Czech Republic, here we come!

It has been about a month since our team met for the first time, and I think it is safe to say that we all have been so encouraged by the way things are shaping. The team retreat last weekend was a big step in getting to know each other. Activities included a scavenger hunt, hearing from a sponser and student from the 2009 Czech trip and too many 'would you rather' questions. I think that the most exciting part about the retreat was the opportunity to meet our Czech host, Joanie, over Skype. She is already preparing for us to get there! Everyone from past years has said that Joanie's relationship with God is so intimate and her heart for people is full of love. What a privledge to get to partner with a ministry that is truly seeking to follow God!



For those of you who might not know exactly what we are doing in the Czech, we will be staying there for about 3 1/2 weeks. Our time there will be spent partnering with an organization called Caleb's Heart, which is run by Joanie and several Czech missionaries. Because most of the people are atheistic and closed off to anything church related, it is often hard to build relationships where Christianity is the first and only thing mentioned. Our job while we are in the Czech Republic is to be a light and a bridge between the Czech and Caleb's Heart. Americans have the ability to draw a crowd, so we are going to be hosting events at night where we will talk about American topics of interest to them. The event will just so happen to be in a location that warms them up to the idea of Christianity and will allow Joanie and the rest of the team to begin building relationships with them. After we leave, Joanie and the rest of the team will still be there to maintain the relationships and keep fertilizing the seeds.



Along with hosting these events, teaching English and Physical Education classes in the schools will be a big minsitry. Once again, our American background grants us the ability to teach the students while at the same time building relationships with them. There is a large Gypsie population in the Czech, so we will also get the opportunity to build relationships with them!


The team is currently in the fundraising stage! Any prayers that finances would come in would be greatly appreciated. Please be praying that our team would continue to be unified and that we would begin preparing our hearts even now for all that God is going to do!