Christmas in pictures

I'm glad for a busy Christmas, since it kept me from being too homesick!

Christmas dinner with Stacy, which we managed to make by ourselves. :)

Making vánočka (Christmas sweet bread with almonds and raisins) with Maminka

Sarah and Adam (my cousin and her boyfriend) stopped in Prague for a day!

2 days over Christmas with Czech friends in a small town two and a half hours from Prague.  They even hung stockings for us to celebrate American style!

Jesus' birthday party :)

And a trip to Halle, Germany, to visit EMM friends there. 

Czech-American Thanksgiving

This may be a bit late, considering we're on to Christmas (I'll try to update on Christmas before a month goes by :) ), but I was blessed to experience multiple Thanksgiving gatherings.  The first, with Czechs, who don't even have this holiday!  But my host mother works at the American Embassy, and because she gets the holiday off, she has a party!  It consisted of turkey, multiple varieties of boiled potatoes, and lots of people who rotated to and from the table.

  This is the group that started around the table, and as others dropped in, we moved to the small living room and they took our places at the table.  Probably 30 some people were in this small flat before the evening was over.

19 kilo turkey (40 lbs!) "carved", or rather chopped into pieces, by my host father, Ondrej

I made pumpkin pie, which the Czechs had never had (they tend to make soup out of pumpkin), but they liked it! 

Second Thanksgiving happened a few days later at the flat of some American friends.  This was much more American-style, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, corn pudding, and pumpkin pie.  4 Americans and 3 Czechs shared this lovely meal, as well as the things we were thankful for.  For this one I got to carve the turkey (a first-time experience) and I was wishing I had taken a little more notice at home when my brother Jesse did it. :)

the spirit of Christmas

Thanksgiving is over and all thoughts turn toward Christmas... and I find that I'm not especially excited about the season.  Huh. That's festive. But upon reflection, I feel very removed from the normal "Christmas" activities: Advent celebrations, Christmas carols, decorating, making cookies, spending time with family, getting excited about finding the right gifts ...  I'm not really part of a family here.  Church (and Advent celebrations there) are in Czech, which I don't understand.  Most (if not all) the Americans I might spend time with over the holiday will be out of the country.  Granted, I am looking forward to experiencing Czech traditions with families: Mikuláš Day (today, actually, when Mikuláš (St. Nicholas), along with an angel and the devil, visits children in their homes to ask if they've been good or bad and treats them with sweets or coal/potatoes), traditional Czech Christmas on the 24th with carp.  And potatoes.  Those will be rich times with people I am growing to appreciate more and more.  And yet they are stand-alone moments, and between them... well, it's hard for me to put my heart into the true spirit of Christmas as I miss building expectation with people I love at home. 

So I have to be intentional.  Go search the woods for greens to decorate my flat.   Find an Advent devotional.  Make an Advent wreath.  Visit the Christmas markets.  Find ways to bless and celebrate with others through the season.  Here's to the spiritual preparation and anticipation of receiving a Savior.

Giving thanks

Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.

    If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.

Psalm 50:23

A few items from the past week from my Gifts (from God) journal:

• a day full of sunshine
• fresh, soft bread
• curry made by a Czech friend
• a little girl falling asleep on the floor
• worship in English
• richness of coconut milk
• organizing Czech vocab flashcards
• getting out of the house to lift my mood
• inspiration to believe God
• spontaneous decision to attend a social gathering
• exploring in new neighborhoods
• feeling like I know faces at church
• being included in a group of women who look out for each other
• bagels and hummus
• notification that my visa is ready
• my flat feeling warm after coming in from the cold outdoors
• appreciative response to words of blessing
• reassurance of being treasured by God
• the smell of turkey baking

Happy Thanksgiving!

