As we have discovered in the last several years, our host mission Josiah Venture has crafted a creative strategy to help local Czech churches reach young people through an evangelistic English Camp.  Our Czech team will be providing a camp experience for believing and unbelieving Czech teenagers, with the team members serving as conversation partners, teachers, worship leaders, and evangelists.  Deep relationships formed at the camp continue when the team returns home with the Czech youth group and spends a few days in their town and at their church.  Pray for soft hearts and open minds.

MONDAY, JULY 28:

Our Czech team has returned home safely and are excited about the ministry they completed in Czech. 

Emily is still in Czech Republic serving at the Bohumin camp.  The updates read from here on will be that of Emily's from that camp. 

Continue to pray for her as fatigue is setting in and the team of workers now consist of people she does not know well.  Read below for her prayer requests and updates for this camp.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8: (last update)

Emily writes:

Cau Kamarády!!! (Hey everyone!)

Just wanted to let you know that I am safe here in Cheb.  It's been great the past few days to just hang out with the youth group here and be the only American.  It has given me a better picture of what their year looks like without a bunch of crazy Americans here. :)  It's Friday morning here.  I will leave Sunday to head back to Prague, and then begin the long flight home on Monday morning.  It's crazy to think that my time here is coming to an end.  Thank you all for your partnership in this ministry the entire summer.  I'm so excited to be able to rejoice with you throughout the coming months and years as we continue to see God working in this country.  I've been able to see a small glimpse of that as 3 of the non-believers who were at the Cheb camp have been hanging out with the youth group since camp!  Mira came to camp to have fun with his friends.  He used to go to pubs almost every night and lived his life just to satisfy himself.  Well, he has not only begun to hang out with the youth group, but has stopped hanging out with his "pub" friends.  He has told some in the youth group that he just doesn't want to live that lifestyle anymore.  Praise God!  Please continue to pray that Mira would come to know Christ and know the freedom that is found in no longer living for sin.  Also, please continue to pray for Kristýna.  She continues to be part of the youth group, but hasn't surrenedered her life to Christ .

Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement!  We serve a living and working God who is changing lives.  Amen!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5:

Emily writes:

Hello everyone! I sit here writing to you from a hostel in Prague.  It's been awesome to see how God has provided in the past few days since I have written last.  One way He has been answering my prayers and calming my fears is through providing people to be with during the times when I should be traveling alone.  These past few days, I have been able to travel with one of the summer intern teams here.  I worked with them at the last camp and it's amazing how I walked into the camp not knowing them at all and now can hang out and talk with them as friends.  Praise God for them and the way they have "adopted" me as part of their team.

 
Follow-up in Bohumin was great and I am excited to see how God will continue to work in this youth group throughout the year.  At church on Sunday, Martin (the red-head from the picture on my blog) spoke in church!  They had 2 students talk about camp and how their time there was.  And he shared!  And, let me tell you, I don't know what God's plan is, but I think this kid will be the next Francis Chan in the Czech Republic.  He's an absolutely amazing speaker--so dynamic, so funny, and so direct.  Pray that God would bring him to Himself and would use him in the kingdom in mighty ways!  

Tomorrow, I leave to go back to Cheb to spend some more time with the youth group there.  I am so excited to see them and to see how God has been working in their group since camp.  There are a few non-believers that came to camp and had no involvement in the youth group and are now coming to the events and hanging out with the youth group!  Please continue to pray for these students.  Pray for the youth group throughout the year as they minister to one another and to the non-believers.  I am also excited to spend time with my friend Vlasta again.  God has been so good in allowing Vlasta and I to become very close and I am so excited to be with her again for a few more days and process through this summer with her.  

I leave on August 11 for US!  I'm excited to see my family and friends again and to see and thank all of you in person!  Please pray for safe travel as I will be alone through the airports.  Pray for the rest of my time in Cheb and that I would be able to have many profitable conversations and beneficial time with these friends who are so close to my heart.  Pray that God would use me to be an encouragement to them and to continue with a servant's mindset throughout the rest of my time here.  

Would you also begin to join with me in praying for coming to Czech for longer?  This is something that I have been thinking and praying about for a long time, and God has continually confirmed that on this trip.  Please pray for clarity as I seek His will in when that will be.  Pray that He will be providing for that to happen in His timing.  

Thank you for everything!  You are a blessing to me.

