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Thanks and keep praying! ~ C

Friends and family -

I just thought I would drop a line to you and let you know how things are
progressing here at our Strakonice Youth Camp. My last message left off with
us at training in Malenovice - a beautiful city and hotel in eastern Czech.
The training went well and provided a good chance for us to bond our four
teams together as one. We have a group of interns from Josiah Venture (4),
our team from Soma (6), the team from Cherry Hills Church in Denver, CO (6),
and finally our Czech team (4 - that attended the training with us). We
trained for both Wednesday and Thursday, and then Friday morning set off on
a great train adventure back to Strakonice. We took four trains to return -
which took us about 9 1/2 hours of travel ( it is only a 3 1/2 hour ride by
car or bus, but there weren't any available for our large group!).

We made all of the train changes successfully and didn't lose a single bag
or person - until the last stop. In Strakonice, Matt got stuck trying to get
his backpack out, the doors closed and he proceeded without us! Leah (one of
the JV team who lives in Strakonice) spoke with the train station master and
meanwhile Matt got off the train and was able to call Alca, one of the Czech
team, with the emergency phone numbers he was given before we left. We
retrieved him, and everyone got safely to homes in town to spend the night
before the next days camp started.

Saturday morning we had a meeting with the rest of the Czech team and then
went by bus to the camp. We actually met up with Gary Gowler again (he had
been at the Family camp all week after the 20+ camp!). Then we started
getting ready for the campers to arrive. Our teams all jumped in and
prepared the camp, and when the campers arrived, we got them tested
according to their English levels and decided on the classes.

On Friday I found out that my niece, Lauren, was in Germany visiting her dad
for the summer. Her dad had to go to school for the week - so he let her
come to camp with us. He and his family live in Grafenweir - and it is only
about 2 hours from Prague - so she will get to stay with us until Wednesday
night, when he will come pick her up in Prague. Lauren dove right in to the
camp, making new friends and helping teach in Brandon's English class. She
is a joy to have around - and seems to be having a great time!

After dinner, the teachers read the names of the students in their classes,
and great fun was had at their expense - again. This is a wonderful way to
'level' the playing field! Sunday morning after breakfast the classes got
started, and all went well. We have almost 80 people at this camp, and many
of them are first timers - only 14 or 15 years old. Caesar spoke for the
evening program again - but this time we have a camp song with dancing, as
well as many other songs with motions and games at the beginning of the
program. The first night was titled 'success' and C showed his band video
from '94 - and that was great!

Unfortunately, several of us seemed to have picked up a nasty cold (probably
aggravated by the hot, dusty 9 1/2 hours in small train cars on Saturday),
and I have been overcome by congestion, some sneezing and mostly a really
horrible, hacking cough. We got some Czech cold medicine (this is the first
year I forgot Dayquil and Nyquil!) and it put me out for over 5 hours. I am
feeling better this afternoon, after sleeping almost all day yesterday and
much of this morning and afternoon. Please pray for us and for healing...
And that this cold won't be spread ( I really fear it is!).

The last two days have been raining and somewhat cold, and finally we got
some sun today. The sports time consisted of 'water' games of all sorts.
Tomorrow is our hike day to the castle. Please also pray for continued good
weather, as it is a 3 hour hike to a castle each way, and it is miserable in
the rain!

I am sure that God is teaching me something through this nasty cold, though
I am not sure what. It is keeping me from spending much time with the
students, but they all show much concern when I appear for a while. Our room
is on the third floor, and just going downstairs for tea or medicine wears
me out! Climbing back up the stairs makes me feel like I need a nap!

If this message seems a little disjointed, blame it on the cold medicine!
Thanks for your continued prayers and support! Blessings to all! We miss
you!!

Tina

On June 27th, we are leaving to go to Prague and then on to Pisek. Stay posted!
--Caesar