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.