A Life We Didn't Choose

It is odd living a life one didn't choose. That may sound strange, but let me assure you, this is not the life we chose for ourselves. We liked our life the way it was. We liked living in Texas (even Johann!) We liked having family nearby. We liked our friends. We liked our church. We liked hearing sermons in English, singing in English, having a nursery for Jack instead of the concrete stairs he and I sit on every Sunday. We liked being fluent in the language of the country in which we lived. We love America, we miss it. Yet, here we are in Prague. We didn't choose to come here. We didn't choose to rear our son away from his extended family. We didn't choose to have people question our sanity and our parenting because we moved here. We didn't choose any of it. God chose it for us. If we had our way, we would be living a much easier life in a place we know. But, we are not.

Sometimes it is overwhelming that we are here, that we have committed to be here long term and not just a couple of years. It is overwhelming that God thinks we should be here. I can think of many people who would be great at this and yet God called us here.

When we were first struggling with the fact that we knew God wanted us back overseas we really wanted Him to tell us that we could stay in Texas, serve him there -- after all there are lost people in Texas. But, He said he wanted us in Prague. He wanted us to go to a place where we were not welcome. He wanted us to go to a city that is not at all interested in the Gospel. He wanted us to go to a people who did not care about His message. God sent us to a city of over a million people. He sent us to a place that is over 70% atheist. He sent us to the most atheistic country in Europe and to a country that prides itself in its atheism. He sent us to a country that has turned their backs on God.

So, why are we here? Because God has not turned His back on Prague. God is not only working in the city of Prague, but He is working mightily in our lives as well. We did not want to hear that this is where we are to serve. Prague does not want to hear our message. But, God is slowly turning this life we didn't choose into a beautiful one. He is turning it into a life full of blessing. He is turning it into a life of joy knowing we are in the center of His will. How much more will he turn the hearts of Prague to Him? How much more will he bring light to this city that has been so dark for so long? So, we are here and waiting and praying for God to move while we share the Gospel the best we know how.

So, when God says go to Nineveh, you go to Nineveh. It's always better to be where He calls you than to be in the belly of a great fish.

3 Dates for Jack

Jack had 3 wonderful dates for Valentine's Day! We have 3 great Journeyman here in Prague and they came over to watch Jack so Johann and I could go out for Valentine's Day. I told Jack he better savor the fact that 3 beautiful ladies chose to spend Valentine's with him -- but I don't think he realized how special it was:)

Johann and I went to "Restaraunt Louie". It was a very romantic place that played Louie Armstrong music and other old classics. It's one of those places down in a cellar with no windows and all candlelight -- and great food! After that we saw National Treasure 2. It just opened here and we had been wanting to see it.

I hope your Valentine's was a great as ours was!

"Don't forgot the jsme"

Everyday our language teacher Tony comes to teach us Czech. And, everyday it seems Tony says to me, "Stacy, don't forgot the jsme." You read that correctly. I always forget to say the word "jsme" when using a past tense form. So, Tony is always telling me not to forgot the jsme. I would be thrilled if my Czech is ever that good. Tony may get his present and past tenses mixed up every now and then, but overall he speaks great English.

Johann was given the names of 4 students that he will start meeting with a couple of times a week to practice English. It is a program run through the economics school of a local university. I should be given a few names this week as well. I'll only meet with my students once a week though -- the demands of mommyhood don't allow for much more than that with all the language I am trying to accomplish. We are really excited about working with these students and are really looking forward to meeting them. Johann meets with his first student Sunday afternoon.

I am going to practice telling time in Czech now. It is not just a matter of speaking different words, but a whole new way of telling time. Here's what I mean, the time 12:20 is a quarter til one plus 5. Go figure that out and don't forgot the jsme.

Tuesday

Here's what is going on in the Dyck household.

Stacy has food poisoning. It's bad.

Jack stood up for 4 seconds all by himself.

Johann is taking care of above two people.