Yes...that is our team name for Kevin Clark and Emily Klopfenstein's intern team, Summer '09. I think it's a great team name. In fact, last night I had a dream that there was actually a city in the US called "Clarkenstein." I think we're on to something. :)
Without further delay, I would like to show you the line-up for our team, from left to right:
Amber Kronz: "Little sis" Amber is the youngest member of our team. This is her first time in the Czech Republic. How, might you ask, did she decide to come to Czech? Well, God told her to. So, she listened and now she's here! Amber is our math whiz and handles finances for us--something everyone else on the team should probably never involve ourselves with. I am so excited to see what God does in Amber's life this summer. I can already see Him doing amazing things in her and showing her more of Himself.
Josh Frederick: "The Bearded Guy" You never know what Josh has up his.....beard. He brings such a fun atmosphere to our team. Josh has an amazing gift of being able to connect with students and pull them in. He is also ready to serve the team and everyone around him every moment of the day. I know God is going to use Josh in the lives of lots of Czech people this summer and I'm so excited to see what God does through him.
Kevin Clark: "The Pittsburgh Guy" Because of Kevin, our team knows more about Pittsburgh than we ever thought we could..or even wanted. Kevin has been to Czech and served as an intern many years and is excited to be back here again. He has great friendships with so many guys here and has really poured into so many of the leaders of the youth groups here. Kevin wants to be here full-time eventually, after he finishes school.
Emily Klopfenstein: Well, you already know enough about me. I'm just the girl that laughs a lot. And the girl that thinks, "Why the heck did they ask me to lead an intern team this summer?" God has already taught me so much and humbled me so much through this process and I can't wait to see how He continues to do so. I'm experiencing His strength in weakness more than ever before.
Martin Stepanenko: "The Czech" Martin is the final member of our team who just joined us last week. And, let me tell you, he was exactly what our team was missing. I have known Martin for over 3 years now and have seen him grow in huge ways in his relationship with God. He grew up in an Atheist family and has an amazing story of how God revealed Himself to Martin. This picture is of us after church--him being the typical, "don't-show-emotion" Czech and me being the "oh-my-gosh-everything-is-the-best-thing-that's-ever-happened-to-me" American. Martin has a deep love for God and is such a deep thinker. He is so intelligent and uses his gift of knowledge to further the Kingdom of God. I'm so thankful to serve with him this summer and see how God uses him among the people of his own country!
So, there you have it. A bunch of misfits and losers that God is using for amazing things. When I think about our team and what an unlikely bunch we are, I think of 1 Corinthians 1:26-27. "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." We are just a bunch of weak fools that have been redeemed by God and are now being used for His purposes. And it's all so that our only boasting comes from who God is, not who we are or what we can do. I can't wait to see how God is going to use us this summer to further His Kingdom on this earth to bring glory to Himself. Stay tuned to hear how God is using Team Clarkenstein to conquer the Czech Republic in the name of Jesus Christ!
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