One Door Closes & Another One Opens

The past few weeks since Germany have been incredible! I have enjoyed digging into 1 John at English Bible Study with my Czech brothers and sisters in Christ. We've begun to explore what it means to be a child of God. We discuss each week the ways that we have witnessed or extended Christ's love throughout the week. I love these discussions and the reminders of the little ways God moves in our lives everyday.

I was able to spend a full day at my host mom's flat with her and her friend, Paul because of a public transportation strike. She was still working from home and I was working on things too, but we took 2 hours for lunch and coffee, conversation, fellowship.

I've spent time with Czech friends, investing into each other, getting to know each other, opening up. That is the sweetest part about being here! The people. I have had Chinese food twice in one week with different people. I joined a group of artists from the Czech and America for supper after an art exhibit. I joined an American missionary family and their friend from the states on an exploration of Podebrady, a smaller town outside of Prague known for it's crystal making. I've helped out with coffee and tea time after church. After Mladez on Thursdays we all go to McDonalds and continue fellowshipping, me trying to figure out what is being said in Czech and having conversations in English too.

I also closed one chapter of my time here this weekend. On my 3 month mark of being in Prague I moved out of my host mom's flat and into ETS (Evangelical Theological Seminary). I'm living in a flat for the next 2-3 months until Stacy, the EMM long term missionary, arrives at the end of August. I was blessed with help in moving and even though I have more cleaning to do feel quite settled in my new home. It is another chapter of adjusting to life here in the CZ.

Two times this week at church, God has spoken very clearly. Maty led the program at Mladez on Thursday. He had us go around and share how we see God's creation. There are many things that I could have said and I choose to say the sunrise and sunset. But upon further reflection, I would say I see God's creation through laughter. Laughter is a way of expressing joy. It's a universal language, an ice breaker, a chance for us to bond over something humorous. "a time to laugh" says Ecclesiastes 3:4. I love hearing laughter and...well...laughing myself. Isn't it incredible? God made our languages diverse but still gave us ways to communicate without words?

The second time God spoke clearly this week was on Sunday. A guest pastor spoke from 1 John 1. To be in the light we need to be intimate with the Father. He shared from his on faith journey of finding God. I love the image of pursuing God that he used: "All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him. The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. 'Have you see the one my heart loves?' Scarcely had I passed them when I found the one my heart loves. I held him and would not let him go." -Song of Songs 3:1-4a. Wow...that's an intimate relationship with God. When was the last time you or I searched that passionately for God?

Oh! look at...wait...re-focus...We fix our eyes on Jesus

An enlightening thought...sometimes Jesus just wants me to be alone, with him. I'm in the middle of my short time here in Germany visiting another mission intern who is also a dear friend to me. We went to an international church youth group Friday night. The pastor talked about the passage in Genesis where Jacob wrestles with God and doesn't give up until he receives the blessing. For his identity to be changed into the one that God has deemed for him. "If you wanna get blessed, you gotta fight. And when you fight, you're gonna get wounded." Hard times come but they build our faith, character, and remind us that we have a God who is greater than the troubles of this world. I've realized that even though I am enjoying my time in Prague it has been a very challenging 2 and 1/2 months for me. There have been many times where I felt swamped by the weight of not knowing where to turn to or what ministries to be involved in. There have been events or situations happening with friends & family that make me long to see them. To be there physically to walk with them. As I cry out to God for strength I realized that although I spend time alone, I'm not seeking him as much as I should or thought that I was. I'm not engaging in the fight that God has set out before me. We entered a time of worship. I felt the freedom to dance and sing praises to my Father! I was able to sing out God's name in Czech which was a heartfelt prayer for me. I felt the presence of God walking with me through Old Town Square, Letna Park, Mala Strana. Hand in hand we went.

I know that hard times will continue, that I will have to look back on this many times, that I'll stumble and fall. I'm human. But I also am the daughter of the true King. The King that looks on me with love and picks me up, dusts off my clothes, and says "it's ok. I love you. try again."

Sometimes Jesus just wants to be alone with us, so that we can know His voice...