Settling In!

I may be settling in to being back in the US but, my friends who are still in Croatia are just finishing up their last day of English class. They will be returning next week, I pray for a safe return and long to hear the stories they can tell about their time there.

These past couple of weeks have been lessons in faith, patience, perseverance, and adjustments. God gives us only what He knows we can handle and like the song says, "He Said, I won't give you more than you can take, I might let you bend, but I won't let you break" (video at end of blog). I have been bent many different ways since my return from Croatia, I have not been broken. Satan worked hard to try and get me to give in to frustration, fear, panic, anxiety, and loneliness, I have and will continue to overcome through Jesus Christ!


Since my return to the United States, I have given two presentations about my trip. The first one was at Social Springs Baptist Church in Ringgold, Louisiana. This church helped sponsor the trip to Croatia. It is also where my Father and Step-mother attend church. To say the least I was very scared and Satan was really at work with my PowerPoint. It would not run smoothly up to time for me to speak, then like magic it work great. It was like there was a huge angel that stood by the computer challenging Satan to try anything! Everything went well until I decided to sing and forgot the song... God even helped me remember that too!

The next speaking engagement was at Kinder Bible Church, the church I attend. Again before the program the PowerPoint was giving me issues, then it worked
fine for a while, then it stopped... I did remember the words to the song, even though I wanted to cry the whole time, as I watched the photos of my friends on the screen.

If all that was not enough to make me bend, God had other things to test my resolve. While I was in Croatia some decisions were made concerning my classroom at my place of employment. I found out about these decisions the day after I returned to the States. I teach computer lab in the elementary school here in Kinder, Louisiana. My class was moved to a different room. Now, the room is bigger, it is near the restroom, and the air condition works better, those are all great things. I never get overly excited about anything, and I tried really hard to be positive about the move. I just had more work to do before school starts than I thought I would, and if you could see a before picture of the room (my daughter had a photo of my room before so I have posted it) before this picture you would understand the frustration. Also, the school theme for this year is "Learning Around the World" so my class is going to be Croatia in honor of my trip. I had to create the decorations for that. If I hadn't had the help of my daughter, her boyfriend, and some of the techs from the school board I would still be trying to get things in order.

Classroom Before Arranging

Front of New Classroom

Back of New Classroom

Now my daughter has returned to New Jersey, I start work next week, and I miss my friends in Croatia. It will be hard communicating with them and my daughter from such a long distance and with the time differences. With the Lord everything that has, is, and will happen is possible. I pray God keeps them all safe and shows Himself to them everyday. He loves the whole world that includes everyone.

Thanks for reading this blog and if new things happen... I will keep you posted :)

Video 

Home Again!

On July 15, I boarded the plane to return to America.
I do not know if I will get the chance to return again, although the Lord knows I am willing. It was sad to leave, I am also glad to be home.

God gives us opportunities like this to enhance our experiences on earth, to share with others, and to prepare the way to heaven for others. If in this journey I did not learn anything except that people are all the same, with hurts, pains, and a need for God in the whole world then that was enough, although that is not all I learned. You can not go on a trip like this and come back unchanged in some way, whether good or bad. I pray that God was able to use me in a way that pleased Him and that His efforts through me will continue to grow.

Because of the English program in Croatia many people have come to understand the love of their Heavenly Father. There are others who needed friends in one way or another and now have them, whether they be new friends in Croatia or American friends. Lives were touched not only in the Croatian people, in the team as well.

I thank God for the opportunity to serve Him. The teaching doesn't stop because we come home. I have many email addresses and Facebook friends now, we can work together to learn more. I may even learn a little Croatian. Since that is the case there will be a few more post to this blog... Ćao!

To My Croatian Friends: Srest ćemo se opet! Bog vas blagoslovio i držati u rukama je ljubav njegova! (Google Translate je korišten u ovoj poruci, ako je isključeno malo mi je žao! LOL)

Saying Good-bye to Karlovac!

The time we spent in Karlovac was awesome, even with the bumps in the road along the way! The students learned a lot of English and enjoyed fun and fellowship. It is easier to earn when things are presented in a fun way!
The music from the band was great, they sang in Croatian and English; helping to make learning English even more fun. The Lord moved in a mighty way as he has in each site we taught in. When we let go and let God things always work out for the Best!

On Friday, My last day in Karlovac I had the privilege of spending extra time with some really cool people. First, I spent the morning with Nada Gundic'. We did some shopping and I finished the last of gift purchases in a store I had not been to. Then we walked to her flat. She has a wonderful view from her balcony. I also was able to look at some of her paintings, they are very nice. you can see some from the link provided. Then we had lunch at a nice restaurant in her neighborhood. We has a lovely visit and I am glad to call her a friend. 


In the afternoon I had the pleasure to photograph a fabulous person and my friend Ines. She is a talented singer and a great person, she has a tender heart for others and for the Lord. We had laughed a lot and had a marvelous time.

Then the graduation took place Friday evening. The people we so happy to get a certificate or diploma. I think they might have been a little glad it was over also. We had snacks and visited after the ceremony.

After all the students left some of us went to eat at Tiffany, a restaurant close to the church. The food there is very good. 

This was my last class in this country.

I am going to hopefully get to see a few of my friends from Sisak this weekend before I leave. It is with a sad heart that I leave, although I am looking forward to going home. I thank God for the time I have had here. Please pray for each and everyone of the students and the instructors as we continue to traverse through life, and that God will Bless them all.

 

 There will still be some classes going on after I leave, pray for Wileen, Anne, and Terry. 

Beginning the Last Week

This is the last week of the classes this team will teach and the last week I will be in Croatia. I am rather sad that I will not be able to stay longer, although I am ready to get back home also.

This past weekend was a laid back weekend. We went shopping, I am very pleased with some of the items I bought. We had pizza at Tiffany's, a restaurant close by. We when to church in Duga Resa on Sunday morning and to the church there in Karlovac in the evening. John preached both services, in between which he went to the hospital. He is ill and could use some prayer to get through these last few weeks of the English program.

This post is mainly to post a number of photos that I have taken... please enjoy.