The List

It's here!  Had a busy weekend, so sorry for the delay, but following are some of the things I would like to be intentional about in the next year.  Thanks for your suggestions - most of them have been incorporated in the list in one form or another.  I suppose this list could always be added to or edited, but whether or not they are all accomplished at the end of the year, it should be an exciting journey. :)

• ride the 26 tram from end to end
• eat in 5 different ethnic restaurants in Prague
• make bagels
• read “The Forgotten Ways”
• learn to make Czech food
• go mushroom picking with a Czech family
• hike in 2 areas in the Czech Republic outside of Prague
• travel to a new country
• bless someone with food at least once a month
• visit Karlstejn
• take pictures in Pruhonicky park in every season
• shop for Polish pottery
• hike at Divoká Šárka
• break a rule I've never broken before
• leave my mark on the Lennon Wall
• share items from my Gratitude List with others on a regular basis
• see the Prague Zoo with a child
• attend a classical concert
• visit the grave of a famous composer
• explain why I'm in Prague in Czech
• have a meal in a Czech village
• have a conversation with an older Czech person about his/her life
• send at least 12 letters/cards to people outside my immediate family (who knows, it could be to you!)
• run a race in Prague
• give a hug daily
• try one of the kinds of sausages from the supermarket
• extend 12 invitations to a meal/drinks
• buy a comfortable chair for my flat before the end of 2013
• see my 3 nephews via skype
• spend some time with the Roma people
• visit a Christmas market outside of Prague
• spend a night in a tent or under the stars

In the end, it's the years in your life that count; it's the life in your years.

                                                                                             - Abraham Lincoln

Promises on the journey

Well, friends, let me tell you a story.

It starts at 00:01 on November 6 (or maybe a few minutes before that).  I'm wandering the Prague train station looking for train EN 477:  the overnight train to take me to Vienna for my 9:00 am visa appointment at the Czech embassy.  Finding the train platform, I'm slightly baffled that the train seems to be going to Budapest and I'm not entirely sure that Vienna is listed as one of the stops, but seeing as there is no other train with my train number and correct departure time of 00:01, I board the train and find a compartment with only one other passenger, hoping no one else joins us so maybe I can lay down on the journey and try to catch some sleep.

It's a restless sleep.  Awakening at least every time the train stops and being disturbed by the snores of the man across from me, I am definitely groggy when a conductor comes in hours later to check our tickets.  We establish that I could only speak English (not Czech or Deutsch) and he asks where I am going.  Vienna. "This train doesn't go to Vienna.  It goes to Budapest," is the response.  Spectacular.  So where was the EN 477 train to VIENNA?  What's the next stop?  Bratislava.  I pay 5.30 euro to supplement whatever I hadn't paid on my original ticket to continue on the same train to Bratislava.

Now it's 5:00 am and I'm wide awake.  I have 4 hours to make it to the embassy in Vienna while still on a train NOT headed to Vienna.  I take some deep breaths and try to talk myself out of the panic that wants to surface, especially when the train sits for half an hour waiting... for what we don't know.  Even the other passengers are wandering around trying to make sure the black, barren landscape outside is not the Bratislava station.  And so while we sit, I pray.  God is in control.  He can do a miracle to get me to where I need to be.  He has a plan for me in Prague and won't allow me to miss the appointment which, if I don't make, could result in me running out of time on my 90 day visa and having to spend the next 6 months out of the Schengen.  I open my devotional to read and my eyes land on verses from the previous day:  "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."  I claim that: he is with me and is going to return me to the Czech Republic, not only on this trip, but for my long-stay visa.  And coupled with "my God will supply all your needs", I hold on to these promises for the moment.  They battle with the doubts and anxieties, struggling to stay on top, but managing to establish a semblance of peace.

And so at 6:10 am I disembark in dark, chilly Bratislava, Slovakia.  Originally I had wanted to have my visa appointment in Bratislava, just so I could visit another country, but was not appointed to that city.  Irony.  I find the ticket window open, thankfully, and upon glancing at the departure board, find that a train leaves at 6:42 for Vienna.  Beautiful.  What times does it get in?  7:50.  Even more beautiful.  Another 13 euros and I have my ticket in hand for Vienna as the sky starts to lighten.  After double-checking with passengers on board that this train does actually go to Vienna, I settle in to enjoy the Slovak scenery: beautiful morning colors over perfectly flat, green fields.

A man who fortunately speaks English helps me figure out what (new) station I'll be arriving at and to find the metro so I can reach my final destination.  Buy a metro ticket, 2 stops, change metros, 5 more stops, then a 10 minute walk.  Emerging from the final metro stop, it's 8:25 and sprinkling.  But right as I ascend the stairs, there's a full rainbow across the grey sky.  Promises. He is with me.  He watches over me.  He meets my every need.

