Back in the 80s, there was a popular song by Willie Nelson called, 'On the Road Again.' I feel like this song title often describes my e- mail updates, and this one is no exception. After a fairly busy Spring, with trips to England (twice), Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, I've had a nice five-week, travel-free period in Austria.
However, on Saturday (July 2), I'm "on the road again" for most of July.

From Czech to Bosnia
From July 2-9, I'll be in the Czech Republic, helping out with OM's first-ever TeenStreet Central Europe, a youth conference for 13-18 year olds. This TeenStreet is the first to be held in a former Soviet-bloc country and is being organized and hosted by our OM Czech team. We are expecting over 100 youth coming from different Eastern Europe countries and are also expecting the Lord to do big things through this week. (For more information, check out (www.teenstreet.cz)

OM has hosted the original TeenStreet in Germany for the last several years, with over 3,000 teens attending last year's conference. It's huge in OM and Europe, but it's one event that's never really interested me. But here I am, excited to be part of TeenStreet Central Europe and to see what the Lord has in store -- for me, the other staff, and especially for the teenagers.

After TeenStreet, I return to Austria for a few days and then head off to Bosnia on July 16 and will be there until the 24th. The OM Bosnia team has a couple of different programs going on then, so I will not only participate in their ministries, but will help to write and edit stories from the week, as well as catch up with team members and get updates on the many wonderful ministries from OM Bosnia. I haven't been to Bosnia since my first trip in April 2003. I can't believe it's been over 2 years. This trip, however, I will not make it to Sarajevo, but will only go to Bihac, which is just on the Croatian border.

During the month of July, I have a journalism intern working with me from the States. Katie Powell will be a senior at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho and wants to be a writer for a missions organization! Perfect! She'll write some stories from TeenStreet and Bosnia, as well as take lots of pictures. I'm happy about that because photography isn't my first love, but very necessary in my communications roles.

August and Beyond
After my Czech and Bosnia trips, I'm hoping to produce a real newsletter, complete with stories and pictures from the last couple of months. The plan is to have that finished before I leave for Holland on August 22 to attend OM's new recruits conference. We have about 15 new people joining Central Europe teams (Albania, Hungary, Moldova, Bosnia, Czech Republic and Ukraine), which is very exciting.

This will be my last OM new recruits conference (held twice yearly), as I'm turning over my Central Europe recruiting responsibilities to Alma, a woman who works with OM Germany. I love the recruiting work, but have needed to take off one of my "OM hats" and am grateful for Alma's willingness to put it on. I do plan to be involved in recruiting, but just on a smaller scale.

Future Plans and a Final Decision!
As mentioned in my last e-mail update in April, I have been praying and earnestly seeking the Lord for His perfect plan for my future. I have mastered the art of making short-term extensions with OM after my initial two-year commitment finished in September 2003. First, it was another year, then another six months, which would’ve actually put me back in the States about right now (June 2005). But, I’m still here and not looking to leave now until the end of 2006. At that point, I will return to the States for an extended period to either go to school, get a “real” job (as some would say) or plan for another term with OM back in Europe. Only the Lord knows what's ahead.

Getting to this point has been a journey…but, what a great journey with the Lord! Almost since I left the U.S., I have been ready to come home. And I still look forward to that time. But, over the last couple of months, the Lord has changed my heart to want to stay longer and to be excited about it. When my pastor and missions chairman (Jeff Good and Jeff Gufstafson) came to visit in April, their input -- from this side of the pond -- was instrumental in making this final decision. (So, it's their fault! - ha!) But, they really helped me to see my ministry from a different perspective and challenged me to consider staying. After much prayer and godly advice and counsel, I said "yes." I love my job…how many people can honestly say that? I believe in OM’s ministry in Central and Eastern Europe, and I still view this work as a real privilege. It’s exciting to see ministries flourish, people’s lives changed and feeling like there is eternal significance in what I'm doing.

So, thank you for your part in allowing me to stay in Europe and continue ministering and serving with OM. And thank you for your faithful prayers!

Thank you also to many of you who reply to these e-mails and bring me up to date with you and your families. I try to respond to all of them, but realize I'm a bit behind on e-mails. But, please keep them coming...I love hearing from you, too :-).

With much love and gratefulness,
Becky/Rebecca

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139: 1,16

Prayer Points for July/August
1. As always, please pray for safety traveling to and from Czech Republic and Bosnia and for good health during these trips.
2. Pray for creativity for me and Katie (my intern) in writing
stories and promoting OM's work in Czech Republic and Bosnia. Pray that this experience would be life-changing (in a good way) for Katie.
3. Praise God for His faithfulness and for His clear leading in the decision to stay in Europe through the end of 2006. Pray that I would be completely open and obedient to whatever He brings along my path.
4. I am trying to get my residence permit renewed in Austria and it's been more difficult to get the renewal than to get the approval in the first place. Pray that the Austrian officials will accept my AETNA insurance so that I don't have to get Austrian insurance (which could be up to $300/month...money I don't have!)

Contact Information:
E-mail: becky@ge.om.org
Snail Mail in Austria: Gruenergasse 2, 2000 Stockerau, Austria
Phone: 43-2266-80867 (work);
43-2266-72353 (home);
43-676-712-6311
(mobile) - 7 hours ahead of Central Time
Snail Mail in US: 2444 Allen St., Owensboro, KY 42303
Financial Support: OM-USA, P.O. Box 777, Tyrone, GA 30290-0444, Acct. No. BARB801;
to give towards OM projects mentioned in this e- mail, please designate the country and project. Thanks!