Love, Em

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1:

Emily writes:

Thank you ALL for your encouraging emails letting me know that you are praying.  It's such a beautiful thing when God's people unite as one body to pray.  Thank you!  

So many students' hearts were changed!  Some who came to camp as Atheists now say they believe that there is at least a God.  Some who were Christians but not really living their faith are excited to get home, get involved in their church and have accountability.  Andrea and I had a good talk today.  She says she still isn't sure what she thinks about God, but many of the statements she has said have led me to believe she is searching and seeking Truth.  Pray that she will find that JESUS alone is the way, the truth, and the life!  

I was discouraged at first...I had prayed diligently all year and especially the past few days for Andrea and was hoping she would finally surrender her life.  But I have been reminded over and over again that we must persevere in doing good and we will reap in due season.  It is the Lord's timing and not ours and He loves the lost more than we ever could.  

THURSDAY, JULY 31:

Emily writes:

Good News!

Tonight is Good News night at camp!  Last night, the students heard about sin and the fact that we are imperfect and yet can't do anything about it before God.  But, TONIGHT, they get to hear about what God has already done on their behalf! Please be praying for the Holy Spirit to be moving in students hearts tonight and for a clear presentation of the gospel.  Please pray with me especially for Andrea, Martin, Martina, and Martin.  They are heavy on my heart.  Pray that God would reveal Himself to these precious students.  Pray for Ryan as he presents the gospel. Pray that God would give him the words to speak with clarity.  

We were reminded today of the passage in Luke 11:9-13 where Jesus reminds the disciples to pray for big things...that what we ask for we will receive.  That even sinners provide for their children in good ways...how much more our perfect and holy Heavenly Father will provide His Spirit for us when we ask!  That is the boldness we come before Him with.  Please join with me in praying for God to be moving in students hearts for eternity tonight.  (It will take place about 8:00-8:30 PM Czech time which is about 11:00-11:30 AM your time.)  

With HOPE,

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30:

Emily writes:

"The Lord has heard my plea.  The Lord accepts my prayer." -Psalm 6:9

Isn't it great to serve a God who not only LISTENS but ACTS?  I am amazed at this truth.  He has so faithfully done exactly that in the past few days.  

Coming into this camp, I struggled so much.  To be honest, at the very beginning it was hard to even be here: I was tired and the thought of building new relationships and loving people just sounded exhausting; I was working with 2 intern teams who have been in CZ all summer and have so much more experience and wisdom than me;  2 intern teams that have been together all summer and have deep relationships with one another.  I felt like an outsider and it certainly didn't help to try and face a new camp, new friendships, and new spiritual battles.  But, I prayed and God answered.  I pled with the Lord that He would change my heart.  And He did...and in ways so beyond what I could have ever imagined! 

I sit here today writing an email and I have so much energy.  I am not tired, spiritually or physically.  It's hard for me to sit here and write because God has given me such a DEEP love for the students here.  I love being with them, I love seeing God at work in their hearts, and I can't wait to deepen the relationships! Not only that, but I was also walking into this camp praying that God would help me to love people more in deed and in truth, not in words.  And, how perfect is it that the students at this camp don't speak English as well.  I am forced to love them in tangible and real ways, not just in words!  Thank you so much for being so faithful Jesus!  

Here are some more prayers we can lift up to our ever-faithful and loving God:

1)Martin: He declared less than 2 months ago that he was an atheist.  He is in my class and discussion group.  Last night, we were talking about the soul.  He not only believes we have a soul, and that there will be life after death, but in his own words: "We don't understand our souls, but maybe God's will for our life is to figure out what the soul is for."  AMEN!  Pray for Martin.

 
2)Andrea: She is one of the main reasons I am here at camp.  She needs a Savior!  And, as of right now, she believes there is a God and life after death, but her life is "all good."  She doesn't recognize her emptiness or need for something more.  Pray that God would give her a sense of dissatisfaction with life apart from Christ.

3) Discussion groups: this is such a huge aspect of camp.  The fact that we can put 13-16 year old kids in a room and have them talk about stuff like souls and life after death and what love is...that in itself is a miracle from God.  And our discussion groups have been SO rich and good!  Pray that the sense of comfort that the students feel in our group would continue.  Tonight, Ryan (the speaker), is talking about sin.  Pray that God would give him the right words.  Pray for God's Spirit to be working and revealing to the students the truth that we are all sinful and in need of a Savior.  Pray that tonight in our discussion groups, the students would think deeply and seriously about SIN.  Here are their names: Martina, Martin, Dania, Aneta, Andrea, and Martin.  The translator is George.  Pray for him as well.  He leads the discussion usually because they don't speak enough english to communicate these deep things.  Pray for God's Spirit to be working mightily.  Pray for wisdom for the believers and conviction for the non-believers.  