Yes, God does fulfill promises.

I submit my application at the embassy, on time, without incident.  God even breaks up the rain clouds for my 10 minute walk so that I am not exhausted AND soaking wet. :)   And I'm entirely convinced that God had me get on that train and end up in the wrong place so that I could get to Vienna on time.  Because had I looked into it further in Prague and realized that the train didn't go to Vienna, my logical self would not have gotten on that train and I would have had no other option into Vienna that morning.  My God is faithful, pushing me into the adventures I would not have chosen to prove His watchful care over the details of my journey.

birthday project

My birthday is coming up.  Many of you who know me well know that I don't like to make a big deal of it.  And I have to confess that over the past number of years I haven't necessarily enjoyed my birthday.  The actual day makes no difference in the span of my life, but maybe it's the feelings of longing for more of life as one year fades into another that depresses me...  Whatever it is, I don't want to live that way.

I was talking with a friend here in Prague who put together a list of things she wanted to accomplish during her 40th year - 40 of them, in fact.  Some dreams, some ways to connect with people, some things she's been wanting to do but never got around to, some fun and random activities.  Her idea inspired me.  I love that it makes the year not another one to bemoan the passing of time, but to celebrate life for what it is and find joy in the moments.  I love that it makes it intentional and yet potentially spontaneous; making the year "full" in a satisfying sense.

And so I want to try it. I too easily get distracted by the mundane in life to enjoy it fully and even though I'm reminded every so often, I quickly forget.  I don't know how ambitious I'll be (so I might not have a list as long as my age!), but I want to enjoy the journey of the adventure it might bring.   And I also need YOUR help.  Because one thing I'm not good at is the brainstorming/ideas part.  So I solicit your ideas - how can I make the most of my next year of life?  Any suggestion is good, and if I can't use it, I will still love to hear your ideas!  Those that are less expensive/free are more likely to actually take place, but to dream of big plans is always fun, too.  :)  Email me, message me, post a comment on this blog.  In some initial thinking, one that will go on my list is enjoying a classical concert in one of theaters or churches in the city.  I'll post the list I decide on shortly after my birthday (November 14, for those who don't know)..

 Looking forward to dreaming with you!

I've got a lovely bunch of... beginners.

A few weeks I had the opportunity to teach Beginner English lessons to Czechs.  Now Czech people generally want to learn English, and these were no exception: 11 adult students, most of them over 40 (including a cute old couple), all Beginners.  Meaning they knew essentially no English.  Well, maybe a little bit:  they were enthusiastic about their "hello"s every night and most knew enough to say "My name is..."  the first night.  But basically anything we wanted them to say, we had to teach them in the lesson. Things like "Where is the milk?",  "The milk is in aisle 5", and "Is this an arm?" "No, this is not an arm.  This is a leg."  Fun stuff.  (And yet now I'm learning similar sentences in Czech.  How useful "This is a leg" will be in Czech, I'm not sure, but at least I'll be learning vocabulary!)  And then there was friendly Majka (pronounced like "Micah"), who at the end of the first night said, "Good-bye.  I will see you tomorrow.  Have a nice night."  What a fun surprise to be able to communicate with her!

I taught 4 lessons to them throughout the week, and though admittedly nervous about it, I actually enjoyed it by the end of the week.  Such a sweet group of people and I was so grateful for God's grace in calming any anxiety that could have surfaced.  Though it wasn't a perfect week, I've learned that the mistakes are helpful - they give me a goal to work toward, to better my teaching and to keep me humble!

Since then I've taught 2 more weeks of lessons, each night learning a little bit more about teaching English and about my ability to appreciate the feedback, as each night we were observed by a trainer and given scores and feedback.  A perfectionist by nature, I generally want to get it all "right" the first time around.  But as this teaching course progressed, I realized that somewhere along the way God has showered me with much grace, especially for myself. Grace to make mistakes, to be content with less than exceptional, to just do my best without being consumed by stress and anxiety about making it perfect.  I'm so grateful for this grace and the ability to recognize the grace.  And I'm so thankful that it's spilling into other areas of newness in Prague.  I can't say that I'm stress and anxiety-free, since this is most definitely a journey, but I praise God for what he gives as I need it.

