FESTIVAL UNITED
"Hi. I don't know what time we will arrive... the American is navigating..."
I have gone to United three times now, and each summer I am amazed at how many more people I know at the festival than the year before! This year, some of our youth group went by car, some by train, and others we met up with during the weekend. There was never a shortage of people to spend time with, just impossible to get everyone together at one time. Even before we arrived to the festival location, friends were calling us asking when we will get to United!
"How do we always end up behind the tall people?" "Jump on my back!" *friends turn around* "You guys just can't ask to move in front of us, can you?"
The concerts this year were exceptional! I loved worshiping next to these youth kids and friends in both English and Czech - even Reggae Worship! From bright lights and jumping to hands raised to heaven all the songs were a cry of worship to God, and I am positive King David would have joined in on all the musical action this weekend.
"Can we be your fan-girls?!"
One of our friends is a part of the United Dance each year, and we are all so excited to support him as he praises God with his talent for all to see. We told him we are his biggest fans and support, so the flowers were a gift for his "fan-girl club!"
"I'm so happy! I have schnitzel for lunch!" "It doesn't take much for you..."
The seminars this year were so applicable and challenged us to consider God's love deeper in our personal lives. During the days at United, one friend offered her translation skill so that I could simply enjoy listening to all the seminar had to offer. God has blessed me with so many friends and all the little things to make my heart smile and continue to thank Him.
"Everyone smile!" *guys lean too far and suddenly fall over* "It's okay! The picture's good!"
With so many friends at United, we continued to pull more and more friends into the place we had near the stage until there was no room to move! During this time, I told God how happy I was surrounded by friends worshiping Him, and then like a rush of wind, this thought swept over me - "you think this is good? Heaven is going to be unbelievable!"
RELAX CAMP
"You have some serious leadership skills!"
During the week at Relax Camp (a young adult Christian camp), we had a Strength Finders Seminar/Workshop each day - I realized my top three were all "relationship strengths," which was interesting as many people had a rainbow of strengths covering many different genres. However, it didn't surprise me much as the week was a clear testimony of how important people are to me and how much I love making new friends!
On the first night at camp, one person came up to me -
"Hi! I sat behind you at United!"
"You must recognize my snapback hat."
"Yep!"
"So we're practically friends already!"
After a couple days at camp, one new friend asked me -
"so that group of five people that follow you everywhere - they're a part of your youth group?"
"what five people?"
"the group that's been with you all of camp!"
"uhhh... I met them on Monday..."
"Woah! You have some serious leadership skills!"
It was an encouragement to meet so many young youth group leaders from all around Czechia and get to pour into each other and strengthen each other, and I am so blessed to now have friends all over this country who have their hearts set on Jesus!
"Let's have 'second dinner'." "It's 4:00am... shouldn't it be 'first breakfast' now?"
For a camp called "Relax," my roommates thought I was crazy when I turned into bed each night well past midnight! However, the late-night games, worship, and talks with peers were so refreshing and relaxing for me that I couldn't give the time up to sleep. God must have known this was exactly what I needed because even with a short amount of sleep, I still had all the energy I needed for seminars, programs, sports, and games the following days.
"Nice serve!" "I hit the ball out-of-bounds..." "Yeah, but your form looked great!"
We would rush through meals to get in a round of frisbee or spikeball before seminars and hours of free-time were dedicated to playing soccer, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and going swimming. The fellowship with this group was so fun as games included endless encouragement, applause from the opposing team, and laughter! We rarely kept score, and after hours of playing volleyball, someone would inevitably ask, "what's the score?". Each time, we declared it an even 10-10. We played in this tie for as long as someone would count the score, but usually it was 10-10 long after. It was especially funny to have a group of young adult Christians teasing that Moses was playing for our team when no one moved for the volleyball!
"You can't wear your snapback with the helmet." *Puts helmet on backwards* "You rebel..."
On the way home from camp, a couple friends and I detoured our route to spend the afternoon together exploring a couple old Czech mines! I always enjoy learning more about Czech history and this experience was especially exciting as we took a slide down into the mine and then a train through the underground passageways. We learned it was the miners' tradition to say a greeting to God before entering and when leaving the mine each day before and after work to ask and thank God for protection in their work. The tours keep the tradition alive by asking all of us to also say a greeting to God when we enter and exit the mine. Even in this primarily atheistic country, God is clearly a part of their history, and this is one part of history I pray repeats!
After such a fast and busy summer, it doesn't slow down now that the school year starts, but I am so excited for club time with the kids again and hearing all about their first days at school this week!
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BONUS: MARBLE'S SUMMER
I wasn't the only one who traveled around all summer, but my pet bunny, Marble, also enjoyed the summer holidays relaxing at many different homes and making new friends! It was wonderful knowing so many people were willing to help care for her this summer so I could enjoy all the summer actions!