4) Praise God for his work in Aneta's life.  Last year at camp, she was in my group and basically said that she didn't care.  She said she just wasnt ready to "give up" her life.  This year, she is walking with God!  She is HIS!  She is sharing in discussion groups.  She is asking questions about how to follow God and how to be a better Christian!  Pray that God would solidify His work in her heart. 

5)Praise God for his continued faithfulness and that He would continue to work in my heart and draw me closer to Himself!  I love walking with the God of the universe and love knowing that my heart is HIS.  

Because He is faithful

SATURDAY, JULY 26:

Emily writes:

I have arrived safely at the next camp.  God SO faithfully answered my prayers in sending Viktor.  In fact, I wrote an entire blog about what God is teaching me on a more personal level.  I would love for you to read it if you find the time. vagabondem.blogspot.com 

But, thank you for your continued prayers!  I know that God is doing amazing things in the Czech Republic this summer, and much of that is because of your faithfulness to pray for the students here and for those He is using here this summer.  Here are some more ways to be praying:

1) Andrea--she's in my room!  What a blessing and an answer to pray.  And, I also found out that her friend Veronika is coming to camp also.  Pray for opportunity to love these girls and show them the love of Christ.

2) The team dynamics:  I joined this camp with 2 other intern teams who have been here in Czech for the whole summer and have very deep relationships with one another.  I really don't know anyone, except for a few people who were at the camp last year also.  So, pray that I would be a servant and not expect to be served.  Pray that I would be a servant of God and not of man and that my concern wouldn't be trying to please or impress these people I don't know, but to be myself and serve these Czech students.  The reason I decided to come to this camp is because there are so many girls who need to be loved and encouraged and there was a need for Americans.  Pray that my focus would remain to be focused on loving these girls and these students and not to be focused on me or what I want. 

3) Energy: All of us here have already done 1 or 2 camps this summer and we're tired.  Pray that we would be serving and loving with the zeal and energy that God provides.  Pray that we would pour as much into this camp as we've poured into every other camp. 

4) Pray for students to be saved!  Pray that we will be able to rejoice with the angels in heaven and that students would enter into relationship with their Savior! Our God is MIGHTY to save and we can take complete confidence in knowing that salvation belongs to Him alone!

Thank you for your prayers!  I can't wait to tell you how God is answering your prayers. 

FRIDAY, JULY 25:

Emily writes:

I just wanted to thank you all for your continued prayer support.  I haven't had as much time to write emails, but I know that God is still hearing your prayers.  Here's what to pray for in the coming days:

1) I am traveling today by train to the Bohumin camp.  I had asked for prayer before because these few days, I was going to be alone and traveling alone.  Well, we serve a very faithful God!  I stayed at my friend Marketa's house last night.  My friend Victor stayed with me in Prague yesterday after the rest of the team left and spent the night in Prague just to help me!  What a great friend and an answer to prayer. Then, I found out that I will only be on the train alone for 1 hour today because the rest of the team will be getting on in the next city!  Wow!   Praise God for the way He provides for His children SO faithfully. 

2) The Bohumin camp starts tomorrow.  We are arriving today and meeting up with some of the leaders from the youth group.  All the students will arrive tomorrow and a new week at camp begins!  Pray for me and the other interns who will be at this camp.  Camp is an exhausting time and I know that I will be completely dependant upon the Lord for strength during these next few weeks.  Pray that God will give me the energy and joy to be able to minister to these students and love them the way He does. 

3) Pray for Andrea.  She is my friend from last year.  She is 15 years old and not a believer, but we had a few really great conversations last year.  I think she is close to accepting Christ as her Savior.  Pray for more conversations with her and for the Holy Spirit to be moving in her heart even now.

4)Pray for protection for us against Satan's attacks.  He loves to discourage and distract those who are serving God.  Pray that  I will be able to put on the full armor that I have in Christ and stand against satan's attacks and faithfully serve the Lord.

Thank you for all your prayers!  I can't wait to continue to share with you what God is doing. 

Only by His sufficient grace,

SATURDAY, JULY 19:

Emily writes:

Hello everyone! 

