Last Camp

This past week we returned from our last camp of the summer!

This last camp was a lot different from the others.  This camp was at a church in Karlovac.  It was a day camp and the total number of campers signed up going into the week was 1...

Having only one camper signed up even as we entered the town that day was a little disheartening.  How would we have an English camp with one student?  How would that student feel?  What kind of camp schedule would we have... basically the entire week had a BIG question mark on it.  I am beyond thankful to have been apart of a team that was SO flexible and easy going.  We ended up having around 10 students for the English portion and around 20 students for sports,  the evening gospel talks and theme nights!  The students were very engaged, they seemed to really enjoy themselves and asked great questions that caused others to really reflect!
(thank you to all who have been praying for the number of campers for this last camp.  It was truly amazing to see the outcome!!!)

My prayers tonight go out to the Karlovac Church:

Dear Lord,
I am so thankful for the gift you gave us, in spreading your love, your truth and your friendship to those in Karlovac!  Through this experience you taught us to hold on to our faith in you, that you, Lord, are the only thing we need to hold on to.  Thank you for that reminder and for the security in knowing your strength.  God I ask that the students we reached out to at camp keep searching to know you more.  That they go back to the church and that they desire to have a personal relationship with you.  I pray that the leaders at that church welcome them with open arms and that they answer the students questions by bringing them back to your Word.  I ask that you help the leaders create outreach programs throughout the year and that these camps keep growing.  Thank you Lord for all that you have taught us this past week, and summer.
Amen

Back From Another Exciting Camp!

WOW!
This past week has been a great test of faith in pushing through difficult times.

I am not going to even try to compare the past two camps together, they were both completely different and  both had great lessons to be learned.

This camp the SOMA team joined!  It was SO excited to have my friends here, to serve with them, pray with them and just catch up!  It really felt like I was back in the states.  They worked so hard in providing great quality classes, hilarious evenings, and created great friendships with the students!

One of the students I was given to love on has a special story.  This student had a VERY hard upbringing.  In this week we had many moments of tears, frustration, confusion, confession, fear, disappointment and the list goes on.  This student knew stories in the Bible but did not believe in God, Jesus as their Savior.  It was very challenging for me to not answer back at every comment JESUS LOVE YOU lol ahhhh they really needed to know that!  At the beginning of the week I was feeling pulled to this person but my heart was not in the right place.  Some of the moments were bringing me to feelings of frustration, annoyance ect.  One verse that kept being played in my head over and over and over was Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep."  Rejoicing with those who are rejoicing is very easy for me but for some reason when it came to weeping with this person, my heart was truly not weeping.  Through prayer and really searching my own heart I was given strength and love for this camper and truly wept in my heart for them.  It was amazing the difference in how our conversations went.  Throughout the week my main goal and prayer was that I would show Gods love, through my words and actions based off of grace, forgiveness, acceptance (the list goes on).  I can honestly say, God definitely used me to shower this person with His love!
The best part about this story is by the end of the week this person came to the realization that they were running from God and that they did not want to.  This person was given a Bible and when vsiting them after camp, I came to their room with an open Bible, WOW... moment of being speechless (which does not happen often:)  This beautiful story has so much more detail to it and is a true testimony to God's love for ALL of us and if you would like to know more please ask and I can share it with you!!

Another exciting story that happened at this camp was a student became truly on fire for the Lord!!!  He came into the week believing in reincarnation and saying God's name in vain and left our small group saying "I no longer wanna say GOD (His name in vain ) but AWWW GOD (in aww of Him and His love)."  He really enjoyed our evening talks and the night discussions BUT what really hit home with him was his nightly debates with Ian and other students.  He was given the question, "What is the meaning to life?"  I kid you not it was as simple as that one question and digging into the meaning that changed this students life.  SInce camp he has met us at church, plans to come to our Bible study tomorrow, found music that is appropriate to listen to ect.  It is truly inspiring to see his love and excitement for the Lord and to think about how God can use him now!!!!

So much more has happened but so little time to write!

I hope you all are doing well and again thank you for the prayers!  It is truly the greatest blessing to know how many people are thinking and praying about us over here!!!

BACk FROM CAMP!!!

What an exciting week!

