Including some trampoline fun!
1. During preparation for LetFest, a good friend of mine was sitting next to me during one seminar. The speaker used the term "gospel" and my friend (who is not yet a Christian), leaned over and asked "I know gospel is a type of music, but it must mean something else too because we aren't talking about music." So in the middle of the speaker's seminar I whispered with my friend about the meaning of "gospel" and how God sent Jesus to die for our sins and our trust in Him is what we call the "good news" or "gospel." Earlier, my friend had grabbed a volleyball from our supply room and was holding onto it during the seminar - but this volleyball was special as it was left by Athlete's in Action (an international sports ministry) and there were four letters printed on the volleyball - WWJD? So while the speaker was continuing in the seminar about how to share our faith, my friend and I continued to have a back-row conversation about the meaning of WWJD!
2. The day before LetFest started, we went out in groups to the city carnival and invited kids to come join us for the week of activities. While many other members of my team were shy to approach people, the bravest was my 13 year-old (former) host sister! She would walk up to people confidently and tell them all about LetFest while the rest of the team (mostly around 20yrs) supported in encouragement from behind. God had given much of my team the gift of encouragement, but thankfully He gave one little girl the gift of courage!
At the Carnival with my Brave Czech Sister!
3. During church on Sunday before LetFest, I was sitting and chatting with one of my little students. As we were talking, I asked her what she likes to do for fun now that it is summer. She said "The most fun for me is when Mommy reads me stories from the Bible." About a half-year earlier her mom had come to me and asked how she can teach her children about God at home (she herself not being raised in a Christian home and not familiar with what to do). I remembered telling her to show God's love with her children naturally and I encouraged her in saying prayers and reading scripture with her children also. To hear her daughter say it is her favorite activity warmed me almost to joyful tears!
4. This year, the youth pastor asked me if I would be willing to give a morning devotion before one of the camp days. While I was away in America for two weeks before LetFest, I had thought about the theme I was scheduled to talk about and had a few ideas; however, it was all of God's words that quickly filled up the page as I actually wrote the devotion the evening before. I loved sharing my heart with the group and it felt natural to stand before everyone to share lessons Jesus had also taught me.
5. Every English Class is unique, but this one may have been the most original class I ever experienced. We had a wide variety of personalities, which made the class very exciting! I had some kids who could talk for the entire day and others who hardly said more than a handful of words all week, but what was similar between every student was their smiles. Most of them toothless, yet the smiles lasted all week long, showing me again how universal love is.
Our Class
6. Each year I have taught kids at LetFest, God gives me an idea of how to use our end-of-the-week class gifts to share the gospel. This year we had flashlights and glow-sticks, so we did "Jesus is the Light." We talked about how there are many bad things in the world, but when we have Jesus in our life it fills us with happiness and light. I asked the students to think of things that make them happy. I was expecting answers like "toys, my dog, my friend, etc..." but I was surprised and humbled as many of these little kids under 8 years old said "when I go to church," "when I read my Bible," "when I pray with mom and dad," "when I help my little brother," and "when I think about Jesus." I love the faith of a child!
7. While I have enjoyed writing and sharing all the other stories before, there is one that surpasses as my favorite. On 7.7.17, a friend I have known for many years made a commitment to Christ! After an afternoon seminar that challenged the students to consider deciding for Jesus, my friend and I spent over three hours in my quiet office as we talked about what it means to be a Christian, discussed questions, prayed together, and sometimes just sat thinking. My friend has heard about Jesus' love and sacrifice at nearly every LetFest before, but wasn't yet prepared for a life decision - that is until this year. As we sat together in my office, I know it was the Holy Spirit who gave me the words to say that stood over the lies the devil was telling my friend. At one point, I could feel so much tension in the room, and I knew there was a Spiritual Battle before us. I said aloud "do you feel that tension?"
"Yeah... what is that?"
"I think it is because evil is fighting hard to keep you from God."
"But there are two of us; shouldn't we be winning if it is two against one?"
Then God gave me the words. I know my friend is an athlete, and He gave me an analogy that helped conclude the battle.
"Technically, you haven't picked a side."
"Oh."
"In sports, when do you play the hardest?"
"For me, when the game is tied."
"How long can you sit on the side while the game is tied?"
"I know I can't stay here forever."
"Then pick a team."
We talked about what it meant to be on a team and God used my voice to speak truth.
Then we prayed.
After we said amen, I looked up and within the smile of my friend a voice came that said "I picked a team!"
Hallelujah! REJOICE! In my heart, I felt Heaven singing.
The next day, I asked my friend "how do you feel today?"
"I feel full."
Meaning "complete."
Meaning "wholeness."
Meaning "SEVEN."
Note: Neves (SEVEN spelled backwards) was a secret kept from all the students (and most of the leaders) for the whole week. Throughout the week, each seminar concluded with "remember Neves!" but the revelation of the meaning of the word wasn't given until the very last seminar. Neves means the snowcaps on a glacier. After a fresh snow falls on a dirty glacier mountain, it is Neves... when God comes into our lives, we are cleansed "whiter than snow"... Psalms 51: 7
Foosball and SEVEN Shirts
With Little Friends
My 23rd Birthday!
And finally, a realistic picture of working with kids at LetFest... ;)
