Back in Ostrava and Into a Busy Schedule

Things to be Done

I have to admit, when I first returned to Ostrava after my time in Croatia, I felt a bit overwhelmed with the plethora of things that needed to be done and prepared over the course of last week and this. I spent much of the day last Tuesday handling things like stopping in at the police station in Ostrava to inform them that I had my visa and get a stamp from them.  I also had to do regular things like pay bills and stuff as well as wash the clothes that I had taken to Croatia.  I met on Wednesday for my weekly Bible study with Radim and prepared and held the English conversation group on Thursday.  I also needed to make sure to have things prepared for the youth meeting because I had to handle everything as both Petr and Pavel were away.  This felt like a daunting task but the Lord was merciful not only in allowing me to prepare all of those things but to also prepare my lesson for this Friday before I even reached last weekend.  This opened up my schedule to be able to prepare the sermon that I will be preaching this coming Sunday without having to worry about having things ready for the meeting of the youth groups this coming Friday night because I had already prepared it.  I also got an invite by Pavel to join the B-Band to help lead worship not only at the youth meeting but also a special evening of worship the following day.  I traveled with Radim to Bilovec for a practice on Saturday night.  I was also informed of a dance that Matouš would be involved in as part of a dance class that he has been taking since September.  Petr and Petra were away in Prague this past weekend so I wanted to make sure I could go and support Matouš as well as take some pictures for his parents to enjoy.

These are few pictures from the B-Band practice on Saturday night. Pray that the Lord would allow us to lead others in worship well not only on Friday night with our youth group and several others from the area but also on Saturday night when other people from church and friends will be invited to come and worship.  Pray also for the teens as they get together on Friday night that the teens who are believers would be encouraged in knowing that there are other kids like them here in the Czech Republic and that their hearts will be ready and open to the challenge I will give them with my lesson.  Pray also for those who are not believers who will be there.  That the Lord would use this as another opportunity for them to hear and see the truth of the gospel so that they might turn in faith to Christ.

Here are a few pictures from the evening of dancing.  I found out that it was not only Matouš that was involved in this class but Patrik and Petra whom I know as well.  It has become pretty popular here for teens to attend these classical dance and etiquette classes.  They last for six months and this was the midterm performance so that the parents can come and see what their children have learned.  Patrik not only attended the class but was an assistant.  I also got to see some of Matouš' classmates from school.  Please continue to pray for these young people, not just teens who come to the youth group but those that do not as well.  I saw many of the teens getting drunk after their parents had left during the breaks in the performance.  There is a great need for the gospel to reach these kids.

November 17th

Monday, was a national holiday here in the Czech Republic.  It was the 25th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution that saw to the end of communism here in the Czech Republic.  I would have thought that there would be some big celebrations but I only noticed a few fireworks in the evening.  I spent much of the day with the Navratilovi family as they invited me over for lunch and later took me out for some coffee.  The father, Mirek, explained the feelings of many of the people in the Czech Republic toward that holiday and said that many people still see some of the corruption and problems  of government and the reality of life is much different than the hopes of a quarter of a century ago.  Similarly to how we as Americans can become a bit jaded by the negative things that we see in our own government, making days like July 4th little more than a day off from work, a reason to have a barbecue, or a day to get down to the beach.  Pray for the government here as we do for our own country that the Lord would put into power those whom He would have be there and that He would direct their choices whether they follow Him or not.

Speaking to the Congregation

This coming Sunday afternoon, I will be preaching for the first time since I became part of the weekly congregation.  I know what I will be speaking on and through God's grace am almost totally prepared.  Please pray the God would make me a pure vessel for His word.  I wouldn't want my own sins and shortcomings to impede His truth.  Pray that I would be able to think and speak clearly.  And that God would prepare my heart and hearts of each person who will be at church this Sunday to hear that message.  Thanks so much for continuing to keep up with what the Lord is doing here in the Czech Republic and for continuing to lift me and others here up in your prayers.