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!