Well, after a total of 10 hours of traveling, I am finally back in Cheb--my Czech home.  I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers and encouragement.  I don't have much time to write, but I want to briefly tell you about what happened on gospel night. 

Justin clearly presented the good news that Jesus Christ is the answer to our need for fulfillment and our hope in the midst of a world of chaos.  He showed the students how short each and every one of us has fallen of the glory of God and therefore that we need a Savior, Jesus Christ.  Praise God for enabling Justin to give such a clear message.  The response of the students was.....one that we will see the results of for eternity! 

Every year after the gospel is presented, we tell the students that they are free to leave the room, but that they can stay if they have any questions or would like to talk with someone.  And every year we are blown away with who chooses to stay.  I had asked for you to pray for Kristyna and Tomas.  Both of them were able to have amazing conversations with some of the believers in the youth group. Kristyna was able to talk with Misa, a girl who just accepted Christ in March.  It was a beautiful thing to see that discipleship process taking place.  I was able to talk with Kristyna also.  We had grown pretty close throughout the week and she was crying so I simply asked her what she was thinking.  She said, "I want to believe, but I don't know how."  Justin had read part of Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks it will be opened."  I reminded her of this verse and she said, "But I don't know how to knock."  And I told her that it's as simple as praying and asking God to answer.  She said,"But what do I need to bring?  I think i need to bring something with me or do something."  I told her, "Well, that is the best part.  We don't have to bring anything because Jesus has already done everything.  All we have to do is trust in what He has done."  She said, "But that just seems to easy!"  AMEN!!!!  Basically, it ended with Kristyna saying that she isn't ready yet because it's such a big decision and she knows that everything will change.  She wants to make sure that she's ready for that.  Praise God that she is not making an emotional decision but wants to truly follow Christ and surrender to Him.  Continue to pray that He will draw her to Himself. 

Tomas was able to have a great conversation with Zuzka.  You can see in his eyes that Tomas is running out of arguments and reasons why he shouldn't to surrender to God.  We heard the testimony of Lukas, one of Tomas' friends who recently accepted Christ.  This is the 2nd guy that Tomas is close to that has accepted Christ and all of them have started out completely opposed to the gospel and are now completely on fire for God and for his purposes!  So, pray that Tomas would finally surrender to the Lord and that God would open his heart to the good news. 

There were also other conversations with Sandra, Lucka, and another Tomas.  Pray for these students too as they think through having a relationship with God which is something they have never before considered.  I am confident that God will do far beyond what we could ever imagine and will continue to send revival to this atheistic nation. 

Thank you for your prayers!  I will try and write more in the next few days as we settle in. 

Waiting on the Lord

SUNDAY, JULY 13:

Justin writes:

Family & Friends,

English camp is in process right now and our team is hard at work.  There are a total of 80 people at camp this year and the facility usually holds about 60; so it is a little crazy...but in a good way.  It has been a great time so far.  It seems our team is a little exhausted and burned out, but they are trying their best to love the Czechs and show them we care about them.  Please continue to pray for team unity and strength.
 
In regards to Kimberly's English class  there are  9 Czechs in the class (3 of whom are acting as translators) and 3 Americans (Kimberly, Ryan & me are assisting).  Please be praying that aside from learning more English that the students would be challenged to think about where they stand in this life.  The entire theme for this week is "Being Human" so all of the talks and discussion groups are focusing on what it means to be human.  What makes a person unique?  So during discussion groups each night after the evening talk, we ask the students different questions having to do with this theme.  Please be praying that they would be able to think through these questions and evaluate what makes them unique and that we would know how to respond to questions they may have.  It is only the Lord who can bring each person to himself and it is our prayer that we would be willing tools rather than stand in his way.

There is a student at camp who is really on my heart right now:  Tomas (pronounced: Tomash) is a Vietnamese immigrant and he is longing for finding people that aren't fake...meaning that they don't put on a facade that doesn't really show their true selves.  He wants to find purpose and meaning in his life and has shared his heart openly with me.  He went to camp one time before 2 years ago and was so close to giving his life to Christ but he felt he couldn't because of his family's tradition and religious beliefs.  This year he feels the same and he knows how hard it will be to commit his life to Christ so please pray that God will break down all those barriers.

Please pray for Kimberly as she is beginning to get sick and lose her voice.  Pray for me as I am giving a talk tomorrow night on Love and how it is a basic need for being human.  I also will be sharing the gospel in 4 days.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would speak through me and speak to the students hearts.

