The Randomness

Hello Friends! It's been a good 3 days preceded by a very interesting weekend. Will and I had a relaxing weekend planned with not too much going on.

Friday evening we made salads with grilled chicken and sat down to some House and relaxation. After House we switched to a little Fable, which by the way is a super awesome x-box game. Yes, I am a girl who enjoys her video games. Will happened to be playing at the moment and after slaying a group of bandits, I noticed that he was looking suspiciously around our apartment. "What's wrong?", I asked. "I thought I saw something", came his reply. My mind goes straight to a giant spider, roach, other horrible insect. He saw a mouse!

After getting out the flashlight and looking around, we thought it was his imagination until we heard scurrying in our pantry shelf. The shine of the light revealed a tail sticking out of one of our boxes of goods. Dang it! A mouse! Then came the debate. Was he still in the basket? If so, could we grab it off the shelf and haul it and it's contents onto our tiny deck? After much deliberation, we decided to go out and get mouse traps. 10:30 finds us at Kroger getting multiple sticky traps.

Our place looked like a mouse barricade. Didn't hear or see anymore of the mouse that night, and we went to bed tired and annoyed.

Saturday night around midnight, we are lying about to drift off to sleep when we hear a noise, a squeak, if you will. Up out of bed, we each searched the multiple traps until it was found on the last one. The tiny, little mouse was stuck to the pad, and I automatically got sad and my heart went out to the struggling vermin. I won't tell you how it was disposed of. After which, we went to sleep.

4 AM, jolted from slumber by the neighbor dogs barking their heads off. What in the world? After lying there, listening, we decided to get up and shine our light over to them. Unbelievably, there was a possum on the fence and their electric collars wouldn't allow them to get at it. So, they just sat there like morons barking. And the possum wouldn't freaking scurry away already.

So, Will tried to throw tennis balls at the possum to jolt it. He was like a stone possum. Then he went outside and tried to scare him off. The possum didn't leave, but maybe Will scared the two giant dogs, because they stopped barking.

Creatures were abundant this weekend. But,we still have traps, little mouses, so I'd advise not to return to the Troutman home!

Wednesday night, 10:26PM, Will is playing Halo with some friends via the Xbox, and I'm here next to him starting this blog. First off, the music for Halo is super sad, so now I'm all depressed and not at all sure what to write about. All that comes to mind is of the melancholy. My horrible salad comes to mind. I'll talk about that.

Okay, so driving home from work today I got so incredibly tired. The kind of tired that inevitably will turn to irritability. I was at that point from the time I got home from work to the time that I went to praise team practice. By God's help, I never went to the bad place and managed to come out of practice feeling loads better. The husband and I were hungry. Okay, where to eat...mmm...uhhh... We decided to try this joint called Foster's Grille. Burgers, chicken sandwiches, asian chicken salad. Wow, I thought. That sounds yum. What an unexpected treat from such a place.



Yeah, unexpected menu option is more like it. It was a far cry from a treat. The irritation came driving into my mind like a freight train, crashed and just laid there until it pretty much took me over. Evening wasn't ruined. God once again provided me with patience and the ability to breathe and know it was okay that my meal was lackluster.

I've been sick off and on since my return from Slovakia, so there was a lot surrounding my ruined meal. I go to the doctor on Friday. It's time I had a physical and just a general, make sure I'm okay time.

This was textbook rambling, to be sure. I hope it wasn't mind numbingly boring. Blessings, people.

It is difficult to fathom that we have already come and gone from Slovakia. It always feels that way, but you are shocked by it every time.

God was so good to me during our flights; especially coming home. The takeoffs and landings and all that lied between effecting me very little, and I am so grateful for that.

Well, our amazing students arrived on Tuesday evening and it was pretty non-stop until we arrived home on Wednesday night. These were some of the best english speaking kids I've ever had at a camp. We tested them as they arrived and placed them in classes late that night.

Will and I each had an upper intermediate group and taught in classrooms next to one another. Mine was a bunker style room and felt quite comfy vs. creepy, which was they way I thought it might feel. Will's classroom was the ping pong room; how perfect!

My class:


Will's class:


So, here's what a day at camp looked like.

