It is hard to believe that it is already the middle of August as I sit here and type this update. It seems like it was just the beginning of June and we were planning to wind down our school year programming and start summer camps. But another summer has flown by and we are already looking at fall curriculum!

Our theme for summer camps this year was Living Water and we discussed three characteristics of someone who has Living Water in their lives: obedience, bravery, and trust. With our younger groups we used skits with Ms. Dolphin and two octopuses to teach these concepts. With our older, teen groups we used life application lessons and personal testimonies to illustrate how these characteristics apply to Christ followers in today's culture.

One of the highlights of the summer for me was the first camp that we had with our littlest kids from Peris. For over half the group this was their first time at our team house, their first time at camp, and their first time in the pool. My favorite memory is swimming around the pool with Marius who is just six years old and him asking to sing "Domnul Mare E" (Our God is so Big) and "Cine a Creat" (Who Created, a song about how God created the birds, the fish, and us). I could see the seeds being planted in his life in that very moment and it reminded me of Isaiah 55:10-11: "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Every chance we get to speak the Word of God over our kids it will accomplish it's purpose!

This year we had the awesome opportunity to have a four day arts camp with some of our kids. My co-leader, Heather, worked hard to prepare a camp that highlighted how God is a creator and we worship Him through the creation of art. We had four sections: music, visual art, dance, and cooking. I had the pleasure of leading the visual arts section of the camp. My group explored photography, sculpture, metal working, and painting. At the end of the camp we had an art gallery to highlight their accomplishments. It was an amazing experience for both the staff and kids and I'm looking forward to incorporating this into our summer programming next year.

Now that summer is over we are beginning to look at fall curriculum and school year activities. I will continue to do large group Life Skills Classes and individual counseling sessions. This year we are going to start another youth group at Peris for our 11-13 year olds and a Bible class for our under 10 group. Heather and I are also looking to start a Sunday morning worship and Bible study time at Peris for all ages. We are very excited for another full year of ministry!

I want to continue to thank each of you who financially support me. I am truly blessed to not worry about finances and to be able to focus instead on my ministry. I am looking forward to several special projects that we have in mind that are only possible through your support.

If you feel lead to contribute financially to Heart to Heart and the ministries that we run here in Romania please visit:

www.h2hint.org/index.php/h2h/give/

You can donate to our general ministry fund which helps cover expenses that all the missionaries on staff incur such as rent, utilities, transportation, and food. It also helps support every ministry run by Heart to Heart including caring for abandoned infants at the hospital, reading classes and tutoring, the boys and girls transition programs, and many other areas. Or, if you wish, you can designate your gifts to myself or one of the other missionaries on staff.

I also want to say a very special word of thanks for those who have helped grow my counseling resources this summer! I received some wonderful books as well as therapy tools earlier this summer. I am so thankful for these donations!

The wonderful books I received!

The therapy tools that I received (I will use these to work on coping skills).

Thank you again so much for your love and support of my ministry to the orphans of Romania!

Praises:

Prayer Requests: