A day in the garden

I am sitting here on a bus at 8 o’clock in the morning head back to Ust nad Labem couldn’t be more excited because I really miss this city that we have made our home for the back 4 weeks.

We spent the last few days in between two towns Strakonice and Pisek. We were serving with a JV missionary Leah Cox who has been here for the past 12 years. She has just a fun loving spirit and such a servant’s heart. We did some manual labor, which was good for a change because I was getting kind of antsy sitting around the house working on the computer. Not to down play that fact that the work I was doing was good and much need but the change of pace was nice. We helped a family work on their garden.. Let me tell you, a Czech garden is nothing compared to an American garden.  Us Americans can learn a few things from these Czechs. =) They are huge and beautiful. Full of trees and flowers and LOT OF WEEDS! So we pulled weeds, mowed grass and picked cherries out of the trees and ate cherries out the tree. It was great. WE did the same thing the next day but at a nursing home. I took the time to spend the day with Jesus gardening. Letting him know that I am having trouble feeling his presence and seeing him. This time was much needed. I have been having a hard time connecting up with Him just because of my person lack of discipline. That’s really what it comes down to. 

So, we finishes off the day had dinner and I went back to the church we were sleeping at and decided to commandeer the front lobby and spend time Skyping with my dear friend back home and once again with the Lord. God could not have blessed those that time anymore. I was encouraged and loved on by my dear friend. For those of you who have been on the mission field can understand starting off and really missing your community at first. Then my time spent with the Lord was just amazing! I haven’t felt this connect and filled up with him in awhile. I read two verse that just stood out to me.

Psalms 18:33 and Proverbs 18: 24

I’m reading a book that another friend of my encouraged me to read. It is called Hinds Feet in High Places. She read it when she was backpacking through Europe almost 4 years ago and told me that I changed her life and encouraged me to read it. Well this verse explains so clearly the premise of the book.

“ He made me feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.” Psalms 18:33

I was once again encouraged and reminded that this life is a process. It won’t happen over night. But God is slowly changing me from this girl who is much afraid of almost everything and making into this girl who loves without fear and lives without fear.

As I was talking to my friend we were just talking about some of our doubts and our fears. Talking about how she is moving to DC before I get back and that we haven’t seen each other since she left for Jamaica back in April. Talked about how precious our friendship is and we love how God has grown us together as deep deep friend who didn’t even know each other before our missions trip to Czech last year. We cried together, even thought we always try to end our conversation before the crying, and laughed, and reminisced and dreamed together on the phone. I don’t know f you have ever had a friend like this but they are few and far between. I cherish this friendship deeply.  I went to deep thing about our conversation and woke up thinking about it. I reach over for my bible this morning and read this verse.

“ A man of many companions may come to ruins, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18: 24

I smiled and Ashley came straight to my mind and I thanked God for the friendship I have with her. I thanked him for using her in my life to refine me.Even far from home and in the midst of what feels like a dry season God instantly reminds me, after sometime in a garden, of how he is caring for me and who he is. 

Meet ClarkDo

So it has been almost almost 3 week since I have arrived here in this precious land of the Czech Republic. God has placed some incredible people in my life to work along side and serve with this summer and I want you to meet them. But, I am going to let them tell you about themselves by answering some simple questions!


