Woah! Is it really Velikonoce already!?

Hello All!
Sorry for the lack of updates. I was snowed in for the last 3 months and unable to communicate with the outside world. Haha... well, not exactly, but it sure felt that way sometimes.

This picture is after the first Spring false alarm. The snow was gone and the weather was beautiful for two days... then it all came back overnight.
But now we're entering the home stretch... seriously, I stretched all the way to America last week for the most beautiful and fabulous wedding. When I came back, the snow was gone for good! What a sweet feeling.

One of the biggest highlights of the past few weeks is an English club I've had the blessing of being involved in. I'm partnering with a Czech YoungLife leader to work in a local high school. We meet with several guys every week and talk about life and love and language. These guys are so great. They ask such good questions and always keep me on my toes.
My work at the elementary school has been going well also. My students have been immersed in creating art for an upcoming charity auction to help Haiti. I love seeing them so ready and willing to help others. I know that the heart of Jesus is displayed in all of his creation... even if they don't know it.

Velikonoce (EASTER) is this Sunday! I can't believe it. This year is really flying by. Pray for me as a develop lessons and have conversations. I hope to share with my students that this day is about so much more than eggs, pretty colors, and spring time. New life is available for all!

Carp and Ježišek

Veselé Vánoce! (Merry Christmas!)

December in the Czech Republic has been an experience! Instead of seeing Santa figures everywhere, on December 6-7, I saw Angels, Devils, and the Pope! ... oh, I mean... St. Mikuláše or St. Nick! And we won't see any turkey or... (you know, I really don't know what the traditional American Christmas dinner is because I have a family full of picky eaters and we just eat Mac and Cheese at every holiday!) but anyway, Czechs eat Carp and Potato Salad for Christmas with a whole slew of fascinating traditions including Baby Jesus (Ježišek) bringing presents on December 24. Unfortunately, I won't be seeing baby Ježišek this year because I will be in Budapest and Moldova for the holidays. Only a few more days! Yay!

I have had the wonderful chance to do a little traveling this month! I went to Pardubice on a Thanksgiving Retreat with my fellow English teachers in Central Europe. We had a delicious turkey day dinner and got to explore the area and even go Geo-caching! woah! I also went to Vienna with some Czech friends and one of my teammates. People weren't joking when they said Vienna is lovely at Christmastime; it's breathtaking! There was a full advent calendar in the windows of the capital building-extraordinary.

I can't believe how much I've missed Starbucks! Wait... before you start thinking I'm just a spoiled American, I really miss it because I miss the people I worked with last year and that entire experience. It was nice to step into the Vienna store, but oh so different. This is a picture of me and one of my Czech friends enjoying his FIRST Starbucks coffee! What an experience!

This month I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of things here. I can understand bits and pieces of conversations around me, I can confidently accomplish any type of grocery shopping task, and have made so many new friends and acquaintances that along with my flatmates, we had a full house at our Christmas party! I had so much fun having everyone over and learning more about the similarities and differences between us that makes cross cultural living so interesting!

Hello November... Hello Winter!

So, wasn't I just speaking of Autumn last post? Although it's not officially Winter until December, I would definitely define the weather I'm experiencing as Winter! Current temperature: 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Forecast for the week: Snow and lower 30's!

This past month has been packed with travels, youth, kids, and teaching! I was able to go to a Film Weekend with YoungLife in Ostrava. We watched several films and discussed how the themes presented impacted us and how they relate to Christ. What a neat way to talk about our faith!

I also had the opportunity to participate in a sleepover with my elementary school kids! They all dressed up in Halloween costumes and watched movies and told stories. We had such a great time!Cute huh? Don't let those faces fool you. They're hooligans! Aw, but I love them already. We got a pack of American Halloween candy, so I taught them to down a box of Nerds in one swift motion. Luckily, they still slept like babies... or maybe that was just me. I was asleep before the Czech bedtime story finished.

Last weekend, I traveled to Krakow, Poland. What a beautiful city!
I also took the trip to see Auschwitz. It's real... the pain is palpable. Something huge touched me deeply. We walked past the gallows made for Rudolf Hoess, the Nazi commander of Auschwitz. I looked up and there was a single yellow rose laying there. What a symbol of forgiveness and redemption! The same forgiveness that God gives me...

I've been thinking about forgiveness and grace a lot lately. Why do I act as if I think I'm somehow worthy of grace when others aren't?
None are worthy... no not one.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast -- Ephesians 2:8-9

Ponder on this Amazing Grace that truly redeems us!

Autumn is here, and the kites come to life!