Update on language now that I know a very little bit

If Czech could be used in Take One, I would be winning (I would say Scrabble, but I don't really play Scrabble... Take One is as close as I get!).  Never have I seen so many j's, k's, v's and z's in words.  Though q and x are pretty non-existent, but still, rack up those points!

Most difficult for me is this fun letter: ř.  This letter sounds like "rž", which is a combination of a rolled r and the "ge" sound in rouge.  I think I've gotten to the point of being able to say it on it's own, but put it in a word and my tongue doesn't know what to do.  They also like to put these letters together that seemingly are missing vowels, like čtvrtek (the word for Thursday).  Yep, you just say the sounds the letters make (and that č sounds like our "ch"), but even in hearing the word spoken I think it's missing something - most specifically an e after the v. Can I buy a vowel?  I can manage the rest of the word, but please, even one more letter?  

However, it's been kind of fun to figure out what words are, how to say them, and be able to "master" a very few simple phrases.  My Czech-English dictionary is a constant companion - necessary after my first trip to the grocery store and I had to guess at most of what I was buying!  But I enjoy looking up new words and attempting to remember them.  And I'm actually looking forward to learning more to be able to communicate.  Remind me of that in a few months when I'm exasperated. :)

El Roi

I've been in the Czech Republic two weeks now, and I've been completely blown away and blessed by the number of conversations with people I've met that have been an encouragement and confirmation about being here.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised. God is, after all, El Roi: the One who sees me.  And he wants to bless his children with good things.

Just a few of my encounters:

• Foreigners (other mission workers) who have affirmed taking time to learn the language, as they regret not knowing more. 
• Other workers who have worked with the Prague 13 church (where I'm attending and will be involved) and who really love and appreciate the people there.  
• A host family who generously gives me suggestions on how to learn the language or  places to visit. 
• My pastor, who is genuinely happy to have me here, has seemingly unlimited options for my involvement and cares enough to be available if I need anything. 
• An enjoyable and inspiring conversation with a Czech woman who wants to practice English as she shared her testimony with me.  I am very much looking forward to getting to know her more.

As I'm grateful for the ways in which I've noticed God meeting me, I want to be aware of how he is meeting the people around me.  How can I participate with him in "seeing" these people?  Lord, open my eyes to see fully.

exploring

This is the view from the front of my house.  My first day here I saw people at the top, so of course I had to explore. There are all kinds of trails at the top - I'm so blessed to live in an area that doesn't feel like city!

My house is the one to the left of the bright yellow one in the middle.

Setting up house

For one who has a hard time spending money, setting up house in a different country is quite the process. I don't know that I've ever had to buy almost EVERYTHING (except the furniture and the few bags of clothes and misc items I came with).  So shopping at IKEA, with dozens upon dozens of options for every room of the house, was a bit overwhelming. Especially considering it was my first day in the country, I was going on maybe one hour of sleep, and we were shopping because I definitely needed sheets and towels in order to sleep and shower but knowing I needed a lot more.  Fortunately Stacy made some decisions for me. :)  And since I got a chance to unpack and organize a bit, I feel a bit more settled.  I would still like a few more things, like a lamp, maybe a small rug or comfy chair.  Oh, and a clock (desperately need a time-keeping device other than my phone!).  And the kitchen is still pretty scant.  But at least it's starting to look lived in.   Any suggestions about how to make it more "home"?

Front of my house.  The two windows on the ground level are mine.

Kitchen area.  If you sat down, you would be on my bed (it's one very small room!).

backyard garden

Countdown

Seven.  I'm officially counting days now.  I've been counting weeks up to this point, but now that there is only 1 left... unbelievable!

If crazy schedules are any indication of departure drawing close, though, this week may have done it.  In the past 3 days:

• 26 hours spent at Raystown Lake with a friend (can you say sore?  not quite used to being on the water...)
• 15 hours spent in Philadelphia and New Jersey for last visits with college friends (at 3 different locations)
• 7 hours spent in Lancaster doing last minute shopping (thank GOODNESS that part is over) and saying good-bye to a dear friend
• 9 hours on the road by myself (plenty of time to sing and pray (no radio) and enjoy the lovely humid weather (no air-conditioning))

I thought the coming week was going to be better, but I already have a list of last-minute details, friends to see, suitcases to pack...

