And, we're back!

Our Hungary team! 

Our Staff

Our mission trip to Hungary was great!! Thank you so much for praying for our team. I was super proud of the way our students stepped out and served and loved well! I thought our team meshed well together. 

A brief rundown... 

We got into Mikepercs late Saturday night and woke up for church on Sunday morning. Half of our team attended the local Reformed Church and the other half attended a Calvary Chapel in the nearby, larger town of Debrecen. Afterwards, both groups met up for lunch and a meeting with those who wrote the English Camp curriculum. 

On Monday morning, camp started. There were more teenagers than expected, which was really encouraging to the local missionaries. I guess this is an age group that doesn't attend much, so to have so many come out was wonderful. After camp and lunch, we rested a short time before heading out to the sports field for afternoon camp. We played baseball, American football, soccer, ultimate frisbee and ended the week with water balloons/guns! 

A few of our students had opportunities to share their testimonies throughout the week - and they did great. Speaking through a translator and using universal words (not just American/church culture words) was challenging, but I thought they communicated their stories well. 

Twice, we split our group up. One group attended a gypsy church on Tuesday night where they led the small congregation in worship and then played with the kiddos during the sermon time. The other group helped prepare/serve a meal at a local homeless shelter, and one of our students got to preach before the meal! 

The evenings were my highlight. We read through the Gospel of John and 1 John throughout the week. Each night, we'd gather for worship, sharing/daily debrief and then a time of teaching through the reading. Students really dug deep and asked great questions as they read their Bibles. Our main "aha" moment of the teaching was understanding that Jesus was sent by the Father to represent and make God known. We too have been sent into the world to make God known. We talked a lot about being a light to those around us and making God known through our words and deeds. It was an encouraging and convicting time for all of us as we consider being an ambassador for Christ! 

Some of the teenagers in the community joined us for our evening Bible study - which was a very cool thing. Most of the teenagers aren't believers. Communism fell in Hungary in 1989. Under communism, there is no God - this belief continues today. The church is small throughout the country, but God is at work and is drawing people to himself. For the local teens to see our students in love with the Lord and serious about growing in faith, was a huge eye opener to them. The local missionaries were excited to see the spark in them and will continue to follow up with them! Praise the Lord!! 

On the final Saturday morning, we drove to a nearby orphanage and played some games with the children. I spoke with the house nanny for a short time and it was interesting to hear her story. Hungary is a strict socialist government today. The people are taxed 49%!? Families get money from the government for every child they have... so poorer families will sometimes have more children so they can earn more money. Even sadder is that babies with disabilities earn them more money, so some moms will drink/smoke/do drugs during pregnancy, in hopes of having a child with a disability so they can collect more money. As a result, many families aren't able to support and care for some many kids - so they take one or a few to a state-run orphanage. Parents can still maintain custody of their child, even if they take them to an orphanage, so long as they call once a month and check in. This means, they can continue to collect their monthly government child payment. Pretty tragic, huh? One boy from an orphanage a few hours away was able to join with our team for the first half of the week. He was in this situation - his parents simply had too many kids to care for, so they dropped him off at an orphanage. He is a new believer in the Lord and one of the local missionaries in his town has taken him under his wing and invests in him. Pray that this student will continue to embrace the Lord and understand his sonship place as an adopted son of our Heavenly Father!! 

And now, for the BEST highlight of the week... 

One of our students signed up for the trip because he was interested in serving. He professed to be an atheist and came to youth group to learn about religion. He's an avid reader. Throughout the week, as he read his Bible, he'd come up to one of the staff and ask questions. Questions ranged from what does this word mean, to why did that happen and what's the reasoning for this or that. He was really open and honest with his thoughts and processing. On our final night in Hungary, as we left a restaurant in Budapest, he asked me if he could ask me a question. He began to tell me a little about his journey in understanding religion... his interest in Buddhism because of its service emphasis... and just not being sure and not wanting to rush into something. Things began clicking for him during the week. He said he realized that Christians are supposed to serve and help other people too! During dinner he stepped outside for a minute and spent time praying. Afterwards he told me that he felt God speaking to him and that he finally got "it." Praise the Lord for drawing this student to Himself in His timing. We've been praying for this student for the past 5 or 6 months since he began coming to group. This Sunday he's going to share his testimony in chapel! He volunteered to and I'm super proud of him and excited to see him growing. He's already asking me what he should begin reading!! Praise God!!

