Our fun and scary excursions and adventures in Budva, Montenegro!

The Team

Me hanging on to the back of our paddle boat in hopes that it wouldn't flip...

Budva

Me and Tori

He's All I Need

When I was really young I started to sing in church with Dad and Uncle Chuck. Although I wasn't always fond of having to rehearse when I just wanted to play dolls with my cousins, there was one song that I always loved, He's All I Need. The words to this song just spoke to my heart from a really young age becasue it describes a God that is closer than a brother, and Someone you can always call on. A God who knows all my needs and is my heart's consolation. To this day God speaks to me through that song, and I love to sing it.

God continues to show me through life experiences that He is all I need. This summer I’ve shared some very fun times and made awesome memories already with my new friends in Cacak. Merila and Dragana are becoming like sisters to me and the thought of leaving here in a month is really difficult for me to think about. But along with these great moments where I’ve seen God move and answer prayers like never before, also comes moments of suffering. Honestly, this summer (which is half over) has been one of the most challenging experiences of my life. Since I left home and first arrived in Serbia, I’ve heard God speaking again and again to my heart that this summer isn’t about what I can do for the Serbs here by teaching English, but what He wants to do through my life…and with my life.

My first week in Cacak, I really struggled in a spiritual battle that was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced since I began my relationship with Jesus. I began praying that God would just put his protective armor around me and make me aware of my own sin and Satan’s attacks. He did just that-- The following week my mom called to tell me that Granny’s test results showed that she had cancer, and that the doctors wanted to do more tests to make sure it hadn’t spread. Unfortunately, the next week our family struggled with learning that Granny’s cancer had progressed. In spite of the painful circumstances that were taking place in my family, God continued to give me peace. Not just peace, joy even. He was speaking to my heart and sharing with me that He would never leave me, and that He had a plan for my life and my family. But events shifted yet again in my family, and the next week my mom called to tell me that Papaw passed away. I was stunned and shocked that all of this was going on while I was so far away from my family. Although Papaw’s death was not unexpected (due to his decreasing health) I really just wanted to be with my family and the people who knew and loved him. Anytime I had ever thought about losing a family member, I knew that I’d receive comfort from the nearness of my family and going through this difficult time together. Perhaps God has been using this time to make me more dependent on him and to remind me that family is a gift from Him in the first place.

Never had I imagined that Papaw would pass away in the two months that I would be gone to Serbia. It never occurred to me that Granny could have cancer, or especially that she would have to deal with her own health as well as the loss of her husband. But God doesn’t work on my time, and my plans are not always His. I have never lost a family member, or even a close friend before. As I’ve grieved the loss of my Papaw this week, I’ve learned that God is all the comfort I need. It comforts me to know that there is a reason why God allowed Papaw to pass away when I’m so far from home. And having now experienced the loss of a family member, I don’t know how people who don’t have the hope of eternal life through Jesus deal with the death of a loved one.

It hurts to be away from my family right now. It hurts to lose a loved one and have no one around you who knew him or the kind of person that he was. The guilt for not being there to help or to be able to say goodbye also…hurts. But God is so faithful, and His grace is sufficient! In my weakness, He is strong. I’m so happy that I serve a God who is totally in control and has a reason for every painful thing that happens, even if I never know why. He promises to protect us, never leave us, and to always love us – and He KEEPS His promises. I praise God that He relieved Papaw from his pain, and that he no longer has to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. I’m rejoicing that I really never do have to say goodbye to Papaw because his soul is in heaven with God, where I will be too in God’s time. God is healing me, and is reminding that His ways are not my ways. He is preparing me, and molding me into the person He needs me to be to accomplish His will.

Although there is pain, there is also abundant peace, even joy. Jesus was crucified, but He rose again – and just as Jesus lives today, so does Papaw and anyone else who trusts in Jesus. Thanks so much to everyone for your encouraging words and prayers and love!

He's All I Need

He's all I need when I just need someone to talk to.

He always there to answer rayer each time I call.

And all my needs He will supply, my thirsty soul will satisfy.

For He's the Lord of all, and He's all I need.

He comforts me when I'm weary, eases every pain, fills my deepest longing.

Time and time again, He's my soul's inspiration, my heart's consolation.

He's my everything, He's all I need.

He's all I need. I dare not turn to any other.

For He's a friend. A friend that's closer than any brother.

And on this friend I can rely to be my strength as time goes by.

For He's my everything, and He's all I need.

What's going on in Cacak?? Take a look!

This is a picture of me with my evening class on our weekly awards day.

Here, Dragana is teaching us how to make a traditional Serbian breakfast food.

