Dear All,

As usual it has been a busy past couple of months. These two months have also been a time of change. The summer time for the church and our Bible study groups usually mean a lower crowd as lots of people traveling, and students going back home for the summer. However, other than just the seasonal “see you laters” we have also had some more permanent goodbyes. Two of our Nazarene volunteers Rebello and Cristal (my roommate) left Slovenia to return to America. Rebello had served in Slovenia for almost 4 years and my roommate had been here for one year. As you can imagine, the goodbyes were quite sad for everyone involved. But, the sadness is also a reminder of the close community here in Slovenia. And this is the community that I also will be saying farewell to in just a few short weeks!

This will be my last up-date e-mail from the field. I am returning home in August. I have lived in Ljubljana for almost a year, and I can hardly believe it! So much has happened and I can’t even begin to sum up my time here in one e-mail. So, let me just share with you a few things that have been going on in the past couple months.

Youth In Mission- The biggest event around here has been our YIM team. The team is composed of 4 girls, and they all live with me! It’s been a challenging, but fun time playing “dorm mom”. These ladies have been helping us with our friendship evangelism as well as encouraging the Slovene Christians here. The girls have been with us for 6 weeks and will be headed back home next Thursday. It has been a neat thing to see their spiritual and personal growth in just a few short weeks. Pray that their experience here, won’t be just an experience, but something they carry into their futures.

Youth Group Time- It has been an encouragement to see the youth slowly become a group. We have had a few really neat monthly gatherings. Last month we met in a home and during the devotional time I was so encouraged to hear the students’ responses to the questions and hear what they had to say about the Bible study. It is also encouraging to know that they are inviting their friends (something the few teens at church just did not understand at first). I was concerned about this group in the absence of someone organizing events, but it seems the teens and a few folks at church are willing to take the initiative to keep things going. Please pray for the youth here.

The Moving of the Lord- There is so much that God does that we never get to see, but it is truly a blessing when God gives us glimpses of how he is working. At the beginning of June, Rebello’s brother came over for a visit. His brother came to our Bible studies and church services and was witness to the day-to-day ministry in Ljubljana. God used this time here to impact him so greatly that he prayed to receive Christ the day before he went back home! This was an answer to years of prayer from Rebello and other family members. In that same week one of the Slovene believers, Robi, who has such child-like faith, shared the Gospel with a friend, and his friend gave his heart to the Lord! Sometimes we become discouraged with the every-day drudgery and it’s easy to look around and say, “I don’t think anyone is paying attention.” But, the truth of God does not return void! These two events were great encouragement to keep going and keep bringing the light of Christ into such darkness! Praise the Lord!

Well friends, those are just the highlights. I have so much more to share with you and so much more to reflect on. I will send you one last up-date when I am state side again and tell you a little more about how incredible my time in Slovenia has been. God has shown me so many things! I would also enjoy the chance to share with you in person. For any churches that would like for me to share, I’ll be available to speak about Slovenia starting in September. If you are interested just send me an e-mail and we can work out the details from there. Thanks!

I know I have said it before, but the opportunity to be part of what the Lord is doing here in Slovenia would not be possible without your prayers and support! Thank you so much for all that you have done!

Lord bless you,

Brittany