We continue to need your prayers!!!  Please pray!

Tasting and Seeing His Goodness..

Emily writes:

Just wanted to let you all know that we are finally here at camp!  We are at a beautiful cottage in Czech in the Krkonoše mountains- the highest mountain range in the Czech Republic!  We have a very full camp this year.  There are 80 people here total, including the Americans.  I am so excited for camp!  Today is our first "normal" day at camp...english classes, evening program, and FUN!  There are SO many things you can be praying for

1) Please join with me in praying for my friend Kristýna.  I mentioned her in a previous email.  She is Vlasta's friend who doesn't know Christ.  Praise God that both Vlasta AND Kristýna are in my English class!!!  Pray especially for discussion groups.  My english class is almost all non-believers.  Every night after the evening program, we have a time to talk with our classes about the message.  Very deep questions are asked during this time and it provokes the students for great thoughts!!!  Pray for the students in my class!  Pray that the Christians would have the right words to say to their peers.  Pray that the non-Christians would have soft hearts and open minds to these questions.  Pray with me especially for Kristýna and that Vlasta would have wisdom in her conversations with Kristýna.  

2) Pray for the youth group and their time here at camp.  Pray that they would be growing closer to Christ and to one another.  Pray that they would be able to make great friendships with the non-believers to encourage them throughout the year.

Thank you again for your prayers!  I am starting to get sick, as well as some of the others on our team, and Viktor the leader of the youth group.  Pray for health and energy as we enter into a very high-energy and demanding week at camp.  I'm trying to write on a Czech keyboard and it's proving to be very difficult.  Hopefully, I'll have time to write more later and hopefully on a different computer!  

Continuing to trust in His power and faithfulness,

THURSDAY, JULY 10:

Justin and Kimberly write:

Sorry it has taken us awhile to get our first update to you.  We didn't actually arrive here at Malenovice until around 4pm yesterday (Wednesday), and our journey from LA began at 3:30 on Monday.  Here is the reason for the delay: when we arrived at LAX on Monday we were informed that our flight was delayed an hour.  This was going to cause us to miss our other 2 connecting flights.  God is so good though and British Airways took very good care of us.  Due to the delay we had to spend a night in London (we didn't get to go into the city though because the hotel was right next to the airport which is about an hour away from the city), which BA paid for.  So we left London at around 7:30am on Wednesday.  From Heathrow we flew to Munich, Germany and barely made our connecting to Karkow, Poland.  Once we arrived in Karkow Lucka and Mel (missionaries from Josiah Venture) picked us up and we had a 2 1/2 hour drive to Malenovice (the Josiah Venture training center). 

We are humbled by the work the Lord has done in our lives and in the lives of the team so far!  He is awesome!  We cannot thank you all enough for all your prayers.  God is listening.  Please continue to pray. 

We are so thankful for our team, we all mesh so well and we are excited to see what God is going to do in these next few weeks.  We will be leaving tomorrow morning to head off to camp - not too sure how long that train ride will be - and english camp will officially begin on Saturday with the first classes being on Sunday.  We're so excited!!!!

We'll continue to keep you updated when we can.

Tasting and seeing His goodness..

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9:

After a delay in Los Angeles, which caused them to spend the night in London, our teach has reached it's destination in Malenovice, Czech Republic.  Please pray for them as they begin training and then ministering to the Czech youth.

MONDAY, JUNE 30

Wow! What a good and faithful God we serve! I am at the beginning of my second week in the Czech Republic. In some ways, I can't believe that it's only been a week--so much has happened and I feel like I've lived here forever. In other ways, it seems like we're just getting started and it's flown by! One of the bad things about living among Czechs is that they try to translate everything into English. So, instead of my Czech improving, I am beginning to speak in broken english. Please forgive me if that shows in my e-mail. :) Anyways, let me tell you some of the things God has been doing here this week. Thank you all SO much for being so faithful to pray for the ministry and the people here. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel. Here's how God is moving:

1) The Bible training times with the youth group: I talked to some of you before I left about these 2 weeks. The only part of the trip that I was anxious for was these 2 weeks. We were walking in a little unsure of what exactly this time would look like and how the Bible training times would be. Well, as usual, God far exceeded all I could ask or think and has brought Himself much glory because of it! I am continually reminded of Paul's words in Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." What these two weeks has looked like is: hanging out with the youth group throughout the day, living normal life with them. In the evenings, for about 2 hours, we meet to help them learn how to study the Bible better. Landen teaches the whole group (about 10-12 people have come every day!) and then we break into groups. The girls meet in one group (only 4 including myself.). We then practice what we've just talked about. For example, if we're teaching how to study an Epistle, we would break into our groups and study an epistle. These times have been such a blessing and I am learning so much! The time in God's Word with the girls has been so wonderful and even with a language barrier, we are able to share our struggles, encourage one another, and learn how to better follow Christ! I could not have asked for it to be going better. Please continue to pray for this time and that it would be beneficial for the youth group.

