Camp Finale and Follow Up

First-
English Camp Was Amazing!
Second-
Follow up was AMAZING!

This year camp was unlike any other; the theme was different (& more solid than ever), the camp was longer, we talked about the Bible more than ever and the letovice church has an amazing team.
In reference to the last post, the hike was amazing! we went to a tunnel system that was build before WWII that was so well fortified that there was a great struggle to overtake it. It was a stronghold for a while against communist forces but ended up surrendering. It was really cool to see the mountain side as well and get out hiking. I spent time getting to know some Czechs that i hadn't connected with all week. I met a guy named Komile from Boskovice. Boskovice sounds like an awesome place that i would like to visit sometime, we talked about all sorts of things including music (which we found out how awesome he was as a musician during the talent show the following night)and also about our backgrounds. That was on the way back but on the way to the tunnel i kinda jumped from group to group because i keep a fast pace (always training for football) crossing through a lot of farm land and small villages along the way where i greet random people doing yard work or just strolling around. Hiking in Czech is always an adventure, there are a lot of hills in Czech and some are much larger than you would ever expect but it does provide for awesome things to see. when we were at the tunnel entrance we had English class where we played one of my favorite games. it has a few different names and i cant really remember any of them. Its the game where you write or draw at the top of the paper and pass it, then the next person does the opposite of the last person trying to explain the image or draw what is written. From there you fold over the previous person's entry and pass it on. This activity is always a blast and my English class loved it.
We also got to tour the inside of the tunnel system seeing how strong it was built and how many little tricks they had to toss grenades out on other people or shoot at attacking vehicles. Well, now if i am ever going to build a massive underground tunnel system that wont easily be destroyed, i'll contact the Czechs. Its pretty sweet how they were able to connect it with tunnels that were over a mile away to distribute supplies and such. Now that I think of it i feel like humming 'A mighty fortress is our God'

Other than the hike, camp was awesome. I love how much energy there was with everyone getting excited about the weirdest of games. Almost every year I get the chance to show some Czechs how to throw an american football which is pretty awesome and surprising at how quickly some learn. The evening program was awesome too, we continued to discuss the stories of the Old Testament and ask questions about God and what his relationship is to man. It was awesome when we got to the life of Jesus. One of my favorite stories from the Bible is when there is a storm and Jesus is sleeping. the Disciples wake up Jesus because they don't know what to do and Jesus speaks to the winds and tells them to stop and the waves to be still. The next nigh we talked about the death and resurrection of Jesus and how it was a fulfillment of what God promised to Abraham so long ago. We did the life house skit which is always a powerful example of how distracting this world can be and how we can be separated from God but at the same time be reconciled back to him. It moved many to tears, God's grace is so very good.
From there everyone was dismissed to go and listen.. it was so amazing to sit and look at the stars and listen to God. from there it was an awesome time where some were continuing conversations and asking questions and others were enjoying the fire. I love the atmosphere around the fire, its always a time when things start to settle down.. not always but usually they settle down. At the same time it was awesome to see how active the youth group was in sharing Christ with their friends. It was really encouraging to the entire american team as we talked about it after camp. Its amazing that even when we see such great things happen, our hearts are even more broken for those who havn't seen or even tasted the truth of Jesus Christ.

English Camp is in full swing! As for English class I am teaching a level six class out of 8. I would defiantly have to say this is the most advanced class I have ever had, I having difficulty finding ways to make it harder but its working out great thus far. Yesterday I dressed up like the German soccer player Bastian Schweinsteiger and took a press conference from the class. It was a great time making up random information that I didn’t know about him and talking about how skilled I was. From there they had to write a sports column with the information they collected. I would have to say it was one of the best activities ever! The discussions groups are also solid, we had a little difficulty finding a balance between which languages to use but everyone is benefiting from active discussion. I really appreciate how much energy the Letovice youth group has, it’s easy to build on and get everyone involved. The games are rocking, the sports are rocking and discussion of God began the second night.

Tomorrow is the hike, so I must get some rest. Pray for our team with broken bodies, it seems a lot of us are suffering from something.

Team Transformed

We left Malenovice today with the conclusion of training last night where we commissioned each team. Last night we had a few powerful moments as we took communion and discussed purpose as a team and where God is leading each one of us individually. We also got the chance to perform the Lifehouse skit in front of an audience and through that skit the message of Jesus was powerfully to those in training. I'm excited to see how it touches the hearts of the nonbelievers at camp.

