End of the summer

We finished our third camp, said good-bye to our interns, and also to the summer. It was strange to go home, and to be on my own again, to not have to buy groceries for three, to not always have someone around, ... I definitely had to adjust. The interns did an awesome job this summer. They arrived, mostly having no clue as to what to expect, and jumped right into things. They did their best with the language (and did really well!), dealt with cultural differences, and really stepped out of their comfort zones daily! It was so great to see them build relationships, and to pour into students! God used them in many ways this summer!

Charis, Josh, and I at our last camp

There were 39 students that trusted Christ at camps in Slovakia this summer, that we know of! Praise God!! Camps may be over, but the work continues. Camp is only one week out of 52! We are praying for follow up work. That students would stay connected with the youth group. That they would see what life with God is about as they go about their days, going back to school, meeting up with their friends, and living life with their families.

I had a conversation with a girl in my youth group last week. We were talking about school, the fall, and the busyness of life. Afterward, she asked me to pray for her. She wants God to help her manage her time well. She wants to make sure she spends time with God, and does not forget about Him because of everything else taking up her time. I have been thinking about that since my conversation with her. How that is a struggle for me sometimes. How I sometimes have too much to do to "just stop and be with God". And how I need to stop seeing it that way because it's not an either/or kind of thing, but instead I just need to invite God into everything I am doing. Allow Him to be a part of my day, no matter what I am doing. And I am praying this for the girl, and for the girls in my small group, and for our youth group, and the students in Slovakia. May we be people who do not just add God to their "to do" lists! May we learn what it means to dwell in Him, to draw from Him, to live life with Him.