A Quick Update Amid A Busy Week

Spending Time With Different Families

Two weekends ago, I was quite busy; not with work, but with relationships.  Over the last year I have had the opportunity to get to know a particular family through English Conversation, both the teen and the adult.  Last year at about this time I was introduced to Magdaléna, through Zuzana, who has been to the English Camp and whose mother, Zdenka has been at the camp every year I've been there.  Zuzana is heavily involved in YoungLife as a student leader and Magda is very close to her.  Usually, they have a YoungLife leadership meeting on Tuesdays so they are unable to come to the teen conversation group but last June they were able to attend once YoungLife was finished for the year.  This school year Magda has been able to attend the adult conversation group along with her mother, Kristýna and so I have been able to get to know their family a little bit.  Two weeks ago their family invited me to their home, just outside of Ostrava to enjoy the Spring weather and grill some food.  It was a lot of fun, I got to show off some of my grilling skills, play some board games, and play some soccer.  I also got to know Magda's two younger brother a little better as well.  Here is a picture of me with their family, minus the youngest brother who was off playing with his friend.  It is quite probable that you will see some more pictures of this family in the summer as they will almost certainly be attending the English Camp.  

The family on the left, Martin wearing my sunglasses on the right.

The following day, I was able to have lunch with a family that I have grown close to over the last two years.  The Navrátilovi family are my neighbors and also members of the church.  I will often spend evenings with them talking or watching films.  In fact, just the other evening I was giving them a tour of Elverson, via Google Earth.  Surprisingly, they weren't bored or at least they were good at concealing their boredom.  Our lunch gathering was to celebrate the birthday of Bára, who spends her weekdays in Olomouc, studying Art and Art History.  They are a quiet and reserved family but one that quietly and faithfully serves the Lord doing things from, Mirek, the father leading worship, to Daniela, the mother organizing the after service clean up and snacks, to Bára and Klára helping to clean the church on Saturday mornings.  They tend to keep to themselves so I feel quite honored to have been taken in by their family so warmly.

The family doesn't often do pictures together so this is a rare occurrence.

A Youth Revolution Recap

Two weeks ago, we finished our study of Colossians 3:12.  We had spent about five weeks looking at how we should live as we try to live for Christ.  Julian made an appearance that evening and I was really excited to see him there.  It has been quite a long time since he has joined us.  And this past Friday, we spoke about something much different at youth group.  The topic was the Devil.  I spoke on the passage from 1 Peter 5:8.  I'm not sure if the topic made people uncomfortable but it is important that we all consider both the easier and more enjoyable truths of the Bible as well as the harder and scarier truths.  Eliška led worship by herself this past week and it seemed to be one of the more enthusiastic times of worship that our group has had in a while.  It was really nice.  Eva, also joined us for the evening, which was a very nice surprise.  Please be in prayer for Eliška, Julian, Patrik and Eva as they prepare for the maturitá exams which will allow them to graduate from high school and apply for university.  Here are a few pictures from this past week.

Eva's drawing might have been a bit confusing.

 

Eliška trying to guess what I'm drawing.

School Visit This Week

Yesterday, I again had the opportunity to visit the school of Matouš, Klára, Terka, and Magda but I wasn't in any of their classes.  I did however get to speak with three classes, one of which, unexpectedly.  This has been one of the more difficult schools to get into as they pay some native English speakers to come and talk with students on a regular basis.  But the teachers that have invited me to their classrooms have been very thankful for my visits, praise the Lord.  One of the teachers said that my presentations are much more interesting and better organized than anything that the other native speakers prepare.  Pray that this might open up the doors even more to other classes at the school in the future and that we might see more of these students at the English Camp this summer.  Greater access to this school would be great as many of the students live near the church and could easily attend the Youth Revolution meetings.