People keep asking if I'm ready.  What is "ready"?

• Most of the items checked off on my to-do list and shopping done: pretty much.  
• Some good-byes said; many more to come in the next 7 days: not quite in that aspect. 
• Not a clue what to expect of the first days and weeks and months: I'm not sure I'll ever be ready! 

Amazingly, though, I'm at peace.  I'm the type of person who can easily get worked up and stressed out about the unknown.  And though I know I could probably get there pretty quickly if I let myself dwell on a new city, foreign language, so many people I don't know (save for one teammate!) and what I'll need to accomplish in the midst of all this newness, I'm choosing to trust that God is placing me there and will work out the details.  That in itself is evidence of God's work (contrary to my inclination to worry!).  And I realized tonight that I would really love not to be stressed this week and to be able to spend quality time with people, so I started packing.  This is also unbelievable, since normally that would be a day-before activity.  Maybe I'm more ready than I realize.

Global Fair "Dream" Wall

The Czech Republic table at Global Fair (the annual multicultural festival hosted by EMM with displays from all the missionaries home this summer and delicious ethnic food from local people and organizations) included our very own Lennon Wall - adapted for this context with encouragement to draw or write your own hopes and dreams for love and peace around the world.  What a fun experience to watch this transform into such a colorful, festive piece.  Hoping this can become a tradition for the Czech table every year!

Prior to 1989 when communism ruled Czechoslovakia, western pop songs were banned by Communist authorities, and especially John Lennon´s songs because it was praising freedom that didn’t exist in the country. When John Lennon was murdered in 1980, he became a sort of hero to youth and his picture was painted on this wall, along with graffiti defying the authorities. Although they risked prison for this expression of feelings and activity against the state, it didn't keep people from slipping there at night to scrawl graffiti first in the form of Beatles lyrics and odes to Lennon, and then their own feelings and dreams. The Communist police tried repeatedly to whitewash over the portrait and messages of peace, but they could never manage to keep the wall clean.

The Lennon Wall represented not only a memorial to John Lennon and his ideas for peace, but also a monument to free speech and the non-violent rebellion of Czech youth against the regime. In 1998 the wall had to go through reconstruction of its crumbling facade but the spirit of the wall lives on. It used to be covered in anti-Communist graffiti; now it is covered in messages of love and peace. 

The actual Lennon Wall in Prague

A few highlights from summer training

• David Shenk teaching on Old Testament Foundation for Missions: start with Genesis!
• emphasis on Spiritual Nurture and Sabbath 
• homemade bread every day!
• hearing the spiritual journeys of all our speakers
• these three cuties

• knowing the Holy Spirit must go before me and lead every step
• gaining all kinds of questions I want to quiz Stacy on about the Czech Republic to understand the culture and worldview better
• hymn sing (ending with 606 - oh, beautiful 4 parts)
• praying together and playing together
• continuing on the journey: less of self, more of Jesus
• learning Uzbek in an effort to learn how to learn a language
• praying over each one of the adults as we closed our 4 weeks together
• mosque visit and the encouragement to make Muslim friends
• late night adult gatherings after the children are in bed (fellowship around Dutch Blitz, Settlers, fires, puzzles...)
• new friends on a similar journey to the nations

To calm the spirit

Such a blessing to have a week backpacking the Loyalsock Trail between moving out of my apartment and beginning World Missions Institute (4 weeks of training with Eastern Mennonite Missions).

Soothes the soul.

Stimulates worship.

Calms the mind.

Quiets the worries.

Encourages the spirit.

Limbo

I can't say that I much like limbo.  It pushes me into an uncomfortable level of adaptability, a strength that is not high for me to begin with.  Upcoming limbo in housing for 2 1/2+ months is not exactly my preference, and added to the current month of thinking about (and actually) packing, it's a long period of limbo (and that doesn't include the limbo at work and at church!).  It takes a motivated day for me to start to put things in boxes; to tear apart what has been "normal" for the past 3 years and live in a state of obvious change.  So for me, this process of moving out of my apartment by the end of the month is as much a mental process as it is a physical one.

