I just want to start out by thanking you for all your prayers. I know
that it is only by God's protection and grace that I have flourished
here, and I know that having a spiritual covering of prayer over me has
made all of the difference. Yesterday I was talking with the pastor
here, and he said that he is amazed that even after weeks, they
are still seeing fruit from my being here. (Totally God, not me!)
I've been keeping myself very busy ever since I got here. Hanging out
with old friends, making new ones, having visitors and traveling to
visit... all of it has been very enriching. Especially for ministry in
the Czech Republic, it's important to have strong relationships with
people. Czechs are known for not opening up to others very easily,
especially when it comes to very personal things like religion.
I've done a lot since the last time I sent out an update. My Czech
exchange-student sister came to visit me for a few days, and
we always enjoy spending time with each other. I was really encouraged
to hear that she is still pursuing a relationship with God, even though
it has been over three years since she first accepted Christ while she
was in America. (Please keep her in your prayers, as I don't know if
she's yet had the courage to tell her family about her faith)
Last week, I also spent a few days in the small town of Lanškroun
visiting my friend, and his family. His dad is the pastor
of their town's church (the only evangelical church--about 50 or so
people in the town of 10,000), and I had a lot of fun getting to know
them. I also became good friends with his older sister, and
the three of us even took a day trip to a village in Poland (it was an
hour and a half by train).
This week has been more of a work-week for me. I have been spending the
mornings teaching English to young children at a family
center the church started. And in the afternoons, I've been either
visiting with my non-Christian friends or helping the pastor prepare for our
upcoming English Camp. We leave tomorrow, and prayers for it are
appreciated! There will be about 70 people at the camp overall, ranging
from small children to grandparent-age, and most all people are not
Christians except for a team of ~10 church members who are running the
camp. Please pray that the planning will run smoothly, that the team of
Americans from North Dakota will build strong bonds with the Czechs
(the Americans arrived last night), and that--most importantly--the
hearts of the Czech people will be open to hearing the gospel.
I only have three and a half weeks left here, and I've already started
to prematurely miss it here. As the saying goes, "Home is where the
heart is." My home must be here, because my heart is here. Over the
past six months or so, I have been seriously and prayerfully
considering moving here after I graduate in May, and after being here
for only a few days, I began to believe deeply that the place for my
life is here, and I would like to move here permanently after I
graduate. I still don't know the details on how I will make it
happen--how I will support myself financially, where I will live, the
logistics of acquiring a visa--but I have faith that where God leads
me, He will provide for me. So, that being said, I appreciate any and
all prayers you have for my wisdom and guidance in this. I have already
discussed it with my family and a few close friends, as well as I spent
some time the other day talking to the pastor here about partnering with the Czech
church. I also appreciate prayers for the rest of my time here this
summer, as I face back-to-back English camps and business.
Grace and Peace to all of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has saved us by his sacrifice and reconciled us to His Father.
Leslie
