We are officially allowed to stay in Croatia!

We got our visas approved! Thursday we went to the police station to submit the last of the paperwork needed for our visa applications (WOO!), and were told we get to go and pick up our official visas in two weeks! We have had a lot of help along the way, and we are so glad for this process to come to a close, and be approved without any major hiccups along the way. Thursday was a big day - after the police station we also had our first test in our Croatian language courses! Due to some unforeseen wait time at the police station beforehand, we showed up a full hour late to our tests and didn't know if we would be able to finish on time. God knew what we needed though, and has been guarding us every step of the way. We both finished our tests within the time limit, and we are off to a great start learning Croatian! We often get the opportunity to practice with Croats here during our morning dog walks, and it has been a great way to meet our neighbors and get to know the community around us (:

Last Saturday we had the second Champs Camp on Wheels event, and it was a hit! The kids heard the story of who Jesus is from Mary Magdalene's perspective, and had a great object lesson about how God makes us new again, and completely frees us from the bondage of sin. We had about 6 kids this time, and saw some new faces. At both weekend Champs Camps we have had kids from the Church family as well as kids from the surrounding community that we have connected with through the summer Champs Camps. We are thrilled to see the community involvement and have the opportunity to get to know these families more.

The last couple weeks have been packed with curriculum planning for the summer teen/children's camps, as well as for the upcoming Easter retreat. Zach will be working with a team during the retreat to share with the youth about who we are as the Church, and what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ. I and a few of the other women from church will be teaching the children's lessons, focusing on the story of Christ, and who he made us to be as his children, his church, and his body. Please pray that the upcoming Easter retreat will be a time of rest and renewal, for the believers to take refuge in the Lord and in each other. Please pray it will be a time of joy, as we get to work with our Croatian brothers and sisters, and hear how Christ has transformed each of us. And please pray God will continue uniting all the congregations here to work as one body, doing God's will here in Croatia.