At castle camp I met so many great people and as I said before, the American team was the best and I got to meet 2 girls a bit better than the rest of them; Mallory and Michelle.
Michelle reminds me a bit of Anna Burnham (it's so hard to get used to the fact that she's married now!). She looks kind of like her and she's just the best. She's a bit older than me and has been a Christian her whole life so she helped me grow in my faith at castle camp a lot, probably without even knowing it. I think one of her spiritual gifts is a gift of wisdom; she could relate to my problems even though she's never had them before and she's really good at giving an advice.
Right now she's travelling around Europe - awesome! :)
Mallory.. well, that's another ver special girl, khm, young lady :)
She's younger than me but it seems like she's my age or older - very mature and at the same time very funny and relaxed and energetic :)
She's still in Slovenia, she doesn't leave until Aug 6th. She attended a couple of camps during the summer (in Slovenia) and is going to spend the rest of her time here hanging out with students in Radovljica and getting to know them better.
I really like spending time with her cuz I feel I can do anything when I'm around her.. I can laugh, be crazy and goofy and it won't matter. I feel free :) it's a really good feeling and I think I can be like that because she's like that and she's ok with it :)
We're similar in a lot of things but different at the same time! She was homeschooled (until she was 16, I think) and she's been a Christian her whole life. It's great to hear things from her life because it's so different than mine, partly because she's an american.
I might go and visit her in Seattle.. if I'll have money and time :)
So..
Mallory and I decided to spend a Saturday together - hanging out, going for a prayer walk (at Metelkova), eating kebab.. BUT since the Irish team went to the seaside on Saturday (Irish team helped at a camp in Radovljica) and Mallory really wanted to go, we decided to go with them! (Metka and Heather went with us as well).
We went to the Postojna cave (it was expensive but great!) and then to the seaside. We went for a quick swim and found out the water has 30°C - not cool at all! We ate a lot of ice cream and after dinner went to see Piran (yay!). It was so great to be in Piran with all of them (Piran is my favourite slovenian town), they all loved it!
Came back home at 11.30pm and went straight to bed, I was so exhausted! but it was a really good day and I loved spending more time with Mallory and I enjoyed meeting the Irish team.
(don't have pics yet, will put them on when I get them)
Right now we're preparing for Križ (it starts at the end of the week) and I'm ready to spend more time with God. My relationship with Him is not as good as it was at the castle camp - I've been working a lot and preparing things for Arts camp.. excuses, I know. I'm just really glad I'll have a lot of time at Križ. I miss spending time with my best friend!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
English Camp 2010 -- Redeem
As I wrote before, I was a part of this year's English Camp in Millstatt, Austria.
It was AWESOME!
I can tell you all the details what we did and what kind of games we played but I think it's more important for me to tell you what was going on in my heart during the camp.
One of the things that were hard for me was stepping out of my bubble. When we had meetings with our Slovene team, Mateja and Meagan were always saying we're gonna have to do that because we're the ones who know the system and we're the ones that are gonna help and it's on us to make the first step and get to know the students that came.
It was kind of hard for the first two days but once I did the first step, I felt good and I relaxed. For the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of being who I am (thanks for the text message, Brad!) and I really stepped out of my bubble. I was making a fool of myself the whole time and it was a LOT of fun! :)
One of the best things at camp was my English class - the rolling couches! :)
Ryan was the teacher, Jeremy was the helper and I was a translator even though our group didn't really need one. We had so much fun during the games and learning English and especially during discussions. We opened ourselves to one another and it was amazing to see+hear what kind of things these students had to go through.
I didn't get the feeling that we can talk about God until the last day but it was good that we didn't do that before because I think it might scare them and this way, it didn't.
I talked to all of them one on one and it was just so amazing to hear that they want to know who God is and they want to have a relationship with Him. They had so many questions and it was hard not to answer directly but let them think for a bit. They hated it :) but it was good for them.
I know we're gonna stay in touch. They're amazing people and amazing thinkers!
During the camp I realized that camp wasn't only for students that came but also for us. For me. Every morning we watched a video or a clip or something and it was hard.
It was hard hearing the words because it hurt. And like students had to think about things, I had to do that too. And I think we were in a similar position, there was only one difference -- I have a relationship with God. That doesn't mean it was any easier for me or that it hurt less but it means that I went through some difficult things -- with God. And the most amazing thing is that I prayed SO MUCH during the camp and my relationship with Him got so much deeper, stronger + better I could never imagine.
