Bridge Community

I thought everyone would like to see Johann in action at Bridge Community, our new church start. Well, I should actually say "cult start". You see, in the Czech Republic, unless a group has 300 members it is not a church but a cult. So, I guess technically we are a cult. Anyway, I digress. Back to Johann -- this is a short video of him leading music at our "church" that meets at Hotel Roma every Sunday night at 5:30. God gave us this great hotel that allows us to meet in the breakfast room for a price we can actually afford. Enjoy the short clip of my amazing husband leading music in Czech. He wants me to also put a note out to any Czechs reading this: "please feel free to correct my pronunciation". (I had Lucas in one hand and the camera in the other -- so it's a little shaky:) (Oh -- some have asked this question so: for those of you who get this blog by email -- you need to click the link to the blog in your email or you can go to dyckczechin.blogspot.com to see the video).

A Faithful God for 30 Years

It finally happened. I turned 30! My husband went all out to make it a fabulous day for me -- including, cake, a great steak dinner and my beautiful new pearl necklace and earrings:) As my Nana says, "that Johann is just a good fella." I concur!

In the weeks before my 30th birthday, I became very introspective. I started to really look back over my life and see all the blessings from God and how he used different things to make me who I am today. My first 30 years have been an interesting and exciting 30 years, crafted by a merciful God who started me on a path at 5 years old. I thought I would lay out part of that path for you -- my way of giving glory to my Redeemer for the great things He has done!

Age 5 -- Jesus saved me! I was sitting in church without my parents (who were taking their turn in the nursery) and Jesus saved me. It was the start of some big decisions I would make all by myself.
Age 12 -- Jesus called me to missions at GA camp -- away from my family again. Thanks, Debby.
Age 20 -- took my first trip to Europe with my Aunt Jeanie. I remember flying back from London thinking "I'm so glad I made it to Europe -- I may never get back." It was Aunt Jeanie who first instilled in me a deep longing to travel with postcards from her travels. I see God's hand in that now.
Age 21 -- spent a summer in Turkey doing missions. I applied to go to Australia, but told God I would go wherever it was they wanted me go. I got an email asking me to go to Turkey instead, I accepted and then told my family. I scared them to death:)
Age 22 -- graduated from college. Something that was necessary and something that I was very glad to be finished with!
Age 23 -- left my family to go to Hungary for two years. I told them mid way through the application process what I was up to. They weren't surprised.
Age 23-25 -- lived in Gyor, Hungary. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it.
Age 25 -- came home to Texas. Left for a month in Missouri to see if anything was going to happen with this guy I met:) At the end of the month I went ring shopping with a guy my family had never met. They weren't surprised my this either. They fell in love with Johann on the spot.
Age 26 -- married the man of my dreams after a 3 month engagement. We started praying about when to go back to the mission field. Our families weren't really surprised by this either.
Age 27 -- Had our precious Jack. Left 2 months later for training to go to Prague. Moved to Prague when Jack was almost 6 months.
Age 29 -- Had our precious Lucas is a Czech hospital. We were blessed that all our parents made it to meet him.
Age 30 -- currently living the best role of my life: wife, mother, missionary. In that order.

If you managed to read this far, you'll notice how the big decisions in my life were made while I was apart from people I was closest to. I think it is so at moments like this I can say: look at what God has done in my life -- look how he led me and the blessings that followed -- look at His mercy and generosity to me. It is Christ and Christ alone who has done these things. A day after my 30th birthday I praise God most for: my salvation, the family that raised me, the family I married into, the family I now call my own and my sweet friends along the way. Thank you, Jesus.
Habakkuk 3:18-19.

First Professional Haircut

We took Jack to get his first professional haircut this morning. In the past, haircuts for Jack consisted of Johann holding Jack in a headlock while he screamed bloody murder and me snipping at his hair with scissors hoping not to put an eye out in his wailing head. The last time we did this -- Jack did much better. So, we thought we would try a "real" haircut. We took him to the little place across the street from us. Johann and I have gone there since we arrived in Prague. Today, Johann got his hair cut first and Jack watched. Then it was his turn. You can see from the pics that he didn't like it (except for getting to sit on the special stool). But, at least he didn't cry. Overall he did a great job and we were really proud of him. He sure was glad it was over though:)

Project Hands and Some Pics

Last weekend, our new church completed its first "Project Hands". We worked around 9 apartment buildings in a run down area of Prague. Within those 9 buildings are 25,000 people. We spent a few hours picking up trash and cleaning up the area which played right into one of the goals for our church. We want our church to appeal to people who would never set foot into a "normal" church.

