We're Home

We are finally back in Prague. It feels so good to be home. Our year in America was truly blessed. Absolutely no complaints. But now we're back with our stuff, and we can finally relax. We pretty much had to move back into our apartment because most of our stuff had been put in storage in our attic. We had a busy week getting our home set up and getting phones and public transportation passes. We have been blessed by many friends helping us out and cooking for us. Things are getting back to "normal" now and it really feels like we never left.

Our time in the States was full. Some highlights were:

*Preston loved teaching at Louisiana College all year. Being back in the classroom was great and he was able to impact many young minds.

*The kids all did remarkably well--God blessed them all with friends, good grades and a sense of His presence next to them as they experienced new things and turned to Him when things got tough.

*Great time with family--We were about 2 hours from Preston's mom during the school year and got to spend 2 months with my family as well as some holidays. We celebrated Preston's mom's 85th birthday before leaving and still managed to leave everyone in good health.

*David had a good first year of college and was able to get a job over the summer. He's living with Preston's sister and her husband in Kingwood, Texas. The job pays very well, and he's been able to save up some money for a trip home to Prague for Lauren's graduation. He will head back to school in Virginia in about a month.

*We were able to re-connect with several friends we haven't seen in years. It was such a blessing to us to catch up and see how God has been working in their lives. Thank you to those of you who made the effort to come and see us or welcome us into your home.

Now that we're back, we're eager to see what God has for this phase of our life and work. Preston is beginning his new position as Theological Education Consultant for Europe. Please pray for him as he evaluates current teaching institutions and programs as well as places that need new work, and determines how we can partner and help in each of those.

I will continue to write for teams working in Europe and will help get their stories out to supporting churches via internet and special projects.

Lauren will begin her Senior year in September. We will be applying and preparing for college. She will join David at Liberty next fall. Jessica will be a Freshman in high school and Andrew will begin 6th grade. They are all really excited about returning to CISP. (Christian International School of Prague).

We are leaving for English Camp on Saturday. This is a family camp. There will be a total of 40 people including Czechs and volunteers. None of the Czech families know the Lord. We will have conversation classes every morning, group activities in the afternoon and a time of singing/bible study in the evening. Please pray for God to work in the hearts of these folks. They have been part of a weekly English club for a few years and have been exposed many times to the truths of scripture. (Preston and I plan to take over this club in the fall so pray for good friendships to develop.) Lauren will be leading music and teaching pre-schoolers. Jessica and Andrew will be helping in their "classes" as the native English speakers. Preston and I will both be leading small groups.

We have also begun working with a new group here in Prague called Bridge Community, an evangelism church planting effort begun by our Prague team. God has just provided a perfect location for us to meet and has given the team here a great vision for reaching people with the Gospel in a way that is culturally relevant. Please pray for the team and for us as we find ways to intentionally form relationships with Czechs and introduce them to the claims of Christ.

In August Preston and I are taking a trip to Serbia to see what is happening there at a local seminary. The same week Lauren, jessi and andrew are going to an MK (Missionary Kid) camp. Please pray for the camp leaders to challenge and encourage the kids in their walks with the Lord and for Lauren and other seniors who will be serving as counselors.

Thank you for your prayers.

An Overdue Update

Well, it's been way too long and for that I apologize. Life in America has kept us just a little busy, but that's no excuse. Now that we've passed Christmas, it seems like no time until we return to Prague. There are mixed feeling all through our house about that. We all miss it, but we have also enjoyed being here. I'm continually amazed at God's provision for us. He has provided cars, friends, ministry opportunities, time with family, and much more. At ever turn, we have met unexpected needs and never, have we come up short. We've seen with stark clarity how God does indeed go before us and give us everything we need, and much that just makes us happy.

The kids have done beautifully at their appointed schools. All have made friends, received honors and enjoyed themselves. Highlights for them: David ended his first semester with a 3.6 and is going to Ethiopia on a mission trip in March; Lauren was the mvp of her soccer team, taking them to play-offs for the first time; Jessica made it into the Honor's choir at her school, and was asked to try out for a special workshop by her ballet teacher; Andrew played football and his team won the league's Super Bowl.

