Great People, Great Partnerships

Just a quick note to say again how thrilled we are to meet up with friends in these countries and sense the heart, commitment and impact they are making - from Slovakia to Bosnia to Croatia.

One of the cool "side benefits" has been the connection with individuals who have been impacted by our partnerships . . . to hear their stories and to sense how much they are being used to impact others . . . Reproduction taking place.

Makes our hearts fuller as we experience this time with our friends and partners!

Our Time In Bosnia

It's been an incredible time here in Bosnia! The best part is always about the friendships.

• It has been so good to see our "other daughter" Regina (see picture above). Regina was in our daughter's Jamie and Joni's weddings and was an intern at Spring Lake and lived with us. She really is amazing and has been a wonderful host to our time here.
• We have loved expanding our friendship and partnership with Frank & Sue. They are coming to Spring Lake for the next several months (pray for housing). We so enjoyed connecting and can't wait to deepen that in the months ahead.
• Trent & Nikki are new connects for us as they serve World Hope here in Bosnia. We have had some wonderful times laughing and sharing and gaining greater insights into the excellent work they are doing here. It's been so great!
• We met other new friends - Adam & Kristen & Matt & Anna and 5 very special children we have connected with deeply.
• We heard of the difference that Daine & Becky Shannahan made while they were here (we just missed them by a couple of days) working on a transforming a school classroom - bringing hope to this community. Thanks Daine & Becky for being such an encouragement to the team here!

Saturday we leave the time with friends to share more significantly as a couple during our stay on Hvar - an island off Croatia. The prayer requests below will be significant for us in the next 2 weeks.

We love and miss all of you who read this and are so grateful for your prayers.

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

Our time in Croatia . . .

1. Growth as a couple
2. Direction for Gwen as she dreams, listens, and looks ahead for God's assignments as she has now completed the season of completing her degree
3. Times of study, meditation, prayer, and listening

This Week's Prayer Requests . . .

Our time in Bosnia . . .
1. Connection with Trent & Nikki Nettleton, Frank & Sue Majors, Regina Freeman and the team in Bosnia - this is a very busy time for them and we want to be sensitive to their needs
2. Couple connection time
3. Enhancement of our mission partnerships and research into potential team trips to this region

Europe with the Kilbry's

Well, after a few days with the Evee and her parents and auntie Julie in Indianapolis, we re-packed the bags for Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, home to Steve, Jo, Ben, Sam, and Emma Kilbry. We had a blast with them in in this central Slovakia city where they work with Youth With a Mission developing and encouraging ministries in prayer, family life, outreach, equipping, discipling and a host of other ways to build the Kingdom of God in Slovakia and beyond.

City Center - Banska Bystrica

Rainbow over the city

Cottage in the mountains in the small mining village of Spania Dolinka (15 minutes outside of Banska Bystrica where Steve & Jo lined us up to stay!)

Looking down the pathway from the waterfall outside of our cottage (on right of picture) into the village

The Roman Catholic Church in Spania Dolinka

Slovakia, a former Eastern Eurpose communistic country, is a largely Roman Catholic - with approximately 80% adherents but much fewer members with a living engaging faith. Steve & Jo have the privilege of working with large groups of inter-confessional Christians - baptists to pentecostals to Catholics to Brethren to Lutheran and everything in between - making a difference to see many Slovaks become followers of Christ.

We had a blast hanging out with the family talking, sharing, visiting castles, eating amazing ice cream (even Gwen was addicted to their ice cream - and she hardly eats the stuff normally)! It was great to enhance our friendship and our partnership with this family and their minstry.

Off to Bosnia

We are now on our way Monday to Bosnia to join our team there. We are overnighting in Budapest, Hungary which has to be one of the loveliest river fronts in the world - highly romantic - so this blog will have to be complete!