In Czech with God: Give Me Liberty!

Yesterday the group of 13 Liberty University students dragged themselves through our doors after a very long trek from the "Lover's State." We were all very excited for them to arrive, especially Ron and Brenda's three kids. I was just ready to get going with some projects outside the house. Ron had a full week planned for the students, from teaching English classes to providing manual labor, and this was also going to be my introduction to the area and to the ministry. Seeing as how I am the dutiful assistant in America as well as here in Czech, I have been doing office work for Ron since I arrived. And as much as I love sitting at a computer all day, I was welcoming the break for a few days. However, the week has not been void of adventures and lessons in Czech.

Here are a few highlights:

I went with Ron and Brenda to the train station to drop off a girl visiting them on a survey trip. I learned how to get around the station and read the signs. This is a pretty popular mode of transportation since you can go all over Eastern Europe on the rail.

We then visited the Square in Cesky Krumlov, where we had coffee and I was able to get minutes on my cell phone (local cell phone - not good for calling America. I learned that lesson the hard way) and pull some krowns out of the ATM. It's pretty cool walking around with several bills that say 2000. It doesn't last long though. (Current conversion rate - 16kr = $1

Town Hall, in the Square..............................Cool Statue, in the Square

I had my first Czech grocery shopping experience. It went well, since I was with my roommate. There are a few recognizable foods (Cheerios, Lays chips) but most everything is local. It is also more expensive and smaller in size. The big store to go to here is Tesco, which is the equivalent of Wal-Mart. Only I think Tesco beats out Wal-Mart because right next to the bakery you can buy a Vespa.
In the past week, I have learned how to make homemade spaghetti sauce and homemade lasagna. And again, no fatalities from the cooking - well except for a burnt thumb (mine). You know what that means? Watch out America - Amy's got the whole package!!
Ok, the coolest thing I've been able to do in the past couple of days is doing a devotional with their 8-yr old daughter Sophie. I brought some books from the states, one of which is the exact book she was doing with her mom before she lost it. So everyday I get to sit down with Sophie and help her understand some basic Biblical truths. It really is amazing just how much kids know and understand. She was very attentive and excited to spend that time with me, which was very encouraging.

So, now that Liberty has arrived we have hit the ground running and it has been very exciting! When they came in Friday night, they were pretty exhausted so we fed them and sent them bed. They weren't sure what to expect as far as meals went but I believe they weren't pleasantly surprised as we served our homemade lasagna and spaghetti. There are not a lot of "instant" meals so you have to prepare them. Jen, my roommate, and I were having four girls stay at our house and we were very much looking forward to getting to know them.
On Saturday, we drove into Cesky Krumlov to pass out fliers at an apartment complex in order to spread the word about the English classes that are being taught by the college students this week. This was a really neat experience and we were able to disperse all our fliers. Misa and Milan, locals who work with Ron, were at the Open Door Club to instruct us. We walked through the area and greeted everyone with "Dobre den" (Good day) and handed them the flier. I was not sure how the receptions would be because Czechs are very closed off and not open to stranger interaction. But every person we came in contact with greeted us and receptively took our offering. It has been discovered through experience that fliers is not the most effective way to acquire students for the classes, but rather word-of-mouth. However, they try to advertise any way they can. The girls did a great job and we even stuck fliers in mailboxes and on windshields.
After this we met the rest of the group and drove an hour and a half to Pelhimov, to work at the Seminary that Ron has helped to start. We also took two local girls that Jen has been discipling, Eva and Jitka, in our car so I got a chance to talk with them. Their English is very good and they are two very sweet and strong women. They have no Christian friends because it is so uncommon here to know Christ but they are very positive and encouraging. After a lunch of sandwiches, Ron split the kids and sent half of them into town and put the other half to work in the yard. After a while, they all piled back into the school and decided they wanted to do a skit. I heard them talking about it, and having performed it many times myself, I jumped at the chance to "act out!" If anyone knows what "Doctor's Office" is then you will understand the hilarity that ensued. Let's just say it is about a very contagious and odd series of patients, one poor guy who caught everything, and a pregnancy scare! For my part, I had a fever - dance fever!

Ron spent some time the students after that in worship, while Brenda, Jen, Jitka, and I began to prepare pizzas. That's right, I can now also make homemade pizza! Amazing, I know. I being "domesticated." I was actually a little surprised at the amount of time I have spent in the kitchen. Honestly, I was even a little discouraged. I really thought that coming here on my own I would be able to step out and do more and I understand that things are different because of the week. But I expected to do more things with the group, even though I would be here for a longer amount of time. I was even a little offended - I came all the way from the States to cook for everyone. I mean, don't they know who I am at home? But God really smacked on the head with that attitude. I caught the end of Ron's message to the kids and God spoke right to me through Him. I am here to help the Barnes family in any way I can and if that means cooking up food or anything else they ask, I have to keep the right heart attitude. I just began praying that I would spend my time here focusing on doing everything for the glory of God, no matter what the task. Even if I never helped or impacted one Czech person while I am here, which I certainly hope I do, I will do my best to help the Barnes which will in turn help the locals. Even if I have to be behind the scenes I am willing to be a stage hand for the sake of Christ. God doesn't work to meet our expectations and thank goodness He does not. How limited we would make things! He has much great plans than we could ever construct and one day we will see the fruits of our labor, whether cooking pizza or ministering to a foreigner.
And hey, now I can cook! Everyone always says the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!