Uniquely Normal

This past week was packed with activities and filled with memories.  I find it almost strange because there are moments in each day I find myself feeling that this is normal to be in Czech and doing this work, and in the next moment I am reminded of how unique an experience it is to be here and how I treasure each day!  I think it is good combination to feel so welcomed and a part of this place that it is normal, but also reminded in many moments the uniqueness of it all.

Last Monday for Children's English, I taught a lesson on "Hair," and the students learned a variety of hair styles and how to describe their own hair.  It was exciting having a Hair Model Competition and creating rotating hairstyles on clear cups!

Working on Projects

In Adult's English this week, I taught lessons on "Family" and "Emotions."  We had conversations about our families, created family conflicts with pipe-cleaner dolls, had sentence structures for emotions, and guessed the emotions of others in the class through a game - just to name a few activities.  I am always amazed with the amount of vocabulary that is written on the board by the end of the evening as these students continue studying English!

Monday Adult Class 

This week we got a new trampoline for club! (The one from last year had broke at the end of last summer.)  Some of the leaders and I from club worked together to build the trampoline on Wednesday so it would be ready for the kids on Thursday for club.  This trampoline will certainly get LOTS of use throughout the summer!

Finished Trampoline 

This week on club was a normal week filled with Nerf wars, soccer matches, trampoline jumping, dodgeball, water balloon fun, some craft activities, and just hanging out.  I think it is wonderful to be at club because with each time I am at Plan B, I seem to meet someone new!  Children bring friends and classmates to join in on all the fun activities club offers.  Since I am studying Elementary Education, I see multiple benefits Plan B Club offers for kids as an after-school option - they make friends of many different ages, participate in active games and sports, spend time relaxing away from schoolwork, work cooperatively with each other, parents feel comfortable allowing their children to go to club, and the children hear about other activities that happen at the church while connecting with Christian leaders!  I don't think it gets much better than this! :) 

 

Club Activities 

On Friday, I taught ReStart Club (Elementary Youth Group).  We did a lesson on the Wise and Foolish Builders in the Bible who built their homes on sand and on rock.  I connected it with the story of the Three Little Pigs - a familiar story to Czech children also - and we acted out the story of the Three Little Pigs, then played multiple other games to connect the story with the Bible parable.  The children were able to see the moral of the Three Pigs right away, and once they related it to the Wise and Foolish Builders story, they were able to better understand the lesson Jesus was teaching in this parable.  We also had Youth Group Friday evening at the sports field!  We played soccer and volleyball and just had a fun time spending the evening with friends. 

Youth Group at the Soccer Field 

On Sunday mornings, I have the priviledge of being a part of the oldest Sunday School Class!  I love being with these kids because many of them I have known for years and watching them apply the Bible to their lives is heart-warming.  Every Sunday after church, we have the church cafe open and many people stay for conversation and coffee.  After a lesson on "Serving Others," this Sunday School Class brainstormed the idea of serving the people at the cafe for one Sunday.  They did an amazing job today preparing treats, serving drinks, taking orders, decorating tables, and serving for God's glory - and I LOVED watching their excitement through it all!

Sunday School Class Ready to Serve

Thank you all so much for your continual prayers as I am in Czech!  Recently, there have been a handful of health concerns and injuries that I have heard of and seen - so prayers for the health of these few people would be greatly appreciated also.  This next week should be similar to the last, so I am excited for more fun experiences and time with kids!