We have been working at Kamp Mrcajevci for almost 10 days now. I can’t tell you what a blessing it as has been. I didn’t have any expectations for this month. The race has become my way of life. We unpack…..we fall in love with the people…we pour out…they pour in….we bless them…they bless us….we cry….they cry….we pack up…we leave…but one thing remains God works outlandishly every second of everyday. He shows up everywhere and in everyone. What a God we have! My heart pounds when I think about the love He has for His people all over the world.
However, it doesn’t change the fact that I miss my home. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss my sweet pup, Tala! I miss a lot of things I didn’t think I would miss too much….protein (I can confirm I will never be a vegetarian)…my bed….not living out of a back pack…the list goes on and on. The thing is I am not telling you all of this to make you feel bad for me. I’ll get to my point…eventually…
My goodness and the Lord gave me the best gift this month. Our host are from Texas! They are Aggies and their children were even born in Bryan/College Station just like me. AND two days ago a family from Texas arrived and they are from Marble Falls. They run Camp Peniel which my nieces attend. SMALL WORLD. I can’t tell you how incredible it has been to talk about the Ags and hear “y’all.” The sweetest taste of home. BUT what has been the biggest blessing is to see the heart of these two Texans. Karl and Julie have lived in Serbia for 18 years. They have given up so much of their lives to spread God’s Kingdom. They have immersed their selves in the culture. Truly living as the Serbians do day in and day out. They started a camp to help spread the gospel 11 years ago. And y’all starting a camp where camps aren’t a common thing is hard work! Let me tell you about it!
This week we have been preparing for their camp training this weekend that the family from Texas will lead. We have been cleaning and preparing the camp for over 70 guest this weekend. We deep cleaned the kitchen, dining hall, bath houses, the cabins, the meeting room, and the main meeting room. We have been burning trash because they don’t have trash services or “dumps” here. These are just some of the big projects I have listed. The list goes on and on. It has been a very busy week. However, I didn’t write this list out to tell you what all we have been working on. I wrote it to tell you what Karl, Julie and their camp director do each year by their selves. They don’t have a full time staff or a cleaning crew. They do the work their selves and it is A LOT of work. They are truly living out life mission is life; life is mission. They do it with passion. It is clear to see their hearts burn with a desire to share the gospel. This is because they remain focused on the Lord. They don’t focus on all the things they don’t have or are missing (they still enjoy a good Texas burger from time to time). They focus on the Lord.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you do nothing. John 15:5
They have been the biggest blessing as we hit the 6 month mark of the race. The midway point. Everyone has been saying this is the point where you don’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel. But let me tell you! They have reminded me that I am not in a dark tunnel. I miss my family, friends, Tala (sorry I’m still an obsessive dog mom), and the comforts of home but my heart remains full of peace, love, and joy.
So if you catch yourself saying “I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel” take a second and re-focus. I just bet…that tunnel won’t seem so dark.
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. John 15:4
