feasting, singing, praising God, and fellowship.  We even managed a photo shoot as our co-worker, Daniel, graciously agreed to take family photos.

It has been a good year of growth and stretching.  Here are a few of the things that I are thankful for...

• Our Sovereign and Holy God, full of grace and mercy
•  Jesus, perfect King and perfect Savior
• the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
• The Word of God
• Dan, Lydia, and Ellie Beth
• family and friends
• our prayer partners  who intercede on our behalf and lift up our needs to God
• our financial supporters - who give sacrificially so that we can serve here
• our supporting churches
• our team mates and co-workers
• Frodo, our dog
• laughter
• our apartment and our landlords, Dubravka and Stjepan
• our church in Malesnica
• The DPB House in Severin, aka Camp
• forgiveness
• the calling of God
• good food
• creativity
• God's diverse creation
• chocolate
• skype
• good health
• a washer and dryer that work
• gas heat
• warm showers
• pizza
• the ability to home school
• great books
• small group
• comfortable beds
• car that works
• rest
• stars
• home school co-op
• mountains
• the sea
• public transportation
• good coaches for the girls

New sports, new games, new friends, new life...Lydia and I just returned from our second year at EBS camp. The camp program for this year was called "Wastewatchers."  It focused on the themes of God's creation, taking care of the earth, and spiritual transformation in Christ.  Most of the Bible stories and memory verses were from the Gospel of John. 

We renewed friendships with some campers from last year and met a lot of new ones.  The camp was full!  Thirty five kids (from Protestant, Catholic, and unchurched backgrounds), eight counselors (four from England, two from Croatia, one from South Africa and myself), two cooks and one leader all lived together at the DPB House for a week.

We introduced a new sport to camp this summer– Dance Praise.  Dance Praise is a Christian dance music video game which four people can do at the same time.  It soon became the third favorite sport activity after archery and rock climbing.  It was great to see the kids dancing and singing along with the music, “It’s all about You...It's not about me…Wherever I go I want people to see Your light shining like the sun in everything that I do..." (Nate Sallie from All About You) 

The campers were diverse, ranging in age from 9 to 14, from a variety of backgrounds.  Some were believers, some strong followers of Christ, some seekers and some were just there for the fun and Christ-like atmosphere.  They enjoyed playing soccer, table tennis, volleyball, capture the flag, speed stacks, swimming, crafts, and just hanging out.  Everyone got along for the most part, although I was able to practice my peacemaking training one day between two different rooms.

Morning Bible Study Group

Every morning we met in small groups for Bible Study and discussion.  Every evening we met as a large group to sing songs, hear a Bible story and testimony, watch a drama and have small group discussions about what we just heard.  I was able to share about the death and resurrection of Christ and how we want to live for ourselves and go our own way, instead of following Christ and going God’s way.  On Thursday night, we ended by having a time of prayer and reflection.  It was wonderful to see how God was working in hearts – convicting of sins and speaking to hearts.  Please keep these young people in your prayers that seeds that were planted this week would take root – deeply, flourish, and bear much fruit!  Pray that they would follow Christ through all circumstances and love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

The camp ended with hugs, tears, and an exchange of email addresses and phone numbers. We are exhausted but excited to see God at work.  We can’t wait until next year!

Our language instructor in Colorado told us: “You’re going to make a million mistakes so get started!  Here is one of my million.
 
Ellie Beth and I were taking Frodo, our puppy and people magnet, for a walk one day when two girls about Ellie’s age started talking with us: “Baš je slatki!” He’s so sweet/cute!  “Muski ili ženski?”  Is he male or female?  “Kako se zove?  What’s his name?   “Koliko je star?” How old is he?

Ellie Beth answered them all!  But then they asked us another question – one we hadn’t heard before…we had no idea what they were saying.   Ellie Beth and I looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders.  I gave my typical answer – “Ne razumijem."  I don't understand.  Then after a second to think it through: "Tvoy hrvastski nije dobar."  Our Croatian is not so good.  Well that’s what I meant to say!  They looked at me strangely, smiled and walked away.  We walked on. 

About 20 meters later I stopped, looked at Ellie Beth and said, “Oh, no! I just told that girl that her Croatian wasn’t good, didn’t I?!!”

 “Yep – you did.” Ellie Beth smiled at me and we started laughing.  It’s better than crying!