6:30 AM wake up for 7 AM leaders meeting. We had a small devotional and prayer time.

8-8:45 AM Breakfast

8:45 AM Camp dance, morning announcements, etc.

9-11 AM English class

11:15-12:15 Initiatives- this was a time where there was some kind of activity with our english class which prompted conversation. This would generally be in Slovak, but the point was to get them talking and about deep and thought provoking topics.

12:30-1:30 PM Lunch

1:30-2:30 PM This was the time to hang out with students in a non-structured atmosphere and to relax a little.

2:30-4:30 PM Sports/Crafts- Will and I hung out with students and played sports during this time. We tossed the American football, played some basketball and one day Will taught a few kids the basics of football and we played a quick touch game. Super fun!

4:30-6ish PM Group Activity- I say 6ish because during this time where we played a group game with our English class, we usually played until we finished, which varied every day. We usually played for our dinner. Our class was barely last the first day but was first the next. These games were both physically and mentally grueling.

6-7 PM Dinner

7-8 PM Planning for evening program

8-10 PM Evening program- this consisted of the band playing a few songs, a video each night, icebreakers and an evening talk. These were awesome. Will had the privilege of speaking one night, and he did an amazing job.

10-12 E-Nite- We planned 3 of these and the Slovaks the other 3. We had a luau, a bonfire with smores and an international night. The Slovaks planned 3 awesome nights as well.

So, there you have it. A day at camp.

One day we took a 10 mile hike uphill with loose rocks. Yes, it was insane. The feeling of accomplishment when we reached the top was pretty substantial. The trip down was a little rough for my ankles, which couldn't not be wobbly, but I look back with fond memories.

Top of the mountain:



Awkward siblings:


The descent-we were at that tower:


After camp we had follow up with students in the park in Bratislava. We played sports, danced, talked and said our final goodbyes. That night we went to Castle Devin, which overlooked Bratislava. It was gorgeous. Really cold and I got sick as a result, but totally worth it.

Our team, last night:



Will and I both think of this trip as one of the best we've ever taken. It was amazing to do ministry together. It's something we've really never experienced together. This is my 4th trip to SK and Will's first. We were praying before we went that if God was calling us to ministry in that capacity that He would make it clear to us.

We had dinner with Mel and Amy Ellenwood one night. They work for Josiah Venture in Czech Republic. They met us at camp and just shared their story with us. We asked questions, they shared scripture with us and we prayed together. This was a powerful time. I tell you all this, to ask you to pray for us as we pray through this.

One of my favorite memories of the trip was the return from camp. Will, Laura and I rode back together, all crammed in the back seat. We danced to Under the Influence of Giants, laughed and just experienced the goodness that is the 3 of us together. How blessed were we to work with Laura and share in this experience with her. Love you, Laura!

This is really long. Hope you stuck around for it all! Love you.

Will and I, along with our four college students arrived safe and sound in Vienna yesterday morning.

The Girls



The flights weren't too bad. I'm not saying that I was completely free of anxiety of all kinds, but I know God provided peace and a relatively smooth flight. The plane was warm, however and space minimal, so Will and I didn't get sleep. We arrived in Vienna 2:30 AM our time. The sleepiness was starting to set in. We then waited for our greeters and transportation; Laura, Mike and Robbie.

While waiting, I decided to visit the ladies, and upon exiting, Laura surprised me with her presence. We ran to embrace one another. It was glorious to see her face. We were also waiting for another team who was going to another camp, to take the bus to Bratislava. So, we finally boarded the bus at 10:40. Upon arrival in Bratislava around 11:30, we got to meet Laura's fab interns, Sarah and Leila. We waited for a bit longer for Mike to settle the other team and send them on to their next destination. Then it was on to our accommodations for the evening. One of the first people I met on our first trip, Esther, was allowing us to stay with her family in the flat across from theirs. It is beautiful and had room for all of us.

Although we wanted sleep, we weren't allowed any. We showered, rested (not slept) and headed out to take in beautiful Bratislava. Laura, I and the 2 interns were the only ones who had seen the city, which was awesome to witness 5 people seeing it for the first time.

Bratislava photos:







We met our national team for dinner and meet and greet time. It was really cool to see old friends. I think I knew almost all of them.