More importantly all the kids have continued in their spiritual maturity. They have been given multiple opportunities to share Christ with the kids around them and, even better, they've taken these opportunities! That's been the most rewarding thing to me--to watch them growing and obeying and learning what it means to be a follower of Christ in a different context. Pres and I realized that a year in a new place could bring all sorts of challenges and hardship, as well as blessings. We weren't exactly sure what to expect, although we felt sure of God's leading us here. We've been so pleased to see them flourish here.

That's not to say there haven't been rough patches too. Loneliness, missing Prague, missing David, feeling like they don't belong, trying to fit what they know of following Christ into this context of public school and kids who say they are Christians but don't live like it. These things have brought heartache and tears from time to time, but God has been faithful to meet us in our moments of need. Thank you all for your prayers.I know they have helped sustain us.

Preston loves being back in the classroom. He taught New Testament and Missions last semester and is teaching 2 hours of New Testament and Preaching this semester. I have just begun discipling a lovely young lady whose husband works at the college and with her, have gotten involved in a bible study for college students. Both of these are huge answers to prayer as I have been asking God to open a door for me to get involved in some girls' lives since arriving here and now he has.

We've also had some much needed time with our families. Spending holidays with them was really great this year. We haven't done that in a long time. We've also been really blessed by seeing old friends during our travels.

When we left Prague, IMB was undergoing a paradigm shift, so some of our time here as been spent learning about our "new and improved" jobs once we return. We're getting excited about what God has in store for us. Pres will be the European Theological Education Consultant and I will continue on the media team as lead writer and liason to the Roma people. For now we will continue on in Prague, though eventually we may move to another location in Europe.

There's lots of good news out of Prague too. In our absence lots of new folks have moved in and some have started a church there called "Bridge Community." God has faithfully brought people and some have become believers. Our friend Lubos was able to see his mom come to Christ and she was baptized recently. The new wave of missionaries there are settling in and finding their own niches of ministry. There have been some exciting things happening among the Russians of Prague as well as in the Roma ministry.

There are some that you prayed for from last year, specifically Dasa and Coral, who have not taken the next step and are complacent in their search for truth. Please continue to pray for these two. We've continued to talk, but only sometimes about spiritual things.

We've still got lots of travels yet to do this year and maybe we'll get to see many of you! I'll try to keep you updated more faithfully.

A New Adventure

We've been back in the States for over a month now. It's been a little crazy to say the least. We've gotten two cars, one driver's license, 1 kid ready for college, 3 enrolled and started in public school, spoken in 5 churches, toured South Ga., visited with lifelong friends and made new ones, spent 3 days on the beach, re-acquired a bit of a Southern accent, and been absolutely amazed at God's provision for us--from providing a driver's ed teacher to giving us money to pay for a new transmission, God has met us at every turn and poured out from his abundance. We are so grateful.

This year holds many unknowns. The kids are in public school in Louisiana--a far cry from the small MK school they are used to. They're excited about the challenges, but a little nervous as well. The first day went well and all three met friendlykids who welcomed them. Whew! Andrew will play football this year, Lauren will be involved in drama and will play soccer, Jessie is in concert choir.

David goes off to college next week. We learned that his roommate is Stephen from Maryland. We've been praying for him and for a good friendship between them. He's gotten outfitted with every electronic gadget known to man--macbook, ipod touch, printer, phone...the works. He received a scholarship to pay for books--the only thing that wasn't covered from the scholarship he is already on. God's provision.

Pres is preparing for his classes. He'll be teaching NT Survey and Missiology at Louisiana College. He begins around the 25th. He can't wait to get back into the classroom.