(there are SO many camp stories That I would love to share but these are just a few that stand out to me this morning)

As a team, we were praying for 40 campers, at this camp we ended up with 13. The exciting thing about the amount of students is that it was EXACTLY the amount needed. We could have looked at this in confusion, why would God not bring an overload of students? There are SO many of us Americans that can pour into the youth here? But He had greater plans for this camp and the individuals!!! We were blessed with students that already knew and have a relationship with the Lord to those who do not believe BUT are willing to listen to our beliefs, take part in prayer, listen to the Bible readings and the list goes on. We were able to really establish close relationships with the students and create a comfortable environment that allowed them to dig deeper in their curiosity.
My prayer for these students- Dear God
Please provide mentors for these students, godly role models to have in their lives. I cannot even imagine God how hard it would be to grow in my faith if I did not have a community to help guide me in your direction. Lord, some are seeking you and you have revealed yourself to them, for that I thank you. God, for those who have not searched for you yet or not found you, please give them strength to keep looking. Please use me and the other interns to shed your love guid them with your word. You are a God of love, a God of protection, God of forgiveness, and grace(!!!!) thank you for your endless beauty and for allowing us to seek YOU!!!! amen:)

Another area that was exciting to witness is the ministry within the camp.  We had an AMAZING worship band that was filled with talent!!  Students were able to express their feelings through songs.  There was one specific student that created a song crying out to the Lord wanting to Know Him, love Him, hear Him, feel Him... it was such a beautiful picture of someone truly desiring the Lord!!!

The last encounter that really sticks out was my friendship with my roommate.  I was blessed to room with a girl that has been to camp the previous year, that walks into a room and lights it up with her smile, is full of joy and excitement.  From the second we met we knew we were going to be great friends. Throughout the week we were able to pray together, speak about God working in our lives, and have our own little Bible study.  This is pretty ironic but if you've read previous blogs you would have seen that a weakness I was overcoming was praying aloud with others.  Well, haha I am SO thankful for God working on me in this area before camp.  By praying with her each night and with a couple other campers, I was asked to make a prayer group for them so that we could stay connected and that they could hear my prayers, they went on about how much it means to them, how they love it ect.. When they were saying this, I could not hold back my laughter, its the little things like this that put me in GREAT AWE of our God.  He was able to convict me in my weakness, help me work through it and then allowed me to see what beauty can come out of it...

To end this, my roommate also said "Last year when I came I saw God working in others, this year I see Him working within me."  Our love, grace, joy can go a long way, just because someone does not believe yet.. does not mean they wont!!!  I think the greatest reminder this week was that God has a plan for each individual.  It will not be on our time or even that persons timing.  God knows all, sees all and it will be on His great time!!

Thank you to all of you that have sent me encouraging emails, and for those of you who are praying for our team and students!!!

Blessings:)

Week before our first camp!!

We have been back in Croatia for almost an entire week and WOW, it has been great!!!

One area I wanted to grow in this summer was praying aloud.  Growing up I never experienced praying aloud with others.  It was something done with just me and the Lord.  Over the past year and a half I have had instances where I was feeling critiqued by others in what I say during my prayers, how I pray ect...   It has led me to feel very insecure opening up for others to hear what I want to say and how I speak to the Lord.  BUT this past week God reminded me that it is an insecurity satan is putting in my head to keep me from singing out loud my love for the Lord!!!!  And that it is a barrier that I can get rid of!!!  When I realized it was as easy as me telling satan he has no power over me because I am one with Christ, I have felt this great weight off my shoulders and havent allowed it to hold me back!!!  I am thankful to say it was as easy as me telling myself if this is a barrier between me and God than I get to do something to take it down and draw me closer to Him...

Another area brought to my attention is that God comes first, church comes second and family comes third!  I LOVE my family so much and want to be with them ALL the time.  Coming out here while knowing I was going to miss my sister and sister in laws pregnancy was the HARDEST decision I have had to make BUT it showed me how hard it can be to be obedient but what beauty can come from it!!

The last thing that has become evident this week was that I want and need to remind myself who I am serving and why I am serving. Being here in such a BEAUTIFUL place and having so much fun, it's easy to just get lost in the every day motions but I was reminded how God CHOSE me, LOVES me and I want to not only glorify Him each and everyday but build His Kingdom!

Prayer requests:

We are asking for 40 students at each camp (3 camps)
That the Stevo and SArah's church becomes more involved with the English camps
For unity between our intern team and when the American teams come that we are all unified

Thank you again for reading and taking part in this mission by praying for us!!!!

Back from Training!

WoW, what an interesting last week!  Started off AMAZING, became a bit challenging but ended with great knowledge..

Last Tuesday we left Croatia for the Amazing race and training in Czech.  We had to start driving at 12 that night and did not arrive till 12 that next day.  Needless to say, we were all VERY exhausted.  We had to meet up with the other intern teams in the Prague airport for our race rules and departure.  By 345 we were on our way!

