Sixth Grade Prayer Warriors

Until last year, I taught 5th grade at a Christian school just north of Charlotte, NC. I taught there for six years. It was such a rich experience for me in many ways. The lower school faculty were like a family. We supported each other in prayer and shared honestly our prayer needs with each other in our meetings. AND we laughed and laughed together all the time. I feel like God grew me a lot spiritually, professionally, and emotionally during that time. Plus, I learned more about what it's like to be in real Christian community. Our amazing lower school principal, Susan, took me and a team of teachers down to Peru 4 times in 3 summers. There we had the privilege to work with Scripture Union (Union Biblica) and their Bible teachers. We held interactive workshops in which we taught fresh ideas for teaching the Bible to kids in the public schools in Peru. The missions teaching trips still continue today!!

This year's sixth graders (about 60 in all:) adopted me as their misisonary to support through prayer. What an honor!! I have really felt their prayers and am so encouraged by their faith. Recently, I have received 2 fat envelopes in the mail containing beautiful encouragement cards from the sixth graders!!! The cards were full of birthday wishes, scripture verses, and words of support. Several of them had jokes and funny memories we shared last year. I felt hugged about 60 times!! I want to thank the sixth graders again for their cards and their fervent prayers. I am honored to be your friend and sister in Christ. I love you all!!!

Escape

Sunny and I helped paint at the Davises' new flat the other day. They just moved in yesterday, and it is beautiful!! I am excited about the ministry that will take place there. So, Phil left before Sunny and I and shut the gate which locked behind him. When she and I went to leave, we could not get out!! So, we climbed over the fence and risked our lives, but we were not scared at all. Sorry, retraction.....we did not risk our lives, although Sunny (with her fear of heights) was a tad nervous. We tried to be incognito, so the neighbors would not wonder, but just as Sunny was climing down, a huge group of people appeared from nowhere. We were laughing so hard, she froze and couldn't do anything. You had to be there I guess, but it was a good time.

Weston

This is my youngest sister, Weston. She is a sophomore at a college in Virginia. She is studying in Spain for 6 weeks. On June 6 she is coming to stay with me for as long as I can keep her :) I am so excited about the time the Lord has given us to be together!!!!!

Castles

I have made a new friend, Lucie. She and I met in the park the other day as our dogs took off running together. She is Czech and lived 10 years in Canada, so her English is amazing. We had the best time talking! Last Monday she drove me, Maysea and her dog, Verdi, to 2 castles.chateaus. just outside of Prague. Both have huge grounds that are wooded and have lakes and streams. So, the dogs had a blast runnung and swimming. The castles were beautiful. We first visited Pruhonice. Then we saw Konopiste. This one was especially interesting to me because it was the country retreat of Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie. Their assassination by Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip, essentially started WWI. Any 6th graders reading this remember this from last year's History?? I thought of you guys and was so excited. That's a photo of me in front of their home.

Rebekah and Petr

These are new friends of mine. I met Rebekah thru our ladies' Bible study. She has lived in Prague about 3 years. She came over here from Atlanta to be involved in ministry. While here, R. met her husband, a Czech named Petr! They are both believers. IN fact, Petr's grandfather was a pastor during the time of Communism and had an underground church. I love these two. Rebekah fixed me a delicious dinner the other night, complete with a delicious traditional Czech salad of chopped veggies, grated syr (cheese :) and tossed in this herb vinigrette. The meal ended with a tradiitonal Czech gingerbread- type cake. Delicious!! Thanks ya'll!

Stromovka

Okay, this is my favorite place in Prague!! It's easy to forget the spiritual darkness in this city when I see such natural beauty. But I am told that in the summer it is full of topless sunbathers. So, I think that spring may end up being my favorite time in Stromovka!! I just snapped a few photos today, but they do not do this park justice. God lifts my heart up in worship when I am in His creation. I am so thankful that He led me to a flat that is sandwiched in between two beautiful parks (Stromovka and Letna parks)!!!!!

Hair Party

The other night some of us from our ladies' Bible study gathered at Shanna's house for haircuts and snacks!! One of the women in our study is Alta. She and her husband are here from South Africa. Alta is a very talented hairdresser; plus she generously gave us a great deal on our haircuts!! It was such a fun time to be together and enjoy 2 very important things in life: good hair and yummy food :)
In the photo is pictured (l to r): me, Elizabeth, Alta (and her baby :), Sunny and Laura. Each of us got new "doos" sp? that night. Aren't we gorgeous?!!!!?