"Commit everything to God"
When I thought about mission I imagined unshaven people with adventure sandals driving through the deepest parts of Africa. I could not have been more wrong. When I applied to go to Bosnia I had very little idea what to expect or what I had let myself in for.
After the planning meeting I felt more nervous as we knew very little about what to expect and what to prepare. I thought I was going to be counting the hours until I would be at home again, surrounded by my home comforts. However the mission was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I found God really challenged me to really put my trust in Him and commit everything to Him.
The team was a good mix of people that Rob, our team leader, encouraged by reminding us that we had been chosen by God to go. 
We spent a couple of days in Sarajevo before going to the camp which was a great opportunity for the team to bond, find out each others strengths and weaknesses and play many silly games, and we were able to form a stronger team to serve God better on the camp. We met Pastor Sasa who was running the camp - one of the most relaxed person you will ever meet with a brilliant sense of humour, although I would have preferred it if his car had brakes that worked!
On the Monday we drove up into the mountains to the camp. 
It was incredible, I had never seen anywhere as beautiful and I was in awe of God’s creation. We were made very welcome by the Bosnians and soon settled into our tents (as did the many spiders and insects).
At the camp we were running the youth work. After the first session we were exhausted. I felt really down-heartened as the children made little response to the teaching and I found the language barrier difficult. However as the week continued, the children gradually gained respect for us as they felt they could trust us more, although I always found the language barrier difficult. The children loved the face paints, the parachute and numerous games of duck, duck, goose or padka, goosega as they called it. Towards the end of the week they became more responsive to the teaching. 
It was amazing to see the change in the children. 
One highlight was sitting with a particularly difficult boy who drew me a picture to take back to England with me. It was lovely to see him putting so much effort into one creative thing rather than upsetting the other children.
As well as helping with the youth work we were involved in the worship. The first night we played was a wonderful and unforgettable experience. Standing at the front playing my flute I could see the passion in the people and their love for Christ. I just wanted to put my flute down and join in with everyone. It didn’t matter we had no music and that we didn’t know the Bosnian songs, we were all worshipping the same God.
Another highlight was hearing Anna’s, a member of our team, testimony. I found it really encouraging and it was great to see how God used her to touch many people on the camp. It emphasized the point for me that God uses everyone and has a purpose for everyone.
Throughout the week we had time to relax and get to know each other and form strong friendships. We were a short walk away from a lake where we spent most of our afternoons. One memorable moment was washing in the lake in a thunder storm-this is how I imagined mission! 
We had so many funny moments, such as when the cows invaded the field, or being shot at with water pistols whilst on the loo by the children. It was so fun, relaxed and different to how I imagined it. I really want to go back.
I feel that I learnt so much from going on mission. Firstly, commit everything to God. It was great to see how the Bosnians prayed about EVERYTHING, even tiny things. It made me realise that I had been trying to rely too much on trying to do things myself and that without God I can do nothing. I saw how not knowing what to expect next helps develop a greater trust in God and He never deserts us. Secondly, it was great to see how that despite the language barrier, we are all worshipping the same God and it was wonderful to see the passion in the peoples’ hearts for God. I saw people living with God as number one in their lives and I was really challenged by this. It was great to see the team grow individually and as a team and how God uses everyone.
Claire Burke, Dulwich, London.