I took a walk to a nearby park the other day. I was pleasantly surprised when I found a huge mass of people laughing, playing, and flying kites! I saw a poster in the teacher's lounge saying, "Autumn is here, and the kites come to life!" I was hoping to see this aspect of Autumn in the Czech Republic, and I picked the perfect day to go on a wandering walk! The sky was beautiful, the weather was windy and perfectly autumn!
What made this moment perfect was the day leading up to it. Earlier that day, one of my classes was working on writing stories. I read many fun stories about kittens or swimming. Then, I read one story about a "Bad dad." It was heartbreaking to read the unsugar-coated story of a little girl whose dad broke her family apart. The English language of these kids really is pure. They don't know the ways which we beat around the bush. They say what they mean. I cried all the way home after reading her story.
Even before this day, I prayed that God would break my heart for the people here I'm supposed to be ministering to. Praise Him for listening to my prayers! I pray that He increases my capacity to love these kids!

One thing about that day that stuck out to me is that the friends trying to console this girl talked of her new dad and her new life. They said, "The old has gone, the new has come." I'm about 90% sure they've never heard 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." I know this little phrase they used to talk about her dad was God's words to me as well. I am here for a purpose. I'm a new creation. I want my students to know the reality and truth of those words.


This picture is me with some students. YES, that IS a Georgia Tech shirt! I was so excited to see those familiar colors that I couldn't resist taking a picture.

One side note-I got a chance to explore a town in Poland! I had such a great time with my team, but we didn't think about all the changes that the short one hour ride would bring about! Who knew the stores in Poland wouldn't accept Czech Krowns!? Oh well, maybe next time.

I'm a Teacher!

I made it through the first two weeks of teaching!
This picture is of the "House Sorting Ceremony." It's just like Harry Potter for little kids! (Ok... maybe not just like Harry Potter--there's no sorting hat.)
I'm really enjoying my students and the school. I wasn't sure I really wanted to teach little kids, but I kind of fell into it (God knows the course of our lives so much better than we do, huh?) I can't even describe how much of a blessing it's been to work where I am!r


God's been teaching me so much about His heart lately. He's woken me up in the middle of the night almost every night for the past two weeks with new aspects of His character. Tonight He woke me up teaching me about truly praising and worshiping Him. Then I had a dream of Him pointing me to Matthew 12. So, I got up and read it. I came across the same verse I had been pondering on all day, except it was in a different place in the Bible! God is so good!

"I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices"
Matthew 12:7; Hosea 6:6

I don't need to feel guilty because I'm not "doing enough" for God's kingdom here. My job is not to "save the world." (These quotes are my own thoughts of inadequacy) I'm just to honor God, obey Him, and love Him. He'll lead me to the people that need to hear His word and the places where I should go. I need to be less worried about the sacrifices and the works, and more focused on seeking after Him first.

This picture is from a fun day in the park with some of my teammates. I've been praying for unity, and God has been so gracious in giving us just that! We've bonded over silly things and deep things. What a testimony to the body of Christ!

Things are definitely starting to pick up and I'm meeting new people-Czech, American, Hungarian, etc.! I know I've been here over a month, but it feels like just a blink of an eye!
Winter's around the corner, so keep me in your prayers! I'm just a Georgia Peach!

Emily

The Torch

Somewhere down the street from my flat, there lies a factory that releases fire every night. What are they burning? What is the purpose? I feel like I'd like to investigate, and I might just do that. But for now, I sit back and enjoy watching the Torch and think about what it could symbolize for me. Hmmmm... Ok, first it reminds me of the Holocaust (Don't worry! It's not that!) but thinking about the Holocaust makes me think of big things... of standing up for what's right and what you believe in no matter the cost. I also feel like I'm carrying a torch here in this place where people just don't seem to care about a man named Jesus Christ and His Gospel that brings Salvation to all who believe. I can't wait to spread that fire and passion for the Good News.

In other news, I taught my first class! I start most of the rest of my classes next week at a nearby Elementary School.

Story Time:
Alyssa and I had a meeting with the Elementary School's principal. We got there early and waited... waited... waited... no one came to get us. So, we tried to talk to the secretary... no English. So, we called our boss to translate. The secretary got someone to walk us to a different building and dropped us off in a big auditorium filled with people. There wasn't an empty seat in the place! The presentation was in Czech, so we just stood in the back hoping that someone would talk to us afterward. Well, in the middle of her presentation, the principal stops everything, puts down the microphone and walks to the very back of the auditorium towards us... every head turns... all eyes on us... then she asks, "Are you with Fishnet?" haha, so we walk in front and get introduced in Czech then told to sit down. At the end of the presentation she comes over to us and says, "Do you have any questions?" Oh my... where do I start?

Ostrava

Such an interesting place. One of my favorite things about my flat is that there is a nightly fire that comes out of one of those chimneys at the factory you can see in the background. I'm not really sure what kind of factory it is, but I've been told it could be a chemical plant or a steel factory.
I'm starting to feel acclimated to the area. Last night the Fishnet (our school name) girls and our American YoungLife friend came over to help us remodel our flat. We had such a good time making this place home. I'm excited to see what the next few weeks hold.

I couldn't resist sharing the picture. It's a dog staring longingly into the "Maso" Meat Shop!