Good morning everyone!

Today we are heading to Watsontown, PA for our last church of the travel year. We will have meetings at a few local churches over the summer but this is the last church where we will stay in host homes. 

This past week and a half we have been back at our home base in Harrisburg, PA and have been enjoying some time to rest and recouperate as well as doing a lot of preparation for Africa (9 DAYS!!). Easter Sunday we had a morning meeting at a local church where they fed the team (and any team members families) an Easter lunch. Monday morning we resumed our usual schedule with classes and rehearsal and then the girls began sorting and packing suitcases for Africa while the guys did some outside work projects. The rest of the week has been pretty normal but with more of a focus on Africa than before. One of the Sundays while we are in Zambia the team is going to be split in half and we will have services at two different locations at the same time. Because of that the team has been split in two so that we can rehearse our songs with half of the team members and so that we can make any adjustments necessary. So, some days we have regular rehearsal, some we have split groups where one group sings one song and the next group sings the same song etc. Along with those rehearsals we have also had rehearsals to go over traditional hymns that we will be singing in the churches as well as rehearsals for kids songs so that we have a long list of songs for when we are with the children. Upon arrival back at the camp we all received our financial statements and I was completely surprised when I saw what God has provided in the last few weeks. I often wonder how I can be so faithless when I have God on my side. How can I continue to wonder if He'll provide when He already has so many times before? I've noticed that whenever I am worried or anxious about finances or the future, that's not usually when God provides a miracle. But it's when I have given my situation over to Him and find complete peace in His promises that He shows me again how great and faithful He is. 

Along with the regular schedule and some time for rest and preparation for Africa we have also had a lot of time to get outside and play some sports again. We played volleyball multiple times, soccer once and then some of the team played basketball and ultimate frisbee on other days. After being on the road for 11 weeks it has been wonderful to be able to be active again. 

Please continue to pray for the team as we get ready for Africa. Pray that we would not miss any opportunites while we are there to serve God and that we would not take this trip for granted by any means.  Also, there are still ssome team members who are waiting for finances for Africa as well as spending money for souveniers while we are there. If you would like to give towards a team member who is still in need of finances you can go to Encounter's website: encounterrevival.org  or send your gift to: 

Mt. Lou San Bible Camp

2200 Blue Mountain Parkway

Harrisburg, PA

17112

with specific instructions that you want your gift to go towards whichever team members are in financial need. 

This is a great opportunity to get involved in the lives of young people who are impacting others in AFRICA and I ask that you at least pray about it to see if this is an area that God would like for you to get involved. 

Thank you all for your prayers, support, and birthday wishes! It was a great one! 

In Christ,

Anna

P.s. If you are interested, there are numerous videos of this years team as well as previous Encounter teams on Youtube under Encounter Revival Ministries.