Update #9 Central Europe

Hi everyone! Welcome back to our final in-country blog update. It has been a whirlwind of a trip, but there has been so much to reflect on. Starting where the last blog left off, we picked up work again at the farm, excited because we have completed more than our local friends had anticipated! Isaac wants me (Soph) to say that he and Noah weeded a field with a sickle (a “sharp murder tool”), while the rest of the team got leeks and peppers planted just in time, and we were able to plow a field for the next set of crops that will go towards a women’s’ shelter!

After the farm, we started a new camp just for two days, with slightly older kids, and it was amazing as well. We got to worship alongside some very talented musicians in their group, play soccer in a big stadium, make friendship bracelets, and take our Bible skits on their final tour (until we reenact them with you 😉 We arrived in the middle of a thunderstorm for the last day, which made our lesson about Noah’s Ark and the flood very realistic! God knew our lesson plan 😉

Because that was our last camp, we had another round of heartfelt goodbyes. We fell in love with each group of kids this trip, and will carry their names and stories with us from now on. However, we look forward to lifting them up in prayer for years to come, and maybe we’ll meet again!

We have been studying love, patience and faithfulness alongside our campers, and have been learning a lot about ourselves and our faith as this trip comes to a close. We spent yesterday debriefing and decompressing, reflecting on the people and experiences that have made the trip what it is. We are truly grateful to have gotten to this point (and impressed at the lack of fighting even when we are tired! This is truly a dream team). We also got to check out a bath house yesterday and soak in hot springs mineral water!

After debriefing, we got to have a traditional Eastern European dinner last night at a restaurant, celebrating with the family and field workers that have been integral to our ministry and our encouragement. That tasty dinner was followed by a jubilant session of local folk dancing! (not to mention a couple American songs that got slipped in, like Cotton Eyed Joe). It was a sweet and celebratory end to our time here.

Today we all spent the morning cleaning (and the ladies’ apartment was blasting Taylor Swift’s new release to stay motivated). We are finally all packed up! We are at the airport now, full of stories and excited to come home but knowing this place will be hard to leave.

And, on behalf of the students on this team, we adore & want to thank our fearless leaders Farnum and Myrna Smith, the most adventurous, supportive, grounded, and compassionate people we could ever have been blessed by. We know we are your favorite team ever 😉

Thank you, family and friends, for your support and continued prayers as we embark on the last leg of our trip. We will see you soon 🙂 Slava na boga! (Praise God!)