Almost Just Another Day

This week, New City Wien is hosting an English Camp for 40 Austrian children (ages 5-12). Brad Hunter, the pastor of New City Wien, describes it as a VBS (Vacation Bible School) on steroids. After two days I definitely agree with him :) The task of doing this camp is extremely less burdensome, however, because a group from the Hunter's church in America is here this week to help out with the camp (thank you Jesus)!! Twenty-three adults with forty children is much smoother than eight adults with forty children! This also means that the kids have more opportunities to have one-on-one time with an adult.

English Camp is one of the main events for this summer as an intern and it is one of the main events the church puts on annually. A vast majority of the children come from non-Christian homes, which makes this week a wonderful opportunity for ministering to these children and families. One example of this comes from testimonies of past English Camps. Several parents have commented how well loved their children are at this camp. I have witnessed this in small ways already this week - when parents come to pick up their children, many don't want to leave. I will share more stories, videos, and pictures about English camp later this week!

Ways you can pray with us for English Camp:

• rest for the adults not just for our own comfort's sake, but so that we can invest our whole selves into these kids lives!

• for the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Bible lessons for the children. The public schools in Austria have a Christianity class, but it's more for culture's sake than anything else. Pray for ears to hear and eyes to see both for those who are hearing these stories for the first time and for those who are hearing them again.

• Thursday night some of us will be going to the home of an English Camp participant. Pray that this family sees a reflection of the Father during our time with them and that we might have a dialogue about faith.

Yesterday would have felt like any other day had I not been in Austria with so many other Americans. It was the best 4th of July I have had outside of the USA :). Yesterday was also the first day that I have felt homesick since arriving - the 4th is second to Christmas on my favorite holiday list. Last night we had a cookout at the Hunter's apartment (hot dogs, brats, cheese wursts, and cheese wursts wrapped in bacon), had TWO American flag cakes (one regular and one ice cream), ate way too much, and best of all, sang the Star Spangled Banner loud and proud while four fountain candles were going off on one of the cakes!! It's not the 4th of July for me unless I smell some sulfur in the air. This is because during the week of the 4th, I usually watch and take part in at least three fireworks shows. Below is a video of my Dad lighting off aerial shells at an annual get-together in Wisconsin with his "fireworks buddies".

I hope everyone's 4th of July celebrations were wonderful!!