My work with the media team continues. I'll be lead writer for the Europe team as well as special liason for the Roma people. This summer has been free, but I'll get back to work once we get settled in La. Pres and I will also be ministering to the students at LC, endeavoring to instill in them a hunger for God's word and a love of missions. We'll also be speaking in churches across the South. I will be at a global missions conf. in California as well as doing some Women's conferences in Georgia.

We're excited about all that God is doing and has done and will do. Thank you for praying for us. I look forward to seeing many of you in the months to come.

A Bright January

Not in the way you might think. The sun hasn't been overly cooperative this winter, but the dark, cold days don't seem so bad when we're watching God at work around us. Of course, i wish i could report dozens coming to Christ and new bible studies springing up in our neighbors' homes, but that's just not reality in Europe. However, last Friday at the gym with Dasa, we had this conversation:

Dasa: David is learning about prayer in his new school (Catholic). The teachers told him that he had to say certain words when he prayed, and he had to pray at certain times, and if he breaks the rules God won't listen to him.

Me: Really? What do you think about that?

Dasa: I don't think that's the way God is. I think He will hear us whenever we talk to Him.

Woo-hoo! She is starting to get it. Every time we see each other, she brings up spiritual matters. She is reading the bible and is understanding it for the first time. Her atheistic background gives her a fresh view on what she learns--meaning, she seems to be able to see wrong teaching such as that on prayer above. It is a joy to watch and share with her. Dasa and Petr also visited the international church one Sunday. They really enjoyed it. It was quite a different experience for them. They've only ever been to a Catholic service so this one, with 20 different nationalities, music ranging from praise and worship to the doxology, and and family atmosphere was really strange to them. But they liked it and plan to come back!

In English classes, the group remains faithful and as we plow through John, the questions from Dereje, especially are fun to answer. He understands so little and is like a curious child. We love it. He has asked us to join his family for dinner one evening. We look forward to meeting his wife (who is an atheist). Dereje is also coming to church and bringing his kids.

Andrew and Jessica continue to meet with Gabi's daughters, Tereza and Camille, for English time (they do stuff like sledding, going to the park, playing games together). I hope to get together with Gabi for coffee soon.

Girl's bible study is going very well. We are talking about purity for the next 6 weeks or so. The group remains consistent and eager to learn. Coral has had visa problems and has been stuck in California, but will be back with us soon.

So as far as ministry local ministry goes, God is at work and we are excited to be a part of what He is doing. Of course we have our official work for the region as well, and this is the busiest month of the year for Preston. This week we have our first termer's conference followed by three weeks of training for our strategy coordinators from across CEE (Central and Eastern Europe). Preston is juggling schedules, teaching, logistics, volunteers, and more. We love the activities of February, but we covet your prayers to protect from illness and fatigue. This is a critical time of training for our missionaries and what happens here in the next month will profoundly affect their ministries. I also speak a few times at Ebenezer and spend time nurturing and encouraging the visiting Missionaries, as well as play hostess to lots of visiting speakers and volunteers. Please pray for our family as we juggle through this crazy month.

David had a birthday since the new year started. He's officially an adult now. Strange for me, but good for him. We are finalizing our plans for stateside and do plan to be there for a year. We will be Missionaries in Residence (MIRs) at Louisiana College for the 09-10 school year. David will be living in the dorms there and the other kids will be in the local school system. We are getting very excited about our year in the land of Walmart, Target and Chic-fil-A, but are a bit apprehensive about leaving all that God is doing here and our friends/church family. Please pray for us as the details get ironed out and we prepare to leave. We are especially concerned about what will happen to our apartment while we are gone. We really want to keep it and are praying that it will work out. Our ministry is here in this neighborhood and we don't want to start from scratch when we return. I am also working on calendering for our year at home. If you would like to plan a time for us to come to your church, or help you promote missions in some way, and haven't already contacted me, please do so that I can try to work that in. I can't promise, but I will try.

We praise God that we have a home in Georgia and one in Louisiana where we will be living during the year. We do not, however, have a car yet. Please pray for God's provision--this is especially important since we will have two new drivers in our family (aghhhh--come to think of it, maybe you should pray for that too!).