Good times and good food!

Ratko, Gordana, Jennifer, Tori, and me during our morning class.

This is a picture of me and my teammates: Jacob, Tori, me, and Damian

Small Forget

We have a student at the English Club, whose name is Ratco, who is always there and always entertaining us with funny stories in his beginning stage of English speaking. Monday, he was sharing a story with a few of the Americans here, and as always, he was very amusing. But into the story, he forgot one of the punch-lines (I guess…) and said, “Oh, sorry teacher. Sorry. Small forget”. We all laughed at his ability to make the most of the English words he knows, but I think something deeper must have penetrated my heart at that moment. God keeps reminding me of “small forgets” of my own…

Small forget that I haven’t thanked God for the miracles He’s been doing in my life, and letting me see the miracles He is working in my teammates, and most importantly the Serbs here in Cacak. Small forget that I’m not loving sacrificially, that I need to see everyone as God sees him or her because Jesus died for everyone… Small forget that God is seeking an intimate relationship with me (ironically, I’m reminded of this as I am encouraging people thousands of miles away from my home to seek a personal relationship with God). Truthfully, it isn’t a small forget at all; it is a huge forget. I need to remember that God is pursuing me and wants me to pursue Him right back. I need remember my first love. God is continually speaking to me and convicting me of issues in my own spiritual life through the honesty of the people here in Cacak. They say that the Bible is challenging. They admit that it is hard to pray. They confess it’s hard to place God in the center of one’s life. I am learning so much from them!

Karl and Julie, Chris and Becky, and Tim and Jennifer and their children are going to Greece for an annual meeting for IMB. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel, and that their time together with fellow Christians would rejuvenate them and revive their spirits. Please pray for my teammates and me while they are gone!

Thank you so much for your encouraging words, support, and prayers. It means so much! Here are some specific people and requests that are on my heart. Your prayers will make such a difference—

Mirela - to trust God, and to have peace restored to her
Drangana - to come to a Bible study
Marko - to not get discouraged in his newfound faith
Tamara - to be victorious in the spiritual battle between hanging on to the world and hanging on to Christ
Tori - my roommate and teammate, that God will heal her broken hand, and help her to speak out for Him
Me – to love those around me as God does, that God will continue to teach me to see these people as He does, and continuously remind me that He died for them.
Jacob - my teammate, that he will follow God's timing in the relationships he is building, to know he’s an encourager, and continue to be bold where it is needed
Damian - my teammate, that God will use his outgoing personality and sense of humor to create close ties to the guys here so they can see God's unconditional love through him.

Being in Cacak...

Well, I’ve been in Cacak, Serbia for two weeks now and I’ve already seen God do amazing things in my life and in the lives of those around me. Our first week of English classes ended Friday evening (almost 30 people came throughout the week!), and I’m so excited about all of the relationships I’ve had the opportunity to build, and all of the great people I’m getting to know.

The people here are so nice, even the strangers that I run into on the streets. My first day here, my roommate, Tori, and I were trying to use our ATMs and were really confused. There was a man standing next to us that could see our confusion and offered to help us. Instances such as this have happened often since I’ve been here, the people are very generous (that, or I just look really confused all the time-which probably isn’t too much of a stretch!).

Serbia is a really beautiful place. Cacak is a town surrounded by mountains, and so every day I am reminded of God’s powerful love not only through the kindness shown to me by the Serbians, but also though nature.

We’ve been here only two weeks, but I already feel like I will never be able to tell all of the stories and crazy things that have happened! First of all, we take regular adventures when we ride with the missionaries wives (who, bless their hearts, have never driven a stick shift in the states, much less in Cacak – where driving seems to have little order in the eyes of an American!). We all manage to have a good laugh at Becky’s expense sometimes…

But in all seriousness, since I have been here I have been more confused, more lost, more tired, and more involved in a spiritual battle than at any other time in my life. But God has been my strength, and I've has to rely on Him more than ever before. I’ve had opportunities to share my faith, and I know that God has amazing thing planned for this summer – and that doesn’t make Satan happy. Please keep me in your prayers as I try build relationships to let others experience the love of God.

This is the view from our apartment. We have a small balcony where we can sit and look at the mountains.

One of the ministries taking place here through our team is sports ministries: baseball and football. This is the first game we went to.

This is me, my room mate Tori, and new friend Mirela at the river which runs next the the city park. It is so beautiful and calming there!
Tori and I are eating at a Serbian restraunt that serves traditional dishes... we ate WAY too much - thanks Merila!

This is me with my classfor our first award ceremony. They are so much fun and it is exciting to get to know them all.