JV Ladies 09

Before the conference, I was feeling like a little butter spread over a big piece of bread (to paraphrase Bilbo Baggins--is it weird how often LOTR comes up in this blog?) I hadn't been so busy, but was still feeling worn. Spending time with women who understand meant sooooo much to me. Thank you Kristy (above, sharing about her life) for great talks!


And thank you Cassie (the foxy blonde sitting next to me) for serious encouragement. Between late night talks with Cass and the amazing teaching from Joyce and Jerri, I felt like a new lady by the time I left.


One of the tamer pictures: Amy, Lisa and Laura competing during game night. Believe it or not, we all got a little wild that evening...even missionary ladies need to let off steam sometimes, ahahhaaahhhhaaaa! :)

Mmmm, guilt.

Jerri to Joyce: are you wearing that?

I feel guilty most of the time. I have this idol in my head of "perfect Leah," she looks kinda like Jesus and kinda like me; she says and does what the perfect missionary/discipler/friend/servant/daughter/etc says and does. She's hard to please. When I don't do what she wants, I whip myself and bring her the guilt offerings she requires: more props, more time, more energy. She's a--you know. Jerk. But bowing before her is as natural as the most comfortable outfit.

At our JV conference, my eyes were opened thanks to Joyce, Jerri (above) and the Holy Spirit (all around). It's so simple, you know, taking off the old nature, our "old clothes," and being clothed with Christ. Duh, right? But when you've got on, say, an ick lavender outfit (above) you've worn forever, or guilt that has been your favorite sweatshirt for years, it's hard to do without. But that week I took it off--the guilt sweatshirt that actually binds like a straight jacket--and pray that I'll keep it off.

The real Lord Jesus (not the one who looks too much like me, small and petty with a beard) came and kicked my idol away. Literally kicked it, with his big bare foot. And he said, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ" and gave me a new sweatshirt of righteousness. It feels great and looks much better: like peace and confidence and outward-focused love.

My hand still reaches for the old guilt, though. I put it on the other day and donned it again this morning. And took it off. And lifted my eyes higher to see the real Lord.

us 3

These girls are so great! I love being involved in their lives and am encouraged by their faith and service here--yay Emily and Autumn!!!

Autumn's here!

...and is making tea. :) Autumn is started her 2 year term as a missionary March 5th and is studying Czech, serving in Vysoke Myto part time, and living with Emily and I part time. Originally from Chicagoland, Autumn is 27 and lived here for a year 2 years ago, and helped with Exit Turbo. We're excited she's back!

Emily's here!

Yay! Dear Emily K. flew in February 16th from sunny CA to serve in Czech until the end of the summer. She's newly 21, has a rad laugh, is brave and loves the Lord like crazy. And she speaks Czech like crazy, too.


Ha! Maybe you can't tell, but her accent is really good. Emily will be serving in Cheb (like 3 hours west of here) during the weekends and also doing a day in Ceske Budejovice. I'm so excited to have her here; we all are!

goodbye girls

Missy A and Great grand Bonnie during the the dysfunctional ESI family portrait. Who knew at the beginning how much we'd grow to love each other? Aubree, Bonnie and I are pretty different from each other, but these differences only made us stronger...not only as we served together and functioned as a body, but also our examples challenged each other to grow and expand in different areas.


In Prague with Jozef the night before the girls flew out. Jozef was a good friend to the girls and Bonnie's Czech teacher. (Fyi-that's not snow on the ground, it's feathers and stuffing from a massive pillow fight that took place on the Old Town Square before we got there.)


Lucka L and Aubree at the girls' going away party. Aubree has an amazing ability for connecting with students, she actively pursues them, connects them and brings fun and joy wherever she is. Her gift of hospitality resulted in dinner parties, hanging out and the rockin' Thaksgiving outreach. She's also an ace Bible study leader and blessed me continually with her knack for expressing deep truths with clarity and style. I love you Aubree!


Bonnie and Maruska at the same party. Bonnie is a faithful friend and impressed me with the way she deeply cared for some key young women. Her intentionality with sensitively confronting sin either in conversation or in her preaching/teaching is bearing much fruit, and her gift of preaching blessed us many times. Her creativity resulted in the super cool Halloween Murder Mystery outreach and random pranks. I love you Bonnie!

US Czech Invasion! Week 2: Chicago/land

Iowa was about making new friends, but Chicago was about reuniting. The infamous Kevin Clark (on the right) joined the boys at Bonnie's house for a few days. Kevin makes everything better!


