The Slovakia team is on the go after a bit of recovery time from jet lag! Saturday morning, we ate a delicious European breakfast (fresh vegetables, bread, yogurt, sliced meats and cheeses, and even bacon and eggs!). We then headed outside to a charter bus that would take us on our first excursion. Before boarding, we were greeted by three interpreters who have served in the camps for many years; one even attended as a student when he was younger!

We traveled to Lubovna Hrad, a beautiful castle that was built around the 14^th century. A (somewhat) steep walk up the hill led us to the perfect picnic spot. We unrolled the blankets, opened the baskets, and enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by one of the families from the local Lutheran church. Some team members opted to burn-off any extra calories by proceeding further up the (even steeper) hill to the castle while others chose to remain in the historical village. Seeing Slovakia from up in the clouds was an inspiring experience!

Upon returning to the school, we became students ourselves while team leader Phil and interpreter Lydia demonstrated a sample lesson. Now, we are better able to understand some of the pressures our students may face. Together, we brainstormed ways to show grace and patience while also calming nerves through laughter.

Sunday, we began the day with a worship service at the local Lutheran church in Vranov, conveniently located right next door. The team had the opportunity to introduce themselves during the service and received a blessing from the pastor. This congregation has been supportive of these camps since 2013, and we know they will continue this important work long after we have returned home.

The weather has been noticeably cooler than previous years, so the walk to a local café for lunch was very pleasant. Next, we returned to school and began preparing for the real reason we’re here– English Bible Camp!

The afternoon and evening were filled with classroom preparations. Struggling to find enough chairs and desks was a wonderful problem to have! The team also met the amazing interpreters who will be working alongside us this week… many of whom attended camp themselves as children! One of our interpreters shared that she is excited to see this year’s students gain similar memories to those she had as a child. We are all so excited to meet our students on Monday and begin forming important relationships centered around Jesus’s love and sacrifice.

This year’s curriculum is based on the story of Joshua. Several classroom decorations include the walls of Jericho, and we pray that God will break down any walls that may come with the first day nerves. We joyously trust that God will guide our work over the next week!

Prayer Requests:

• Praises for our comfortable lodgings, kind welcome by our hosts, and the many blessings that come with a longstanding relationship with Christians in another country.

• Petitions for God to work through the hearts and hands of everyone who will be part of the camp: students, our team, Slovak interpreters and helpers, and everyone working behind the scenes to prepare our food, clean the facilities, and ensure this camp runs as smoothly as possible.