If you were looking for a routine, classic blog post, I don't think you will find it here... although, I am not sure if any of the weeks are ever normal; but I promise, there is a routine to what could be easily mistaken for chaos. There was so much that happened these past weeks, and I wish we could sit together over a cup of coffee so I could share each memory with you; however, I hope you get the gist of it all here and enjoy the stories!
A couple weekends ago, our Elim Team took a trip to visit a team building specialist and worked together on multiple different activities as we spent the weekend getting to know each other deeper. I was reminded that this team and the many half-leaders we have at Elim are so necessary in the gifts and talents each bring as we share God's love and time with a wide variety of kids.
Team Time
English Classes with the kids have recently consisted of practicing telling time - which is already a difficult task for kids this age in their native language; yet, my superstar students were up for the challenge! Autumn days are becoming more rainy and cold, but I know it is a gift from God that each Monday for English Class we have had great weather to continue going outside. I am praying that even with the time change we will be able to get outside for a bit before it gets colder - these kids definitely need outdoor activities as they are normally sitting in class all Monday before coming to English lessons. I am definitely loving the time with this group of kids as well as my adult English Class (both are very different in class dynamics, but the desire to learn English is represented consistently in the students).
Time Freeze Tag
"What Time is it Mr. Fox?"
Last Monday, I was invited back to Benesov School (I was there the previous year) to be a part of their Halloween Fun Day. Halloween is not celebrated in Czech, but the kids know about it from American movies and from studying British culture in school. The English teacher at the school asked me to come and talk about Halloween in America. Naturally, we practiced knocking on doors and saying "Trick-or-Treat!," learned a pumpkin rhyme, made ghost candies, shared costume ideas, and played a game where the students had to say "Boo!" (Czechs say "Buff!" instead of "Boo!"). The best part was simply spending the time with the kids. Between classes they asked me to play games with them, exhausted all my Czech language ability in conversation, and even invited me to join them at their lunch tables!
Thank You Pictures and Gifts from Benesov Students
Candy Ghosts
Club times have been active and exciting with the large attendance of girls! A couple years ago, we would traditionally see only a couple girls during club times... it was miraculous when we would have five; but now, we are seeing more and more little girls come to club as they are inviting friends and becoming connected with Elim. We have undoubtedly played hours of Hide-n-Seek, made some artsy crafts, participated in club competitions, and a couple of the girls have really enjoyed following their older brothers around club until the brothers beg me to start another round of Hide-n-Seek! :)
With 10 Girls at Club!
Watch a video including clips from English Class, club, church, youth group, and more here!
Undercover Agents
Training Our Agent Senses
One of my favorite moments during the Agent 007 trip was when we went on our midnight mission to the forest. It was so dark that at one time I asked the people around me where one of my little agents was only to see a small hand appear right in front of my face... the little agent was standing literally under my nose! Even in the dark, I tried to keep track of my group; however, during the mission one of my group agents came up from behind me. I was surprised since I thought all the agents were in front of me... I found out this agent had climbed one of the forest trees and was hiding up there for half of the midnight quest! We regrouped as a whole team after we got the airsoft guns in the forest. As we all gathered back together, one of the agents declared, "Hey guys! I found a cat!" It is amazing how much interest our agents had in the cat rather than the airsoft guns that we came for. "Oh! Where's the cat?", "Can I pet her?", "How did you find a cat in the dark?" Even though the friendly kitten slightly distracted some of the agents from the mission at hand, she was frequently welcomed as she found our team in the park throughout the day.
Friendly Mini-Mascot
Elim Leaders During Agent Training
To end Fall Break, we took a group of kids from our Bible Class to a Christian Youth Conference in Prague! There were about 600 kids at the conference total. We spent the days playing team games, participating in workshops, listening to seminars, going to worship chapels, wandering around city gardens on walks, and meeting kids from churches all around the country. I quickly made friends with a couple of little girls in my room. One of the little girls greeted me with a hug after I re-entered the room (I had been gone at the bathroom or at lunch...); I was again reminded how love truly is a universal language since I had known this little girl for less than 24 hours and could already see God's love through this new little friend.
Letovice Bible Class in Prague
On the last night of the conference, we had an extra worship session. I had mistakenly thought that since it was only worship, I could finally join my group of girls in the front rather than sitting in the back with translators. After some songs, a speaker stepped onto the stage. I thought maybe the speaker would talk for a couple minutes as an interlude between songs... 20 minutes later I realized my ideas about the worship service weren't as accurate as I thought. As I stood there unbeknown to anything that was being said, I decided to look around to see how others were reacting to the message (mainly so I could give the speaker something other than a confused look on my face). It was then that I noticed over half the people around me were in tears and four of the little girls I was with had rivers running down their cheeks! Initially, I was even more confused and wondered what the speaker could possibly be saying, but then God whispered on my heart "Start praying... and start hugging." I grabbed two of my girls and they cried into my shoulders as the speaker concluded and the music started up again. As the song continued, I gently moved the two girls together and before I could turn to put my arm around a third girl, her head had already hit my shoulder. I pulled the fourth girl into my arms and stood there holding onto the little girls and praying as I could see God was clearly working in their lives. (I actually didn't know the fourth girl, but recognized her because her youth group was sleeping in the same room as us... I found out her name after she had finished crying.) Later, the girls asked me why I wasn't crying during the service. When I told them I still have no idea what was said, they laughed and said something like "We are glad you didn't understand because then you could just focus on helping us!"
"Oh. Now I get it, God."
Old and New Little Friends
Watch a short video about the youth conference here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IeEiiBrhiw&t=1s