2) My time with Vlasta. I think I mentioned this before, but Vlasta is pretty much the only girl in the youth group who is leading a girls' group and involved in the church. She is such an encouragement to me. We've been able to spend so much time together and have so many great conversations. We pray together every night--Vlasta prays in Czech, I pray in English--and the SAME God hears us both! What a blessing and reminder of how AWESOME our God is. Please continue to pray for these times and our conversations.

3)Kaja and Martin--I've told many of you about these two brothers. Both came to English camp for the first time as very strong Atheists interested only in learning English--nothing more. Both have come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Martin now wants to be a Pastor! Kaja is now a translator at camp and shared his testimony at last year's camp. I could go on for hours about how much God has done in both of their lives and how amazing it is to clearly see how the Holy Spirit can transform a person and a life that was once in opposition to Him. Both have been at our Bible training times every day! Can you imagine? Two young men who used to hate even the thought of the existence of God are now learning how to study His Word so they can teach it to others!!!! I have tears even at the thought.

4) Time with the youth group. We've been able to spend so much time with the leaders of the youth group and see them in their daily lives. Pray for continued conversation and time to encourage them. Pray that our team would be aware of the fact that English camp is not only time to show non-believers who God is, but also to encourage the believers. Camp is similar to summer camp for youth in the states...they tend to have "mountain-top" experiences and make decisions to change their lifestyles, then to get back to the "daily-grind" of life and they lose that passion. Pray for us to invest in and pour into the students.

Thank you for your prayers! They are being answered so powerfully. I asked for prayer for Jenny because she was sick...she just told me yesterday that she feels so much better. I told her that it was because of all of you at home praying. :) Thank you!

Thank you for joining me in ministering to the Czech people through prayer. God is so faithful and so good and continues to remind me of that. I am learning so much about Him, how to love Him and His people even more. He continues to open my eyes to the ways He is moving and furthering His name and glory in all the earth. I can't wait for all of you to one day worship before the throne of God together for all eternity with these students and people you've been praying for!

Because He is faithful,
Emily

THURSDAY, JUNE 26

Hey guys,
Well, I don't even know where to be begin! My time so far in CZ has been so different than the other trips here. It's so much more laid back and basically I am living like a Czech. I hang out with the youth group during the day, help cook meals, walk around the town, and actually have a lot of free time! It's such a great glimpse of what life would be like if I were to come long-term and that's been great. And trust me, it hasn't been all good either...I've realized just how much of the language I DON'T know, and even what it's truly like to live in a different culture. It's not like the time during English camp...that time is usually pretty "americanized" because all the Czechs are trying to cater to us. But, overall, God has confirmed to me that this is right where He wants me to be. And, though I don't want to presume to know the plans of the Lord, I know that I will be part of the ministry here more in the future. I don't know exactly what that will look like, but that will come as I continue to walk in faithfulness where He has me.

Now I am staying with my friend Vlasta and it is such a blessing! She is one of the leaders in the youth group and has faithfully led a girls group this past year. She just graduated from high school and has such a mature relationship with the Lord and is so faithful to do what He wants. We talked for probably 2 hours last night and then prayed together and it was one of the most encouraging and even convicting conversations. It's like she's one of my closest friends and I am so thankful for her! Her family has welcomed me so much and I feel so at home. Last night, her dad was asking me about Obama and Clinton...that's an interesting conversation anyway, but trying to do it with me speaking almost no Czech and him speaking almost no English made it even better! Anyways, I was able to also talk with Vlasta about the girls in the youth group and how I can be praying for them and to learn more about the girls that are coming to camp and what is going on in their lives. So, here are some names of people that you can be praying specifically for. Don't worry if you don't know how to say the name...God does and that's all that matters!

