Czeching Out

I can't believe that our last day in Chotebor has arrived and passed.

Before coming on the trip I tried my best to have no expectations. Besides minor briefings from people who went last year, I had no idea what God was going to do in the lives of the Czech, with the team and in my own life. The only thing I really expected Him to do was to work and to do something, whatever that something was.

During the trip there were ups and downs. Moments of excitement and moments of confusion and slight disappointment. At times it seemed impossible to communicate the love of Christ through the language barrier; yet at other times, there was no doubt in my mind that Jesus was shining through! I expected that there would be several Czech that I really got close with, but I didn't expect the goodbye to be as hard as it was.

Today we hosted an Enchilada dinner and about 65 people, including the team, showed up and heard the gospel and ate some good ole' Mexican American food. It was exciting because many students who we have been building relationships with through the English classes ended up coming. It was quite the mix, Christian and non Christian, Czech, and American. As we left the dinner, we said goodbye to many of the students who have come to have a special place in our hearts.

Today could have been a much more difficult day. If our team had walked away from those we had invested in thinking that we were their only hope for salvation, we would feel awful. But because we are confident that the same God who is relentlessly pursuing our hearts is relentlessly pursuing theirs as well, we can rest. Our purpose for coming to the Czech Republic was not to see 'x' amount of people saved. Our purpose was to come and use whatever means available (English and the fact that we are American) to exemplify Christ love and to provide Caleb's Heart and the Christians here with opportunities to further the relationships we have formed.

In such a dark and agnostic country, I have come to see how much of a process salvation is. As Lauren said a couple of posts ago, it is a fight for every inch. It's a fight for the inches before salvation and a fight for those after.

We have done what we came to do. We saw God move in innumerable ways on our team, with logistics for events, in the hearts of fellow Czech believers, in the Gypsies, in kids from classes and kids' homes. Although the number of salvations might not seem extravagant, two kids have now begun the life long journey of getting to know Jesus! As Ron said, "The angels are singing praises because of their decisions!". I am confident that, in addition to these two kids, inches of progression have been made in many lives. Not of our doing, but because of the Holy Spirit flowing through us. God's working is what made a day of goodbyes hard but not unbearable. When we leave, He doesn't. His presence continues to work in hearts and lives.

Who knows what we will see in heaven... what lives have been unexpectedly touched!?! I can speak for the team when I say that we feel so blessed to have been given this opportunity to be used by God. Thank you so much for all of you who have been right here with us, not physically, but through your partnership and support in prayer and funds. Know that you are appreciated!

Chow from the Czech one last time!

Abby