and it begins...

SUMMER PROJECT 2009 has arrived!! We had 38 people arrive in Athens last night to begin their 5 weeks of ministry on the college campuses in the city. It was pretty overwhelming to get onto the charter bus from the airport with almost 40 extra people than when we arrived. I officially felt like I was part of a tour group in a city I lived for 9 months. The next few days will consist of touring them around Athens, introducing them to the campuses and beginning training for ministry. As busy and tiring as the days ahead will be, I am also excited to see that God has brought SO many people to be witnesses for His name in Athens. I can't wait to see what new relationships will start and to see how God is going to use these students to proclaim the Gospel to the college students of Greece! I think big things will happen this summer!

Things to pray for:
-Great community and relationships in and between the 2 teams that are here (one from Grace Bible Church in College Station and one from Crusade).
-For encouraging experiences on campus for these students...that God will lead them to Greeks He has already prepared for them to meet.
-That this summer will really get the "Agape Greece" name out on campus and that Greeks will know why our organizations exists and will begin to get involved!
-For Greek students to hear and understand the Gospel and will commit their lives to Christ and follow Him for a lifetime!

Thanks for your prayers and I'll be sure to update more on the excitement and adventures of this summer!

My time in HPA (aka USA) and since...

Well, again it's been awhile since my last update, and lots has happened in the past few weeks. During the second week of our break I had the opportunity to go home for my friend Lindsay's wedding! I have known Lindsay since we were 3 years old and it was so great to be there for her special day. She looked absolutely stunning and I am so happy that she has found someone so great to spend her life with. She looked incredibly happy! I stole this pic from her photog's facebook, but isn't it wonderful?

During my time home I also got to see my amazing friends in College Station and Austin, and got two special visits from Courtney in Houston and Margaret in San Antonio! I don't think I realized how much I had missed the relationships I have at home until I got to see them all again after so long. Its just so great to feel known and to be able to converse so easily! (without language barriers!!) The time was so refreshing and I am so blessed to have that little slice of home in my year here.(I was so glad to go to Blue Baker AND Fritella...two great CS staples!)

Since being back everything has been in full swing. I met up with my Greek friends who I hadn't seen in over 2 or 3 weeks since Easter. Some of my friends still seem very interested in spiritual things and I am going deeper in my friendships with them. Other girls have been harder to get in touch with and don't seem as interested in Agape or spiritual things at all. So just pray that God will draw them to himself or for new contacts who want to experience God in their lives!

Spring in Greece is not complete without a trip to an island, so I managed to fit that into my schedule as well. Our friend, Erin, who is stinting in Spain came for a weekend and and visited the beautiful island of Paros. I feel like I stand in awe of God's amazing every time I see a Greek island. They are ablsolutely breathtaking. We soaked up some rays, admired the white-washed walls, and just did nothing for 2 days on the beach. It was perfect.

(We got teeny tiny ice cream cones that were delicious)

Some prayer requests are:
-That preparation for the Summer Project goes well...they arrive on the 27th of May.
-For the health of our team in the next week as things start getting really busy.
-For my friends Carolina and Eleni who have the most spiritual interest of any of the girls I know...that God would really reaveal himself to them and increast their faith!

Thanks so much...I appreciate all who read this!!