~Kristyna: One of Vlasta's closest friends. She is not a believer, but she has heard the gospel very clearly many times. She basically told Vlasta that she is just not a Christian because she doesn't "feel" anything. So, pray that the Holy Spirit would be working in her heart...salvation belongs to the Lord and only He can unveil minds and hearts!
~Lucka: Was in Vlasta's girls group. She is a catholic and thinks that you can believe whatever you want to believe to get to heaven. She doesn't disagree with Christianity, but doesn't think that it's necessary. Pray for God to reveal to her that Jesus Christ is THE way, THE truth, and THE life....there's only ONE way!
~Mirek: Vlasta's cousin. His parents are going through a divorce right now. Pray that Mirek would be encouraged through the fellowship with other believers at camp. Pray that he would be refined through this trial, and not hardened.

I will let you know how God works in these students' lives. Praise God that we have hope through Jesus Christ and that nothing can hinder His saving power!

Please also continue to pray for us as we are teaching the leaders of the youth group how to study the Bible effectively. We're throwing a lot of info at them, but trying to do it in a way that they can use the resources we are giving them. Pray that we would accurately handle God's Word as we teach. Pray that more girls will be able to come and that I would know how to encourage them.

Please continue to pray for me. Pray that I would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading, pray for my time staying with Vlasta and that we would continue to have these conversations and would be encouraged by one another. Pray that I would be intentional with every moment here and would make the most of every opportunity. Pray that I would continue to be steadfast in prayer and constantly in the Word.

Thank you for praying with me! I would love to hear about how God is working in your lives too! He's the same God in US as He is in Czech! I am continually reminded that I have nothing of myself to offer or to give, and when i begin to live as if I'm sufficient on my own, I fail! Pray that i would be dependent upon the strength He provides. I am striving to remeber the words of Paul as he depended on the Lord's strength in ministry: "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God." (2 Corinth. 3:4-5) Thank you God that through your enabling, we are sufficient to do what you have called us to!

Only by His strength,
Emily

TUESDAY, JUNE 24

Hello Everyone!
God is already doing great things here in the Czech Republic, but I just wanted to ask you to pray for a few more things:

1)Please pray for team unity during this time--the Americans with one another, the Czechs with one another, and the Czechs with the Americans. Causing strife and disunity is one way that Satan tries to hinder God's work and we want to be united on the same purpose. There have already been a couple of small things that have come up and they have thankfully been solved quickly and effectively, but we know that Satan is on the prowl. Pray that we would each be individually sensitive to the Holy Spirit and therefore of the same heart and mind.

2)Pray for Jenny. She is the translator for the training times and she has been sick. It's nothing terrible, just a sore throat, but a translator's job is a little more difficult if it is hard to talk!!! Pray that God would heal her and that it wouldn't get worse.

Those are the only 2 for now. Thank you again for your prayers! I will continue to keep you posted as to how God is working and moving.

By His grace,
Emily

SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2008

Emily writes:

Dobry Den!

      That's right, I am officially in the Czech Republic!  As I am writing this, I am sitting in the Novakoví home...a place I am all too familiar with. This is the first Czech home I stayed in my first trip to the Czech Republic and Honza and Zuzka's parents have given me the privilege of calling them Máma and Táta (mom and dad).
       I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers for safe traveling...God answered those prayers so faithfullly!  It is 12:37 AM right now...my body is SO confused.  I lost an entire day and was incredibly tired when we first landed because it was 4 in the morning our time, and now my body is waking up, but it's time to go to bed!!!!  I'll adjust. :)
As we were traveling today, God has already begun to work in my heart and change me.  Something He has been convicting me of is my need to be more thankful and grateful, to pray without ceasing by thanking Him often throughout my day.  So, today I have many things to be thankful for:

1) That Landen and I were able to fly on the same plane--that's right!  God chose to remind Landen of our lack of control and His perfect control before we even left Los Angeles.  It's a long story, but there was some type of mix-up and we were almost guaranteed to be separated with me flying in on my own a few hours after Landen.  But, as Landen said, "God is in control of all things...even the British."  And He is!  British Airways got both of us on the plane!  Praise God! 

2) For the Wright brothers--thank you for leading us in the invention of the airplane!!!!  As I was sitting on the very LONG flight to London, I began to complain (in my mind, not out loud :) ) It's so tiring and uncomfortable and just plain LONG.  But, God knew exactly what He needed to do to humble me.  The book I was reading on the plane was a collection of biographies of missionary women.  Their voyage to the mission field was through ships that would take 6 months or more to arrive at their destination and almost every time, they were sick almost to the point of death!!!  Emily, seriously....you're complaining because you don't have enough leg room!  Get over yourself!!!!! 