And a few pictures - 

^The final day of English camp ... Russ (in the front) is the GoodSports International Director, and our host - he's great!! 

^Our students were divided into teams (younger and older kids) and did break out sessions of English. A lot of the students have learned English in school, but have very few opportunities to practice. We focused a lot on conversational English - body parts, colors, animals, weather, household items, etc.

^Some of our students are into step dance and taught the kiddos at the camp different dances so they could learn a little about American culture.

^Night time capture the flag... with 100+ glow sticks! (This was such a big hit, we ended up doing it 2 nights!)

^The gypsy church.

On the way home, we stopped in Budapest for an afternoon/evening of downtime and sight seeing. It was fun! We spent time at a really cool castle.

 ^Our Team ... we got photo bombed! (who is that older guy in the back row?)

 ^My girls (they rock!!)

^Our tough boys

AJ's Farewell

It's that time of the year in the military community ... moving season. We've been saying goodbye to lots of students who are either moving to a new base or heading off to college. It's my least favorite part of military life.  

This summer my co-workers, AJ and Anna, are moving back to the states. AJ is going to Multnomah Biblical Seminary to finish his Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry, with the eventual goal of becoming a Bible and youth ministry professor in the college level.  Anna and the girls flew to Portland a few weeks ago in time to unload their container and begin setting up house. AJ will join them a few days after we return from Hungary. 

This past Tuesday night was AJ's final youth group at Ramstein. In between our middle and high school youth groups, we did a dinner and farewell time for AJ. 

^ Teaching on Numbers 13-14... we've been discussing the grumbling Israelites and trusting in God's plans for us and walking in obedience.

^ Most of the students who were able to join us at the farewell! (A lot of people travel in the summer, so unfortunately not everyone could be there.)

^ Praying for AJ, Anna and their girls as they transition

It's been a real joy to work with AJ and Anna in Germany and live life with them. They are going to really be missed, not only by me, but by a lot of families in the community! Praise the Lord for their faithful service with Cadence! 

Hungary 2012... Back for Seconds

Our summer mission trip is coming up quickly! For the second second summer in a row, we are partnering with Good Sports International, and we are really looking forward to returning. We’ll be traveling to the town of Mikepercs, Hungary (about 3 hours east of Budapest). 

Each morning our team will help lead and assist an English camp for elementary aged kids. They will teach classes, perform skits and sing songs with the children. After a lunch break, we will transition to helping out with a sports camp. Each day kids in the community will learn basic skills for different sports like baseball, soccer, frisbee, and kick ball. One evening we’ll pull out a hundred glow sticks and do a capture the flag night game - that was a huge hit last year! We’ll also have an opportunity to visit a gypsy ministry the local church facilitates one evening. After dinner each night, we’ll gather as a team, and spend time in worship and study. We are going to be reading and teaching through the Gospel of John. 

In addition to helping with the camps and church ministries, we've been collecting donations for several months for orphanages and refugee camps in the area. Our Good Sports contact is an amazing networker in the region. He helps resource the orphanages and refugee camps with needed supplies. This year they've asked for winter clothing for the orphans and refugees, and we've been able to collect a ton of coats and warm clothes. Good Sports has also asked for sports donations and we've received lots of bats, balls, cleats and athletic clothing. We're excited to deliver these goods!! 

We’ve got 21 people on our team, 16 students and 5 staff. We leave on Saturday, July 14th and will return the following Sunday, July 22nd.

We covet your prayers for the week! 

Specifically, would you pray for ...

• Safety as we make the 12+ hour drive to and from Hungary, and for good health and endurance as our team serves throughout the week. 
• Team unity as our students work together to lead and help out with an English camp each morning and a sports camp every afternoon. Pray the Lord would help them to be other’s focused and patient with one another. 
• Spiritual growth as we spend time individually and together in worship and studying God’s Word throughout the week. We’ll be reading John’s Gospel and spending time each evening discussing our reading and teaching through the book.
• Guidance and wisdom for staff as we lean into students and encourage them and help them process through what they are experiencing. 

Welcome to Summer!

