Lisa was working hard to get out some info when I sat down and quickly loaded some photo and video. Read on from her:
We had been doing so much better at blogging regularly and then totally fell off the wagon! Ah, I love when I can use idioms like this and people automatically understand me :)
The past month (or so) has included more language lessons, ministry opportunities, reconnecting with people we met last year, a wonderful 3-day vacation in western Germany, and another visit to the doctor to check on baby boy. We have adjusted our schedule in an effort to be more consistent and, therefore, more sane! Monday through Thursday, Philip has the mornings for language study and I have the afternoons. At least, this is the general idea! Sometimes, we each need to use some of this time to take care of other things, but even then, we are able to practice our Czech.
We have resumed a conversational English club that was started last fall by our colleagues and their national partner. Philip is currently working with this man, David, on the English club and other outreach opportunities. Just last week, they did a coffee distribution as a way to raise awareness of a culture night that is planned for the 25th of this month. This partner has also put the neighborhood he works in on a list of cities/areas in the Czech Republic in which the entire New Testament will be read in Czech the day before Easter. We are planning to spend at least some of that Saturday with him, hoping to talk with people who are interested to know what is going on and why. I believe that last year was the first time this happened and the N.T. was read in over 140 cities/towns/villages in the CZ! We are thrilled with this opportunity and pray that we will meet many people who want to know more about Jesus!
Last fall, I met a woman named Veronika and her family at Starbucks. We were there with our girls for the final English club meeting of 2009 where David's brother played a beautiful concert on the keyboard for us. Before we left, Veronika and I exchanged phone numbers with the idea that we would contact one another the next time we were planning to go to Starbucks as a family. The holidays came, then the snow, and we never went as a family until a few weeks ago when we decided that all 4 of us would go for the English club. (The girls and I didn't go at all last year). I sent Veronika a text message that day and was surprised to see her later that night! We have gone to see a movie together and she brought her family to the next English club. She seems glad to have another mom to do things with and we are looking forward to getting to know them better. They have 3 small children, the youngest 2 of which are about Grace's & Ella's age.