3)Reunions--Saying goodbye is one of my least favorite things...except when I know that it is temporary because seeing brothers and sisters that I love after a year of separation is SOO sweet!  I was blessed to spend the day with Honza, Viktor, and Jenny.  And, Jenny asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding in January!!!  What a sweet blessing!

4)That God reigns and is the same yesterday, today and forever--As I was talking to the woman next to me on the plane, she could not say enough about the beauty of Prague.  I agree, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.  But what I see beyond all of that is such hopelessness and sin and the need for a Savior!  And, it is such a beautiful thing to know that even in the place that is the darkest and feels as if we are suffocating because of the depth of sin, OUR GOD REIGNS!!!!  We can bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Czech Republic because the God of the universe sent His Son to conquer sin forever...nothing can hold Him back!  Reading through the lives of these missionaries, I was so humbled to see their selfless sacrifice and boldness for the sake of Jesus Christ.  But, the author pointed out that they were serving the same God and He never changes!!!  I can bring the same hope and boldness to Czech because I am serving and following the same God who is just as powerful and gracious and merciful and just.  He is the SAME!!! 

5) Salvation--covering all of these things is the constant reminder that it is only by God's undeserved grace that I can even see my need for Him, can have the hope to change, the hope to spend eternity with Him, and the promise to be used by Him.  I don't deserve to be saved or to call upon the God of the universe...but for some reason that can only be described by who HE is, He has seen fit to bless me with the priceless gift of knowing Him, of being saved from my sin, and being able to walk in His commandments.  Thank you so much Jesus, for dying so that I might live!!!! 

      Okay, that's all for now.  Crazy to see how much God has already taught me and we've only just begun!  I would keep writing, but I should probably sleep.  My eyes are bloodshot and that's never a good sign.   Let me leave you with some things to pray for:

1)For the time this week in Cheb doing Bible training.  I still have no idea what the set-up will be like or how God will work this out.  We're just taking it one step at a time!  Pray that we would be an encouragement to the youth group and challenge them to grow in Christ. 

2)For strength--physically because we're all tired from traveling.  Spiritually because I can already see the small ways that Satan is attacking and the war that is being waged against our own flesh. 

3) For the students coming to camp, both believers and non-believers.  There will be 80 people total at camp this year (including Americans) which is huge for a camp in Czech.  Pray for those who don't yet know Christ that they would be open to the gospel and for the believers that they would walk away following after Christ even more faithfully.

4)For unity and vulnerability between Landen, Adam, Jenny and I and between us and the Czechs.  Pray that we would be united on one purpose as a body with Christ as the head! 

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" -Psalm 107:1

His thankful and dependent child,
Emilka :)

Landen writes:

Things are going great, we had our first meeting with the male leaders in the youth group yesterday and talked about the program for the next two weeks. We will be starting the Bible training today at 4:00. We are excited and it looks like we will have most of the leaders at the training.

We are having a great time investing in the leaders and last night Victors mother cooked dinner for the group that came to the meeting yesterday and we all enjoyed catching up, laughing and enjoying a great meal. The unity we have in Christ is so apparent, you can feel the love.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24:

Emily writes:

Hello Everyone!
God is already doing great things here in the Czech Republic, but I just wanted to ask you to pray for a few more things:

1)Please pray for team unity during this time--the Americans with one another, the Czechs with one another, and the Czechs with the Americans.  Causing strife and disunity is one way that Satan tries to hinder God's work and we want to be united on the same purpose.  There have already been a couple of small things that have come up and they have thankfully been solved quickly and effectively, but we know that Satan is on the prowl. Pray that we would each be individually sensitive to the Holy Spirit and therefore of the same heart and mind. 

2)Pray for Jenny.  She is the translator for the training times and she has been sick.  It's nothing terrible, just a sore throat, but a translator's job is a little more difficult if it is hard to talk!!!  Pray that God would heal her and that it wouldn't get worse. 

Those are the only 2 for now.  Thank you again for your prayers!  I will continue to keep you posted as to how God is working and moving. 

By His grace,
Emily

Landen writes:

We had a really good first day, there were eight students and the pastor David Slama was a able to join us also. It was great to have him there. We are excited for the days ahead of us. Thank you for your prayers and support as we spend time training youthworkers here in the Czech Republic.

In Christ
Landen