Here we go!

The first American team came Saturday and we are filled with excitement for the next five weeks, but a little bit of sadness as we realize it won't be the same. What I mean by that, is that we have walked into this summer with an incredible chance to disciple the girls in the youth group here. There are about 10 regular girls who we have grown to love. Yesterday we went on boats in the lake with them as a last goodbye. We will see them again when we do camps here in Pogradec, but it will not be the same as it has been this past month. I cannot believe how great our conversations have been with them. The few who can speak English have been a great blessing in that the depth of our conversations with them and the girls who do not speak English have continued.

Here is a schedule of the next 5 weeks, 4 for me as I will return to school early for RA training

Week one: Korça tent camp (Jr High)
Week two: Korça day camp (High school)
Week three: Pogradec Day camp
Week four:  Korca tent camp (High school)
Week five: Pogradec tent camp (High school)

Tent camps mean that we take 60-80 Albanians and the American team and travel about 45 minutes away to a forest area. We are basically on a small field that we cleaned up last week. There are tents for girls and boys and there is a stage (just built). There are now a few showers and some bathrooms and as of 3 days ago, they were able to access water, which is an answer to prayer!

The American team that just came in from Southern California will run the 3 hour English lessons each day and the games. There will be a sermon each night and we are presenting the Gospel through the life of Paul. I am so excited for this week because there are some kids who will come who have never heard of the name of Jesus. Never. Please pray for us as a team as we love them, talk with them, play games with them all in effort to share the love and good news of Jesus! They are Jr highers so there will be a ton of energy and a ton of fun.

Becaue off the brief window I get on wifi, I will just share some pictures of the last few weeks!

This is the volleyball court at camp and the filed behind it is where some of the tents will be.

This is Bethany with three of the girls at the Pista, which is a restaurant on the water, where we go for Albanian dancing 

This is a picture of the old men form Pogradec who can be found playing chess all day. I love this picture.

                                                Lake Ohrid with the Pista in the background

                                         The Albanian graduation we attended last week

                                                              The beautiful graduate

                 A man fixing the basketball court at the school behind are house. Cracks me up!

Some of the girls who made cupcakes for Saturday youth group 

One of the girls little brother's is learning English and wrote this in the sand. He was very proud of it!

Prayer:

For camp: safety, fun, energy and most importantly that the hearts of these kids would be opened to the gospel. 

For the girls we have spent time with here in Pogradec, that they would continue to ask hard questions, wrestle with truth and that they would seek out the counsel of Kristine and Melodie.

We are so excited for the crazy weeks ahead!