Greetings to you all in these wonderful summer days. With everything that has
happened since June, this verse is a reminder to us of all God's amazing
blessings.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


In June, besides working hard to finish up the guest rooms above the dining hall

in preparation for our visitors, we had our boys' camp with the boys from Ghijasa and our youth from Nocrich. 

Robert, William and Ryan Colson took the boys for a mountain hike camp in the Carpathian mountains. Although it was a difficult hike, with cool temperatures and rain, the boys rallied together and really became a team. 

The last night, they came back to the camp and spent the night after a hot meal. During the camp, they studied some of the responsibilities of becoming a God-fearing man.




We have been blessed in June during our weekly youth meetings in Nocrich. The teens prepared for the American group coming, by singing several songs and giving testimonies at the Hosman church and then those who have recently made decisions for Christ went forward to be
prayed for.

We continue to work with those who have made decisions. Please pray for the follow-up.

Jody held her counselor training camp at the end of June in preparation for the girls' camp in July with the American team. Crina and Alexandra, two of our youth from Nocrich, and also Rachel Walker took part in the training camp. 

Rachel, Don and Joyann Walker's granddaughter, visited us
and helped in the ministry for a month. Her testimony really pulled our girl leaders together as group.

Her joyful attitude and contagious smile were a great testimony after hearing about how she lost her mother to cancer a few years ago. Please continue to pray for Rachel.

A heartfelt thank you to Will LaRose and the whole team that he led from 5 different states to serve in the village VBS's and the girl's camp. First on the agenda for the week, was their participation in the Nocrich village church, 



with the group singing,

and Will preaching, 

and also in the evening service of the Cisnadie church. It was a fast-paced week.
We thank Will for his leadership and always willing to help, as well as, all the team members, Irv andAnne Martin, Mary Beth Young, Micah Swab, Becky Dykstra, Becca Tucker, Alex LaRose, Amy and Carli Harrington, Claire Conrad, Deb Litzenburg, and Krissi Mason.
Also a thank you to our new friends, Ryan and Andrea Colson for assisting with translating, plays and VBS. Having a girls' camp, along with 2 VBS daily for the week, was admittedly straining, but the Lord gave us all strength to get through it. It was a huge help to have the American team take care of crafts and games for the girls' camp. One of the most precious times was during our morning lesson sessions when several members of the American team shared their testimonies with the girls. The American teens lived with the Romanian teens for a week, and really got to know and love each other. Here are a few random camp pics, enjoy. 

The teams for VBS did a great job using plays to teach the Bible lessons and craft daily, and a snack and game were played every day. 

Ghijasa de Jos and Nocrich were the locations of the VBS. There was a good turnout daily. The kids all fell in love with the team members. 

We had a total of 34, including the American team members, Romanian leaders, Romanian campers and our family, for camp meals.

The girls at the camp had their Bible lessons and American testimonies in the mornings, and shared time with Will challenging the girls one evening, and also in the evenings,  practiced for the parent program on Friday, performing 3 plays. The American teens took part in the parent program also. 





It was a wonderful time of encouragement for us to have so much wonderful help with the camp activities and the VBS.



The kids are already asking when Will is going to bring another team, and when will the Americans come back. They even remember their names!

Krissi Mason, (from our very own home church) stayed on for a couple more weeks, along with Deb Litzenburg. They were able to help clean up and prepare for hosting another youth camp directed by some other American missionary friends of ours that also work with village kids. They also helped with some of the medical issues that one of the people in our village had.



We continue to pray for those that have visited that God will finish the work that He started in their hearts.


Our youth were able to participate also in the camp that we hosted for our other American misisonary friends, Rich and Sue Forsen. They played volleyball with the 25+ youth that were here and also 2 gave their testimonies of how they came to know Christ. We continue to pray for these youth, that God will work in their hearts to make a decision for Christ.Saying goodbye this month to all our guests and fellow workers is never an easy thing, but it reminds us that someday, we will all be together in heaven praising our Father together. We praise the Lord for you all that help, pray, support and have and are taking part in the Lord's work here in Romania.

Please continue to pray for the children of Nocrich, Ghijasa and the youth. Also please pray as we take Stefan, age 15, from Ghijasa de Jos, in for the school year. It will be quite an adjustment for us as a family, but we feel at peace about this decision.

Thank you all for your prayers, support, and love. May the Lord bless you all and continue bringing you closer to Him.

P.S. Check out the side bar videos for more information. We were also blessed at the end of the week to witness the engagement of our son, William. That video along with others are on the video side bar to your right.