Thankful Beyond Measure

It was my first Thanksgiving outside of the United States, yet this Thanksgiving I believe I realized in so many more ways how thankful I am for God's blessings in my work here.  Just looking at the faces of these kids and friends, my thankfulness and love for each of them grows!  

At Kid's English Class, we continued to practice directions, and my all-star students were FANTASTIC at following Cardinal Directions in English!  They worked with partners to follow three-step directions.  I had thought the activities would be challenging for some of the students, but I found myself reaching for the six-step maps as partners raced toward me saying "More! Harder!" (I was really happy I had made some challenging maps as they were needed for this group!)  We recently started working on writing sentences and using some of the vocabulary we have been learning to create friendly letters that we are planning to share with some American students in hopes to connect cross-culturally with English as the bridge.  I want the students to already begin seeing the value of learning English and applying it to a real-life situation, like writing letters.  

Following Directions

Spinning Compasses

Each week, I also get to help with our Kid's Bible Study.  We have been studying the gospel of Mark and really trying to help the students connect the scripture to their lives and be able to recall the stories.  The best way that I know how to do this is by playing games that encourage the kids to perform a task or challenge that relates to the Bible stories, so I have been creating the activities for the Bible Study time.  In our last topic, we looked at the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000.  For the game, the students all represented disciples who had to deliver the bread to all the people. They had to race around crowds of people (the cones) with a tray (filled with imaginary bread) and race back to pass of the tray to the next disciple and return in line again (each student had to go five times to deliver bread since there were many hungry people waiting to eat).  It is wonderful being able to watch these kids connect the stories they read about in Mark to their lives and through these games as well!

Disciples Racing to Deliver Bread

When people ask me "why did you decide to live in Czech?,"  I can give many different answers of the ways I felt and heard God calling me to this country, because His hand is clearly on this mission.  Yet, my answer to this question could simply be pictures of these little faces as these kids are so much of the joy I have in serving here and how I know God has me in the right place.  It's so easy to see how investing in this generation of kids impacts everyone.  One of the girls who I see on average three times a week found out I will be going back to Minnesota for two weeks for Christmas, to which she responded with, "But Kendra, I will be sad when you are gone..."  Some of these kids I haven't known for long, but they certainly have captured my heart!  I am so thankful and blessed to be able to share God's love with them and get to be a part of their lives.

Artsy Time at Club

With the Girls

Club Time

Our Boskovice Club has been going really well as we are getting to know the group of kids who are consistently attending.  We do many of the same activities each day: Hide-n-Seek in the dark, foosball, card games, and Nerf Wars.  I have worn through at least three socks from sliding around the floor at club while dodging behind sofas in Nerf Wars!  Since we are really getting to know these kids, we thought it would be great to have a sleepover club in Boskovice.  We played games late into the night and watched movies until the sun was up.  During the night, we also grouped together and told the kids why we do this youth club.  Even after two months of being with them, many of the kids still didn't know we are Christians, so we shared a bit of our faith with them as well.  I talked about how God called me to Czech and it is because of my faith that I came to this country to spend time with them.  The kids seemed to understand that without our belief in God, this youth club would likely not exist.  We are praying for more opportunities to share God's love with these kids, yet we are so thankful  to be connecting with this group and building relationships in Boskovice!

Sleepover Group

Being thankful this week just seemed natural as I was surrounded by many reminders of Thanksgiving.  One friend came to our adult class on Tuesday carrying a Pumpkin Pie!  She said "I spent the afternoon studying American recipes to make this pie for you because I think it is something you would normally eat this week."  I was ecstatic!  The surprises didn't stop there though as the youth pastor and his wife surprised me by making (and I quote) "the biggest chicken we could find at the store!" (We don't eat much turkey here.)  Thursday night is our Bible Study night, and we feasted.    It was the perfect Thanksgiving being surrounded by friends.  

Pumpin Pie Surprise

Thanksgiving :)

The Lord has definitely given me so much to be thankful for, and I am truly thankful for each of you who support, encourage, and pray for me while I am in the midst of ministry here.  If being thankful is measured in the moments these friends and kids bring a smile to my face, I don't believe we will ever be able to calculate how deeply thankful I am!