Kevin Clark
28, Pittsburg
Blog:- czechkevin.wordpress.com
Kevin's JV Account

Kevin! Tell us a little bit about yourself! 
Born and Raised in Pittsburgh. 3rd child. 6 siblings. Christian family. Came to Christ when I was 5 at VBS. Heard missionary story and wanted to be like Hudson Taylor. Was a CEF missionary all of middle school and high school. Went to the Czech for the first time in 2003 after graduating high school. Fell in love with the country and have been coming back ever since. After finishing at University of Pittsburgh I went to Moody Bible Institute, where I graduated this May. My goal is to serve long-term in the Czech Republic.
What is God teaching you right now? 
I'm learning to be content with not only God's timing but God's provision as well. I know he will provide everything I need and when I need it and not a moment before. That means I need to be content with what I have as it has been set before me by God. I can't truly appreciate everything he has given me if I am only focused on what he hasn't given me yet or at all. Also I need to be content on God's timing. I want to be in the Czech so bad, but relying on God's timing on when that ultimately happens is going to be where I grow in patience and faith.    
 What are your hopes as we head into camp? 
I am looking for two cities to get fantastic starts to their camp ministries. I can't wait to see 5-10years down the road at where they've grown after their beginnings this year. Both Nove Mesto and Usti have fantastic, and outgoing teams that are highly supported by their church. All great foundations for great outreach. I am also looking forward to ValMez camp as I will mostly be taking it as a chance to learn from an experience Czech team. I've mostly been charged with helping fledging camps build or struggling camps to rebuild. So a chance to be a part of an experience camp, who is even handling a last-minute change in American teams like pros, is going to be a very educational experience even for a camp veteran like myself.
Fun fact! 
Kevin have been on the hunt for a pepperoni Pizza here in Czech for about 10 years. He is yet to find it.


Khue Do
20, Arizonia 
Blog
Khue's JV Account 

Khue, what would you like to tell everyone about yourself?
I didn't fully surrender my life to Christ until I was a freshman in high school. I never understood the weight of my desperate need for a savior nor begin to grasp the depths of His love until that summer. I grew up knowing all the "sunday school" answers and being a "good girl". It was always about finding my worth and value through other people and how they viewed me. I did everything I could to please other people and win their affections. but their love was conditional and left me so broken and tired, I could never be enough. but that summer God reminded me that I am clothed in Christ's righteousness, He died to fulfill what I could not do on my own. cause the reality is I could never live up to those standards of perfection, oh but Christ did and through Him I am free and redeemed. I live my life to please Him first and find my worth and identity in Him and Him alone.  
 How did you get to Czech? 
After that summer, I realized there is so much more to life than being popular and the "high school" experience. my senior year in high school, I went on my first trip to the Czech Republic and it literally changed my life. I said, God, I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I love these students and I love what you are doing here in the Czech Republic. if it is your will for me to be apart of this movement, than so be it. And every summer since, despite my hesitations and doubts of "god, are you sure, this is your will and not my own", he's graciously brought me back. Each time has been a new challenge and adventure, but that just means that God is at work here and I've been so privilege to be apart of it and witness it.
What are you looking forward to as we head into camps? 
I'm excited to meet the students we have been praying for and serving alongside our brothers and sisters here in Czech and learning from them. I'm hoping to plant seeds, that some of the students experience unconditional love for the first time in their lives and know that that love is God.
 Fun Fact
I love cupcakes just anything normal sized that can be turned miniature I love !



Justin Prause 
21, New Jersey
Blog:  czechthisout2012.blogspot.com
Justin's JV Account

Justin Tell us little bit about yourself!
I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ when I was four. My family has always been super important to me and I am so thankful for my Christian parents who modeled a life that pursues Christ. Youth group was a huge part of my life in Jr. High and High School and it was on a youth group missions trip to Romania where I felt God calling me to full-time youth ministry. Because of that calling, I am majoring in youth ministry at Moody Bible Institute.   
How did you get here? 
Recently, God has laid Eastern Europe on my heart which led to me taking a missions trip with Josiah Venture to the Czech Republic this past March. I fell in love with the country and people! This led to me applying for the summer internship and that's why I'm here now!
What you are hoping for as we head into camp?  
With regards to our English camps, I am looking forward to seeing the students become more confident in their English as well as seeing Christ work in students' lives to call them to Himself.
Fun Fact About!  
A piece of info about myself is that I LOVE getting to hear people's stories! One of my favorite things to do is sit with a coffee or tea and hear people talk about their lives especially the ways that they have grown in their relationship with God. Honestly though, I'm perfectly content with getting to hear someone speak about their passions and hobbies no matter how small or insignificant they may seem to others.

