Generation NeXt Parenting

Thank you for your continued prayers!

Not I at work, but God...

I can't wait to sit down and blog more when I get back. There is so much to share and so little time. Overall I'm awed by our team. And I am so impressed with our youth. They have been amazing and we've received compliments all around. Of course they are crazy, goofy, and having a ton of fun but they are so in tune to connecting with the people and touching their hearts. I totally love seeing God exceed my expectations...and am once again brought face to face with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Anyway, we've been asked 100 times if we've been asked once if we'd return next year. The fact that we've seen one person accept Christ and we've seen thirty others take steps closer to Him in nothing short of a miracle. We know we are building on what other teams have done in the past. We also are extremely aware of the immense prayer support we have behind us. In fact many people have commented on that fact. "We can feel your whole Christian community behind you. They sent 20, but we can feel the prayers of 2,000."

The need in the Czech Republic is great. We have been asked to staff the next English camp again next year. They were so pleased with how we worked together as a team and the classes we've taught. We've also been asked to work with new IMB missionaries Larry and Melissa Lewis who will be in Plzen ... about three hours from where we are now. We've been working alongside Larry and Melissa and our group have fallen in love with them and their three children! They have become "our" missionaries.

We also had the director of a small Baptist Bible college drive three hours just to meet us. He came so we can go back and tell our church about them, their students, and their needs. They are currently training seven Czech men to be pastors and they will also be helping these men with church launching in two years once their education is complete. The young couple who runs the college teach all the classes and build support, because the men are unable to go to school and work. They are amazing! Their work is amazing!

Overall, we are encouraged by the care of the Czech people and their interest in Christianity. They are more open to spiritual conversations than we thought and many of the are extremely close to accepting Christ. We are certain that if we can return and build on these relationships that we will see many more souls saved. Of course, in this country it's not a quick process. The communist indoctrination is very evident. Yet we are encouraged everyday by the conversations we have with people and the friendships we are building.

We are also been extremely cared for by the small Czech church. They are pouring love and attention on us and they are also "eating up" our fellowship. They have said over and over again how meaningful it us to know that a church in the US has cared for their small church of sixty people. They presented us with gifts to take back to our congregation. We were awed by them.

Our new church friends have been feeding us and offered their homes. I was mentioning last night to one couple how spoiled we feel. Ivan said, "That is because we want you to return and bring back others to share Christ with our countrymen." That's what we've been asked over and over--to bring back more believers. In fact just this morning from a medical doctor who attended our camp. This is part of what he said:

"Thank You very much for Your time, You did the very good job in Cenkovice. Please, give our best regards in Your church.
Now I pray, that God could send more others Christians to our country in next summer ..."

Finally, I can't express how EAGER the people are to learn English. It's as if we've been given a great treasure by knowing this language and they are eager and grateful for every moment we spend sharing our knowledge with them. What an opportunity!

Okay, signing off for now. Thank you for your continued prayers!

Tricia

posted by Tricia Goyer @ 8:49 AM