Closing this Chapter

I have arrived in the United States. The flights went smoothly and were full of fun, quirky moments, tears, and some sleep.

My last week in Prague was wonderful! Spring weather came the last two days and I loved being out in the sunshine, exploring.

My Mladez gave me a going away party. It was wonderful to spend time with them all. We had yummy food, took a late night walk to Prague Castle and back, watched movies, and slept at the church. I was given meaningful gifts, hugs, and see you laters. I left one friend at the metro station and found myself crying all the way to Stacy's flat and talking to God in Czech. I must have been quite the sight!

On Sunday morning, I headed to the airport. The goodbyes were difficult but I know that I'll see everyone again someday either on this side or in heaven.

Thank you all so much for all your support and prayers during this adventure. I've learned a lot, seen God move in inspiring ways, and enjoyed walking with my Czech brothers and sisters for this season. Blessings to you all as you continue on your journeys!

Winding Down

My Czech friends have commented that I haven't posted a blog in a while. I'm glad for their reminder since the past 6 weeks have been so busy! And as of today I have 8 days left in the Czech Republic. I fly back to the states on March 18th.

So what kinds of things have I been doing that make me so busy? How have I been winding down my time in Prague? Good questions!

I spent a 4 day weekend in Germany visiting Marsha, one of my best friends and fellow mission intern. This was a powerful, restful, and wonderful last Europe visit together. The next time we see each other will in the states this summer.

Coming back refreshed from Germany, I began to figure out how to do this transition that I found myself in. As a planner, I like to have the details worked out for when to end certain work pieces of my internship. I have wrapped up my time with CISP, Teen Challenge, Young Life, and English Conversations.

But I have added to it. I'm spending time with friends here. And I'm loving it. I have said some tough see you laters to those that I will not see before the 18th. I've had some powerful God moments with friends here and have been amazed by how He is moving. I'm really excited to spend more time with friends these next 8 days.

I celebrated my 25th birthday in Prague! Nothing extremely fancy but I felt loved and cherished by those around me. I ate well, laughed a ton, and still don't feel too old for being a quarter of a century age. ;)

Last week, I stood in front of my church and shared a bit of my testimony and a formal farewell. It was nice to be able to tell the body of Christ how He is working through them and how much I appreciate them. I am still in awe with the many people who have come up to thank me for my words and for coming to Prague. They are all such a blessing to me!

One of my favorite events that I attended was going to my friend, Dada's university graduation. I'm SO proud of her. I love that I was able to send her encouragement throughout this last year of studies. I loved that I was able to watch her receive her diploma! We joke with her that she's now an adult but seriously, I'm excited to see where God takes her!

What I've struggled with this past week is feeling like a robot. I am doing the things that need to be done and saying the goodbyes but the emotions are very slowly following. Everyone assures me that this is normal. I'm expecting the flood gates to open on the airplane. :)

So, my Prague life is winding down. This next week will be busy with spending time with friends, continuing to make decisions about the future, a day trip to Poland, and finding time to wrap up some paperwork that needs to get done. Thank you for all your prayers and support and please keep them coming this next week!

Cold Snaps, Warm Hearts

January has come and gone. It has felt like another whirlwind yet this should be in present tense because I feel like I'm still in one. January brought a time to get back into my routine while beginning to make steps towards transition. It has been difficult emotionally to think about saying goodbyes in a little over one month. But through the turbulence of emotion, I feel a deep sense of peace. The peace that transcends all understanding. Daddy beside me saying, "It's okay to be sad but this is part of My plan."

I have been blessed by a visit in the beginning of this month by two close and dear friends, Jon and Amber. The day they arrived in Prague marked the start of a Siberian cold front that hasn't left and will continue to be here for 14 more days at least. I never thought I'd be looking forward to 0C (32F) in my life! Prague has it better than the countries to the east but it is still really cold and made sightseeing an adventure.

