Saturday, July 31, 2010

The adventures continue...

It's 12:25am.
Today is Saturday.
...the day that all the Czech students arrived.
And in all seriousness, IT. WAS. FANTASTIC.
I had already thought of expectations in my head of how today was going to play out, and to my relief, God took those and threw them out the window. These kids are so great. Now, I say kids, but some are as young as 14, and others are 20 and older...even married, training to be nurses, doctors and teachers...coming to an english camp, where an insignificant team of people get to be apart of that opportunity.
Sounds like a blessing to me.
Each of us here shares a room with a Czech, except for the boys, who have 5 or 6 to a room. I have the privilege of sharing a room with an 18 year old girl named Tereza. Although tonight is just the first night, and she's asleep in the bed next to me, I have a feeling like this is going to be such an amazing opportunity. She has never been to English camp before, and has no friends here. She follows me around, and waves to me from across the room when we're not together. Take all those different scenarios, and it forms into an amazing opportunity to share the love of Christ!
I am personally so blessed to be here, and although homesickness has kicked in at times from thinking, or reading letters from my sisters, being tired and weariness has overcome, or trials have come my way, I can rest in the fact that this opportunity is unlike anything else, and God has provided it for a specific purpose. As the 10 of us from Salem Heights met this morning for a meeting, we were throughly encouraged by the fact that we can pray at anytime to our Heavenly Father, and he can and will provide everything we need. It's so easy for us to be able to come to Him with any concern or need we have!
2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."
Continue to pray for us, as English classes start tomorrow at 9:00am. We are confident of the fact that God will continue to provide the strength and the energy to keep us on our feet.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement, and we look forward to seeing you all soon!
In Him and FOR HIM, Caley and crew

Friday, July 30, 2010

We made it to Pocernice!

Wow.
What a day!
Let's see...where do I even begin?
This morning was the day all the groups left for their English Camp destination. Ours happened to be on the other side of the Czech Republic, so we knew we had a long day ahead of us. We left Malenovice at 8:45 this morning, to make it to our first train ride at 9:10. I came to realize throughout the day, that trains can be pretty intense. Especially when you have 10 minutes to make it to the next train, or when people don't know that deodorant exists, or when you miss your train, or when it's so packed you have to stand for an hour in the hallway. Nevertheless, today was an adventure for sure. After 3 train rides, 1 car ride, 2 bus rides, and almost 3 mile UPHILL hike, (all consisting in the span of 10 hours) we finally made it. Not to mention, we started out our hike in the parking lot of a cute little town at about 2,500 feet. Ending our hike at camp, it was 3,600 feet. Imagine us, as we're able to see our breath it's so cold...but at the same time it's humid, we're sweating like there's no tomorrow, and we're laughing at the fact that we can't do anything about it. We stumble our way up the mountain, and finally make it to our destination; Exhausted, but alive.
God is so good, and definitely provided the strength and energy and patience to make it through today. :)
Thankfully, we have internet connection here at camp, so I'll be able to update every evening, as time and free times allows.
Tomorrow the Czech students arrive around 2pm, so you can be specifically praying for them! Pray that we'll be able to connect with them on a personal level, and that even now, their hearts will be open to the Word. You can aslo be praying that we will be able to be full of energy and have everything organized and figured out before they get here.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers. They are more encouraging than you realize!
Bye for now, but we will see you in a little less than 2 weeks!
In Him, Caley and crew

"Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ."
-I Corinthians 15:57

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Pictures so far...

View from my room!

Town in Prague...so pretty!

:)

Here we go, headed by bus to Malenovice, after flying for 25 hours:)

London from the plane.

The plane from London to Prague.

Tired? I think yes.

The crew, waiting in the London airport.

We're HERE!

Here we are! Safe and sound in Malenovice, Czech Republic!
It's 7:30am on Wednesday morning in Oregon, but here in Czech it's 4:30pm...how weird is that?
Let me just start off by saying, God is so good!
We arrived here yesterday around 11pm, after having traveled for 28 hours, and then some. Both of our flights were very smooth, with no problems...we even got to fly through two sunrises! Just being here in a a new country is so different. the whole atmosphere is all new. Not bad at all, just different, and I think it may take us awhile to adjust to the culture. The toilets, the food, the foggy and rainy weather, the thick accents of the Czech people speaking English, the fact that I'm 9 hours ahead of you right now, and everything in between.
We started off the morning with a chapel service, and it was really great. Instead of all of us 45-50 students gathering together for a message, Nate (the guy in charge) had us go off by ourselves and just spend a good half an hour with the Lord, to prepare and make sure our hearts were right before we really got started. By myself, I was able to read through the book of Philippians, and it was just so encouraging and reassuring to know that God IS faithful and will provide me the strength, even when times are harder or when I'm feeling anxious. GOD KNOWS, and knowing that has and will get me through. After awhile, we got to practice the English part of camp, and learn more about the history and culture of Czech itself. After that we broke up into our Camp teams, and got to know each other as individual groups. Along with the 10 people from Salem Heights, we're working with Rob and Audrey, as well as 6 interns from across the United States, and two Czech students as translators. As soon as we get to the camp location, we'll meet up with 20 other students from the Czech youth group, that will also be working with us. It's a really great group and I'm really excited to see what God is going to do, not only through us, but also in us.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers! Siera is struggling a little bit with her stomach, so you can be praying specifically for that. The rest of us are healthy, although we're all dealing with being tired and trying to adjust, which is understood:) God knows, and will give us the strength and get through! Pray that our hearts will continue to stay right, and that we'll be able to bring others to know our wonderful Savior!
Thank you all for the support and prayers, and I'll continue to update as often as I can!
Ps: pictures are coming too!
In Him, Caley and crew

Friday, July 23, 2010

It's almost time!

Czech Republic Missions Trip, 2010.
It's almost here!
In two days, we will actually be in Prague, Czech Republic!
God is so good, and we're so thankful to be able to have this opportunity to serve Him.
Be praying for us! Specifically for safe travels, right hearts, and most importantly, that the gospel will be spread.

Thanks for all your support and we're excited to see what the Lord is going to do!

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then I said "HERE AM I, SEND ME!" -Isaiah 6:8

In Him and Him alone, Caley and crew