Today is Thursday, and just like that, we are back!As we are coming home from an amazing 18 days serving the Lord together, I’m brought back to my starting point for this trip. Our preparation for this trip started last November as we received applications for students and leaders who were interested in going. As the applications came in, our leadership team began praying through each one and sought the Lord’s guidance to build the team. In our preparation we were praying through and focusing on our core verses for the trip from Ephesians 2:8-10:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Over these past two weeks I have SO evidently seen how God has shown Himself through this team. By His grace, He has shown His glory through the good work He prepared us to do. I’ve been so encouraged by this team! Each one of them blossomed and further developed their gifts on this trip. Whether it was leading soccer clinics, coming up with games on the spot, tie-dying countless shirts, chasing campers around, or learning to sit and deepen genuine Christ-honoring friendships, God has worked mightily through this team! They have served whole-heartedly and joyfully to bring the joy and love of the Lord to all that they came in contact with. I’m so grateful for God’s work in knitting this team together and can’t wait to see how the Lord will continue to work in them and through them in the years to come. You never know, maybe in a few years one of them will be leading a team on a cross-cultural missions trip. 🙂
Thank you to the team for joyfully working hard for the Lord! And to our supporters, thank you for your prayers and your financial support over these weeks. We are so grateful for the part that you played in preparing us, sending us, and receiving us. I’d encourage you to ask one of our team members for their stories from the trip and how God spoke to them. And again please continue to pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted over this trip. Continue to pray for the Hellenic Ministries staff that are finishing up camp over the next few weeks.
Signing off for an overdue shower and a good night of rest!
Jeremy, Team Leader
The Orchard - Balkans 
Jeremy, thank you for serving a Team Leader. You gave of yourself, but God gave it all back to you in the joy of serving him together as a group. As our Lord said, Give, and it will be given to you. (Luke 6:38).
I pray that your wish would be fulfilled: that many more of us Chicagoans will do it- go over and work together with that wonderful ministry mission.
I praise God for all the He has accomplished through you and the Team.