Day in Tartu provides ministry opportunities

Our time is Estonia was split into 3 parts: (1) the pre-camp time in Tartu (Friday-Sunday), (2) camp (Sunday-Thursday), (3) the post-camp time in Tartu (Thursday-Friday) & Tallinn (Saturday). God really opened up opportunities for me to spend time with 3 out of the 5 students in my small group today. I realized that a large part of our work here was developing relationships with students so that they could have a better idea of what a Christian looked like and sounded like. That is why I prayed for an opportunity to spend time with some of the students after they had arrived back home in Tartu and God answered.

I spent about 3 hours this afternoon with Eric Taum, pictured in a previous entry. Eric and I were quickly able to pick-up where we had left off at camp and delve back into the struggles of life and his struggle to understand God and Christianity. He walked me through a good understanding of the gospel and how a true Christian should live his life. Then he ended with a statement like, "Clay I really want to believe in God but I am just not sure about it." So I encouraged him more, listened more, shared scripture more and prayed with him. Continue to lift up Eric in your prayers. Pray that he would be able to have good conversations with other Christians in his life like Max, Daniel and Craig.

Erin and I were also able to meet up with 2 other girls from our small group, Kristel (on the left) and Triin (on the right). Neither are Christians, but both jumped at the chance to meet up with us as a local restaurant before we headed back to the states. Pray for Triin as she continues to attend Craig's home group and that she would invite friends to Going UP events. Also pray for Kristel as she begins to read her Bible. We were able to meet Kristel's boyfriend Erwin. Although our conversation grounded to a halt a number of times through the night the girls both gave us big hugs when we parted ways. Public affection like hugging friends appears to not be an Estonian way of expression, but at English Camp and at Home Groups kids feel free to step out of this Estonian box. It was great to give them hugs and let them know that we will be praying for them as they consider God and the Bible.