camp drawing to a close

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6.

Last night at camp created what the Slovaks call a “labyrinth.” Essentially this was an exercise to cause each student to reflect on those things that shape them. The emphasis by the end of the exercise is to put before the students a clear and unmistakable presentation of the Gospel message - leaving them to decide. We highlighted faith as the key element by giving them an experience with all their senses (Taste, Touch, Smell, Sight and Sound). 

Most of the students have never been made to think on this level before and it was a humbling experience for those who approached it with the right attitude. However, we are not so naive as to think that everyone at camp wanted to jump right into this whole experience. The enemy was (and is) hard at work - hating even the connections that are made this week for the sake of the Gospel. Last night was no exception. We noticed in the time leading up to the Labyrinth that there were a myriad of distractions and behavioral issues. Through the grace the God provides, both the Slovak and American teams pushed through. 

This morning the students have a rich discussion happening right behind me. For most the hangup is that they believe they must do something to replace the bad things they have done. Pray for both the Slovak and American teams today and ask the Spirit to give us insight and wisdom, because explaining Christian justification (just-as-if-I had never sinned) is a very hard concept to grasp for a nation so caught up in tradition and works.    

Finally, tomorrow will be our last day at camp. We will be packing and leaving the camp just after lunch and getting on a train across the country to Stara Tura. Once there we will spend the night and go out all day Tuesday to see the sights and sounds of Stara Tura with the youth. Packing up and getting on an 8:00pm train to Zilina. Zilina is where the training center (Kompass) is located and where we started our journey. Once there we will board a bus through the night to go to Vienna, Austria in order to catch our flight leaving the following afternoon. 

Home is near, but our work is not yet done with the Slovak youth from Stara Tura. 

The Glory and the Response of God...

Ed and I at the peak of a mountain in the High Tatras 

The day began slightly different than most of the days we have had to this point. We ate breakfast and had a bus waiting to take us 30 minutes down the road to a small ski village at the foot of the High Tatras (a mountain range here in Slovakia). We were informed that it was going to be a difficult hike, but were up for the challenge. Eight miles and 5,500ft later we were at a stopping point.

Psalm 94:4 says, "In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also." On this half day hike there were moments that I walked with each student on the team from NCF to see how God had been working over their hearts. Stories of break-though in relationships began to pervade the conversation simultaneously there was a sense of being overwhelmed by the size of God's creation.

I also had some time to walk with Ed and discuss his role over the summer and the tremendous stress that it can be (though he would not admit it). God's Spirit has truly sustained him and Wendi (as well as family) during the difficult summer months and I can attest that the work they do has LASTING IMPACT and the passion with which they carry it out is palpable! Thank the Lord for missionaries like Ed and Wendi!

Each of the students on the NCF team are finding a niche with the students from Stara Tura and they are really digging into deep discussions in the free time (which is limited). A brief story of God's faithfulness in prayer that I experienced may prove to be helpful (I often share of others and not what God is using me for - so I thought it might be helpful).

Below is a picture of my roommate and I. Last night as I walked in to go to bed at 12:15am Miroslav and I began talking about the differences between Catholicism and Christianity. Just yesterday morning I had spent a lengthy time in prayer asking the Lord to pry open conversation where Jesus would be the center (I John 5:14-15). I can't recap the whole thing here, but the final question we discussed as we fell asleep (about 1:30) was, "I am wanting to understand this, does this (the Gospel) change people permanently or not?" Please continue to pray for me as I finish this discussion later tonight...

My roommate Miroslav

More will come in a few days (monday afternoon) when we have internet connectivity again.

Day 6

Isaiah 1:6 “From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.”

Bogdan (one of the student leaders) was overcome with a weight for the hearts of the students who are here. We were in the middle of an activity which required teamwork and perseverance. It was at the climax of the game where Bogdan came to the realization that these students who are having such an enjoyable experience are at the same time in anguish in their soul and don’t even know it. 

Nate and Kennedy doing the wheelbarrow

Michalah and Timo after the team relay!

God’s Spirit has been faithful. He proves us with the needed strength and grace to engage in relationships leading toward the sharing of the Gospel with a people who are desperate for the hope found in Christ. 

Each team member has unique roles and responsibilities ranging from leading music, teaching English, playing sports, making crafts, dancing, and having many conversations with the Slovak youth. 

