St Wenceslas Square (in Czech it is Vaclav) in Prague
Courtyard at International Baptist Theological Seminary - you will stay here (Hotel Jeneralka) while in Prague
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Photos from Prague
St Wenceslas Square (in Czech it is Vaclav) in Prague
Photos from Litomerice
Litoměřice Bapitst Church
National Memorial at Terazin (WW2 Jewish Ghetto)
Narnia Cafe
Oaza Club for KidsMonday, October 1, 2007
Change of Plans, and I'm Delighted
After a conversation on Saturday with D/S McNary, it was decided that our mission trip to the Czech Republic would be postponed. It will take place in 2009 (probably summer), instead of July or August of 2008.
It is amazing how God works. That sounds cliche, even trite; people say it a lot. But it is amazing.
Psalm 37:4 says this: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
For most of the years that I've walked with God, when I read that verse, I read that God would give me the desires of my heart. It's taken me this long to look also at the first part of the verse, to understand what it meant to delight myself in the Lord.
Even as Paul struggled, he had this to say in Romans 7:22: "For in my inner being I delight in God's law;"
Delighting in, loving the law of God is not always easy. But when I delight myself in the Lord, things happen. Relationships are reconciled, wisdom comes, opportunities to tell my friends about Christ, peace is restored, real joy comes into my life. Other things happen too - I discover God's will for me, and am delighted by God's gift of a husband and children. I find out where God is working, and am honored to join Him. I dream dreams that seem so big and far away, and God shows me that not only can they become real, but that He has dreamed something even bigger.
On Saturday, Shane told me that that the dates we had originally planned for summer of '08 weren't going to work. The dates that did work for that particular ministy, for summer of '08, coincided with plans that we already had. Even so, as Shane left that place and anticipated talking to BW and I about it, he had a peace. An ocean away, BW and I were talking about something else, and we also had a peace. God was telling us all that next summer wasn't the right time for us, and that His timing is best, and that all is well. So when we talked, not much really had to be said. We rejoiced in what God was doing.
Something else happened: I began sharing some ministry ideas for the future. A local (American) church partnering with a ministry abroad. I have been dreaming for several years now that God would lead BW and I to such a ministry, that we might be involved in some sort of a "home base" kind of ministry, that helps with a church or ministry internationally (ie., the projects that Shane and his ministry works with), which will send out mission trips a couple of times a year, send materials or money, etc., but something with which we can really be invested and really know.This was just an idea, a dream I've been having and mulling over in my heart and mind.
Shane surprised me by telling me that this is actually becoming a movement among international missions.
Wow. God is amazing.
Here's something else:"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20
I'm excited. I'm delighted. I'm asking and imagining lots and lots of things. May they all honor Him, that He might grant me the desires of my heart.
I can't wait, ya'll!
It is amazing how God works. That sounds cliche, even trite; people say it a lot. But it is amazing.
Psalm 37:4 says this: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
For most of the years that I've walked with God, when I read that verse, I read that God would give me the desires of my heart. It's taken me this long to look also at the first part of the verse, to understand what it meant to delight myself in the Lord.
Even as Paul struggled, he had this to say in Romans 7:22: "For in my inner being I delight in God's law;"
Delighting in, loving the law of God is not always easy. But when I delight myself in the Lord, things happen. Relationships are reconciled, wisdom comes, opportunities to tell my friends about Christ, peace is restored, real joy comes into my life. Other things happen too - I discover God's will for me, and am delighted by God's gift of a husband and children. I find out where God is working, and am honored to join Him. I dream dreams that seem so big and far away, and God shows me that not only can they become real, but that He has dreamed something even bigger.
On Saturday, Shane told me that that the dates we had originally planned for summer of '08 weren't going to work. The dates that did work for that particular ministy, for summer of '08, coincided with plans that we already had. Even so, as Shane left that place and anticipated talking to BW and I about it, he had a peace. An ocean away, BW and I were talking about something else, and we also had a peace. God was telling us all that next summer wasn't the right time for us, and that His timing is best, and that all is well. So when we talked, not much really had to be said. We rejoiced in what God was doing.
Something else happened: I began sharing some ministry ideas for the future. A local (American) church partnering with a ministry abroad. I have been dreaming for several years now that God would lead BW and I to such a ministry, that we might be involved in some sort of a "home base" kind of ministry, that helps with a church or ministry internationally (ie., the projects that Shane and his ministry works with), which will send out mission trips a couple of times a year, send materials or money, etc., but something with which we can really be invested and really know.This was just an idea, a dream I've been having and mulling over in my heart and mind.