Schools out! To kick off the summer, we took high schoolers to Darmstadt yesterday... we went to a great Asian buffet for lunch, walked around the city and saw a cool Russian church (the last Russian Czar married a girl from Darmstadt, so there's some cool buildings for her), then we played a great game of finger darts at the Frankenstein Castle (it was awesome!) and then we went indoor go-karting at a place with a track covering two levels. We ended the day/night with an overnighter at the youth building... more finger darts and a few great rounds of cut throat mafia. Hello, summer vacation! 

^ In front of the Russian church ... looking serious ... from my favorite movie, Miracle, "They're Russians, they get shot if they smile."

June, summer's here!

It's been a whirlwind the past few weeks... graduation was last weekend and today was the last day of school for students. Here's a quick update of what's been going on. 

Seniors! Last weekend was the baccalaureate service for graduating seniors. Students from our youth group planned and led the service, it was fun to see them in action, using their gifts. 2 of our students read Scripture, 1 gave the student message, our group praise team lead worship, and AJ gave the main message. He taught from Proverbs and encouraged students to make wise, Christ centered decisions as they set out into the world. 

^Our CP (career practicum) students! We made it through the year together. These are the 4 students that came during their school day to help us in the office and learn what it means to do ministry. We did a lot of discipleship with them and read and discussed a number of books. This fall, 2 of them are heading to Wheaton College near Chicago for Army ROTC, 1 is going to Concordia, Nebraska on a track scholarship and 1 is going to the Cadence Discipleship Training School in Chiang Mai, Thailand for a semester before heading off the Bible college next year. I'm super proud of each of them and can't wait to see how God will continue to grow them for His glory! 

^ Michelle turned 16 a few weeks ago and had a big party. She asked AJ and I to come and share a few things about her and the beautiful woman she's developing into. It was a huge privilege to be asked and it was fun to get to speak words of life to her. Michelle is a great musician and helps lead worship for both the middle and high school youth groups. She's also a great friend to many and consistently strives to be a Light to those around her. I give her a ride home from girls Bible study each week and it's always fun to hear what God is teaching her. 

My middle school girls! 

^ For end of the school year fun day, Suzan and I invited our middle school girls to a really cool park about an hour away. We enjoyed a picnic lunch, took a boat ride (and saw lots of huge carp fish and ducks) and then walked through a butterfly garden, an aquarium area, and we saw some monkeys and a lot of cool birds (like flamingos and penguins). 

 ^Suzan and I had a lot of fun with our middle school girls small group this year. We had four girls who consistently stuck it out with us ... we had about six other girls who joined us throughout the year too, but they were involved in a few other things and had to miss now and then. We recently completed going through the book of Colossians and discussing the supremacy of Christ.

May Update

Dear Team, 

Happy Memorial Day! I hope today is a meaningful day as you reflect on those who've given their lives for the freedom of our country and others. I had an opportunity to visit the Lorraine American Cemetery near Saint Avold, France a few days ago. The cemetery is 100+ acres and home to 10,489 graves - the largest number of graves of fallen WWII soldiers in Europe. This was my second visit to an American Cemetery in Europe. Over Christmas break, my parents and I visited one in Luxembourg, where General Patton was laid to rest. Looking out at all the crosses and reflecting on all the lives they represent is a pretty somber experience. So many young men laid down their lives for our freedom. 

Two days after visiting the cemetery, I received an e-mail that grieved my heart. A young Marine from Oregon was killed while on a mission in Afghanistan. He and his parents are extremely close friends to my good family friends the Lambert's. Keaton was 22, about three weeks shy of completing his second tour of duty and a month away from getting married. Instead of planning a homecoming and finalizing wedding plans, his parents are now preparing for a funeral. Would you join me in praying for Keaton's parents, Grant and Inger and for my the Lambert's as they grieve the loss of their son and dear friend. Praise the Lord Keaton walked with the Lord and is enjoying eternity with our Savior! 

Thank you so much for joining me in ministering to the military community. It's an honor to get to serve those who serve through sharing the love of Christ with them. I'm super grateful for your support that enables me to minister to military teens as they grow up in such a transient culture. Pray that they would  "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." 

