Beach Break

Ciao Bella!

June 12-19 we took a group of 16 high schoolers from Heidelberg to join about 250 other students from American military bases around Europe to Livorno, Italy for a week long camp. From June 21-28 we took 30 middle schoolers to join about 300 other students back to the same camp. We slept in tents and enjoyed some amazing sites and a great speaker who shared God's love with them. The weeks activities included visits to the cities of Lucca, Pisa and Cinque Terre (which is actually 5 cities along the Mediterranean connected by a train). We also spend 2 days at the beach and 1 day at a water park. In the evenings we had club with funny skits, silly songs and an amazing speaker, Bill Paige. We also took our students to a carnival, a "county fair" (which was really just a chance for the students to dunk, pie or "shave" their leaders....it was a lot of messy fun), an entertainment night where all of the leaders performed in funny skits for the students, as well as a big block party dance the last night. We also had "tent time" every night were we really got down to the heart of the week and were able to ask our students the tough questions and see where they really were in a small group setting. At the end of high school week approximately 40 kids committed their lives to Christ and around 50 committed or recommitted their lives during middle school week. It was an amazing (and exhausting) 2 weeks but completely worth it! Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I still can't believe that God is allowing me to do this and I'm so excited that you can be a part of it!

They grow up so fast!

On June 6th the Heidelberg American High School Class of 2008 graduated downtown. There was the usual pomp and circumstance (pun intended) as well as indoor fireworks! (Something I'm guessing you would never see in the states.) It was a great ceremony. With this graduation came the end of the school year and with the end of the school year came a large number of PCS's (Permanent moves, many back to the states.) 3 out of the 4 girls in my small group moved back to the states. Please pray for all of the families that are readjusting to life in the states as well as to their new homes, schools and friends. Also pray for the students who are preparing to go to college back in the states. This will be their first time living an ocean away from their families. While it is sad to see so many students leave, it is also exciting to think of all the new relationships we will have the opportunity to build this new school year. Please pray for us as we are welcoming a new Community Director and planning for the Fall.