Croatia 2013 - Final Summary

Howdy Folks,
Wanted to wait a couple of days before writing a summary of the trip so I could reflect on all that went on this summer. I am not sure I will ever totally grasp all that went on and the total impact that was made, we will have to wait until we are on the other side of heaven to receive that information, but God did teach this old dog some important things that I would like to implement in my own daily life.

Feel like I can speak Texan again since I am once again on home soil and feeling good about returning to our homeland, even though it is hot and muggy, the warmth of family far out weighs anything else! Our return home was without incident and all luggage made it safely home. It was a long day of flying and lugging luggage across the globe, but was all worth it when you sit back and reflect on all that God had done through this years HiS PRINT mission team!

Please take time to watch this short video that summarizes most of what we did this summer. Katie Lamb, who owes and operated Katie Lamb Photography has gone with us for the past two years and she put this together with the footage she took while she was there. It tells a remarkable story of how HiS PRINT is making an impact in the different areas there in Croatia! http://vimeo.com/katielamb/croatia

The last of the mission team that was due to come home now has made it safely, Shannon and Erin, Brandon and myself, with Stefan returning on the 19th and Heidi following on the 21st. Stefan is due back to start his second year at UH Clearlake and has to come early to resume his job in the International Office! He did an awesome job with our team at leading and communicating where needed as well as interpreting in so many areas! He is a brother with a true servant’s heart! Heidi returns back home after a year of working with a missionary family as their nanny for three boys. She stayed at Janko’s for a day to clean the house and spend some time with Janko. He is always sad when we leave his home and all the activity is a true blessing for him. So Heidi stayed an extra day to help him through the transition to empty home and little to no activity. He is a true brother in Christ and without his home and the warmth of his heart this ministry would not be what it is today in allowing us to make an Impactful PRINT for Christ! Heidi has been such a huge help in so many areas throughout the years, I think this is the first year that I haven’t had her do some major painting project, which allowed her to love on people and something she does so well.

Well so much has happened over these 19 days that is hard to remember all that occurred and even the highlights would take a book to express and explain adequately. One thing that I can indeed express is my thankfulness to God for placing each and every one of you as a part of this ministry! Your reading the blogs and then reading your comments and knowing you are praying encourages each of us immeasurably and gives us strength when we need it. Being a part of this ministry for the past 8 years has taught me several things that I would like to share with you.

First, allowing God to have control of the ministry and our lives is vital to making anything we do a success. We make the plans for the trip each year and pray and think we know exactly what we are going to do and that is extremely important. But more important to remember is that those plans are written in pencil and that God owns the pencil as well as the eraser on the end of it and that God can choose to implement that eraser at any time he chooses. He knows best and when those plans change and indeed most years they do, we must remember that it is God’s plan and not ours. Allowing him to lead and provide the strength and we provide the  flexibility is vital to the success of this ministry. I just wish I could apply it to my own life! I am working on that and praying that I will allow God will take more control and provide the strength and I will become more obedient and flexible daily!

Secondly, HE DID IT! So Let’s Do IT! This is a motto that has become common place amongst those who have been on the mission trips over the past 3 years. If someone says HE DID IT! Anyone around responds back with a He Did IT! It actually has been on a couple of our shirts in the past as well. What that saying means follows 1 John 3:16, “This is how we know what love is, that Christ laid down his life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Our desire is to be Christ’s reflection, to show his love, where ever we go and with whomever we meet. To share his truth and reveal his love by “loving them where they are and loving them till they ask WHY!” I want this to a daily desire of mine, not just a global mission trip switch I turn on for three weeks. God gave me, us the most precious, powerful gift imaginable, His Holy Spirit! Let's use the power, strength and love He possesses and allow i to be used to make HiS PRINT visible everyday! 

Thanks for your support and when you get a moment and you haven't already done so, would you go and watch the summary video? From watching this I think you will feel like you were there and you will not be disappointed in the 3 minutes it took to watch it. It is an incredible story written and told by the members of HiS PRINT mission team, but without the work of Katie Lamb the story would only be in black and white written letters. Her story from behind the camera actually takes you there and gives you a glimpse of what this ministry is doing!
http://vimeo.com/katielamb/croatia

Have a wonderful God filled day and remember Jesus loves you and so do I!
HE DID IT!
David

Thanks for your support for Mission 2013 and can't wait for other areas God will be taking HiS PRINT on in the future!

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