Petra Voráčová
20, Prague   
Blog: Summerofworship.Wordpress.com 
Petra's JV Account

Petra, tell these wonderful people a little bit about yourself! 
I was born and grow up in a family of unbelievers. When I was 15 years old I got an opportunity go to the English Camp. I attended myself and I spent a beautiful summer here. I felt so loved and touched in a Christian fellowship, but I wasn’t so interested in what they told to us. In that time my mum was very ill and after some time in a hospital she died. I said: “Hey God, if you exists how you could let my mum died?” I asked God why it had to happen. I was angry and I didn’t like that God. But after some time spent seeking real God I understand why and I came to Christ. Now I live with Him and I am so thankful He helped me overcome this hard time. Now I study at the Charles University of Prague.
How did you get here? 
In some way I am a child of the English Camp. That is one of some reasons I applied to the Internship. This kind of a service is deep in my heart and I love doing it. It was given me the opportunity to be a part of this ministry and I used it. 
What are you looking forward to as we head to camp? 
I love an atmosphere at the camp. I love building relationships with the students. I love camp dance, evening talks and discussion groups. I love playing funny games and making fun. I love all the camp. But what I am the most looking forward to is how God will work in student hearts to call them to Himself.
 Fun Fact! 
 Petra not only speaks Czech and English but German as well!

That's my team! We are still growing together but God has done great bonding in us since our first day together. I couldn't' be more blessed to serve with them. I am the only one on our team who has been fully supported! I wanted to thank you guys for that! The rest of my team is still needing the financial support. If you still want to support me and haven't yet it would be such a blessing to my teammates if you would donated to them instead! If you would like to support any of my teammates I have posted a link below to their Josiah Venture accounts. I have also posted links to their blogs next to their pictures so you can read more about their journey here.

Thank you all do much for the love and support you have shown me in this journey.
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Jackie Thomson

Where I am at

I have a tendency to focus on all the details of my trip. There is a lot of fun stuff we are doing but I'm gonna start trying to make them less of a novel since finding time to update is rare....but the keyword here is TRY! 

A few things have hit me while we were on our city visit in Nove Mesto. We were on a nice little stroll through the woods and out of no where it hit me " WOW! I am SO blessed to be an American." At times I struggle with the culture that I am from and that fact that I don't really speak another language because let's be honest I don't really need to. But, God has blessed me with the gift of being an American. If I wasn't an American I may not be here. I am wanted here by the people of Czech because I am an American and I can reach these people in a different way than say their leaders can. What a privilege! I'm learning that embrace the the situations, the experiences, and the things that God has given me and use them to best glorify him. It's only taken me 24 years to get it.


Nove Mesto, the town we were visiting was incredible. Let me tell you America can learn a thing or two about hospitality from these Czech people! Khue, Petra, and I have been sick for the past week fighting colds. It just turned out that we got to stay in one of the nicest house with the nicest people I have ever met. Every night the lady of the house made us tea to help us get better and feed a deserts and every morning we woke up to more tea to help us get better and amazing food. Not onlt that she packed lunch for our team every day! Bless her little heart. Well one day we went on a hike just to spend time with the Nove Mesto leaders. This little old lady seriously packed us enough food to feed a whole army. We carried it up to the top of Mnt Smrk and enjoyed some. But because of her blessing us with so much food that we could not finish we were able to turn around share that food with other hikers. They would ask where we were from and we would answer " America" and there eye would light up and ask what we were doing here. Then we got to share with them why we are here, to teach English camps through the local churches and love on the youth of Europe. What and incredible moment. Me and my team like to call these " as you go moments" moments that you have to tangibly live out your Christianity as you prepare for whatever lies ahead. At times it doesn't feel like I am on a missions trip because we are doing so much prep. But, I'm still here loving on God's people in those "as you go" moments and I love every bit of them.

Now with our city visit over we are here in Ústí nad Labem where we will be based all summer when we aren't at camps. We are prepping for English classes, resting, and spending time with our God as we gear up for camps.

A few prayer request for you as I end this:
1) health for the team as we get over our colds
2) a solid time of rest before camps
3) we can be a light here in Ústí and take advantage of the as you go moments that are in front of us here


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Jackie

One Voice

There are about 75 interns serving on 15 different teams this summer with country leaders and multiple JV staff. We are here at the gorgeous Malenovice Hotel in Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Czech Republic. It's about 30-40 minutes from the Poland border. We are all here training together. Let me tell you there is something about being around a bunch of people who hearts beat for the same thing you do, that's empowering the youth of Eastern Europe by sharing the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ with them.

