InterVarsity Team

After the success of the first team of 39 that came from the InterVarsity Rocky Mountain region, we had a "smaller" Global Project team of "only" 27 in May to spend a month in Banja Luka. Four students and two staff returned from last year's team and so that was so helpful for continuing on building on the foundation of last year's team!  We started with 3 days of orientation. I shared on the history of Bosnia Herzegovina and Banja Luka. I also got to translate once again for Sinisa's testimony - I will definitely need to record it at some stage so you all can get to hear it, as it is pretty amazing!

Then it was time to start reaching out to students!! The team held events at two of the faculties at the Banja Luka University to share about American Culture: They met students through these events on campus, and also reconnected with students from last year, or from previous teams. Another main way they met students was eating every day at the cafeteria on campus.

We ran many events while they were in Banja Luka to connect better with the local students: The events included things like Game Night:  And Karaoke:  There was also a more spiritually focused event with Andy Mayo (from the UK) and Slavko Hadžić (from Sarajevo/Mostar) The evening began with Andy singing some of his songs about peace, hope, and restoration. Then Slavko shared about having security in uncertain times. He spoke using poems from a famous Bosnian-Herzegovinian author, as well as Psalm 23 from King David, showing that throughout history, people have been looking for security, but real security can only be found in God. The night ended with a couple more of Andy’s songs, and an explanation of a mural brought by the InterVarsity team, showing that Jesus breathes life, purpose, and creativity into the lives of the people he met in the gospels - and into our lives as well. Another fun part of having the team here is that we then are able to have a full team for worship! We usually don't have a drummer or a basist, so it is nice when we can use those instruments. And it is an interesting experience for them to be able to play in another language!  Even though it is a lot of work having this big team around - it is so much fun as well! We look forward to next year when they will have over 40 coming along!

Central European Staff Gathering

It has been 4 years since we last had a staff gathering in Vajta, Hungary. Because of other commitments, this time I was only minimally involved in the organisation of it - and the team did a great job! It was weird not being as involved and I realised that I had been helping to organise YWAM Central Europe events since even at the first one I attended in 2008! We met beforehand as our leadership team for the Central European Area of YWAM. There are about 20 of us on that group and it was great to get together and share and pray for our area of YWAM before the rest of the people came:

There were over 260 people at the gathering, including over 60 children and teens! We had a great children's program for the kids - where they had their own mini-conference, being challenged to go out and be world-changers.

I am also stepping down from my role in our "Core Team" for Central Europe - 4-5 of us help lead the bigger team or ACT as we call it. I have been in this role since 2015, so it is time to step down (I will still be in the ACT) and let others have a chance to lead. Below is them praying for Ema (also stepping down) and I and the gift that we were given as a "Thank-You" - a lovely wooden box with this inscription inside!

The plan is that I will stay on the core team until the end of the year and in that time continue to hand over responsibilities to the rest of the team. It hasn't been an easy decision, but I know it is the right one! I look forward to seeing what God is leading me into in this next season.

As the conference was open to all those who had ever been in YWAM in Central Europe, I encouraged my former teammate, Janet, to come along. She has been back in the UK for over 10 years now. It was great to see her again! And the best part: I decided to drive the 4 and a half hours to Vajta, Hungary, where the conference was held. It is the furthest I have driven in 2 years because of my issues with my shoulder! And praise the Lord, my shoulder did very well!  So happy!