A Family Reunion of Sorts

Every time we come back for a furlough, we have the opportunity to reunite with other missionaries for a time of encouragement, to be refreshed, to be challenged, and to hopefully make new and lasting friendships. I'm thankful my kids made friends this week.  They so need them and I think missionary kids just understand what each other is going through.  I also have some new missionary wives ( in Europe too!) who were a real blessing to me.

Our time spent at the missionary retreat in Branson this past June was all that and so much more!  We belong to a great group of missionaries who are all striving toward the same goal... to reach those who have never heard the Good News of the Gospel!  There were retired missionaries, new missionaries, veteran missionaries,  missionaries representing almost every continent.  

I loved hearing about all of their experiences and gleaning helpful information about being a missionary.  I learned that no two missionaries are like and that what works on a particular field may not in Croatia.  Us women were challenged to be a woman of grace.  I'm so glad that I had the chance to speak about the blessings of living and serving The Lord in Croatia.

Honestly, I may belong to a group of missionaries, but when I looked around that week...I didn't see our group name Baptist Bible Fellowship I saw so much more... People With A Burden for Others.  I am thankful for the Baptist Bible Fellowship along with our supporting church for everything they do to help our family in Croatia.  Ultimately it is The Lord and the prayers of our faithful supporters that keep us there in Croatia.  We couldn't do what we do without them all.

I love what we do...even on the hard days! 

(Hopefully pics will accompany this post soon)

"A Perfect 10"

Ms. Grace turned double digits this Father's Day!  Wow, time sure has flown by.  I am almost sure that we just brought this little bundle of joy home with us!

Like it or not, she is ten.  Anyway here are ten things we love about our Ally:

1. She is hard working- loves to clean, organize etc.

2. A diligent student

3. Not selfish and is willing to share what she has...even money. ;)

4. Loves to snuggle...since birth

5. Loves her family and friends unconditionally

6. Always wants to please those around her- unfortunately some take advantage of that.

7. She is my Target shopping buddy

8. Gives the best hugs

9. Is sensitive like her momma

10. Loves Jesus and I'm so glad she's mine!

Croatian & English Bible Study

Reading

Google translate

Praying

Encouraging

Google translate ( do you see a pattern?)

Reading & praying some more 

Praying that I groW from this experience.  Maybe the Lord is preparing me for something great in our future ministry in Croatia. ;)

Midwest Bound

Our family has enjoyed the missionary home the Lord has provided.  He has also allowed us to stay in Virginia and meet some new pastors as well as report to our supporting churches.  

I <3 our beautiful state...

lush and green in the summers

bursting with color in the fall

unpredictable temperatures anytime

a perfect mixture of city, country, and coastal living

The only other place I'd rather be is in my home in Croatia!  It really is HOME to us and I'm thankful that we all miss it.

...now back to the Midwest!

We definitely have many places to be on this trip...

Missouri for a week...missionary retreat (I'm speaking to ladies about the blessings and challenges of living and serving in Croatia).  How could I say no we are the only missionaries who represent our group, and finally to see a family friend.

Texas for two church meetings...not my favorite state, but we'll survive

Ohio for seven days...church meetings, loving on family (including two little nephews I have never seen)

Georgia for about a week to see family, report to some supporting churches, celebrate cousins birthdays, and celebrate our country's birthday.

Then HOME!

We have lots of driving, but we are thankful The Lord lets us see this beautiful land.  

Right now I'm sitting with the kids at the indoor pool enjoying these moments as family and also remembering how much I hate elevators! :)

A new love

Vanilla

Amaretto

Frothy

Latte

Perfection!

A SUPER first week

Well, I did it!  I joined a Croatian/ English Bible study via Facebook and Good Morning Girls or Dobro Jutro Djevojke.  It has been encouraging to see the ladies hungry for God's Word. I am glad that I found this and hope that it helps me in my language learning.  You know, Croatian is the ninth hardest language and mainly only spoken in Croatia.  Thus the need to connect with Croatian women.  Our group has grown so much now, that we have  five smaller groups.

  I have connected with women from Čakovec, our current city.  They have been great at putting up with my broken Croatian.  Thankfully I can post in English and still be understood.  I forgot to mention that our leader is an American who is married to a Croatian.  Such a small world.  I can't wait to get together sometime when we are in Zagreb again.

I never imagined that life would be this way with so much technology.  The fact that I can communicate  at the blink of an eye with people all over the world.  What a blessing!  

Good Morning to find this...

Friday morning I woke up and found a tiny gem in my Facebook newsfeed from my missionary friend, Jayne, in Zagreb, Croatia.  For a long time now I have wanted to join in a Ladies Bible Study online since we have nothing like that in Croatia.  There is a group called Good Morning Girls, and you can join various groups of ladies around the world or create a group yourself to study God's Word.  I never joined a group because I was never in the same time zone.

 I love this idea, and now I really love the fact that they now have this Bible study translated into the Croatian language.  Talk about a blessing!  I have been praying about a way that I can minister in Croatia.  I am far from being able to communicate in the Croatian language intelligently though.  I think this is a really useful tool to draw women in Croatia to the Savior.

Croatia really lacks in Christian Bible Study material that is not based on the Catholic faith.  I can't wait to contact the ladies who started this Bible Study group in Croatia.  I plan to look at both the Croatian and English study just to keep the language fresh on my tongue.