Every night we have an evening program. We are talking about the Holy Spirit each night. Just like back in the States we start off with Worship. Last night I was moved to tears as I stood in the midst of this hotel as I listened to people who have come from literally ALL OVER THE WORLD worship our great God and create together. This is one of those special moments I will never forget. I had goose bumps the whole time. The songs would start quite and as we sang together we got louder and louder shouting praises to God. It was so incredible and so special. I am so blessed to see God's people unit in this mission. I am also seeing how big my God is and how just how far this love spreads.  I totally felt the Spirit moving and there is no doubt the God was sweetly smiling upon us as he received and soaked up the worship his children were offering Him in that moment. I found a moment like this so power and really something that I could not describe. So naturally I scrambled for my phone and was able to record some clips from a few songs that we sang the other night so I could share it with you! Enjoy! 

'May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. that together you may with ONE VOICE glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:6-7

Amazing Race Video

Hey Guys! Here is the link to the Amazing Race video so you can get a an idea of what they made us do! =)

http://vimeo.com/43348025

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Jackie

Dobrý den, Z České Republiky

Dobrý den, Z České Republiky!

In NO TIME I'll be speaking the language here! But that says Hello from the Czech Republic. I am here! It is beautiful. I'm gonna try to make it short but let's be honest there is a ton to tell! I left on Tuesday and to honesty my travels were not easy and not fun. I missed my flight to Poland, miraculous made a stand  by flight, and on my flight to Poland we lost ALL cabin pressure and had to turn around to get a new plane. No, my oxygen mask did not fall like it was suppose...it's a sore subject for the 15-20 interns who were on the plane. Finally, we made it to Poland minus my luggage which was on a later flight. Man, was the enemy really trying hard to get me to focus on anything BUT Jesus in those moments. At times he won that battle. In the midst of my travels I was frustrated, tired, hungry, and had no way of contacting people. But, quickly did I realize that this just might be the story of my summer. Things not going as planned and having to fully rely on the Lord to get me from A to B all the time. 

After arriving 9-10 hrs late we were picked up at the airport and dropped off with our teams who had already started The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race is exactly what it sounds like and exactly like what you are thinking. We had to travel around Poland in our intern teams completing Road Block Challenges. We travels by Train, bus, taxi, and by foot. ALL of the challenges were frustrating but none the less fun. Plus how many people can say that they raced around Poland and crossed the border from Poland to the Czech Republic on foot. My team came in 8th out of 15. The point wasn't to win. Even thought if you know me at all winning would have been nice. But the point was to get to know your team and to really see each other in the midst of frustrating situations. Our true colors came out on this race. There is so much to be said for this race. But I will say that God showed me a lot on this and I was able to see a lot of growth that he has done in me over the last year. Which I was really encouraged about. But I also got see areas where I need to improve and allow God to work in me. Praise be to Jesus that me and my team are seeing these things now instead in the midst of camps. 

At the end of The Amazing Race we ended at Hotel Malenovice in Moravskoslezky Kraj, Czech Republic. It is beautiful here! We hit the ground running into training, learning the camp dance, getting to know the other intern teams, meeting with our country leaders, learning how go from being followers or Chrsit to being fishers of men and so on. I would be lying to you if I said it has been amazing! The first few days were really hard. I was overwhelmed and hadn't had much time to process everything that was going on, lack of community, and lack of familiarity. My two girls friends, Ashley and Chelsea, who left for foreign country months before I did warned me about this. Thanks Girls! I had no one here to run to. So, I was forced into the loving arms of my savior for comfort and direction. As I sat in the presence of the Lord I was able to rest and really see that He is near and I need to ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. I'm really gonna learn this summer what it truly means to rely on God for everything. To be my strength, to be my solitude, to everything that I need. I am so excited for it. Yeah, it's gonna be tough but I know I am going to experience a different side of God that I haven't before. The end result is gonna be so much sweet than the process it self.

I have so much to share with you guys about what God is doing here at training just some special moments. But, I'll save that for another entry. So, know that all is well here on this side of the Atlantic!  I'm gonna add a few prayer request at the bottom for you guys! 

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Jackie Thomson

Prayer Request:

1) Team Dynamics and unity

2) For obedience and a senstivity to the spirit

3) Rest.... A LOT OF REST!