Even with all the cold, my heart is warmed. I loved seeing my two worlds blend. Jon and Amber seemed to fit in to Prague life well and my Czech friends greeted them with great kindness and happiness. We had supper one night with a married couple from Mladez and it was a wonderful evening of laughter, great food, story swapping, and just down right fun. I still remember Amber saying that it is difficult for her to leave here after 6 days and that reminded me that my time of goodbyes is coming quicker than any of us are ready for.

I ask for continual prayers as I find my footing in this transition time and for those that I'll be leaving here.

What Did You Do for the Holidays?

Many people have asked, "How did you spend your Christmas and New Year's? Do Czechs celebrate Christmas? Were you homesick?" To simply answer these questions: I spent Christmas with a wonderful Czech family from my church (therefore, yes, Czechs do celebrate Christmas), I spent New Year's with 28 young adult Czechs and I wouldn't have done it any other way, and I wasn't as homesick as I thought I would be. I am coming to realize that homesickness can sometimes be a choice. I am grateful I was able to communicate with my family over the holidays but I chose to focus on making the most of my holiday time in the Czech Republic. And I'm very glad that I did.

So...how did I celebrate Christmas and New Year's CZ style? I'm going to try to tell you...

Czechs celebrate on the 24^th and then the 25^th is a laid back day. Sandra, Honza and I decorated the Christmas tree which, in some homes, will be left up in until February. We hung chocolate wrapped in colorful tin foil on their tree. Peki, Honza and I went to the town square (the family lives outside of Prague) to take home Bethelem's light and sing Czech Christmas Carols. I then helped wrap presents. There is no Santa Claus here. Ježíšek (little Jesus) brings the gifts so you never know who gave you the gifts you receive. As a family, we sang Czech Christmas songs and read the Bible out loud. We sat down for the big Christmas supper of fried Carp (fish), fish soup, and potato salad. Carp has a ton of bones in it so you have to be very careful while eating. I didn't choke on a bone and the meal was delicious. We then sat around and opened gifts. The oldest person opens their gifts first. I stifled the realization that I was the oldest young adult after parents and grandparents and opened the gifts that I was not expecting to receive. They were very heartfelt and I will cherish these gifts. Still recovering from a sinus infection, I went to bed before 10pm. The next morning, Sandra informed me that they stayed up until 1am talking. I then went to church with Honza, Sandra, and their grandparents.

And this is how I spent New Years’ Eve. I was with my Mládež (all 29 of us in one medium size house in the snowy mountains). We had a Wild Western themed party and at 11pm we put on our winter clothes and walked in the snow to an open field. We set off fireworks and lit sparklers. We sent a Chinese lantern up into the air as well. We prayed in a circle and sang a praise song in Czech. All across the countryside you saw fireworks going off. It was beautiful! We went around hugging each other wishing a happy new year. It’s the most hugs I’ve received at one time in a year and people were saying “I’m so glad you are here!” I’ll never forget this experience. We then walked back to the house and were told to choose a bookmark with a verse on it that will be our verse for the year and then took time to write compliments on papers for each other.

A verse for the year... I have never heard of this custom but I'm learning to love it. My verse is Žalm 119, 18 Otevři mi oči, at' mám na zřeteli divy ze Zákona tvého. Now for the English speakers: Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law - Psalm 119:18. I am excited to focus on this verse for the year and see what God has to show me.

Our Mládež has also chosen a theme verse for the year. To je 1 Tesalonickým 3, 13 at' posílí vaše srdce, abyste byli bezúhonní a svatí před Bohem, naším Otcem, až přijde naš Pan Ježíš se vsšmi svými svatými. It is 1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. Pray for our group as we discover what this means for us.

I'd like to encourage you to find a verse to focus on this year. I think I'll be keeping this Czech custom in my life.

God's Number is NEVER Busy

Aren't you glad that God's number is never busy? We can dial Him up to chat, plead, praise, confess, and any other reason you can think of praying and He is always there. It's not like the skype call the drops every 5 minutes due to a poor internet connection. It's not like being on the metro and losing your cell phone service mid-SMS or phone call. It's a constant, open connection with our Heavenly Father 24/7.