Here's an example. Neo-nazism is alive and well in Europe and many say it is steadily growing. Twentysomethings go after younger teenagers who are desperately seeking to be a part of a group of some sort. These twentysomething nazi guys (sometimes older) play upon this desperation and coax these young teenagers into becoming part of their neo-nazi group. Before long, these kids are deep into the indoctrination of neo-nazism. We would like to replace that neo-nazi group for these kids and young people -- we would like to be the group they are searching for.

That's why these Project Hands tasks are so important. It lets the city get a look at us doing something beneficial -- but not over the top and crazy. And it gives us a chance to share the gospel with those who want to know who we are and why we do what we do. Starting churches is nothing new for missionaries. Hopefully, the type of church we are starting will take root here and grow -- something that is very difficult for Prague (aka the "Impossible City").

Here are a few pics from Project Hands and a few pics of my boys!

Bridge Community

That's the name of the new church we are helping to start! It sounds fancier than it really is. Right now, it's just a few missionary families meeting together on Sunday nights -- but our goal is huge. Let's see if I can explain.

I've been studying through Haggai lately (I know, I'm an old testament nerd) and was reminded of one of my favorite scriptures. Haggai 1:14 says "So, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and woked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God." This takes place when God is prompting the people through His prophet Haggai to resume work on the house of the Lord. But, what I love is the part that says, "the Lord stirred up the spirit". That is basically all the background on how this church came to be. The Lord simply stirred up the spirits of several people to start a new type of church and so we did!

I'm sensing this could turn into a rather long post. So, what I will do is break it up into several posts and explain what we are doing and why. In the mean time, please pray with us! Last Sunday we had our first "practice" meeting. We want to use the month of August to figure things out and how it will work. Then, we will start inviting Czechs. Johann is leading the music! Please be praying with us for these things:
1. for a permanent place to meet
2. for wisdom and humility as we undertake this gigantic task
3. for our first service project on August 29th
4. for Johann as he leads music
5. for Steve as he teaches
6. for the Czechs to want to be a part of this church
7. Lubos, a Czech believer who is joining up in the endeavor

More to come!

We're Back!

I've kind of been on a blogging hiatus for a little while. I know this because at least 20 people have informed me of this fact. I would like to announce today that I am officially back! I feel like I have my feet under me and I can actually keep my eyes open to type this:) It's been a crazy few months with my two boys, crazy but fun. Here's a few random tidbits of what has been going on in our lives.

We took the boys for their shots yesterday and got Lucas weighed and measured. He is 13.1 pounds and 26 inches long. He is on the skinny side of the weight chart -- but he looks healthy and is doing great. He also doesn't stop moving which is one of the reasons why he is so skinny I'm sure. Both boys did great with their shots. Jack didn't even shed a tear and Lucas only cried until we picked him up. We are using the Czech vaccination schedule with the boys so that one day they can go to Czech schools. We will probably always do a national/homeschool mix for them (assuming homeshool stays legal and that is iffy) so we need to be sure they can legally enter school at the right time. We will probably have Jack do a part time school when he is 4 so he can start learning Czech really well. Our boys need to learn Czech and that is the best way to do it. All of that to say that yesterday Jack got his second MMR shot -- a shot that is usually not given in America until 5 years old. That's really the biggest difference in the shot schedule I think. The EU/Czech schedule is actually more conservative than the American one.

This fall I will be teaching a class called "Women of the Bible" at an extension campus of the university here. This is not a class that will be for credit -- but a class offered through a language department. I will teach in English and the theory is that kids will sign up so they can be taught English by a native speaker. I'm very excited about this. I love teaching Bible and have missed it. I miss watching a group of girls mature in their faith and knowledge of the Bible or going from zero knowledge to some knowledge. I've really been praying that God would give me opportunities here that fit in with my most paramount role of wife and mother and this class fits the bill. I have already written most of the material so I won't have a ton of prep work. I taught this same class in Hungary -- just in a different format. And, the campus where I will teach is a literal 5 minute walk from us. So, for 2 hours one afternoon a week Johann will take care of the boys while I teach this class. Of course, we need to see if anyone signs up first:)

Johann will be starting a photography club at the campus. He is very excited about this opportunity. Evangelism takes on many forms and it needs to in order to reach a huge variety of people. Johann loves photography and there is a huge arts crowd here in Prague so it seems like a perfect fit. Classes don't start until the middle of September, so we won't have much of an update until then.

We are all doing well here. Currently, we miss air conditioning. It's not that it is so terribly hot outside -- only mid 80's mostly. It's that our apartment is staying pretty steady at 80 degrees or higher and that is draining. We have our fans on full blast but it is still warm.

Here's a few pics for you. I'll write again soon!