The Search

Tomorrow we are all going to Prague to look at an apartment, then we will spend the weekend looking around the city before the girls and I head back home. Philip will stay in Prague for an OT survey course ALL week. Thankfully, we are blessed with excellent colleagues here who are willing to keep the girls some next week so I can get in some language lessons. Quick update, but wanted to let you all know a few prayer requests before tomorrow...

1. that the apt. will fit our needs - ministry and family

2. for our time speaking with the realtor

3. that all would go smoothly on my train ride home alone with the girls

4. for Philip as he studies/learns/takes tests next week

Thank you for praying with us!!!

Life...

This time in our lives is full of unknowns, new and interesting challenges and basically just learning to be flexible! I won't go into a everything, but wanted to share a few events from today (in order)...

While on the phone trying to set up an appointment with a realty (reality in CZ) company to look at apartments in Prague this weekend, I was informed that e-mail was really the best way to contact their company...I did that yesterday...they still haven't responded :)

In the short time we have between Philip arriving home for Czech lessons and me leaving, poor Philip accidentally broke a window while trying to open it! So, we had to clean up all the broken glass from the living room carpet...thankfully, the girls were in the kitchen eating lunch when it happened AND it is a double pane window and only the inside glass broke :)

And a fun praise - we downloaded an English/Czech dictionary to my cell phone today!!! Philip got it on his phone last week and thinks it is about the best thing since sliced bread...oh wait, he prefers unsliced, Czech bread these days...oh well, just saying he REALLY enjoys it :)

Lastly, I was able to enjoy another fun night of volleyball at the gym and meet another new girl who is studying at the university in town. A huge praise is that I exchanged phone numbers with a girl last week after the games who wants to meet next week sometime. Please pray that the timing will work out for us to get together!

Update

We are beginning another full week of language. God has been faithful to provide some new contacts that need follow up this week. Please pray that SMS will be effective and plans will be upheld as we seek to meet with and speak to new people.

The May update will arrive this week!

Wow - a whole month!

We can't believe it has already been a month since our last post! A lot has gone on during these last few weeks, within our ministry and our family. We have been learning about this half of the country, called Moravia, through a couple of visits to nearby towns, each about 40 minutes away by train. We toured palaces, ate lunch at local restaurants and just walked around seeing how people live life. We have also enjoyed getting to talk with some of our neighbors more and work on developing those relationships. 

I, Lisa, had the wonderful opportunity to attend a ladies' retreat in Krakow 2 weekends ago. It was such an incredible time of being fed spiritually without the distractions of normal life here, being pampered with American treats, and meeting fellow workers in Central Europe! I am so grateful to my sweet husband for being willing to watch both girls by himself for 4 days. They had a great time being hauled all over town and playing with their daddy!

Ella is 10 months old already! Again, I can't believe how quickly time is passing by. She is such a joy and has the sweetest smile. One of my favorites is when she flashes a big, toothy grin then bats those long eyelashes while turning her head away, pretending to be bashful.

Grace is picking up Czech words and short phrases and loves using them whenever possible - it's so amazing to watch her! She greets our neighbors and is enjoying the interaction she gets at preschool a couple of hours a week. Grace also still loves to read her books - sometimes we read, sometimes she "reads" to us, and other times she wants to read one book while we read another (out loud, of course!). She truly enjoys life, which makes up for all the strong-willed moments we deal with regularly :)

Easter - Jesus is alive!

John 20:28 "Thomas responded to Him, 'My Lord and my God!' Jesus said, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.'"

As we celebrate this Easter the fact that Jesus is alive, we know that we are blessed. Our Lord and Savior, who died to pay for our sins, conquered death to resurrect Himself and He continues to live today. We are blessed because we will never taste death in the eternal sense or possibly the literal sense either! We are blessed to be able to focus our lives on sharing the Gospel with others. We are blessed to be able to call most of our family believers, followers of Jesus. Just last week, we were blessed to receive long-term work visas that will allow us to remain in the country for the next 2 years without issue. Praise the Lord!

Our prayer today and for this Easter weekend is that our Lord would make Himself evident to every nation, tribe and tongue - that He would open the hearts and minds of those around us to call on Him, that we would be sensitive to His leading as we seek to share the Gospel, and that every believer who reads this would share the Truth with someone they know.

Woodland Park Baptist Church

Wow! Only 11 days after a package from the states was post marked from Chattanooga, TN, it arrived on my doorstep in Olomouc, CZ. The Vine Fellowship of Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga who support us in prayer and with communication have raised the bar for international packages. Thank you!

It was such a nice day to be surprised by the post man ringing our bell. I expected a note in the box but he was kind enough to invite me down to the street for a signature and receipt of the package. Grace is thrilled to see all the candy that was sent. Lisa immediately got the dish towels in the wash so they can be used. Additionally, the magazines are well received. We have already begun to eat the Frito's and Goldfish. The goldfish are Ella's first!

Even I will be reading about how to have "Good Housekeeping" and Grace and I worked through some of the games in "Highlights". The most exciting for me are the New Testaments that were sent. This is a tremendous blessing to me. I look forward to passing it along as soon as possible. The crayon picture with stickers will soon adorn the walls of Grace's room. This is special. Finally, I must clean up several items with our magic erasers.

In the same way that I wrote about HFB and BBC I write about WPBC. We are blessed to know that you love us and lift up your voice in prayer. Again today, I had an opportunity to share the truth from the Scripture on some hard territory. It is easy to get down when individuals will use any idea that contradicts scripture. The gifts that have been sent really lift my spirits. Telling you all that we love you and thank you is a highlight for the day as well!

Uncle John and Bellevue Baptist Church

From Drop Box

John is just one of many from Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis that I know lift up me and my family. Thank you for continuing to remember us in the Czech Republic.

Hixson First Baptist

Lisa was excited to receive some communication following the March Newsletter. It is a part of our call to connect the churches of the SBC to the Great Commission work that is taking place in our part of the world. We were unable to meet with HFB before leaving the states but it is encouraging to know that you are praying for us.

God is faithful to us everyday. This week is full of language learning and the challenges of acculturation. We have never doubted that this is the place that the Lord has called us to serve in. We serve a risen Savior. Looking forward to Easter...

More from Vienna

25 Celcius our warmest day yet!

We now have two days of evidence that Olomouc is under the same sky we remember from the states. The stars are out! There has been no cloud cover and beautiful weather for two days in our city. I met an interesting American in the park yesterday and had an opportunity to discuss my faith and share the hope I have in Christ. Fellow teammates were also successsful initiating conversations with those out to enjoy the weather. Pray that hearts would be drawn to God. Follow up is necessary!

Grace has been a little ill for the past two days. Her spirits are high and she is more sweet than ever when she doesn't feel well but her energy is down and she is resting more.

Lisa and I are thankful for the fellowship of our team today. We were able to enjoy Saturday interacting with our extended family. Tomorrow will be an even better opportunity. Our group will celbrate Easter early with some children from the Czech Republic. The girls are excited.

I have many shots to share from Vienna that are yet to come. No, Ella did not really drink my espresso.