Day 6 - At Least I Think It Is!

Wow is about the best word I could use to describe what is going on here in Croatia! From all the programs going on, to the international mixture we have here at HiS HOUSE. to sorting and resorting equipment boxes and filling orders, to building projects for the carnival, to the care of the house and all us occupants. The moving parts behind the scenes are so numerous and amazing to witness I need to spend a whole blog just to try and explain the beauty in all of it! God orchestrated an amazing team and to have those who have come just to serve behind the scenes to get all the things done necessary while the others are sharing Christ through loving people till they ask why, has blessed me to the core of my soul!

I always hate mentioning specific names for fear of hurting someone's feelings, because some were mentioned and others weren't, but these people that God gifted with hearts of service and they chose to come and serve behind the scenes is absolutely a blessing beyond description. There have been many who have stepped up and worked along side them as well and without that team unity, most of the tasks would go undone! Sis (Shannon) has been the solid rock she is every year with organizing all the community projects, travel to and from as well as grocery trips on a daily basis! You can imagine with 35 people in one group, you go through supplies really fast! Sis has stepped up to the plate time and time again and this year has accomplished these tasks with an expertise that is unmatched. I wouldn't know what to do with out her and this ministry wouldn't be where it is today without her! God has blessed me hugely through her! God knew what He was doing when He placed it on my heart to ask her to come to Croatia back in 2007, without even really knowing her! God said she was the one and I walked up to her and asked her to come!

This year has been by far our largest group and with the additional rooms added to HiS HOUSE and storage area, there more areas to keep up with and tidy, as well as meals for an army to prepare for! Kim Cissell asked if she could fulfill that role back at the first of the year! She felt God calling her to do this for us and when Sis told me this was what Kim had said, my eyes filled with tears! This was such an answer to prayer and when Sharon Beal asked me how she could be of service as well, I was floored by God's specifically calling the two of them to serve in this way! They, along with several others, have kept us on time with having meals ready and the house clean after the army has arrived and departed. Without this support we would never be able to accomplish the programs happening in the city! Not having to worry about setting up the food prep and clean up has lifted a real burden off of Sis and I and watching the team step up and help when and where necessary around Kim and Sharon is a real treat to witness.

As it so happens, each of their spouses has done the exact same thing on the construction and storage organization! Rock Beal has stepped up as he has in the past, in building any and everything I have asked him to do from carnival games to batting cages. He is like Santa's elves, tinker here, tinker there and before you know it he has built a masterpiece from scraps! After he gets done with all of our carnival games, the European Union is going to ask HiS PRINT to do carnivals all over Europe! And Robert Cissell has been a stellar worker and organizer in the garage and storage area! With 12,000 pounds spread out onto 40 pallets and in two different garages, I have given him the task of separating and reorganizing all of it! He has been non stop in trying to accomplish this while also filling equipment orders! We are about 90% there and would never had been able to accomplish a third of this with out his commitment and dedication to serving strictly in getting this completed! Thank you to them and to every person out there who serves in places that are behind the scenes whether at church, missions or work! Without you, nothing would get done! Your service allows others to use their talents to accomplish those things they were called to do!

We move forward and press on to share Christ's love by loving these people where they are and loving them till they ask why and couldn't be as effective doing that, without people like I just mentioned! Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support and could use those especially today as we go out to the Orphanage and another day of baseball camp and library programs! Have a wonderful God filled day and remember Jesus loves you and so do I!

Your Friend

David