news http://www.send.org Copyright 2012 SEND. All rights reserved <![CDATA[Actic Edge Winter Retreat]]> The DPB House Winter Retreat was snowless, but the energy coming from the house was AMAZING! My dad and I arrived on the last day of the retreat to pick up my son Joseph and his friend from school. I was blown away to see campers singing choreographed songs proclaiming, "only the Lord is God," reciting Bible verses that they had learned, and having a wonderful time together. Thank you for your prayers for the volunteer staff that did a fantastic job communicating the love of Jesus through their words and actions! Thank you for praying for the campers whose lives were impacted by God's word and this experience as they share: 

  • "I liked everything about this retreat! The leaders are great, especially Mike.  The Bible stories inspired me. This place is really amazing and I would love to return!"
  • "I loved the camp! It was awesome! ... I loved the games and the Bible study groups. The songs were great! I've learned a lot, a lot about courage. This is one of the best camps I've been to (at Severin)! It was a great experience."
  • "This camp really awakened in me a longing for God and Jesus! I'm also thankful that I met new friends."

Please continue to pray for the campers, that they would put into action the things they learned.

]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[Ten years of blessing at The House]]> It is ten years since we held the first summer camps in Severin. Since then, over 150 summer camps and weekend retreats have been held there, organised by DPB and SEND International.The original small house and garden was extended over the years and gradually transformed into what it is today. Looking at old photographs, it is hard to believe it is the same place!
 
The House is important, but the people who have passed through it are even more important. They include children, young people and adults, who have participated in events organised by DPB and SEND, and many volunteers, who have freely given of their time, effort and prayer support for the ministry. During the celebration, we had the opportunity to listen to testimonies given by campers, parents and volunteers. We heard about changed lives, decisions to follow Christ (often made around the campfire), and the blessings which came through serving others. We also saw how some campers have now become leaders, on camps or in their local churches, married and started families, and even become missionaries abroad. Here is one of those testimonies.
 
From Camper to Missionary


I remember the day we bought The House (I was 11).... It was such a tiny house, just a couple of rooms, filled with cobwebs and dust, surrounded by overgrown bushes and weeds... it wasn't at all clear to me why this house had been bought. Now I thank God that the leaders at the time saw something in it which I couldn't see – God's great plan.
 
During the next few years in Severin, I met so many different people who affected me in so many ways....
 
Sometimes it is hard to put into words just how much Severin changed my life. At first, I did not know God, and it was not particularly my goal to do so but the leaders changed that. I saw God in them and wanted to know him for myself. In Severin I learned to read the Bible, play games for the sake of joining in, not just winning, to expand my lungs and breathe deeply, and to laugh. I learned that we are all different, but equal, that each of us is valued and special and loved – I can say for sure that I learned what love is in Severin.
 
Not everything was wonderful. I learned about myself, too. Gradually, I realised I had faults, weaknesses and sins. For the first time, other people rebuked me and tried to explain why I couldn't do exactly as I wished and say exactly what I thought. I remember getting detentions. At first it was hard, as I didn't understand why the leaders and my friends needed to correct me. Later I understood they did it out of love, wanting the best for me, believing that God had great things for me and my life. My leaders corrected me with so much love and respect that it changed my life.

In Severin I came to know God and realise that he had great plans for my life and the lives of my friends. I needed years to accept everything He was offering, but when I did, I did it whole-heartedly. I truly believed that with God, nothing was impossible. From the beginning, he knew my dreams and ambitions, however crazy they were. He convinced me that nothing was too crazy for him. My first huge step of faith was moving to South Africa for three years. That is a whole new story – but it would never have happened without Severin. My second, even bigger step of faith is happening right now, in Thailand, in a totally different world. Some people think I'm crazy; some think I'm brave. I agree with them all, but I would add that I am a child of the King and in His name, we can do anything.


I want you to know that God sometimes works slowly, but thoroughly. He never does small things, though we may think they are small. He sees us as we truly are and wants us to develop, be cleaned up, stretched. He wants us to know how much strength we have in Him. We all discover these things in different ways. Me? I discovered these wonderful truths growing up in the house in Severin.
 
A young Croatian

]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST <![CDATA[New Summer Ministry - CREW]]>
I want to thank you for the opportunity you gave me to serve at MK camp as crew. It was a great new experience, because it was not like being a camper. It was like a close family! And I feel like it was the burden of all the work that brought us together. I loved the closeness we had as crew, because we could share so much with each other. I needed this, to be able to share my thoughts about God, life and everything with other Christians. The most important lesson I learned at camp was humility, because I saw that that was lacking in my life. I now love helping my family, and being encouraging around them, because it brings a smile to their faces :) and I know its pleasing to God. I really feel like I benefit a lot from MK camps, because I feel like I come home more mature.