Then it was on to our flat and another shower and SLEEP! I woke up this morning with the sense that it was not possible to be up already. I am experiencing more jet lag than ever this year and while today was much better then yesterday, I'm still not quite there. Tomorrow should be back to normal. Esther prepared delicious breakfast for us and we loaded up the cars to drive to our camp in Malenovice, Czech Republic. This is the most beautiful camp site I've ever been to. It was our training center when I interned 2 summers ago.

I am really excited about the arrival of the students. Being here has felt a little strange this year. I think I'm over the honeymoon stage and shock and awe of being in Europe. I haven't felt super giddy or ridiculously elated. That had me feeling a bit strange at first, but I think it shows me why I'm here. I'm happy about where my excitement seems to be coming from.

Will is adjusting to the Slovak culture. We are both feeling the jet lag, but we are having a great time. Please pray for us as we start classes on Tuesday. Love you all!

Hey guys. I'll keep this short, but I wanted to request some prayer from you.

Will and I travelled to Charlotte yesterday to visit our good friends, Wade and Ferris Joye. It was awesome news, in January, when we found out they were pregnant and even more awesome when it was confirmed that there were identical twins in her belly!

Well, with twins, there are certainly more complications involved so a couple of days ago, the Joyes went to Cincinnati to see a specialist just to be sure all was well with the girls. They were shocked with the news that they needed to have an emergency c-section either there or back in Charlotte. So, they decided to go the Charlotte route and got a flight back immediately.

The girls were born just over a pound and 2 pounds and Wade and Ferris find themselves in a strange place that they never expected to be. Wade took us back to see little Adleigh. We had to go back separately. Will went first and then I joined Wade and Adleigh. She is precious, beautiful and God's amazing creation.

Please pray for the entire Joye family. I don't need to tell you how to direct your prayers, but they all need it.

I can't wait to watch these children grow and remember back to the beginning when they were so tiny.

Love you all!

I have to work this week, my husband does not. So, it makes getting up and going to work that much harder. Boo hoo. This morning while getting ready, Will was online reviewing some games for the 360 in hopes of renting one and having a side project for his downtime during the day. For a while now, the new Grand Theft has intrigued him but at the same time, he knew the content of the previous ones and sort of steered clear, if you will. We watched the game preview this morning and his suspicions were confirmed that it wasn't the type of game that he should rent or play.

An example for me; I am drawn to the glitz, fashion and New Yorkness that Sex and the City has to offer, but it puts my mind and heart in a place that it shouldn't be; one of materialism and immorality not seeming so well, immoral.

The world offers a lot. Some of it good, some bad but the good and bad have something in common; neither will last. I am praying for the wisdom to protect what is eternal. I know that protecting that will effect some choices, and I'm praying for the peace to really be okay with missing out on a few things. This will ultimately effect my relationship with God, as well as so many others in my life.

I am so grateful for God's continued patience and grace, as I continue on this journey with Him. He redefines the word awesome!

In the summer of '06 when I interned in Slovakia, we went on a hike one day. The night before they defined the hike as a walk, so I didn't worry about the fact that my shoes weren't designed for rock climbing etc. That next day took us on a 7 mile hike in my Target shoes. I could feel every rock, pebble and boulder that I climed on or over. There was a random assortment of gnats that followed us around, preying upon our arms and legs. I had a vegetarian meal packed for me and at lunch, I was so hungry that I wolfed down the meat paste sandwich that I mistook for my veggie meal.

The culmination of meat paste in my belly, gnats on my body and indented feet from rocks gave birth to the "caveman". That is how Laura described me as I walked down the mountain, waving my arms and speaking in some kind of low, rumbled garble. That's me and Laura after the hike



Well, I've stumbled upon another form of the caveman; me on birth control. I was struck yesterday afternoon with a case of the caveman. I didn't wave my arms or talk in an unintelligable language but I just got super grumpy for absolutely no real reason.

Will agreed to play ping pong and go on a walk with me while in this state. He is so understanding in those moments and has already learned the best way to handle it. We already look back with laughter, but I leave you with how he later referenced that evening together; a walk throught the valley of the shadow of death.

Love and molten awesome,

Sarah