This weekend, my heart overflowed with joy as I watched 3,000 middle school and high school students gather together and worship our Savior at the District-Blitz Conference in Duluth. Many speakers came to the conference to give 10 minute talks to the students surrounding the topic of Real Faith. Multiple of the speakers also had seminars that extended on their ten minute talks to further share their love of God with these young adults. A pastor I know well asked me weeks ago if I would be willing to come to the conference to give a five minute testimony to extend on his ten minute talk titled "Crazy Obedience" as well as further share a story about Czech in a part of his seminar time. I knew God provided this opportunity and I have not yet turned down a time to talk about the ways God is moving through Czech. So, God gave me the courage and the words to also stand in front of 3,000 teens and share how He called me to Czech and continues to pull me into a deeper love for the people I meet in Letovice.
First Night at District-Blitz
The first day at the conference, I ran into a friend who I attended college with. He was hard at work backstage and was great encouragement throughout the weekend. Even though I was only at the conference for Friday evening and Saturday, God created multiple "purposeful collisions" as I met people who have gone to Czech, others who have siblings or friends at my university, and even a couple of people who grew up in the same small town as me! In meeting numerous adults and students who I could so easily talk with and connect with, it encouraged me to remember that we are essentially one large family with the ultimate connector of Christ.
With my Friend Backstage
After my five minute interview on stage, an eighth grade girl boldly walked up to me and introduced herself. She explained that God has called her to learn Arabic, but she did not know why He has called her to do so. All she knew was that she would not have signed up for an Arabic class if she did not first feel the call from God to do so. She wanted to let me know that the words God had given me to speak had encouraged her to know that all she needs to do is obey the calling that God gives her, and He will move through the obedience. The girl said that knowing God called me seven years ago to Czech and continued to build on that calling to give me a passion encouraged her to simply trust God with this first step in obedience. This was my prayer before I walked on stage - Lord, let others be encouraged through the words you give me to take a step of obedience in what You are calling them to do. This eighth grade girl was also an encouragement to me as it was God showing me the answer to this prayer.
Worship at the Conference - I am waiting backstage!
Just over a week ago, my parents and I went down to Chicago so that I could go to the Czech Consulate to apply for my visa! Trying to get in touch with the embassy before I arrived proved to be a challenge in itself, but I finally got to talk to a person at the consulate the day before I flew into Chicago. I had misunderstood some previous information I had found and was unaware of the need for a scheduled appointment at the consulate. When the lady at the consulate told me they were booked with appointments for the three days I would be in Chicago, I sent a desperate prayer to God and asked the consulate representative if there was any way to come by one of the three days. She responded by saying "Oh! Actually, we just had a cancelation for the day you arrive." The appointment was set for just a couple hours after our flight landed that morning, and I know it was God aligning each detail into place. We are still working on one last part of the necessary documents for the visa application before it can be approved, so please continue to pray for the visa process!
In Chicago with Mom
Chicago by Night from Our Hotel Room
While I was in Chicago, I received a message from the Czech youth pastor saying "The girls are waiting for you!" I loved seeing all their crazy, sweet faces and the faces of some girls I have not met yet! It is amazing to think that only about one or two girls attended club consistently just a couple years ago, and now these eight delightful girls have become regular attenders. God is certainly on the move!
Can't Wait to See These Crazy Girls