When we were given our first clue we headed to the bus and made our way into the busy town.  After finishing our first challenge (finding a specific shoe store) we were given our next clue to head into Pragues town square.  This is where my team went into full gear!  The challenge was to be given a picture of a structure somewhere within a mile radius, find the structure and answer a question form a JV staff.  If we got the question wrong we had to go back to the starting point.  If answered correctly, we were given a puzzle piece.  When we answered all 8 and collected all 8 pieces we were able to move onto our next challenge.  As we ran ALL around the square, what we did not notice was that we were the ONLY ones running.  When we headed to our next challenge we took over first place.  By 730 that evening we ended up in the best hostel that I have ever been in and took our first place price (breakfast in the morning).
By the way, at the beginning we were given so much money and with that money we could use it for food and travel, if we ran out before we crossed the finish line... then it looks like we would be hitch-hiking a long way:) 
As the next morning came we were feeling great; fully rested, had a great breakfast and leaving 15 minutes before the next group!  We told ourselves its a great day for a morning run and we were OFF!!!!  This day consisted of a LOT of running, eating brains and intestines (not joking.. actual brain and intestines.. someone actually had a tooth in theirs..ahhh).  We spent time in a cemetery, bus stations, running back and forth on the charelston bridge, one of our teammates even had to get a nose piercing. There was a legend in Prague that if you and your lover put a lock at this certain place and throw the key in the river that your love would last forever, well over time there became an OVERLOAD of locks, like hundreds of locks on this little gate.  Our challenge was to be given a key and to find which lock goes to that key.  When we got the lock we ran to the train station (5pm)where we met another JV staff and collect our prize (a yummie dinner)!  After dinner we were told that we had to wait for the other teams to arrive and then we would all be taking a 12 o'clock train.
next thing you know we are on a 5 hour trip to the Poland where we had our next day adventures.  When we got off the train we were ALL equaled out.  However, team Croatia was prepared:) after the second challenge that morning we were back in the lead!  We had teams on our back the entire last day so there was a lot more stress which just made us run harder.  Our last challenge was to paint and hammer in posts (when finished would create a sheep pen).  We finished about 3 posts before any other group and had to book it to the cars.  An hour later we were crossing the finish line!!!!!!!!! 
Later on that night we were told that we ended up running 11 miles the first day and who knows about the second or third.. WOW we were tired!!!!!

It was so exciting to see our team work together!  The entire time we were encouraging each other, in prayer, full or energy.. I truly can explain how close to perfection it was!

After the race we went to the JV camp, it was the most beautiful location in Czech.  This was a very challenging week.  I had a very strange feeling while I was there.  I was feeling insecure, very introverted, quiet...  I could not explain why I was feeling this until the last night we went through Ephesians ch. 6 on spiritual warfare.  I realized thats EXACTLY what was going on with me.  The next morning I had emails from 3 of the greatest friends filled with encouraging, loving words!!!!  I was able to reflect the entire drive back to Croatia and I kid you not, while in the drive..poof.. I felt this great weight lifted off of me.  Through prayer and reflection I realized how much spiritual warfare goes on in Europe.  It is scary to think how easy it is for us to be mislead by lies and insecurities.  But I pray that it makes me that much more dependent on the Lord.  

Heading to Czech

Today has been another beautiful day!  We spent the morning in prayer, preparing for our next adventure and then a few of us went to the sea for a great swim and some rock skipping!  We are all trying to get in a little sleep and say our final goodbyes  before we leave for the amazing race in Prague.  The greatest thing about the next coupe days is that we have NO clue what we will be asked to do!  Last year a group had to travel to three different countries singing in public, eating cow stomach, taking quizzes ect.. and then we are off to Czech for  five days for our training!

As I was reflecting on my past week I felt like I did well in explaining how much I LOVE it here BUT did not emphasize on Croatia's prayer needs! 

What we are asking from God to see here in Croatia:
A place where people talk freely about God and what He is doing in their lives
A place where people openly read their Bibles in coffee shops
A place where people have/attend small groups
A place where you can feel Gods presence

With that said, I want to tell you a little bit about what we were involved with this week!  Wednesday night we had a Bible study, Saturday we had youth night, and Sunday we went to church and held a church wide picnic. With these events I noticed myself feeling at home, comfortable, and forgetting that those around me are speaking another language.  After the picnic was over this thought crossed my mind "Here I am, I spent the entire day not speaking to those around me yet I feel so close to each of them, I feel loved by them and am filled with joy".  For a girl who LOVEs to talk.. this was an interesting feeling!  This made me remember the power of our actions.  By genuine smiles, eye contact, hugs (lots of hugs), high fives, participating in picnic events- I just showed and received Christ-like love.  How simple is that??