With the Moody gang at Starbucks. Even though we haven't seen them since early spring, everyone picked right back where they left off.


Jakub with his entourage at the Czech Thanksgiving party Christ Community Church hosted. CCC and my church Elim have a deep and long relationship that made being in the Elgin area meaningful. We received a lot of love from them!


With James and the Blanchard gang in the city. We miss you guys! If I could steal you back from the Ukraine I would (sorry Ben and Kristy...kinda).


JV's Vision Night in Chicago was big and beautiful, and I was blessed that AmyL, Super Jen and Bob, Aunt Sandy and birthday girl Laurie all came. I love you guys!

US Czech Invasion! Week 1: Iowa

Wednesday at Davenport North HS. The girls' dreams came true in the cafeteria :)


Girls Only! Dana, Miriam, me, Lenka, Eva, Zuzka chillin after Dana threw all of us a faboo sushi party in Iowa City.


Eva and Karen by the Mississippi. Our host families were probably what meant the most to us. Karen and her roommates Kelly and Vanessa gave up their bedrooms and slept in the basement so that we could have comfort and privacy.


With Christiana and Lucka. Christiana and her boys housed our boys and she and Lucka hit it off right away at the party Community Christian Fellowship hosted for us. Thank you Christiana and thank you Karl and Patty and the gang at CCF!


Leni and Eva in the mighty Mississip. Now they all know--Iowa rocks.

Josiah Venture's 2x3 Campaign

You are invited to JV's vision night! My Czech gang and I will be at the party in Peoria, IL on November 8th and on November 13th we'll be at the Oak Brook party. To RSVP, go here!

2x3 Campaign

One Percent from Josiah Venture on Vimeo.

We're goin' to America!

Jakub, Zuzka, Leni, Evicka, me and Jozef in the front. Yeaaaaaaaah! Monday we go to the US Embassy in Prague to get their visas so we can all go to the States. We'll fly into O'Hare November 4th, go straight to Davenport and be there until Nov 10th whe we'll drive to Chicago and be in the Chicagoland area until they fly out on the 18th. I fly out on the 25th.

The purposes of our trip are the following:

*For their cultural and language education--this means stuff like sight seeing, and also I'd love for them to be able to experience US high schools and also to be able to volunteer at various places.

*For my US peeps to get to know some of our students and leaders! Many of you have been giving and praying for me and the ministry here, and I know sometimes it can be a little abstract, so I really want you, my dear friends and family, to be able to get to know some of the people you're a part of.

*For us to be able to go to Josiah Venture's Peoria and Chicago vision nights (November 8 and 13). These vision nights are a part of JV's 2X3 Campaign...for more info or to RSVP, please go here.

*For them to reconnect with friends from Camps and from Moody visits.

More details to come! :)

Croatia! JVKid's camp and vacation...

Hannah and I--Hannah is the wisest 16 year old I know. Talking and praying with her that week was a joy!


All the JV kids and staff. Thank you so much Becca and Ken and Andrea for all of your hard work, teaching, and love. You make it fun to serve.


Luc and Jitka at the Sali sweet shop. Good times...even though our vacation on Dugi Otok was short, it's full of memories.


Probably my favorite place to be, by the sea, in the sun, READING and THINKING. What luxury! HaHA!

JV Spring Conference 2008: Fit for Battle

April 30-May 4

Trevor and Tyler leading worship. Ray Prichard, author and former pastor, spoke on asymetrical warfare and our enemy, and warfare in the last days. Dave also spoke on map reading and commander's intent. Thank God for timely, practical teaching.


Josiah Venture 2nd culture missionaries (ie, non-native), spouses and guests. It's so encouraging to be around those who are older and wiser and have weathered life's storms with faith and grace, and I loved spending time with my sistahs from anothah mistahs.


Christian Youth Theatre (CYT) came and put on a production of Godspell with the missionary kids, which they performed the last morning...their talent amazed us all.


No, Eowyn wasn't mentioned at the conference, but she was on my mind. If you know me at all, you know that I love LOTR a lot. A lot. So whenever spiritual warfare is discussed, I always flash to that scene when Eowyn stabs the nazgul guy in his invisible face--you go girl. But, as we talked about at this conference, real life spiritual battle is a lot less romantic and a lot more serious. Our enemy doesn't fight fair. He's sneaky and covers himself with the seemingly innocuous. There are a hundred little battles we fight, whether we realize it or not, and our daily, normal obedience can make a huge difference. This conference inspired me to be a woman of deeper love and strength, and, like our girl Eowyn, to have the sword of the Spirit ready.