almost over and sad to leave

This summer has gone by so fast. I can't believe me internship ends in six days. I still feel like a just arrived a few weeks ago and still have months ahead of me to serve the Lord and build relationships with the youth and help run English camps. Time certainly does fly by when you're having fun. All I did was blink and it was the end of the summer.

Lessons I've learned while being in Slovenia:

1) God is in control of all things. ~ I learned this lesson on a couple of different occasions. One place I majorly saw this was when we were promoting camps in Kamnik. The first day we went out there we really didn't have a whole lot of response from the students and they really didn't seem all that interested in camp. Then the second and third days we were out there it was like night and day. The students were more interactive and definitely showed a lot more interest in camp and what we had to say to them.

2) Relying on your own strength is a majorly stupid idea. ~ This lesson was taught to me the heard way. As I was preparing lesson plans for camp and getting ready for camp, I kept thinking about myself and relying on my own strength. I kept thinking, "How am I going to get all this done? Or how am I going to teach students English? I'm not a teacher!" Then, on the first day of class, God showed me what it would be like if I kept relying on my own strength and not His. Basically everything I had prepared for a 3 hour class, I finished in the first hour and a half. So after having a complete breakdown after class was over and talking to my leader, I definitely felt God saying, "Whose strength are you going to rely on? You just found out what it was like to rely on your own. How about you try mine and see how it feels." I learned my lesson.

3) I am not a teacher, but with God I can teach English. ~ I am thankful for the opportunity God gave me to teach English this summer at camp. It has definitely given me a new appreciation for all the teachers I've had over the almost 20 years of education I've had up to this point of my life. I am thankful to God that He has shown me that I am able to teach but I wouldn't make a good school teacher. So it was definitely a good idea that I changed my major from Education to Biblical Studies.

So those are the top 3 lessons God has taught me over the summer of serving Him in Slovenia.

Highlights of my time in Slovenia:

1) Gelato ~ The ice cream here is simply amazing. I think I've had it almost every day.

2) Watching God work in the hearts of the students while at camp. ~ It was great to be an eyewitness as I watched students as they interacted with the Story of God, and wrestled with the different truths from the story. I am thankful for the opportunities that God gave me while at camp to show and explain to students what I believe and why I believe it.

3) Building relationships with the students and showing them the love of Christ. ~ This was a major highlight of my summer. It was great to just hang out with students and get to know them and show them the genuine love of Christ.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. I truly appreciate all of you and your faithfulness to pray for me while I've been over here. Please continue to pray for me as I interact and hang out with the students from camp that they will see a difference in my life and want to know more about why I am different.