Views From My Window

Here are the great views from my flat. To my left I see a clock tower that houses a tea room (I can't wait to try it). To my right I see Prague castle in the distance, and the Sparta soccer stadium.

Maysea

This is Maysea, my sweet black lab. She agreed to come with me to Prague, and to be honest, I can't imagine life here without her! Prague is such an incredibly dog- friendly city. I recently took her into a restaurant. She sat under the table while my friend, Sunny and I ate. The waitress even brought her a bowl of water!! I live between two huge, beautiful parks, Letna and Stromovka. When Maysea and I walk there, she brings me into all of my conversations with other Czechs and foreigners. I recently met two english teachers, one American and one Brit, because Maysea went right up to them as they fed the ducks in the pond. She then proceeded to jump into the pond several times after the ducks. Hilarious!!

Poor Maysea. She had an accident, so yesterday I took her to the vet. In his thick Czech accent he said, "Hold her tight." I did, and he proceeded to pull her entire dew claw (sp?) out. She yelped in pain for the longest time. I assume that was the best course of treatment. She is now hobbling around.

Here are some photos of her. She (and all dogs) has to wear a muzzle when riding on public transportation. Besides that, she seems to love Prague. After all, she's an extremely social dog! :) Here also is a photo of her with Heather's dog, Dixie. Heather is my new friend from Charlotte who graciously housed me for the first two weeks I was in Prague. She teaches at the International School of Prague.

I am thankful Maysea brought me to Prague. :)

My Family

I wanted to show you my family. This group of folks is one of God's greatest blessings to me. The sister in the back with my mom is Mary Margaret. She is "mom" to little David and Margaret, 4 and 2. She is such a funny and creative mother. David and Margaret are FULL of life. They bring much joy and tons of laughter into our family. Mom is the best mom ever, and is the type of godly woman I desire to be. Weston is beside David, and she is a sophomore at Washington and Lee University. She is wise, tender and a blast. Priscilla is the sister who is holding Margaret; she is a beautiful and brilliant attorney who deeply encourages me. Dad is holding the wine, and is the strongest and funniest man I know :) Mary Margaret's husband, Richard, is pictured with David in the other photo. Richard loves the Lord and each of us well.

My biggest fear in coming to Prague was that I would not be able to stand being so far away from my family. God has been so faithful in strengthening me and them. So far, so good! :) I do look forward to seeing at least some of them over here in June!!!

Birthday Blessings

Yesterday was my 35th, yes 35th birthday!! Agghhh- first the first time, I felt a little old. But, I am reminded of the truth of God in Psalm 139 (which is a great scripture, especially on one's birthday). "Oh Lord, you have searched me and you know me....All my days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." I am humbled and encouraged that He knows all the details of me and chooses to use me. He orchestrates each day of my life. After all, He "knit me together in my mother's womb!" (Ps. 139)

Some of the girls from our weekly Bible study (first and third from the left, Elizabeth and Sunny) and my team members (second and fifth from the left, Laura and Shanna) took me out to a FABULOUS real Italian restaurant for dinner. Several of us said it was the best food we had ever tasted.

Laura and Shanna gave me a gift certificate for a Thai foot massage!! More details on that later! :) I felt so loved by my team members and friends here in Prague as well as my friends and family in the States. My mom and sister, Priscilla, sent me a care package full of "treasures" such as Pam cooking spray, double- stuffed mint Oreos, and Starbucks coffee. My friend Kelly, who's in the States, had a beautiful bouquet of tulips delivered to me, and the sweet Davis family (my team leaders- Phil and Shanna and their children, Lucy and Clark) woke me up to a family rendition of "Happy Birthday" in the morning.

God is caring for me in such sweet ways as I begin life here in Prague.

Sunny and Snow

It snowed recently, a change from the warm weather we have had. This is my new friend, Sunny. She is a missionary from Kentucky. Sunny has been in Prague for 3 years. She holds a weekly Bible study/ theological discussion type-group in her home for Czech students who are non-believers. Cool!

