The End of the School Year

School Visits

Over the last few weeks I have been in many different classes in Ostrava as well as in the small village of Zborovice.  As the school year in the Czech Republic comes to an end in less than two weeks, I have been asked to visit many different classes before the summer holidays begin.  Every student that I spoke with was ready to have the holidays begin as they are exhausted from the final tests of the year in each subject.  Teacher are exhausted as well, which I completely understand.  So, in most cases my visits were a bit more relaxed with fewer lectures and presentations and more fun games and activities.  The students seemed to enjoy the change of pace and had fun laughing at themselves and their classmates as they competed in games of "fishbowl."  

In Zborovice, I made my second visit of the year to the elementary school there.  The older students showed me their dance routine as they prepared for their end of the year performance before they move on to study at various high schools.  I also met with several other classes as they asked me questions about myself and the United States.  I also sang a little bit for a few of the classes.  After the lessons, students were excited to take pictures with me both as selfies and as class photos.  It is always a great time meeting with these students, because they are so excited to meet an actual American.

Youth Activities

As the school year nears an end, so do the youth group activities.  Over the last few weeks the group has been enjoying the warmer weather with more activities outside.  We have continued to meet each Friday night, learning more about God and having fun playing games.  A couple of weeks ago, a small group of us took part in Noc Kostelů, or night of the churches.  This is an annual activity when different churches across the country open their doors to guests to enjoy music, theater and other presentations.  Although CB Poruba didn't host an event this year, some of our youth visited another church to enjoy some worship and a short play showing many of the stories in the Bible.  As there are only two more weeks left we are preparing for an end of the year event with activities and food.  Pray that this meeting would draw not only the youth who regularly attend, but that people would invite friends.  Pray also for the youth as they go into the summer as many of them will take part in not only our English camp, but other camps as well.  Pray that each one of them would be drawn closer to Christ and that it would continue into next year.

Preparing For English Camp

English Camp preparations are in full effect as there is less than a month until the start of the camp.  Petr and I have been getting things in place on this end as the Elverson team continues to fundraise and prepare to teach English and share the love of Christ.  We finished the camp t-shirt design and are finishing up with the orders so that the order can be placed later this week.  Last Friday I was able to travel with Petr and Petra to the site of this summer's camp.  It was great to get a chance to see the new place with my own eyes and be able to envision where the different classes and activities will be held.  On the way back, we past by the site of our original English camp.  The three of us were amazed to see how the Lord has grown the camp over the years from a site that would struggle to hold 50 people to a place that can comfortably host double that number.  Please continue to be in prayer for the team as they continue to prepare for the camp on their end and pray for us here as we finish our final preparations.  Pray also for those who are still considering attending the camp, especially those for whom this would be their first time.  And pray for the hearts of each person as they come to the camp that they would be open to the gospel.