It has been rainy here, with patches of sun. Today we went on a walk to the post office...where you pay your bills here. On the way we saw that the town square was blocked to cars and they were testing the sound system with very loud music...we heard it 2 blocks away! Today is the Day of the Child and there were balloons, and a bouncy air-filled castle for the kids to jump in. I had read that there was to be pizza making as well as games to play. Such fun!
Rachel and I finished school last Friday and she had a friend over for the night to celebrate her birthday, a month early. Her other friend was ill and not able to come. So, they jumped on the trampoline and then added the sprinkler under it and had a blast. They played games in Rachel's room, played Wii and seemed to have a great time together. Hard to believe that Rachel is almost 11 years old!
We made a paper chain counting the days that we have left until we fly to "'merica" as Nate says. Hard to believe we fly in 2 weeks. So much to do and really little time left to do it in.
Our colleagues in Vlasim have asked us if there is any way to put off our return to the US as there is so much going on. Boy, do we know and feel the pressure ourselves. We will be leaving them to manage everything by themselves for 6 months. That is a lot and just when momentum is building and people are asking for weekly church services (Roma) and are desiring individual visits and requiring follow-up as they are seeking to follow Christ. Please pray for the Berankovi and the Roma in Vlasim who are sensing that God is calling them to Himself, that they would indeed come to Christ and that the Berankovi would have wisdom what to do and what to drop. Pray also that we get our full support raised quickly so that we can rejoin them in what God is doing in Vlasim.
Our summer is filling up with visits to various churches. The first one is 3 days after returning to the US...we will fly to Houston, TX. From there, we plan on driving to College Station to visit a supporting church there. We will then drive to Houston where there will be a Czech Summit. Many from the Prague City Team will be there to share what God is doing in the Czech Republic. Tom will have an opportunity before the Summit to fly to Haiti and connect with Touchglobal in what they are doing in the crisis there. D. Hejzlar, the leader of the Zahranicni Misijni Agentura, here in the Czech Republic, his wife and another PCT team member will be joining Tom on this trip. Pray that God would work through them and guide them as they seek to see how best to help in times such as these. If any of you would like to come to the Czech Summit and see/hear what God is doing, please let me know right away!
So, here is a brief list of upcoming activities:
Roma service on Sunday, June 6
Youth Praha service in Sunday, June 6 (yes we will be at both services...one in the a.m. one after lunch)
kids final exams
Amy's graduation
Amy's decision making process on what to do after graduation.
packing
scheduling visits in the US (if you are interested in hosting a Czech Dessert where we can share what God is doing in your home with your friends...please let us know)
leaving Matt with some friends and then in Austria...he flies to the US by himself July 15.
many other paperwork issues having to do with being gone 6 months and needing to pay the bills still
So, thanks for reading.
Thanks for praying, too! What an awesome God we serve. He is working in the hearts and lives of so many people around us. May we be pleased to join Him in His work!