Our goal this week (prayerfully) and our challenge to you is this; soften the bruises, raw wounds and sores with the truth found in the Gospel by LOVING WELL. It is not only the last instructions found in Matthew to all believers, but our privilege and joy as well. 

Please pray for us as tomorrow (Friday) we will be going on an all day hike in the High Tatras (a mountain range). This will be challenging physically but more than that the spiritual challenge can present a real obstacle for our American team because they will have to carry on a discussion for a few hours with their new friends. Pray for Gospel effectiveness.  

We've arrived...

Good morning to all of you back home! It is officially 10:45am central time and about 5:45pm Slovak time. As this is being written I find myself at TCKompas which is the training center for Josiah Venture for the country of Slovakia. After having departed from Chicago yesterday on our 12 day journey (June 29-July10) we arrived safely in Vienna, Austria at about 8:30am local time. From there we were bussed to the training center where we are now in the city of Zilina, Slovakia; about a 3.5 hr bus ride.

Already God has been working in the relationships NCF youth have been developing.

When we left on Saturday morning we began with the reading of Psalm 121. An excellent Psalm - but of particular concern as an entire team travels the world is verse 8, "The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." We begin our trip with thankfulness that the Lord has heard our pleas for mercy and in his Abundant kindness has given us safe passage to the country and people we come to serve. Join with us now as seek to HONOR Christ as KING by spreading the Gospel through relationships! Below are some pics to help you visualize what we are experiencing...

The Team on Saturday June 29 in Tremont before departure

TCKompas

Catholic church in lower square of Zilina

Tate volunteered for this pic :)

Jaylin has things under control

Look closely, Stephen is a potty mouth

Ed's confused

Intern Chelsea Risinger is like a daughter to me!

Bake Sale - For Cora Peters!

Jada invites you to come to her bake sale! 
 

 
Here is a GREAT opportunity to support a St. Jude patient we love... Saturday (Sept. 29th) from 8-3 Jada is doing a bake sale at our house (message me to donate baked items). ALL PROCEEDS will go to bless Cora Peters and her family. Cora has been battling a rare cancer (synovial sarcoma) since 2009. Here is her caringbridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/corapeters. Swing by the house, buy a brownie for a ridiculously large quantity of cash, and bless someone who could use our encouragement. 517 N. Greenfield Tremont 61568 is our address.

Persecution

Often my waking and my sleeping are in much peace these days, as is the case - to a large degree - with most of you reading this. Your morning routine may not be interrupted at all. The alarm is set and the largest thing most of us battle is the gumption to drag our bodies out of the comfortable, oversized bed we own.

Moving throughout the day we choose what we want for lunch, pick a spot to eat and accomplish nearly all we intend without so much as a slow internet connection to wrestle with.

We come home to dinner, sports, children's activities, and a host of other commitments. We thank the Lord for our food but our prayer seems rote and dry, "Lord, bless this food we are about to eat and thank you that we all have had a good day. Watch over us tonight and help us love you more, Amen." Every night. Same thing. What's missing?

Picture this if you will, you are a pastor of a thriving church in a relatively large city. God is doing some amazing things among the community of believers whom you shepherd. People are being changed from the inside out, the Spirit is on the move. Then, one morning you come to these seemingly obscure passages in the Bible:

• Acts 5:41 "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."
• John 15:21 "But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me." 
• I Peter 4:14 "If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you."

A brief survey of your congregation reveals that growth is the result of such persecution. "What do you mean growth?" Watch the video (again if you haven't already).

Annual Rumbold Wrap Up

I figured rather than write our annual Christmas letter I'd do it in pictures. A lot has happened since December 30th 2010 - so I reasoned that if a picture is worth a 1000 words this buys me a lot more space for expression.

In short: December 30th Jada was diagnosed with Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney, January 3rd she had surgery, January 11th Pierce was born, January 13th she started chemo and radiation, January 20th Jada FINISHED radiation, March Jada celebrated her 6th birthday, June Jada broke her arm and got shingles from chemo treatment, July 9th Oliver celebrated his birthday, July 31st Jada FINISHED chemo August 17th Jada had her first day of school, October Jess, Jada, Ollie and myself were sent to Hawaii by Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Through it all God grew our faith, showed us family and their unwavering commitment, and illustrated how the church is to care for one another's burdens. God, without question, is Great!