Ministry Report:

Tomorrow night we'll honor our graduating seniors. We've had a great group of seniors this year and it'll be sad to see them go. But - I'm excited to see where the Lord is leading them, many of them are off to exciting things. Pray they'd find good churches to plug into as they transition into a new chapter and that they'd continue to grow in Christ! Moving back to America for college will be a major change for many of them, as most of them have spent their high school years abroad.

In two weeks, we'll have our annual PCS (permanent change of station = moving) farewell. We do a big group good bye for all students who are moving throughout the summer. Because many students spend their entire summer in the states visiting family, many of their friends will have moved away by the time they return. So everyone has a chance to say their good byes, we designate the last youth group of the school year as a good bye day. Military kids are good at not saying good bye. I'm the same way. Saying good bye so often is hard on the heart, so many avoid the sad feelings and say "see you later" and don't face their feelings. Would you begin praying for students as the PCS season approaches quickly and will continue throughout the summer. It's a tough season as students grieve friends moving away.

Speaking of moving... I'm not! But my co-workers and great friends, AJ and Anna Johnson are moving back to the states this summer. After 10 years of ministry with Cadence, AJ has decided to go back to school. He'll go to Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, OR. He's an extremely gifted teacher and would like to teach Bible and youth ministry at the college level. Anna and their daughters will head back sometime in June and AJ will leave the field in July after our summer mission trip to Hungary. I'm really sad to see them go - they are wonderful people and I'm really going to miss them.

Steve Harvell arrived this week. He worked with AJ and I last summer. He recently graduated from college and is recently engaged to my dear friend Rachel, who's active duty and on her way to Qatar for a yearlong remote. During her year away, Steve is going to work with me at Ramstein! It's a huge blessing - Steve does great ministry and all of our students love him. There's another couple, Kevin and Sharon Sheible who are currently raising support in Austin, TX. They are hoping to join us here this fall! I'm excited for them to get here and begin partnering with them! Would you pray for them as they raise support - their funds are coming in and they are excited to get here!! Would you also pray for Steve and I as we transition to working together and plot out the summer and fall.

^AJ, Steve and I refining our finger dart skills so we can beat the students! 

Well, team - again thanks so much for joining me in prayer and bringing the needs of our students before the Lord. You are a huge encouragement, and I'm so grateful for you! 

Spring Break Recap

Shorebreak 2012, The Illusion

Hey Team! Thanks so much for your prayers for Shorebreak! Sorry I've been slow in getting pictures and a report up. After getting back from the retreat we had a CSM Staff Conference for a week... so life has been full!

This year's theme of "The Illusion" was super relevant to our students. So many of our students are putting lots of time and energy into their "High School 401K" - multiple AP classes, varsity letters, joining multiple clubs and extra curriculars, volunteer hours... the list goes on. The speaker challenged students to think through the things they are pursuing, and why. What do they value and/or desire to get out of those things? Popularity? Materialism? Money? Relationships? We looked a lot at the life of Solomon - a man who had everything and still called it all meaningless in the end. All in all, we had a great retreat. At least 4 of our students accepted Christ for the first time! We also had a number of other students recommit their lives to the Lord. Praise the Lord! 

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commands, for this is the duty of all mankind." Eccles. 12:13.

^ My small group! We spent our last day of camp at an amusement park - riding roller coasters and screaming our lungs out. : ) It was a fun way to end the week. Small group time is typically my favorite part of camp. After each session, we break into small groups to discuss the speaker's talk, answer questions and talk about applying it to our lives.

On a side note... one of my students recently moved here from Grand Forks AFB! She went to the same elementary/middle/high schools that I went to, had some of the same teachers and played on a lot of the same sports teams I did. It always warms my heart when I see her coming in with a Twining or Central hoodie on. : ) It's been super fun to reminisce about good ole' North Dakota and have someone affirm the beauty of wide open prairie spaces. I love it!

^ Two of our students stood before their peers and shared their testimonies with the entire camp! Both had been impacted by previous spring break camps. It was really encouraging to hear how the Lord used past retreats to meet them and set them on a path of spiritual growth!

^ Our Salvage Praise Band led the camp in worship on the final night. We've been extremely blessed this year to have a phenomenal group of musicians. We also have some amazing staff who are really patient and dedicated to helping our students grow and develop as worship leaders.

And finally, what's a trip to Italy without great pizza and cappuccinos?