Thank you all for interceding for us. I love hearing from you all when you write. We love you all.

Karen

"For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness." Psalm 18:28

Prayer Request for Preston

Preston will be teaching next week at the new Baptist Seminary in the Czech Republic. He will spend the week dissecting the theology of Paul. Please pray for him as he continues to prepare and for the time in the classroom. Pray for good rapport with the students and for hearts to be teachable and eager to fellowship.

Great Updates

my high school girls

Its been an amazing fall so far and God is definitely answering your many prayers on our behalf. I am utterly amazed at the way He is at work in the Czech people. We are seeing a responsiveness we've never seen before. Here's an update:

*Adult English classes--we've had 5 consistent students and they are hungry to understand the Word of God. One student specifically asked if we could begin reading the Bible together. We began in John's Gospel. One man, Dereje, was quick to say that he didn't understand anything about the context because he's never read the Bible before. He began asking questions, "who was John the Baptist", what is difference between the New and Old Testaments, What does it mean that Jesus was in the beginning with God? The best part was that the other students joined in explaining the parts they understood. One student even suggested if he wanted to learn more, he should watch the Jesus film. It was a great night. Since then Dereje has accepted a bible and agreed to begin reading on his own. He continues to be faithful and left one night, telling people on the way out that he was excited to begin studying the Bible. Also, two of the students from last year (Susan and Susan) who were so full of questions have returned in the last 2 weeks.

*Gabriela--this woman was one of my (Karen) students from last year, went to extra legnths to contact me personally so that we could continue "talking" like we did before. We met for coffee and talked in depth about where she was spiritually. She is not ready yet to accept Christ, but we continue to see each other weekly as Jessica is meeting with her daughter to help her with English. We have developed a nice friendship.

*Dasa and Petr--This couple from English camp have pursued a friendship with us. Dasa and I have been getting together weekly to go to her gym. We never see each other when she doesn't ask spiritual questions. She's reading through scripture and we discuss it over lunch. Our families have gotten together a couple of times as well. They are interested in visiting our international service at church. Petr considers himself a follower of Jesus now, Dasa is still uncertain.

*High school girls bible study has been an absolute pleasure. The group of 15 is consistent and searching for answers. Most are believers, some more firmly grounded than others, but one girl is not yet a believer and is quite honest about that. She asks great questions and has told me personally that she feels God drawing her. It's scary for her because her parents and her whole culture (she's from California) is anti-christian. She's truly having to count the cost. She hasn't told me that she's committed her life to Christ yet, but I do see changes in her countenance.

*After 2 years of trying to reach out to my neighbor, there has been a breakthrough. Twice in the past few weeks she has been crying in the hallway. Both times, either Preston or I was there and we were able to talk to her and comfort her. She hugged us both times and thanked us. It has really opened up the door for a friendship. She is elderly and very forgetful, so its kind of hard to continue conversations with her. But we are reaching out to her through and she is receiving it.

*Lubos continues to be a pleasure. He and Preston meet as often as possible, though his work schedule has been a problem lately. He's growing. Preston is considering inviting some others to join them--Petr, Dereje, and a new believer from Int.' church.

*Krystina is doing well and has continued to English Club. She has also visited church a few times with her father, Honza, who attends the adult English class. Pepa, unfortunately, has been scarce.

*The kids have all become pro-active in seeking out personal ways for God to use them. Its been so exciting to see. David has begun playing the guitarand helps lead worship at chapel and youth group. He continues to minister to the homeless in the square, although they are not an easy group to get to know, nor are they grateful. Lauren is playing drums regularly now in a worship band, youth group, chapel and in church. Jess is singing at chapel and church. They are all seeking to bring their friends to Christ. Jess is tutoring Gabriela's daughter in English which gives her opportunity to share with her. Lauren has been a big part of bringing the unbeliever at bible study (Coral) to the place she finds herself. Andrew is faithful to come to Czech church with us and participate in Sunday school and English Club to help reach out to the Czech kids around him. As grateful as we are to see how God is using the kids, its an even great blessing to see how he's at work in their personal lives. There is no greater joy.

