Running this race like turtles...

As we continue to run towards the finish line of language school, it feels more like turtle speed than hare. We are enduring, some days more joyfully than others. Despite frustration and wanting to learn more quickly than what is possible, we continue to have small wins that help us stay motivated! 
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As April was coming to an end, we were begrudgingly approaching a language exam the first week of May. Luckily, May 1st is Labor Day in Croatia and since Anna’s birthday was the same day, it seemed like a good time to get a breath of fresh air and give our brains a break before the test. 

We felt incredibly blessed to spend a couple nights camping in Italy and we went on a short day trip to Venice. It’s just a 4 hour drive from our city which feels unreal! Our much needed break and family time paid off as we both passed our tests that same week! 

We are happy to have outlets to serve in our church and maintain a vision for the importance of language learning. Jeremiah has continued to serve weekly in a course for youth who have questions about Evangelical Christian beliefs. He is also working hard to recruit more volunteers for the tech team at church- some things just never change! 
We were also given the opportunity to film testimonies of people in our church. The stories of our dear brothers and sisters were so encouraging to hear, and we’re thrilled to help share their stories and proclaim the goodness of God. Keep an eye out for links to those videos in the coming months! Anna continues to go for coffees and visit homes of believers and non-believers alike. She is quickly becoming the cookie supplier for youth group events as well! 

We truly covet your prayers for motivation, energy, and understanding in language learning as we finish up this semester and head into a busy summer. 

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work as we prepare to host our first mission team in June. We are excited to see how God uses this trip in the hearts and minds of believers and unbelievers alike. 

Please pray for Louella and Mabel as they join us on this crazy adventure. Louella is noticing the stress of having a language barrier, and often expresses how happy she is that she can understand her “English friends”. Please pray for wisdom and the right opportunities for childcare as our schedule changes in the summer and we look ahead to the Fall semester.