We have met wonderful people so far that enjoy learning about Jesus, studying the Bible and know the importance of prayer.  However, it is not enough.  We want to see a movement!!!  Please be praying for our vision in Croatia, for the churches and for the members in the church to be godly witnesses for those they come in contact with!

Again, thank you all for the encouraging emails, words, prayers.  You are just as needed in this summer mission!!

:)Teresa
ps I got real shampoo and conditioner woo woo!!!!

Half day:)

WOW.. God is good!!
Another amazing day:)

This morning we went to a couple more schools to talk with high schoolers.  The first two presentations were a little on the rocky side (when it was my turn to talk I tried to make a couple jokes BUT even my team leader and other interns didn't get it, which caused everyone to just look at me in confusion..  thankfully I just laughed at myself (so at least SOME ONE was laughing and kept going with my portion.  After that we went to a coffee shop- woke up and got pumped for the next round of presentations, which I must say were a great success!

Around 12 we started our sabbath (no work till 12 the next day!!!!!!!!!)  A couple girls and I decided to hike the top of Veprinac mountain which lead us to St. Marks Church!  It took about 2 hours to hike to the the top.  The walk had the most BEAUTIFUL views of the sea, old homes and stairs!  When we ended up getting to the top we found some information that dated back to 1507, 1866 ect...

A couple things that I am most thankful for bringing on my trip - the REI towel (thank you mom) its one of those that absorb all the water in seconds.
My columbia hiking pants that turn into pants / capris/ shorts.  WOW not only are they light weight, comfy and cute, they are also water resistant which means when I spill on them (which I most certainly do) it comes RIGHT off.. ahh soo nice:)

Things that I should have brought hmm real shampoo and conditioner.  I brought these leaf shampoo/cond. (you can get them at hiking stores) its like a little piece of paper and you mis it with water , rub and it will turn into a soapy substance... not as great as it sounds:(

Praise for the day - getting to spend quality time with two of the interns Carly and Katie!!!
Us interns being able to laugh at ourselves as we mess up!!
Getting to see how God lovingly putts certain people in our lives!

Prayers:
I would love prayers on what is to come from this internship.  Whether I am to look further into long term missions, more internships, lead missions.  In the past 2 years I have done really well not trying to look into the future or guess what is to come BUT a few nights ago I was asked "What are you wanting to get out of this internship."  hmmmm.. (!!)

I just got a spoon full of nutella.. I must go and enjoy :)

Day 3!!

The past couple days have been GREAT!!!! We went into a couple different towns talking with students, I even got to see a past student MATEJ!!!  It was really neat to see how comfortable the students were with us and how much they know about the American culture (the Friday (frday friday gotta get down on friday) song is a hit or miss- some LOVE it and will sing a long with me.. others.. not so much:)!

The best part of the morning was driving along the sea shore with the BEAUTIFUL view.... I hope this amazing sight never becomes "a normal" view to me.

For lunch today we had one of my favorites -KABOB!!! yummie

ANother exciting part of the day was to see God answering my prayers.. as little and unimportant as they may have been.. He still answered!!!

Tonight we are having a Bible Study with some of the students that attend the local church.  We will have dinner, time to talk and get to know one and another and then dig into the Great word!!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support!  I am very thankful and encouraged by your emails / comments!

Praise for the day:
Getting to see a LARGE group of people putting together a special day for disabled students!!  Seeing the students excitement and to see others putting special time in to this community brought me to tears as well as great joy.  Bless their hearts for serving in that ministry!

Prayers :
That I speak with love and words of encouragement towards the other interns, students and everyone I come across.
That I allow myself to be lead by the Holy Spirit
and
That I am energized, healthy throughout the summer!

If you have any prayers please email me teresaLrizzo@gmail.com

I'm here!!!!

Overjoyed with how great our travels have been going so far!!  Ian n I met jessica n ryan in chicago- it was an instant friendship!  Jess n I found out her cousin n I went to high school together..talk about a small world!  
Our 8.5th flight felt like 16 but thankfully I had some great tunes to entertain me:)
We r just getting ready for our 5hr. Delay in germany where we will meet more of our fellow interns!!
....we still have 3more hrs Togo.. No reception, therefore, I get to write more!
Special thanks out to britt-just read your beautiful letter n I am so blessed by ur friendship!!!
Again I want to thank you all for your prayers as well as taking the time to reading this!!
CROATIA HERE WE COME!!
1peter 1:13-16 therefore get your minds ready for action, be self- disciplined, n set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but as the one who called you holy, you are also to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, be holy, because I am holy.

1 more day to go!

The past couple weeks has been such a blessing! 

