Goodbye Croatia!

Hi Everyone!!

June 2, 2006...

[16 days left] I'm counting down the days...I have one week of school left to finish everything and cherish every last moment with the ones here I love. Then I'm off to Slovenia for a few days with Petra to visit her family and eat as much as possible. We'll stop in Pula for two days to see the gorgeous coast of Croatia before I fly home...yay! I'll meet Mirela in Zagreb and we'll arrive in Washington DC June 18th.

[kristfest] We just had a great celebration last week promoting Ecumenism here in Osijek...shocking! They got the band "Delirious" to come here to perform..very cool to see everyone come together...Protestants (1%), Catholics (90%), and the controversial Serbian Orthodox (.001% ok...I only met one...the Serbian girl on the committee...but that's a great start.)

[art] I did a presentation/workshop during Kristfest at the Franciscan monastery. Everyone who attended said they loved it.

[work] I finished the "Book of Hope" for teenagers, and can't wait to show it to you all when it's printed! I've stayed busy with this and lots of volunteer design work.

[IFES] Student ministry ended well..they all became dear friends. You can see many photos from a conference last month, in the mountains near the Slovenian border.

April 16, 2006...

[Happy Easter!] This Sunday I will celebrate the Romanian Easter with Melana and Anka, and Anka's mom, sister, brother, and eight cats.

[prayers] Before I continue with the Romanian adventure, I want to thank friends and family who encouraged me and prayed for me all this time..I felt so loved by those at home, a few in Croatia, and those who haven't forgotten about me yet:)

[Gibou] It has been a crazy week here in Gibou...late nights with lots of lively Romanians. This morning I could hear a little lamb crying in the neighbors' tin shed and I was sad for it all locked up...then horrified a few hours later when I saw it hanging by its feet outside our window, all prepared for Easter dinner. For Anka, this was logical and symbolic...this lamb represents Jesus...God's sacrifice for us. He was innocent, peaceful- a god, yet He was brutally killed and hung for all to see. Is. 53...

"But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed...
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter..."

So I hope you had a happy Easter! I hope yours was a little less gruesome, and filled with lots more chocolate.

There have been a lot of life-shaping ups and downs in the past four months since I wrote you last...

[croatia] I was a little lonely after Christmas...ok, a lot...i really missed everyone and questioned my purpose in Croatia...it's one thing to choose to help others and make their life better, but when there is some suffering in order to do that...that is the true test.

[Blaza] After my encouragement, my focus turned to a good friend here whose husband just left her. Blaza has asked for prayer that her husband will open his heart again toward God. "I, the Lord, am your husband." Isaiah 54

[roommate] In February my roommate attempted suicide. I went with her to the hospital and have been walking through this with her ever since...how do I help her fight depression, how can she be free? I've been faced with spiritual warfare, which is often overlooked or disregarded as superstition. I've also learned about sacrifice and freewill through this...whew! I pray that she finds joy and peace and freedom in Christ "I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!"

[work] God provided a great design project for financial stability and to fulfill His purposes...a book about Jesus's life for teenagers. It has been a long process with many sleepless nights, but it's a Godsend. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19

[CD] I volunteered my design servies to a musician in Osijek, Filip, my former English student. I designed a CD cover, and posters for his anti-drugs/social justice campaign. I am learning the severity and ruthlessness of this underground crime and how it leaves people living in fear. It's great to work with someone so passionate for God, and ready to change his country at any cost.

[IFES] The STEP student ministry is going well...well...it's still going, anyway. A couple just moved to Osijek from Montana, Larry and Rebecca Javorsky. They are wonderful!! I can't praise them enough...it has been great working with them the past few weeks, seeking God's will for students in Croatia and seeing God's faithfulness. I spoke about my art and communication with God at the last conference in Zagreb. I was nervous, but it went pretty well. " he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Phil. 1:6

[orphanage] I have been volunteering at an orphanage in Osijek, and the kids have so much energy! I love them to pieces. I am praying for 13 yr old Marija who has had too much to overcome for such a young girl. These kids have so much love to give and receive...they are so open despite their broken pasts. "...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans8:39

[studies] I've gotten really behind on my studies, so I will have to work like crazy these last two months so I can finish my "Certificate of Discipleship". "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross..." Heb. 12:1-2

[USA] Yes, I said "last two months". I'm leaving here June 18th! My time is geting short. I have mixed emotions. My friend Mirela will come with me to the States for four weeks. She's ecstatic. We'll arrive in DC and stay two weeks. We'll fly to Chicago from there, and then to Iowa to see my family...finally!! Can't wait! I miss them more and more.