Thank you for praying with us as we have served in God's work this summer through the DPB Kuca (House)!]]> Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:18:00 EST <![CDATA[Father Son Retreat]]> "After coming to this retreat, now we know what we have been missing! We are going to make this a part of our annual family schedule. Daniel's talk about getting up when you've been knocked down meant a lot to me and God gives us new opportunities to do that every day. I really enjoyed hanging out with my son in God's creation away from the noise and the distractions of Zagreb... where we could take a walk through the forest and actually see so many stars at night. Dad, we even got to see deer : ^ ). The food was excellent!!! Wish we could have stayed longer."

-Comments from various dads and the one about the deer is from our son Daniel.

So many of you prayed for the Father Son retreat and we want to say thank you!  God answered many prayers: The DPB House was full! The weather was wonderful! The talks challenged sons and dads to depend on God and be ready to spend time with Him, to forgive one another and to get up again when you have fallen. Please pray that the dads and sons who attended will put into practice the lessons they learned from God's word.

]]> Thu, 7 Apr 2011 10:54:00 EST <![CDATA[A Present Stolen]]>
Unbeknownst to him, this would be his last ride on his bike. In a matter of moments, when he was only 15 feet away from his bike, a young man jumped on the bike and raced away. Jonathan chased him, but the man on the bike was too fast for him to catch up.

As Jonathan walked in the door, it was obvious that something was wrong, but then when he shared his story about what had happened, he told us the following:

At first, I was angry with what happened and the walk home became an opportunity for me to talk to God about my stolen bike. While I was walking, God brought to mind an illustration I recently heard in a sermon at church. It was about the Bible commentator Matthew Henry when he was robbed. He wrote in his journal, "I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse (my bike) they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all (my bike), it was not much; and fourth because it was I who was robbed, and not I who robbed."

Although, Jonathan misses those bike rides, his story about his bike helped us all gain a different perspective about thanksgiving in the face of adversity. As we walk through 2011, we are thankful that no matter what it brings our lives are in Jesus' hands.]]> Wed, 2 Mar 2011 02:20:00 EST <![CDATA[Winter English Retreat]]>
Please join with us over the next 3 days in prayer for the following requests and themes:
  • Thursday: Focus on Jesus (John the Baptist)
  • Friday: Know the Plan of Faith (Jesus)
  • Saturday: Pray, Serve and Act out your faith (Priscilla and Aquila)

Please pray for God's protection from injuries and sickness and for campers to hear and obey God's word.

PRAISE God with us for:
  • A full retreat!
  • Mike Marten's safe arrival from the states (He is the program coordinator for this retreat and the retreat speaker) and for Chapel Hill Church who donated a great VBS curriculum for the staff to use with the campers: "Game Day Central"!
  • Leaders and cooks for camp (Jenny is serving as the head cook).

Thank you for partnering with us in God's work in Croatia through prayer!]]> Thu, 6 Jan 2011 01:15:00 EST <![CDATA[Finding Love at Camp]]> "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible because I know God was faithfully beside me guiding my life. When I look back into my life God was working in amazing ways that I was not aware of at the time. Those things formed me into the person I am today. Growing up in Croatia during the war, without a strong Christian community and friends on many occasions I often felt lonely and alienated. Even though I had strong support and knew my parents loved me and were strong believers, something was missing. In my school, teachers and students did everything they could to communicate that I am not loved, valued or accepted because of my faith.

You can imagine my joy when I was 13 and got to go to my very first English camp in 1999. I was surprised to find myself accepted and appreciated as a person through the messages and conversations that were shared. I learned what it means to live my life as a follower of Christ. Through messages at camp I realized how practical life with God looked like and that I could find my value as God's child no matter the circumstances. I also had a lot of fun. We played a lot of new fun games I had never played before and it was also very helpful to learn more about American culture and language. I felt so loved and I never wanted to leave.

However, coming back to reality was so much easier knowing that I was loved unconditionally by God and by other believers. Steve and Jenny Meeker continued to work and invest in my life maybe not even being aware of how much love and support they offered. It was much easier to face my life with such great support and care. Through this I can see how my life was changed forever.

God drew me not only to Himself but to the youth ministry as well. I realized how valuable my experience was and I see how important it is to reach youth especially at a young age. I am working with young girls at my church and it has been such a blessing and encouragement to see God work in their young heart. I have shared my experiences with the girls and explained my favorite verse. Yes, life is hard but God is good and He is always with us.

- Miriam]]> Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:30:00 EST <![CDATA[Childen's Camp Kicks-Off]]>
In the past this camp has lead to some Croatian children making decisions for Christ.  For many, it is a step in that direction and proves foundational to their faith.  This camp is also the first chance for the new counselor helpers to serve. 

Please pray for the camp volunteers and staff that they communicate God's love and truth through the camp program and through their lives. Pray also for the hearts of campers that they hear and obey God's word.]]> Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:30:00 EST