*Last but not least, we have been asked to stay in Prague and continue in the roles (though there will be some changes) we currently serving in. We are very excited about this. We will have some new people coming here and some of our friends will be re-locating, so the changes affect us in many ways. As the new organization becomes clearer, we are excited about what God is doing.

So, there's an update...lots of reasons to praise God and lots of reasons to thank you, our prayer warriors. Please don't stop!! God is definitely doing something in the Czech Republic! We are not the only ones seeing responses. Many of our colleagues are seeing the same thing happen in their midst. One family is discipling 4 new believers and preparing them for baptism. Another girl has just given Mere Christianity to a friend and she is devouring it--after a year of witness and testimony to which she was unresponsive. Our (missionaries) kids are growing and owning their own faith, praying for kids at school and actively sharing Christ. These are exciting days!!

A New School Year

School is going in full swing now and so are ministry opportunities for all of us. I love the freshness of these new beginnings. God has brought so many opportunities to our family to share the love of Christ with those around us. Please be in prayer for God to be glorified through these.

English Club--Our family had a great time at English Camp in August. Eight kids from English Club came and had a wonderful time. Pepa and Krystina seemed to bond with the church kids and counselors alike. They were both at club this past Sunday for the first meeting, excited to be together again. We have new leadership this year. Please pray for David and Lauren and Jessica as they help translate and serve during this weekly ministry.

High School Girls--I have begun teaching the HS girls Bible study for the kid's international youth group. I've got about 20 girls. They are precious. They range from Mks to totally secular. There are such needs there as many are questioning their relationship with God and how to live for Christ. Several of the girls are not yet believers but are searching. Please pray for them to seek for truth with all their hearts and for me to be a good guide in leading them to it.

Adult English Classes--Preston and I both started teaching English again this past Sunday night to the parents of the English club kids. We had 5 students. All but one were returning from last year. Please pray for more to come and for these relationships lead to opportunities to share the Gospel.

Lubos--Preston is discipling a young Czech man who is a new believer. He is precious and fun to teach because he is so excited to learn. He has been spending Thursday nights with our family at dinner and then studying the Word with Preston. Jiri, our Czech friend is also joining them when he can. There is another new believer that they are going to invite to join the group. Please pray for this to be a good time of discipling and for God to bring others to join the group.

Worship Team--Both David and Lauren have taken on roles this year of being on the worship team at their youth group, church and in chapel services. David is singing and playing guitar, Lauren is playing the drums. Please pray for them to be good leaders for their peers and to stay consistent in their times with the Lord so that their worship truly comes from the heart.

Homeless ministry--David has begun going to the square near our house and giving food out to the homeless people there. Please pray for him to see a good response in this practical sharing of his faith and pray for the men and women he feeds to hunger for God.

School--Many new kids have come to the kids' school this year and many of those are unbelievers. All of the kids are aware that this is a mission field for them and are striving to be good examples and show Christ's love to their classmates. Lauren, esp., is befriending some new girls who are definitely not believers, ask a lot of questions and are genuinely curious about her faith. She is spending time with them and bringing them to Bible study. Please pray for her to be very strong in her faith as these girls will also seek to influence her. Pray for her to have much grace and to guard her heart. Pray also for insight and the ability to know how to reach these girls. Pray that her quiet times stay consistent and that she be ready to answer their questions with biblical responses.

Czech friends--we made many new friends this year at the family English Camp. Pray that we will be able to continue these relationships throughout the year.

We are excited about the ways God wants to use us this year. Thank you so much for your prayers on our behalf. Please also pray for the International Mission Board. They are making some big changes in strategy that will affect our ministries and where we live. Pray for wisdom for those in leadership and for us to have peace as we wait to hear how all of this will affect us.

We love you.