Romania 2008 pictures

I thought I would add a couple of pictures...

The first is of the team in country, and the second is us in O'Hare welcoming them back to the States.

Enjoy!

They're home!!!

Praise the Lord! The Romania team just got back to Timber-lee about 15 minutes ago. They had a safe trip back to O'Hare. We picked them up around 6:00 p.m., which felt like 2:00 a.m. to them, so they're all very tired.

The team had a great trip. The Lord really worked in Romania and great things were accomplished in the realm of Christian camping. They had some good stories to share, and we're looking forward to hearing more from them tomorrow when they're a little more awake!:)

Here's a story to give you an idea of how great the trip really was...
When I asked the team on the ride back if anything really went wrong when they were in Romania, their response was, "Well, one time when we were about to get on a subway our luggage got caught on a turnstile." I told our boss Ed that if that's the only thing that really went wrong, it must have been a phenomenal trip. He agreed. We can't wait to hear more stories about specific instances where they saw God at work.

For now, we're praising God for the opportunities He provided for ministry and for safe travel. Thank you all for your support both in prayer and financial giving. I'll do my best to post more later on the specifics.

Outdoors for Christ!

Bethany

Flying home...

The team is on their way home! We're really looking forward to seeing them and hearing all the cool stories about how God worked in Romania. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel for the next several hours. They have a short flight to Amsterdam, then an 8-hour flight from there to Chicago.

Bethany

Great news!

Hello!

We heard from the Romania team yesterday, and I have some good news to share! They just finished the Camp Director's Institute (a 3-day seminar for Romanian camp directors), and it went very well. The team said all the hours we spent preparing really paid off. Praise the Lord for a good report back!

The Slovakia team is anxiously awaiting their arrival back to the States on Sunday evening. We're looking forward to hearing more details upon their return. Please pray for a safe journey back. Also, the Romania team would really appreciate your prayers as they adjust. We have Monday and Tuesday of next week to get them caught up on all the preparation we have been doing for Timber-lee's winterXtreme (winter camp) and for them to tell us all about the trip. I'm sure they will be tired from the jet lag.

Thank you all again for your prayers. We truly appreciate your support.

Bethany

Romania trip update

Hello!

Praise the Lord for the opportunity to go to Romania! The LCM Romania team left Timber-lee on Tuesday last week. Although we have not had much communication with them since they left due to lack of Internet access, we do know that they arrived safely and that things are going well. Recently we received an e-mail from LCM Director Ed Hooke. He said things are going well and people are staying healthy. They have been very busy in ministry but are enjoying the time spent with other Christians. In the e-mail Ed mentioned several prayer requests which I would like to pass along:

- Today they were preparing for the Camp Director's Institute (CDI) which starts tomorrow. This is a conference held at one of the Romanian camps. Camp Directors from all different areas of Romania will come and learn about camp programming, different types of camps, how to make a successful schedule, etc. They will also be networking with others. The LCMs are in charge of these networking sessions. Please pray that they would have clarity in their speech as they lead these sessions and lectures.
- Pray for patience concerning the language barrier. Letty, the trip translator, will not always be available during the CDI conference.
- Pray for a music leader for CDI. The person who was supposed to lead backed out at the last minute.
- Pray for good weather so the LCM team can lead the networking sessions outside. Along with that, good weather would be preferable as all the camp directors will be travelling to CDI by car.
- Pray for continued health for Ed and the LCM team.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern. We are thrilled for this opportunity and can't wait to hear more details about the missions trip upon their return.

Outdoors for Christ!

Bethany (for the LCM team)

Romania 2008

LCM Romania 2008 Team: back row- Jon, Joel

front row- Ashley, Ed, Amber, Emily, Sarah, Theresa

Hey y’all!!

Currently, we are sixteen days away from our departure for Romania. I think I can speak for everyone by saying that we’re all very excited for this mission trip. We have been working hard to prepare for the Camp Directors’ Institute (CDI), as well as for our time assisting Romanian camps that are trying to get off the ground. The planning can be strenuous at times, but we know that God will use us in ways we could never imagine.

Last weekend we were visited by Jack Friend and his family. Jack has been in Romania for the past few years helping train future camp leaders in Romania. He helped us to prepare for CDI, and also filled us in on some cultural and language information that will help us out overseas. The whole LCM group thanks the Friends, especially Jack, for all their help as we prepare for our mission trip.

Finally, here is how we could use some prayer. First, pray for us as we continue to prepare for CDI and for the other stops on our trip. We still have a lot of planning to do, so we need help discerning what specifically God wants us to do while on this trip. Second, pray that funds continue to come in. We are currently just over $9,400, which is an incredible blessing from God. We still have a long way to go for this trip, as well as the Slovakia trip in March, however, so please continue to pray for God’s provision. Finally, please pray for our team. For many of us, this is our first time traveling overseas. This means that along with the excitement comes a great deal of apprehension about the adventure ahead of us. Also, pray that we are able to grow closer together as a team, that we can overcome language barriers, that we stay safe throughout our trip, and that we will not let ourselves get in the way of what God has planned.

Thank you for all of your support. We could not do this without you!!

God bless,

Theresa

One day seminar at Open Air Campaigners

At Open Air Campaigners we were asked to do a one day seminar presenting programming materials that would assist that ministry’s summer camps. Our goal was not to only to show them games but also to help them to be self sufficient in their programming. In one of the pictures we assign them the task of creating a novel game with the props we give them. These prop would be of little to no cost to the ministry. We also showed them team building games they had never seen.

Winter Retreat at Integro

After CDI we went to Integro to put on our Winter retreat for other camp and church leaders. This might have been the first time they had seen a camp or retreat done this way.

Above you see the building the camp uses for housing, dinning, and programming.

Together we showed them games that would break down bariers and create significant memories.

We built a bonfire for fellowship. Some of the Romanians had there first SMORE ever.

We worshiped together...Romanians are passionate and love worship music.