a few of my favorite things

Elements grrrrls: me, Zuzka, Martina, Naomi, Sabca, Bara (not pictured: Kakushe, Alca, Eva, Leni, Lucka... :) In November we started going through JV's Elements study, designed for new believers (it's excellent and free--click HERE). These small groups are my absolute most favorite thing ever forever. We have great discussions about the trinity, what it means to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, abortion, sin... We pray for each other and all of us, wherever we're at with the Lord, are learning a lot.


Honzimil and Maruska at New Year's. Both are part of the team that prepares Pisek's English Club and they rock. They're 9th graders and have recently come to faith and are blessings to serve with, because they're fun, humble, creative and faith-filled, along with the rest of the team (Buna, Verca, Martina and sometimes mr. :)


Another one of my favorite things is a good party. Above is a party thrown by Kakushe for her younger brother's 8th birthday. I think parties are a super important part of ministry--it's a joy for me to provide a safe place where people's needs are met (food, acceptance, connection, laughter, etc) and where we can share the light of Christ. And where we can play with the whoopee cushion Jachym (in the front with the monkey around his neck) got for his birthday (hence the plugged noses).

English Winter Camp 2009

Winter English Camps are always fun, but this one was special. Again--I know I say this every year--it's not fun to travel 7+ hours Dec 26th to end up in cold cabin for 5 days, BUT at the end it's ALWAYS worth it. Big thanks to Nicole (4th from L) who came all the way from Elgin to help teach English and be with people...and a special thank you to Tammy (2nd from L) who came from Western Bohemia to help too. :)


Jana, Eva and Jozef acting out the parable of the unmerciful servant. Eva co-lead--for the first time--this camp with Jozef and did an awesome job taking responsibility and giving her evening talk.


Zuzka, Houba!, Iva...winter camp gives us the chance to catch up with students who are either far away or too busy to be with us.


Hanicka, Kakushe, Gabi, Martina...we loooove these girls...


Martina, Zuzka and me in the kitchen. So, the first 2 days we didn't have water at this cute little cottage and I was in charge of food. If you know me, you know that I like to be hygienic, and knowing how poorly washed the dishes were as well as having 25 people just going--you know--wherever outside, and that handwashing was a luxury...I got a little tense the second day. I'm thankful for clean running water. :) And that I don't have flies falling from my ceiling. And MOSTLY that EWC was a place for hearing and experiencing God.

a bit of a fulfillment of a vision...

I continue to be a big fan of the women's ministry team here in Czech. This year, a team of 5 from Christ Community Church (IL) came to teach, serve, share for many women in Malenovice (above) and for several women in the S. Bohemia region. Sharon, the main speaker, shared how for her this was the fulfillment of a desire she's had for a long time. As a now retired counselor of 25 years and a frequenter of Czech, she's wanted to see more Christan counseling in this part of the world. January 8-10 she and the team helped Czech women get some of the basics so they can help each other. This weekend many women learned how to listen actively and empathetically, how to ask good questions, confront in love, be a safe person, etc. May the fruit multiply!

Why Europe Rocks #...uhhh...

Europe...EUROPE! We live in EU-ROPE!!!!

Kim, Lucka, Lauree, Leah, Katka, Emily all went to Milan, Italy to celebrate Katka and Kim's 30th birthdays and Leah's 35th. Thanks Wizz Air for super cheap tickets! No thanks to border control, though. We're missing Autumn who was "detained" in Poland because she didn't have her passport and we tried to get her into Italy. Epic fail, as the kids today say. :(


What a charming cafe in Italy, it inspres me to poetry: "Scusa mi? Table fee? I don't understand, what sayeth thee?" Ba-Boom, 2 euros a person and the little baby cans of coke were like, 5 euros. Questo e un plagio


The eventide brought with it lighter hearts, Autumn's release from the Polish foreign police (it's a long story) as well as a 7 euro all you can eat buffet. Oh, the tales that were told 'round that table...


Answer: Lauree. Question: Who would survive the longest as a homeless person? To save money, we slept at the Milan airport while waiting for our morning flight. Lauree kept us well supplied with cardboard mats/blankets and waited till the wee hours to get pole position on some benches. Milan was great, but this was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Love you ladies!

Let there be men in 2010

Since 2006, Lucka and I have formulated marital vision statements for each new year. Obviously, they're really working out for us. But we are still hopeful, well, until right this very second. I just googled "men in 2010" and know what came up?


Huh? Men in 2010? No no no noooooooo. Luc, this does not bode well for us...