Maybe mostly because I don't often handle transition very well.  I like stability; transition is unknown and unsettling.  And I like my apartment.  I enjoy my own space to re-energize, the sun through the south windows in the morning, the light yellow walls, the trek up two flights of stairs carrying heavy grocery bags (ok, maybe not so much that one).  I'm not necessarily looking forward to being transient over the coming months, and the past weeks and the ones to come are a slow process of grieving what I am giving up: independence, personal space, security in general...

Part of this process is figuring out what things I might need to NOT store away in order to take with me and what items in my apartment aren't necessary at all and I should get rid of.  So in a way it's also cleansing - purging my life of "stuff" and simplifying.  That part is kind of refreshing; an acknowledgement that life is so much more than things and that I'm not bound by any of it.  Yes, somewhat daunting when I think about selling my car and depending on other people for transportation or not having easy access to items I count on to have at hand.  But there is something humbling about being forced to make do with what I have.

And limbo also represents the hope in the coming changes.  I am looking forward to what the coming months will bring.  I just have those moments when I look at the piles of boxes and empty walls and ask myself, "Am I crazy?  What am I thinking moving halfway around the world?"  But those moments pass and are remarkably replaced with peace, praise be to God.

Time flies when you're having fun

When I started a blog, I convinced myself that I would not leave it for long periods of time without posting.  In my mind, a month and a half is a too long... oh, how time gets away from me!

Four months ago I would have told you that the coming months felt long - many days of travel back and forth to Harrisburg for work, many days Sundays of leading worship at church, much time at meetings and trying to get details done and maintaining relationships.  Not that I was dreading any of those things, but much of it felt a little routine when I was anticipating upcoming change.  And I have to confess that there were moments (and sometimes days) of stress as I considered planning that needed to be done for fundraisers or the amount of "things" that needed to be done and seemingly little time to do them all.

Can I just say, thought, that those months have flown!  I mean, I think everyone says that about time looking back on it. But really, I find it really hard to believe that I have four weeks left until my last day of work and I need to be out of my apartment.  And the time to accomplish all those things and see all those people has suddenly become very limited.  But I am grateful for having somewhat planned ahead early in the year to get in a few refreshing activities:

• weekend in NYC with my sister and two cousins to see the Lion King (and also managed to find spectacular cheesecake and an incredible night skyline of the city, among other things)

(Yes, my cousin is an amazing photographer!)

• retreat weekend in the hills of WV with a friend - so good to leave it unstructured and do a whole lot of nothing
• being re-inspired and blessed by a night of worship and prayer for the nations and specifically the Czech Republic
• unplanned - but the opportunity to spend significant time in remembrance with extended family surrounding the passing of Grandma
• upcoming camping weekend with friends - so excited to be outdoors!

May is filling up and then I recognize I have little "free" time before I leave.  Scary, yet exciting.  Bring on the craziness! 

March Madness: Easter candy version

My mom was not thrilled when my MST decided to make Easter candy as a fundraiser and way to get word out about my assignment in the Czech Republic.  She has good reason: we have done this in years past and is at least one (if not more) very full day of shaping and dipping literally thousands of eggs.  One of my cousins reflected as we worked that she didn't remember anything other than earning money from the last time.  Apparently we easily forget the exhaustion and pain.

But, we went ahead with it and unbelievably sold way more than my family has ever made before (much to my mom's chagrin, I'm sure.  But I'm so grateful for her wisdom and experience in the process!).  So yet another adventure of determining how in the world we could make 202 pounds of candy in one day.  It didn't quite happen.  But in 2 evenings and one 12 hour Saturday, we have managed to finish 210 pounds of chocolate covered eggs and 20 pounds of fudge.  Whew!

Sugar!

How many Kitchen Aids do you need to mix 54 batches of candy?  At least 5...

Many busy bodies.

Stack of boxes we have to fill.  

And we ran out freezer space to chill eggs.  The 40 degree porch will have to suffice.

And if you're wishing you had some, we have a few pounds we're still selling!  Though soon we might just hand you the chocolate and filling... happy dipping. :)