I lost some fears, I feel much more confident and I actually LOVE my life! My trust in Him is so much better and even though I am scared of the future and I have no idea what's gonna happen after December, I'm not worried. I trust that He is the one knowing my future and He is the one who's gonna take care of me. He's already doing it :)
During the camp I mostly prayed for the students and their hearts + for American and Slovene team (btw, American team was the best!) and our wisdom and energy but I also prayed for my own protection of my heart and my mind. After the first couple of days of camp I noticed someone.. in a way I haven't noticed anyone in a year. I started liking him and I was really confused. I still have no idea what I felt or what was going on. I still feel something but I feel less confused. It's different than anytime before and I'm not sure if I really like him or if I like the qualities he has and I want my husband to have those.
I really prayed for protection of my heart and especially for protection of my mind. I usually made up stories in my head what was going to happen and I really didn't want that now. It was hard being around him during the camp. I think he's very mature for his age and I love the way he thinks. I think God wanted to teach me a lot of things with this experience but mostly I think He wanted to show me that I changed and that my mind and my desire changed. And I love this change.
One of the hard parts of the camp happened on the last night of camp; Mateja asked me and Alex to share our stories with students.
We took an afternoon for ourselves while others were playing games. We went to the tower and played Phase 10 for an hour and then started praying and thinking and writting. It was hard to think of the past and God really wanted me to share my childhood in details. I told some things that even people who've known me for a lot of time didn't know and I know my story touched a lot of hearts.
Alex and I talked in Slovene and since the Americans were listening too and didn't understand a word, they prayed while we were sharing and I mostly asked them to pray for strenght. I prayed for strenght and clarity and a minute before I went up there and started talking, my head was empty. I didn't know what I was going to say or how I was going to begin. But I started talking about my childhood and I went deeper than I thought I was gonna go and I shared some things I didn't think I'll ever do.
During the camp I cried A LOT and when I prayed for strenght, I prayed that I wouldn't fake anything or keep tears in my eyes or not let things go like they should and it was so interesting; as I said, I cried A LOT and during my talk, I didn't cry at all. It was hard and I stopped a few times for 15 seconds but I didn't feel like crying. I'm so thankful for that. I started crying when Alex went up there and started talking :)
I had no idea what kind of impact my story was for the students but Aljaz, a guy from my class, wrote that he thinks I'm brave and that he learned a lot from me and that I inspired him. I asked him what he meant with those words and he said he likes that I found my way out of bad things and out of darkness. I asked him what does that mean for him but he just smiled.. He's definitely thinking about things and wondering and I'll give him time but I think someting changed in him and I love that he might come to church sometime or that we'll hang out and talk! He's such a great guy and he doesn't even seem to be 17 years old.
I realized one thing at the end of the camp that is the most important thing for me; before camp I knew that if I get a boyfriend, I'd probably put him in front of God. That doesn't mean I would forget about God but I wouldn't pray as much or read Bible as much as I should and I would probably rely on my boyfriend and not God.
After English camp I KNOW I'll always put God before everything else. He is the creator of everything, He is my Savior, He is the one that comforts me and helps me. And He'll never stop doing that. I know this now and it's the best feeling in the world to know+feel that! I am finally happy and satisfied with my life and so excited about the future! :)
I wonder what will happen at Križ and Performing arts camp.. ;)
It was AWESOME!
I can tell you all the details what we did and what kind of games we played but I think it's more important for me to tell you what was going on in my heart during the camp.
One of the things that were hard for me was stepping out of my bubble. When we had meetings with our Slovene team, Mateja and Meagan were always saying we're gonna have to do that because we're the ones who know the system and we're the ones that are gonna help and it's on us to make the first step and get to know the students that came.
It was kind of hard for the first two days but once I did the first step, I felt good and I relaxed. For the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of being who I am (thanks for the text message, Brad!) and I really stepped out of my bubble. I was making a fool of myself the whole time and it was a LOT of fun! :)
One of the best things at camp was my English class - the rolling couches! :)
Ryan was the teacher, Jeremy was the helper and I was a translator even though our group didn't really need one. We had so much fun during the games and learning English and especially during discussions. We opened ourselves to one another and it was amazing to see+hear what kind of things these students had to go through.