I've known this for quite some time but like always, reminders are needed. This past week I have had the honor and privilege of being a part of a constant stream of prayers going up to the Father on behalf of a family here in Prague. I work with this family in my volunteering with Young Life. A member of the family has been diagnosed with leukemia. He has a good prognosis but a long 6 weeks of chemotherapy ahead of him. I've seen the body of Christ actively engaging to support, encourage, and intercede on behalf of this family. It's been powerful to witness. As I visit with the family and talk to others connected with them I'm moved to tears at how God is using this valley to change all of us. He's moving and stirring a deeper passion and love for Him and others in this community of faith.

The leader of our Young Life team told us in our meeting earlier this week that, "we pray until the angel comes to tell us that we can stop". Let that sink in...

A few days prior to this news, I read James 5. I'll close this blog with a few verses that struck me on the subject of the prayer of faith:

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.

Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;

the Lord will raise him up.

If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a man just like us.

He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain in the land for three and a half years.

Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

You Won't Relent

You won't relent
Until You have it all
My heart is Yours

I'll set You as a seal upon my heart
As a seal upon my arm
For there is love that is as strong as death
Jealousy demanding as the grave
And many waters cannot quench this love

Come be the fire inside of me
Come be the flame upon my heart
Come be the fire inside of me
Until You and I are one

 

"You Won't Relent" -Misty Edwards

 

I remember when I was growing up, my mom would put songs on repeat always or we would listen to the same Brooks & Dunn cd in the car for over a month. It drove me insane! Apparently, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree because I have been listening to this song on repeat for over a week now. Each day a different section speaks to me. How do I treat Jesus? Is this what I say to God? Come be the fire inside of me, until You and I are one. Do I truly say this? If so, what does it look like?

 

Many people who know me, know that I tend to use the emotional side of my brain more than the intellectual side. I've never had the strong desire to know all the details. "It is the way it is; I feel this way about it; I can't explain it, it's just a feeling I have; God gave you a gut for a reason." These are all catch phrases that I use. I find myself in a culture that wants to know the intellectual side of God and struggle to explain it. The need is to first rationalize God intellectually and then emotions can follow if they want to. It's challenging. How do I show the emotional side and be open to learn from the intellectual side? I am commanded to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Therefore I need the intellectual AND emotional side.

 

I believe I'm going to be learning more about the need for both of these sides. God made us complex. He is complex. And He won't relent until He has all of us. This is a comfort to me and excites me for the life long journey of learning ahead of me.

Retreat = Rest

I spent the past week in Lithuania with other EMM Workers for our annual Missions Retreat. Coming from a frantic, exhausting week, I was ready to put some distance between my schedule and myself for a week.

After a long and hilarious journey, Stacy and I arrived late at night in Klaipeda, Lithuania. We were warmly welcomed in by the Brubakers (missionaries living there). The following day we went to a gorgeous retreat area, filled with wood carvings, cottages, and pumpkins. In a word: tranquility. This required photoshoots throughout the week.

Our time together was wonderful! We were a small group but all got along well and were able to share openly about what we have been experiencing, as well as our hopes and dreams for the next year. I loved when all of us gathered around to pray for one another. I loved having people speak into my life and being given the opportunity to do the same for them. I also had the chance to lead some worship sessions which I had forgotten how much I love doing it! I have to chuckle at myself...I had Czech worship songs in my head most of the week.

God knows how to bless His children. Marsha and I were blessed by a day visit with our friend Sarunas. He was in training with us at HDC. We couldn't visit Lithuania and not see our friend who lives there! We had a blast walking around Nida, seeing the great sand dunes, and looking at videos and pictures from Sarunas' life. He encouraged me a lot just by driving 3 hours to visit us!

Another way God blessed me, was allowing me to see the seaside twice in one week. I love the ocean and beach. It's a place of rest for me. I felt all stress wipe out of my body as I laid eyes on the Baltic Sea. The women who were with me said I was glowing.

Stacy and I finished our week in Lithuania resting after the retreat. It was nice to just be and have no expectations. Our flight was moved up one day, so we spent Saturday relaxing in Prague.

It is time for the schedule to pick up again. But I feel at peace about the upcoming weeks and I am looking forward to how God will work in the days to come.