JV Women's Conference

Myself and 16 other women from Slovenia, including a few nationals, traveled to Slovakia to join all North American Josiah Venture missionaries with the purpose of refreshment, fellowship, and encouragement from God’s Word. We heard testimonies of ladies that have been serving abroad from 4 years to 12 years that are all on the path of “choosing joy” and “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith”, (Romans 12:2) and “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”(Phil. 3:13) Amy Carmichael said it well to us too from her book “Thou Givest....They Gather.” She said,  “May God give us the heart that is fixed, and keep us with our eyes on the track, not looking to the right or the left or backward, but plowing a straight furrow.” I am thankful for what God did in my heart those days to humble me, teach me again that “apart from Him I can do nothing”, and to refine friendships that are dear to me.

ABC’s and 123’s

The Lord has given me the opportunity to “teach" each of my four children at home at least until the age of 6. But it has come as an unexpected blessing to have this opportunity with Braden and Karsten in Slovenia. Culture and language acquisition are high priorities to us as we seek to guide our children through life here and we thought those needs would be met for the boys in a school environment at this point.  However, circumstances have kept Braden and Karsten home for another year and I am THRILLED. I am so thankful to be able to teach them to read, finger paint, play math busters, build towers, go on hikes, discover creepy crawlies, put on our chef aprons and cook together, watch their friendship flourish and also have Slovene friends over to play for one more year. 

We are making memories, having fun, and learning a lot!!!

"Swish"

Praise God for opportunities, via front yard basketball games, to develop a relationship with the neighbor kids. They are eager to play with our kids and particularly with Chris. Just recently we were ALL out there “hoopin’ it up” and what a fun time we had with 11 year old Kris, 4 year old Žiga, and  6 year old Rok. How cool would it be if in sharing our lives with them they would recognize the hope, joy and peace they can have in Christ. Our prayer is that these friendships would grow, trust would increase, and that doors would be open to share the gospel.