I didn't get the feeling that we can talk about God until the last day but it was good that we didn't do that before because I think it might scare them and this way, it didn't.
I talked to all of them one on one and it was just so amazing to hear that they want to know who God is and they want to have a relationship with Him. They had so many questions and it was hard not to answer directly but let them think for a bit. They hated it :) but it was good for them.
I know we're gonna stay in touch. They're amazing people and amazing thinkers!
During the camp I realized that camp wasn't only for students that came but also for us. For me. Every morning we watched a video or a clip or something and it was hard.
It was hard hearing the words because it hurt. And like students had to think about things, I had to do that too. And I think we were in a similar position, there was only one difference -- I have a relationship with God. That doesn't mean it was any easier for me or that it hurt less but it means that I went through some difficult things -- with God. And the most amazing thing is that I prayed SO MUCH during the camp and my relationship with Him got so much deeper, stronger + better I could never imagine.
I lost some fears, I feel much more confident and I actually LOVE my life! My trust in Him is so much better and even though I am scared of the future and I have no idea what's gonna happen after December, I'm not worried. I trust that He is the one knowing my future and He is the one who's gonna take care of me. He's already doing it :)
During the camp I mostly prayed for the students and their hearts + for American and Slovene team (btw, American team was the best!) and our wisdom and energy but I also prayed for my own protection of my heart and my mind. After the first couple of days of camp I noticed someone.. in a way I haven't noticed anyone in a year. I started liking him and I was really confused. I still have no idea what I felt or what was going on. I still feel something but I feel less confused. It's different than anytime before and I'm not sure if I really like him or if I like the qualities he has and I want my husband to have those.
I really prayed for protection of my heart and especially for protection of my mind. I usually made up stories in my head what was going to happen and I really didn't want that now. It was hard being around him during the camp. I think he's very mature for his age and I love the way he thinks. I think God wanted to teach me a lot of things with this experience but mostly I think He wanted to show me that I changed and that my mind and my desire changed. And I love this change.
One of the hard parts of the camp happened on the last night of camp; Mateja asked me and Alex to share our stories with students.
We took an afternoon for ourselves while others were playing games. We went to the tower and played Phase 10 for an hour and then started praying and thinking and writting. It was hard to think of the past and God really wanted me to share my childhood in details. I told some things that even people who've known me for a lot of time didn't know and I know my story touched a lot of hearts.
Alex and I talked in Slovene and since the Americans were listening too and didn't understand a word, they prayed while we were sharing and I mostly asked them to pray for strenght. I prayed for strenght and clarity and a minute before I went up there and started talking, my head was empty. I didn't know what I was going to say or how I was going to begin. But I started talking about my childhood and I went deeper than I thought I was gonna go and I shared some things I didn't think I'll ever do.
During the camp I cried A LOT and when I prayed for strenght, I prayed that I wouldn't fake anything or keep tears in my eyes or not let things go like they should and it was so interesting; as I said, I cried A LOT and during my talk, I didn't cry at all. It was hard and I stopped a few times for 15 seconds but I didn't feel like crying. I'm so thankful for that. I started crying when Alex went up there and started talking :)
I had no idea what kind of impact my story was for the students but Aljaz, a guy from my class, wrote that he thinks I'm brave and that he learned a lot from me and that I inspired him. I asked him what he meant with those words and he said he likes that I found my way out of bad things and out of darkness. I asked him what does that mean for him but he just smiled.. He's definitely thinking about things and wondering and I'll give him time but I think someting changed in him and I love that he might come to church sometime or that we'll hang out and talk! He's such a great guy and he doesn't even seem to be 17 years old.
I realized one thing at the end of the camp that is the most important thing for me; before camp I knew that if I get a boyfriend, I'd probably put him in front of God. That doesn't mean I would forget about God but I wouldn't pray as much or read Bible as much as I should and I would probably rely on my boyfriend and not God.
After English camp I KNOW I'll always put God before everything else. He is the creator of everything, He is my Savior, He is the one that comforts me and helps me. And He'll never stop doing that. I know this now and it's the best feeling in the world to know+feel that! I am finally happy and satisfied with my life and so excited about the future! :)
I wonder what will happen at Križ and Performing arts camp.. ;)
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