Shane surprised me by telling me that this is actually becoming a movement among international missions.
Wow. God is amazing.
Here's something else:"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20
I'm excited. I'm delighted. I'm asking and imagining lots and lots of things. May they all honor Him, that He might grant me the desires of my heart.
I can't wait, ya'll!
Friday, September 7, 2007
Prague in July
At one end of the mission trip, that is at the first or at the end, a visit to Prague will include a visit to the St Vitus Cathedral and the Prague Castle. It is an incredibly beautiful space where people from all over the world gather to admire the wonder of Prague. This is what it looks like on a late July afternoon.Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Litoměříce pronounciation guide
Exactly how do you say Litoměříce?
Here are the letters in it along with some Czech words with the same letter. Note, I did not chose these words, just copied them:
L - same as in English - láska (love) lahska
I - i as in pit; same as y - pivo (beer) (I would say this is pronounced as a long "e")
T - same as in English -tady (here)
O - o as in lost - roh (corner) (I would say this is pronounced as a long "o")
M - same as in English - muž (man) muzh město (city) mnesto
Ě - y before e; when after m an n is inserted before e - Němcová Nyemtsovah němec (German) nyemets
Ř - pronounced sort of like an r with ž; this is the most difficult sound in Czech - Dvořák dvorzhahk
Í - i lengthened as in meet; same as ý - Jiří (George)Yirzhee
C - ts as in cats - proces (trial) protses
E - e as in set - žena (woman) zhena
Together, it will sound something like this: lee-tow-mnair-*eet-say
*this is really a strange sound which we don't have in English. If you know how to pronounce the "zh" in Dr. Zhivago or the "ř" in Antonín Dvořak, then insert that sound here. The "zh" is not exact, but it will do.
Practice saying this really, really, exceptionally fast several times a day. It helps if you smile while saying it
Here are the letters in it along with some Czech words with the same letter. Note, I did not chose these words, just copied them:
L - same as in English - láska (love) lahska
I - i as in pit; same as y - pivo (beer) (I would say this is pronounced as a long "e")
T - same as in English -tady (here)
O - o as in lost - roh (corner) (I would say this is pronounced as a long "o")
M - same as in English - muž (man) muzh město (city) mnesto
Ě - y before e; when after m an n is inserted before e - Němcová Nyemtsovah němec (German) nyemets
Ř - pronounced sort of like an r with ž; this is the most difficult sound in Czech - Dvořák dvorzhahk
Í - i lengthened as in meet; same as ý - Jiří (George)Yirzhee
C - ts as in cats - proces (trial) protses
E - e as in set - žena (woman) zhena
Together, it will sound something like this: lee-tow-mnair-*eet-say
*this is really a strange sound which we don't have in English. If you know how to pronounce the "zh" in Dr. Zhivago or the "ř" in Antonín Dvořak, then insert that sound here. The "zh" is not exact, but it will do.
Practice saying this really, really, exceptionally fast several times a day. It helps if you smile while saying it
Litomerice
In July or August, 2008, Scott, Eliza, and I will travel to Litomerice, which is in the Czech Republic, in the center of Europe. More to come about our specific duties while we are there - what kind of ministry we'll be doing, etc. Shane and Dianne, feel free to elaborate at any point.Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Slovakia or Bust!
It's official: We're going to Slovakia!
Let me tell you how all of this got started:
Some of you may know that good friends D/S McNary are missionaries in Slovakia. Recently, Shane e-mailed me asking if Scott and I would be interested in gathering a group for a mission trip to Slovakia next summer! As Scott and I prayed, discussed, pondered, talked to Shane on the phone, the answer became clear to us - this was the right thing to do, so we e-mailed Shane over the weekend and told him we were going to commit to this.
The trip will take place in about 15 months, and I'll be using this blog to give all kinds of updates and interesting facts.
Please pray for us and with us! We'll need to raise about $7500 for the trip. Yes, that's a scary number, but my God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. This is cake for Him. We just have to put all faith in Him and trust Him as He has ordained this mission opportunity. We are taking Eliza with us! Very exciting. I have such a heart for missions, and Eliza already loves the Lord so much, I can't wait to introduce her to this kind of mission opportunity. Pray that we will unite as a family as we sincerely prepare for this mission trip over the next 15 months.
Can't wait to post more!
Also, if someone can think of a jazzy new look for this blog, and can help me with the template, please let me know! Thank you!
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