Well, they all continued to tell me that for years Czechs haven't seen much snow here in winter. At first, I didn't believe them since I grew up with enduring Minnesota winters for the past 22 years - where on some winter days, I half-expect to see a colony of penguins who have migrated to join us! Considering that Czech and Minnesota are very similar in latitude, I wasn't giving into the hope of a warmer winter. However, I was beginning to be convinced when I left for Christmas and it felt like spring here! Upon leaving Minnesota, I was looking forward to greeting the warmer, spring-like climate that I had left in Czech. I am completely certain I didn't have any spare room in my suitcase, but it seems I may have brought the snow back with me anyway. Needless to say, I am still looking forward to some winter sports and activities with the kids and friends! We had a mini-snowball fight as we were leaving club one day this week, and some of the kids went home looking more like snowmen than like bundled children!
View of the Snow from My Window
If you are a seasoned traveler, you probably have your own ideas of how to "beat jet-lag." However, if you are finding your system unsatisfactory, let me provide you with an alternative idea - volunteer with a youth club that is having a sleepover party! Upon arriving back to Czech, I essentially "played a joke" on my jet-lag as I used it to my advantage to stay up all night with a group of 40+ kids at our New Years Sleepover. While all the other leaders' energy began draining in the waking morning hours, I was ready for more games and lively activities! Unfortunately, the jet-lag finally caught up with me when I took the longest nap of my life the next day, but it was all worth it to be back with the kids that night.
New Years Party!
The New Years Party included tournaments, games, fireworks, sparkling juice at midnight, and a Mannequin Challenge! (Watch the Mannequin Challenge here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIm1_ooBzdA.) We also had some time to split into small groups to share a few testimonies and Bible stories. Each of the five leaders took a group and shared a "miraculous moment" from our own lives with the kids and then each group read a different miraculous moment from Jesus' life and shared it with the whole group. At first, I didn't know how the time in the small groups would go since many of the kids still had lots of energy to just be sitting and listening, but I could see how God was working through that time for His glory. As I continued sharing, I noticed the kids inch closer to hear. By the end of the story time, some of the kids were laying on their bellies with the heads propped up in their hands as they had wedged themselves between other group members as they intently listened. I know God was working through that time, and I pray He uses these stories to impact the kids.
New Years Fireworks
With a Couple Little Friends
These brothers come to my English Classes and have started coming to other club events more frequently! I was so excited to see them at the New Years Party, and I think they were excited as well as the younger one had a dozen stories to share and the older one greeted me with the biggest hug.
When playing with these girls, I never know what will happen. They asked if we could videotape our Jenga game... which didn't last long as that was the first block pulled from the stack! I paused the video right on the tower crash, and I think the expressions on everyone's face explains it all!
Watch a short video of the sleepover club here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rb-0WjVbj2E
Monday English Class was smaller as it was the kids' last day of their holiday break and returned to school the following day. Still, I wasn't about to cancel one of my favorite times of the week - so we did an easy day with some practice of colors in English and lots of games! We played Color Tag and I made an easy Mad Libs with colors that they all really enjoyed. Each student had to say their list of colors to a partner who wrote the colors on the paper. They then read their story that would be something like this...
In my city
the sky is purple
the grass is orange
the houses are pink
the water is red
etc.
Everyone found themselves giggling as we listened to our silly stories! (and from a teaching perspective, it was the perfect game as it involved reading, writing, listening, and speaking!) I had also brought back an interactive book that I was excited to share with the kids. It is called Press Here, and the kids have to follow the instructions on the page, like pressing the dots or shaking the book, to see what the dots do on the next page. It is great for learning to follow directions! After reading the book the first time, I had five puppy-eyed kids plead with me to read it again. After reading the book the second time, the kids took the book from me and said, "Kendra! Watch us... we can do it without you now!" So, I sat and watched as my all-star students followed each direction on the pages by themselves.
Matching the Colors
Reading Silly Color Stories
Press Here Book
Last week, I also had the privilege to visit a couple of my friends (who are sisters). The younger sister was in my first Children's English Class at LetFest five years ago, and we have stayed great friends since then! It has been hard to get together since this friend has been in the hospital frequently for chemotherapy due to leukemia. Even when she was at home, she generally couldn't have company. I saw her once over the summer, and was greatly pleased when she said she could see me again this past week because her treatments aren't so strong anymore! Yet, the strength this sweet friend shares is inspiring. Continue to pray for her as the doctors expect she will be in remission by June if everything continues to proceed!
Meeting with Friends
Our Bible Study for kids was small on Friday because of some illnesses and music classes that conflicted with the kids' schedules, but we still made the most of the time with the small group! Since it was a small group, we decided not to continue in Mark, rather we played review games that required the kids to remember the beginning stories in Mark that we learned. For my activity, I first sent them on a crazy scavenger hunt for items around the church. Then, I had the students use the items to reenact one of the stories we learned. I was impressed with their creativity in figuring out how they would use the materials!
Bible Class Retelling Activity
I am excited to see what the rest of this new year holds!