June 4th, 2004

Hello from Las Vegas!  I hope you're all doing well. It was such a blessing to spend time at home in Wyoming after my time in China.  I'm also thankful for the opportunities I had to visit some of you while I was home.  If we didn't get to see each other, I hope to hear from you soon.

My internship with South Hills Church Community in Las Vegas began in early April, and has been an awesome time so far.  I'm living with a wonderful host family and meeting lots of new people.  My weeks have been spent in the office, helping with all the "behind-the-scene" things that go into Children's Ministry.  The Children's Ministry director just had a baby, so I am now trying to fill her shoes while she is away.  I've even discovered that I actually love doing administrative tasks like making copies and cutting out craft patterns!  Our Sunday morning children's program theme is "Wild Adventure Island."  I've had tons of fun teaching and playing with the kids as well as encouraging the volunteers who give of themselves each week.

Once a month, we have a community outreach event for children and their families known as "Friday Frolics". In April, we had a big Easter egg dying party with lots of games - egg tosses, egg hunts, & egg relays! In May, we headed to a city park and cooled off with a friendly "Water War" between the children.

Our church is currently meeting in a Middle School cafeteria, so we have to weekly set up and tear down everything - our stage, seating - not to mention our children's area nursery, preschool, and classrooms. The good news is that our church has just purchased a great facility that we will be moving into in August!

With summer on it's way, we are now busy working on preparations for summer camps and Vacation Bible School.  We'll be taking our 3rd and 4th graders to a camp in Arizona, so it will be exciting to watch as they take off on what for most of them will be their first ever camp experience.  Our Vacation Bible School will also have an island theme and will hopefully attract many new kids and families to our church.

I'm especially grateful just for the opportunity to be back in Vegas where I can continue to actively intercede on behalf of the city.  A lot of my time here has been spent driving around and praying over different parts of the city.  One of my favorite things to do is to find a bench down on The Strip where I can sit and read.  Almost every time I do this, something eventful happens! God always has a way of bringing along ministry opportunities that allow me to use my own personal strengths.

That's just a little of what's going on in my life right now.  Thank you again for all your prayers and warm wishes as I've begun on this new adventure.  While I strongly feel that God has given me a heart for Vegas, it is often difficult and stretching.  I want you to know how much it encourages me to know that so many of my friends and family are thinking about me.

I am enclosing a giving envelope from my church.  Please do not feel pressured into having to return money in it.  God knows how much I need way better than I do - so pray about your financial support and only give if you feel God leading you to.  I would really love just to hear from you, and please let me know if there is anything I can pray for you specifically about.

God Bless!

Nicole Osmera