Dobre noc everybody!

Thank you so much everyone who is taking time to read this blog. There are such exciting things happening these days and we really want to share it with everyone!

Well, the soccer tournament did end up getting canceled because of the weather and road conditions which would hamper some teams from traveling here to Chotebor. Shame really, especially for those who put work into planning everything out logistic-wyse. Oh well you have to roll with the punches and are hopefully just scheduling the tournament to next week. Because of this slight change in plans the day started later than usual for everyone, providing a greatly needed respite to rest our already worn bodies. Who'da thought teaching 2-4th graders and running games/wrestling with youth groups would be such tiring work?

Anyways after the morning off our group split into two. One group of ten or so people went outdoors into the snowy tundra sledding with a handful of Gypsy kids, zooming down hills and flying through the snow, even though it is still powdery after just falling all day yesterday. The rest of the group (myself and seven others) were waiting in the town square to go play pool with some Gypsy youth who were disappointed that the tournament was canceled. After being there a few minutes a group of seven boys come up to us and tell us to follow them to Joanie's house. Plans changed because of the pool house being closed. We were able to spend over an hour with them, getting to know each other, being introduced, practicing some English phrases and comprehension. The most fun came though when they began to sing some songs and do music for us. All of the boys really like hip hop and rap and beatboxing. They beatboxed and sang some songs for us. They are really very good, the best that I have ever heard. We were able to share some songs with them, God of Wonders and Hallelujah (the song from Shrek :) ). It was very interesting to see our different musical styles. Joanie is friends with these six kids and she teaches them English and Bible stories.

We had been preparing for a worship service tonight with different Czech youth groups from around the area (Chotebor, Havlikov Brod and Horni Krupa). Some of us went over early to prepare the order of service and practice with the band. The rest of the team then came and got ready for the youth groups to come. It was really fun. Our two groups got familiar with each other through icebreaker games (elbow tag to be exact), and pizza. There were around 30-40 Czechs there in addition to us. All of us together we blessed by the chance to take time to pray for Czech and American youth, to hear testimonies from our group members as well as Czech youth, and to sing songs in Czech and English. One thing is true and it's that it is incredible how great God is, bringing so many things together, people from such different backgrounds and with different stories because we have common ground built on our faith through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Jared reminded us tonight during devotions that as we have been reconciled to God, having a saving faith through his son, we are Christ's ambassadors, as if God was making his appeal through us (2 Corinthians 5: 16-21). This so often feels like such a challenge and a huge work to do, especially when when feel unequipped for it. However later on in chapter 12 Paul speaks about how God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. What a fantastic reassurance and resting place. Already having faced many of our personal as well as collective weaknesses we are challenged to let God be who he is: perfectly strong.

Goodnight, thank you for praying.

God Bless,

Ben Wright - for the Czech team