First Photos

Maysea and I have had a great time as we've begun to explore Prague.

Flat Found!!!!!!!

Friends and Family-

Thank you for your prayers regarding my flat search! Great news! As I type this, I am sitting in my comfy new flat. I moved in on March 14. God has really blessed me through abundant provision of a wonderful place.

On Friday, March 9, Shanna (my team leader's wife) and I went with my realtor to look at some flats in Prague 6 and technically, Prague 7, which borders it. We looked at this flat, it was furnished, and I loved it. But, the owner wanted $50 more per month than was in my budget, plus, there was no oven, washing machine, or sofa bed. So, my realtor called the owner and asked him to consider putting in those items. He said he would install the first two items, but not the sofa bed. I still was not convinced this was where God was calling me to live, as I still felt concern over the rent. So, again my realtor called the owner and asked him to lower the rent by $50/mo. He said no. Apparently, he is a wealthy man and does not really need this money. He said he was going to hold out for a tenant who would pay the advertised rent. So, I did not hold out hope that he'd lower it. (yes, I tend to foget that God is the God of the impossible!) At that point, I began to feel stressed and somewhat too consumed by the whole flat search process. I mean, we had looked at 14 flats so far!

I have a bad habit of trying to control my circumstances and then when they don't seem to be going my way, I stress out. THEN I go to God, to the Well. Saturday, I went to the Lord and got quiet before Him. God reminded me of the fact that He is my Shepherd, so I shall not be in need of anything. He reminded me that there in that moment, I was FINE, because I was/am covered in the blood of Jesus and that He alone is all I need. God refocused me with Himself in the center and with it came peace. I then worked on a Bible lesson on prayer. One of the questions was, "What would a bold, risky prayer be for you?" I responded that it would mean completely leaving the flat search and asking God to provide the perfect place for me in one month. So, I purposed and prayed. It was right and good (and about time! :) to give that over to the Lord and stop grasping onto it so tightly. I then journaled what a "perfect" place in my mind would be.

Over the weekend, I felt a refreshing sense of lightness and peace (since giving it over). And my mind, from time to time, drifted back to the flat.

Monday, I went to little Clark's music class with his mom, Shanna. The class happens to be right in the neighborhood of the flat and I found myself looking out the window and tossing that flat around in my head, again. Thankfully, this time worry was not driving me, it was a desire to just know God's will for my housing. I left music class early and walked around the block, passing by the flat's front door. Nothing new struck me, one way or the other. Once back at music I went to the restroom and found myself praying, "God, if you want me to live in this flat, please cause the owner to come down in the rent." Fifteen minutes later, we drove away from music and mt realtor called. She said, "Dorothy, the owner just called me and has agreed to come down on the rent. I think it is quite amazing, and I think you should take it." I was so excited and in awe, really, at what God had done. I felt humbled and convicted over my unbelief, but at the same time, I felt loved by my Father God. It was really sweet. I told my team leader Phil about the rent reduction and he celebrated by doing a perfect twist jump-type move:) I do have to confess, though, that I still did feel a tiny bit of hesitation, maybe b/c the flat was short a few items/characteristics I had put on my "perfect flat" list. But I believed that God had shown me this was where he wanted me, and I would follow Him there.

Thursday, I met met with the owner to sign the contract and was blown away by the extent of God's goodness. The owner told me that the internet service was already hooked up and would be completely free. The same was true with the TV cable. Plus, I discovered that the TV has a DVD/CD player in it!!!!!! Right now, David W., I am enjoying your beautiful guitar CD :) Also, this flat has a view of Prague castle which I had not known. Also, it is a loft flat, on the very top, so it's nice and warm, which is important to me. I get cold easily.

Through this, God showed me that He really does have my best in mind and that He alone knows what is best for me. I still don't know exactly why he put in this flat and what purposes he has for me here, but I feel completely at peace and am wet from my cup which runs over. It feels right and secure to be here at home in the center of God's Will.