Girls Only Camping Trip this weekend!!! wooooohooooo!!

This weekend we are doing something very, very exciting -- we are having a first ever youth camping trip!! I am taking 14 girls (plus Samuel!!) from the youth group camping in Lezhe, a city about 2 hours from here. This is so exciting because the girls have never, ever been camping and they are really excited! I have been praying and hoping for this trip for a LONG time now, and am so thankful to God that it is finally happening! It will be a wonderful time of bonding, friendship building, and devotional time with the Lord. And it will also be good training for our evangelistic Camp Eureka in July, when we will camp in the wilderness for ONE WHOLE WEEK with Albanian teenagers! Please pray for our time together this weekend!! Here's specifically how you can pray:

- for friendships to solidify and trust to be built among the girls
- for a time of renewal and refreshment for each soul, as there will be time built in to spend along with God in His beautiful creation!
- for 4 girls from a nearby orphanage - for them to build good friendships with other students in our group, and for their hearts to be encouraged by our good God
- for God to be uplifted and glorified in all our conversations, in our singing around the campfire, and in our time in the Word
- for me and Samuel, that I would be able to wisely balance how to take care of him and all those girls who have never been camping!
- for Jennie (our intern) and her example and care for the girls, as she is discipling many of them while she's here
- for Amy (another leader, who works at the orphanage), who is coming with HER baby, too!
- for the faith of all these girls to deepen, and for their love for God to increase

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I know that many of you out there will be praying, and I can't wait to tell you how it went when we get back. I know there will be much answered prayer.

Also, please pray for my sister, Addie, as she is in Vlora (a southern, coastal city) this weekend with an Albanian friend she made while here. Please pray for safety while they are traveling around, and for spiritual encouragement for both of them. Thank you!

By His Grace & For His Glory,
Gretchen