Czech Republic Update #3 - July 3, 2017
Greetings!
I write to you over a course of two afternoons as I sit in
my room on the top floor of our lodge at English Camp. It has been a crazy few
days and as we have some much-needed free time after lunch, I finally have time
to send out an update of what the American team from Heights has been doing
over the last few days.
Starting on Friday: Off to Camp! In the morning, we loaded
up our group bags and sent them off with Landon and Jenny, the lead
missionaries taking care of us, as they were to take them to camp while the
rest of us from Arizona would take public transportation to the sight of the
English camp. We then met our first of three trains- a small, slightly rickety
affair consisting of three or four cars- which would take us towards camp. This
first leg did not last long and we soon found ourselves at another stop where
we then hurried to board our next train which was already waiting for our
group. Once the team was all safely on the second train we settled down and
enjoyed the ride. Well… we WERE going to settle down, but this idea did not
last long. Shortly after boarding, the entire team ended up playing an
extremely fun, albeit enormously loud, game of “Heads Up” on the train, thus
fulfilling our comical role as the “boisterous young Americans.” The chittering
sound of laughter reverberated through the train car and out the open windows as
the team rocketed north through the swaying fields of Bohemia.
The final train on our journey was large, fast, and quiet.
The cars consisted of many first world amenities- snacks, drinks, comfortable
seats facing each other with a table placed sturdily in-between- all things
which we enjoyed vicariously through those who arrived early enough to grab a
seat. As most every member from the American team was left standing for the
duration of the ride, wonderfully awkward encounters then followed as the poor man
checking tickets and delivering refreshments tried to squeeze passed us. Though
amusing, the train ride was brief and we soon found ourselves exiting the train
station in search of the bus station where we would take two uneventful bus
rides to the beautiful ski town of Pec pod Sněžkou. From there we loaded our
bags into a car which would take them up to our final destination. After
loading the bags, we set out on our final task of walking the hour or so up the
mountain using a road which flanked the ski area. Winding through the tall spruce
trees, we ascended an ever-steepening road. Though our bodies were tired, our hearts
were excited to finally be at Camp. After reaching the top of the mountain, the
landscape flattened out and as we looked down to the left, we saw a large, dark
brown building with a green pitched roof. Finally, after so many miles, we were
here, at a ski house called Lesní Bouda which in English means “Forrest Cabin”-
the sight of English Camp. Happy to finally be at camp, we met the Christian
Czech team who was there waiting for us and we all ate dinner together, thus
concluding yet another amazing part of our journey. We thank God, as well as
all of you who prayed for our safe travel, for supporting us as we traveled all
the way from Prescott, Arizona to this quaint lodge at the top of a mountain in
the Czech Republic- the lodge where we will teach English and share the Gospel
with the kids who come.
The next morning, we had some much-needed time of
preparation for camp as well as time to bond with our Czech translators. The time
consisted of markers, scissors, cutting, stressing; a little bit of everything
in nervous anticipation of the week to come. In the afternoon, the kids arrived
and the rest of the day was spent getting to know them through talking, eating,
some very windy Frisbee games, and Ice-breaker games. We found that most of the
kids speak surprisingly good English which meant that we could have good,
meaningful conversations with the kids, even without our translators.
The next day we started right off with our first English classes,
and even though we were nervous, God worked in a mighty way by calming us all and
guiding our words and actions as we began to teach. The class times were
fruitful and many bonds were made between the Czech students and the American
team. After lunch, the afternoon was spent playing sports. The Czech students
are extremely athletic, so our entire afternoon consisted of 10 fast-paced team
games which allowed us to further get to know each other. In the evening, all
of us tired, we ate dinner and had our evening program which consisted of
signing, doing our “Camp Dance” and listening to someone share the Gospel.
After this we were given time to have our evening discussions with our English
classes where we had some life changing conversations about Christ.
Finally, to conclude the day, we reconvened in our main
meeting area where we would have one more high energy activity- a dance party; a
fitting way to end the first extremely exciting day of camp.
For those who are supporting our team through prayer, please
pray for our conversations with the Czech students as we have already had many
chances to share the Gospel with eager Czech students. From the outset, it has
been very apparent that our team has been sent out through Divine authority to
impact the lives of the Czech students, and we ask that you would continue to
pray for good interactions with our students. Even those students who are
skeptics and confessed atheists have expressed great interest in getting to
know more about who Christ is and what we as Christians believe.
In relation to praying for our conversations, please pray
for discernment amongst our team in how to go about approaching these topics we
go into difficult conversations with students. The kids here are enormously
smart and like to ask very deep spiritual questions. Please pray the Spirit
will guide us in conversing with the students and that they might see Christ
through not only our words, but our actions as well. We also ask that you pray
for spiritual protection as we dive into these deep, difficult topics.
As ever, please continue to pray for the students who have
come to camp and pray that their hearts might be opened to the Gospel as it is
portrayed to them throughout the week. And finally, we ask that you continue
praying for the team from Heights- that we would not loose energy or become
worn by travel and the sheer intensity of camp. We do not want to forget the
reason that we are hear and the role that Christ has us in this place. Pray
that we can continue to build each other up and that we can lean on each other
in the days ahead as we become tired and fatigued. Our prayer is that we can
represent Christ’s church in a God-honoring way and that we can represent
heights church the best way we can as we continue to minister to the people of
the Czech Republic.
On behalf of all of us from America, we love you and we
thank you for supporting us and lifting us up in prayer.
Brian Wade on behalf of the team
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