My family has showered me with love, traveling items I would have never remembered to bring and cherish able memories.

My wonderful friends at work made me feel SO special with their encouraging words, thoughtful cards and beautiful huge goodbye signs!!

My friends have been such amazing supporters through the past year of preparing for this mission through their prayers, encouragement, and wisdom!

THANK YOU and please stay tuned!!!  My hope is to keep you all updated on my whereabouts and Gods movement throughout this summer!!!!

Romans 12:4-8
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTw_oIRqyHI

Lent

This Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY!!  Growing up I looked at Ash Wednesday and Lent as ashes, Fridays with no meat and giving up one thing that I really liked.  I would ask my parents if I could give up vegetables.. However, that was never allowed:(  I usually ended up giving up pop (which was HUGE for me, normally I'd drink two a day).  I would look at those 40 days as nothing more than a countdown till the day I could drink pop again.  Some years I would even do it in hopes of shedding a couple pounds.  As I got older I realized I have been overshadowing the entire meaning of giving something up for Christ and what Lent could mean to me!!

What if we decided on giving up some habit of sin that marked our lives?  For me and others, Lent could be about conversion, turning our lives more completely over to Christ and his way of life, which involves giving up sin in some form.  The goal is not just to withhold from sin through Lent but to take sin out of our lives forever!!  Conversion (spiritual change from sinfulness to righteousness) leaving behind an old way of living to embrace new life with Christ!

Today two wonderful friends are becoming one.  Their relationship has been a great inspiration to me as well as others.  As excited as I am for their marriage, I wanted to take a better look at how God views marriage.

Eph. 5:23-32
For a husband is the head of wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; he gave his life to be her Savior.  As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything.  And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church.  He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God's word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a sport or wrinkle or any other blemish.  Instead, she will be holy and without fault.  In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies.  For a man is actually loving himself when he loves his wife.  No one hates his own body but lovingly cares for it, just as Christ cares for his body, which is the church.  And we are his body. 

What a beautiful passage!!  I think marriage is a tool that God gives us to make us more like Christ!  Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage asked this question, "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?"  Can we lay down our aspirations to love and serve our spouse?  Through marriage we can learn about unconditional love, respect, forgiveness, and honor.  We can see our flaws and grow from it.  We can develop a servant's heart and draw closer to God.  As a result, true happiness can be discovered which i believe to be one of God;s desires for designing the covenant of marriage!

What a great night:)

It is amazing to me how much joy one person can bring to another.  No matter how draining my day is, as soon as I hear his voice on the other line, my heart melts and true happiness fills me from head to toe!!!

Tonight was so special yet so simple.  It contained family, pizza, ice cream and great entertainment (my little nephew).  He was smiling from ear to ear for hours, dancing to music with me, getting tickled by my sis, playing golf with my brother and learning hand shakes from my dad.

 I am beyond thankful for the family I have been blessed with and for all the wonderful memories we share:)  God has truly blessed me!

This morning I went back to Matthew Chapter 13:14-15  You will listen and listen, yet never understand; and you will look and look, yet never perceive.  For this people's heart has grown callous; their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn back- and I would cure them.

I have to admit, this part brings me to tears.  We are being told that He wants us to SEEK Him, He wants us to open our hearts, ears and eyes to let Him in.  And if we take that chance-He will come into our lives and STAY there!!!!

How do I help those seek God?  How do I open their eyes?  I wrestle with these questions pretty often.  However, in class a couple weeks ago we brought up the idea that it is not up to us BUT if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into the conversations, to lead us into Christ like LOVE, that we could be doing A LOT more than we think!

3 months from today:)

In EXACTLY 3 months I will be getting on a plane to start my newest adventure God has placed in my life!  My emotions were a bit different tonight then any other night.  I all of a sudden had a rush of fear.. this might be from allowing myself to watch movies that cause my mind to wonder, this might be because its becoming a reality that I will be missing two of my nephews births, or that I am going to miss my comfortable lifestyle with my friends and family.. HOWEVER... GOd is SO GOOD and knows exactly what I need.  After a refreshing talk with a friend, it brought me back to the readings I was meditating on earlier today.  2 Thessalonians 5 ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus....  Why allow negative feelings to consume you when He is placing BEAUTIFUL desires in your heart and soul?  The other passage I was meditating on this morning was Matthew 28.  Coming back to this passage tonight gave me great strength and appreciation for my reasoning to go overseas.  I have been given the greatest gift- salvation and in 3 months I have the opportunity to introduce others to Christ.!! So I am thankful to say the itsy bitsy bit of fear that was once in me, is LONG gone:)
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you