This morning was a pretty early start where I got to meet a random friend of mine from Frydlant where we have a few crazy stories of how we met and a few more instances. We spent about four or five hours on trains and a buss as we made our way to camp. The night before really caused us to take a deep look at the big picture God has for us but today we were changed in a different way.

We took an hour to spend time alone with God and I dont think there was a single person from the team left untransformed. I spent it soaking some Psalms and also preparing for my devotional. When we came back together we had a time of sharing where God spoke clearly about wrongs that needed to be writing and it was a definate time of spiritual clensing. Some of it was released bitterness and unrest that had been held back for months which left our team refreshed. It was amazing to see the transparent moments where team members were willing to be vulnerable so we could become stronger. God is moving in our hearts as a team and I'm so excited for camp to start tomorrow.

How fitting that my devo out of 1 Peter delt with having a clear conscience, being clear minded and self controlled. So that we can be prepared to defend Christ at any time, so we can be not only physically clean but spiritually baptized and so we can clearly connect with God. (1 Peter 3:15-16,21; 4:7)

Pray for students as they arrive tomorrow and relationships begin to form. Pray for the Letovice team that they can be fully prepared, along with enough rest tonight for everyone and throughout the week.

thank you for your prayers.

Blessings

Birthday Blitz!

My birthday arrived here in a Czech about an hour ago and I’m about to get some rest for the second day of training. Usually I don’t think of it as arriving but it won’t hit America for a few more hours. Our traveling was not so much complicated, but more long than anything. We were in “travel mode” for roughly 30 hours as we enjoyed a six hour layover in New York and spent the first night on the airplane then waiting for three hours in Prague. We have had one day of training and are looking forward to how God will continue to grow our team in tomorrow’s training. Today, during a couple hour break some of us went to a stream that was near the hotel, we enjoyed getting wet and Andy brought his professional camera and got some sweet shots. It was relaxing after the strenuous travel and a few hours of training.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

~ Romans 8:1-2

This section of scripture has been hitting me hard for the last week and I’m still thinking about how I can make it real in my life. First thing that caught my eye was the bit “in Christ Jesus,” which is the real twist in this verse. The verse shows that it is conditional in which the preceding is only true if you are In Christ Jesus. Now what does it mean to be “in Christ Jesus?” From my understanding it is a reflection of where you draw your life from, if you have died to self and it is Christ living in you. This is one of the most popular phrases in the New Testament which shows how powerful it really is. Also it leads directly into verse two which presents the gospel in a way that I haven’t seen it in where it is a matter of laws. Before Jesus there was the law of sin and death which ruled but how is a law broken? Well, by a greater law. Verse two gets to it and says that “In Christ Jesus” is that law that overpowers the lesser law bringing salvation. This law gives those in Christ power over the darkness, Death was the most powerful weapon that Satan had and now there is no evil that can keep us from God if we are in Christ Jesus. Praise Jesus.

As far as camp goes there are a few things that we aren’t sure about. It looks like there is a larger group than usual of students who have never attended the Letovice camp before. We have been in prayer a lot as a team and I have really enjoyed how much we are dedicated to God leading this trip. We have our second day of training tomorrow and I pray that the lord will fill us and encourage us. Same as every other year we are going to be at a new camp but we have heard good things about this one. Please pray for energy for our team focus on God over the next few days. Pray James Three over our team that we will be taming our tongue and use them to praise the Lord instead of tear us down.

the Lords Guidance

The English camp in 2008 was a very difficult time for me because i was under the impression the entire trip that this was my last time spent in Czech for a while. So my reaction was to give everything I had, and even a little bit I didn't have to serve those around me and be the light of Jesus. I was praying before and throughout the trip about the future for a few reasons and didn't expect how God would speak to me and lead.

We were waiting in line to check our bags in and a man camp up to our group from Delta admitting that they had overbooked the flight and was willing to make a deal. He said that if we stay they will pay for hotel and food and will give us a voucher for future flights. At the time i didn't really make the connection but it sounded like a sweet deal so I went for it. The voucher was able to cover the entire air fair for the trip this year and made it clear that God had more plans for me in Czech. God had given it to me and the best thing i could possibly think of doing is to give it back to him.

We were also rerouted through Brussels, Begum where we had a tight connection in which we missed because of a late arrival so we ended up spending a night there while have a chance to explore for an evening. God was continually showing me that money and other issues are not going to stand in the way of what he wants to do. Through circumstances I thought I knew the way but through circumstances and prayer God showed the way.

Also with the last post, i started it in November and just actually posted it a few days ago.