Two Weekends Away

Blessings of the Lord

It's always amazing to me the way in which God places people in our lives that encourage and uplift us wherever we are.  I have experienced that often during my time here in the Czech Republic, but I experienced that in a special way over the last two weekends.  The past two weekends I was able to spend with two different groups of people in two different places away from Ostrava.  Two weekends ago, I spent time in Kroměříž visiting the Ryšánkovi family.  I've spent the last two Christmases with this family and have known them for many years.  Each time I visit them I leave a little bit tired because they have several young children but it is always wonderful.  And this past weekend I spent several days with many of the people from Církev bratrská - Poruba in the Beskydy Mountains for a church retreat to spend time with each other and the Lord.

Visiting Zborovice 

Anička's mother, Vendy is a teacher and over the past year I have visited her school two times and enjoyed getting to know the students there a little better each time.  They were really hoping that I would be able to visit them one more time before the school year ended, so two weeks ago I visited their school.  With the nice spring weather we were able to spend some time outside and have some fun.  Anička also came along as several of the students will be attending her school in Kroměříž next year.  My hope is that the relationships that I have built with these students won't end here but will continue on and that perhaps some of them might come and join our English Camp this summer.  Pray that the Lord would bring some of those students and maybe even their families to the English Camp this summer so that they might hear the wonderful truth of the Gospel.

Church Spring Weekend

This past weekend CB - Poruba spent the weekend together at large cabin in the mountains, about 45 minutes outside of Ostrava.  We spent time in worship, discussion, the word and recreation.  Almost none of the teens from the youth group came this year so it was interesting to spend a lot of time with the smaller children and their families, playing games and trying to communicate with one another.  I used some Czech and the little kids would try to use some English.  I don't have many pictures from the weekend but it was a wonderful time getting to know my brothers and sisters here a little bit better in the beauty of the Lord's creation.  The Lord may have also even used that time to open up an opportunity for a girl, from Ostrava who works at the cabin on the weekends to come to the English Camp this summer.  Pray that she might join us this summer and experience the love of the Lord that she was only able to view this past weekend.

Some time in worship

Youth Revolution

Because of the church weekend, Youth Revolution didn't meet this past weekend but we did meet the week before.  It was a wonderful time together with Radim and Eliška leading worship and Barča handling games.  The school year will be coming to an end in the next month and with the school year ending so do our regular youth meetings because so many people are away for vacations and camps.  Pray that the Lord would really be present over the next month so that we end the year in a strong way after enduring some struggles this year.  There will also be several opportunities for the teens to build relationships with teens from other youth groups in the next few weeks as well.  Pray that the believers within the group would be encouraged by this and that the non-believers would attend these special events.  And lastly, pray that these teens would be inviting friends and classmates to the English Camp this summer.

It is so wonderful that we worship the one and only God, who created all things and holds them together.  We can pray in boldness with this knowledge and because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, this amazing and Holy God hears our prayers of faith.