Neighbor Thoughts

About three weeks ago our neighbor started come over daily - the one I've written about before here and here.

Each time it was to say something about a woman she called "Pani [Mrs.] Muchova". I didn't fully understand what the context was, or why she was telling me about her, so just smiled and nodded as she talked.

When Dave got home from the States a week later, she came to talk with him about Pani Muchova too. And even he didn't quite understand who she was, or why our neighbor was telling us about her. All she kept saying to both of us was, "You know her...she knows you".

But neither of us know who she is talking about!

Last week she came over every day while Dave and Caleb were away...and most times wanted to tell me about something that she is making for Pani Muchova. Each time she asked if I thought she would like it, to which I replied, "I'm sure she will"...but thinking to myself, "I really don't know what to say since I don't even know this person!"

On Monday this week, she showed up at our door again with this in her hands:

I don't know how well you can see it, but it's a beautifully hand-crafted needlepoint.

She was giddy like a little girl, showing it to me. She repeatedly asked me if I thought it was ugly (all the while wanting me to tell her it was beautiful!), and if I thought it was okay to give to Pani Muchova. I assured her it was beautiful and that I thought Pani Muchova would appreciate it (though I honestly have no idea if she is religious and would enjoy a needlepoint of Mary and Jesus as a child).

As soon as I had given her my thoughts, she folded it up and put it into my hands saying, "Good...then you can take it to her!".

*GULP* I was literally speechless!

"Ummm...you want me to give it to Pani Muchova?? I...I...uh...think I will have to wait...until Dave gets home...is that okay?"

She assured me it was...and then walked away, smiling to herself.

So this mystery is not solved! I still have no idea who Pani Muchova is, where she lives, or how we will deliver this needlepoint to her!

Hopefully there will be an update to this story as soon as Dave gets home and we figure out who this mystery woman is.

Global Mission

Dave called at 11:30 last night to check in...glad I was still up talking with Caleb!

He's at Master's College in California right now, speaking for their mission's conference. Yesterday morning he spoke on Matthew 28 and the Great Commission. It's a familiar passage - one that's probably been preached on at many mission's conferences!

But he took it a step further by challenging the student body...on the very first day of mission's conference! His question to them was:  Will you decide to personally engage in God's global mission?

He then gave them practical ideas of how to do that right now, while they're still in college. He told them they can: 

• decide to give, even on a college student's budget
• pray every morning during their quiet time for a missionary or place in the world
• go on a short term trip in the summer 
• commit right now to the long haul of missions, even if they don't know where God will send them.

When he asked for them to stand if they were making some sort of commitment to God's global mission, over half of the students, at least 400, stood!

Throughout the rest of the day, the mission's booths were flooded with students. Mission reps said that students were coming to them saying, "I've decided to engage in God's global mission - what should I do next?" They said it's a totally different atmosphere than it was at last year's conference.

The difference? They said it was because the speaker gave a challenge! Way to go Dave!

There will very likely be people on the mission field for the long haul because of yesterday...that's awesome!

One side note. As Dave was standing at the Josiah Venture booth, an older couple walked by. They glanced at him as they passed, and then came back over to him just moments later. Their first words: "We've known you since you were a baby!"

The Grays, missionaries with New Tribe Missions, were in the Philippines when Dave's parents were there back in the 1960's. They were married there just three months after Dave's parents (in fact, they said they used the same ceremony as Dick and Margaret had, just changed the names!), and then spent years working among the tribes in the Philippines. Dave's mom and dad who were working with American GI's, would take their guys up into the jungle to visit this couple to see what they were doing!

And now, here they are in their 80's at Master's College mission's conference! Very cool small world - and very cool missionaries!

Dave has one more session tomorrow morning with the student body - I'm praying it will seal into their hearts the decisions that they've been led to make this week, and that they'll act on those decisions for the sake of God's Kingdom!

My Boy's Back

 I don't know if you can read anything on the sign in the picture below...

It's saying that every train coming into the Ostrava Svinov train station is late...which was a bummer since Caleb was on one of those trains!

He flew back from the States yesterday (arriving in Prague this afternoon), after a whirlwind trip with Dave, checking out colleges last week. They had a great time together and he's fairly certain which school he'd like to go to now...more on that in another post though!

Thankfully his train was only 30 minutes late (there was one on the board when I got there that was already 3 hours late...glad he wasn't on that one!). It was good to see him walk through the doors, safe and sound back in Czech. At least for now!

It won't be long before it's time for him to head off to college like Tyler did two years ago. This is one of those times when it just doesn't seem possible that my boys are all grown up!

Chinese in Poland

Claire and I headed over to a mall in Poland this evening to celebrate the birthday of Kelsey, one of our JV kids who lives there.

As we came into the food court, we were surprised by a new option...take-out Chinese! For most of you that might be an every day, run of the mill, not so spectacular find.

But for us, it was noteworthy!

This little fast food Chinese place in a Polish mall, had some really tasty Chinese food. You even got to select your own amazing, fresh ingredients to go into your dish!

And, it came in this cute little take-out carton!

Oh, and there were chopsticks available for the adventurous. I'm impressed!

After fully relishing in the goodness of surprise take-out Chinese, we met up with Kelsey and friends at Coffee Heaven...okay, now we're really living it up! It's a new coffee place that's come into this mall - something similar to SB. Happy times!

Lauree, Emily and Hayley came over from Czech and picked up Kelsey and Jillian, who live in Poland, to meet up for this little birthday gathering...so fun!

After some yummy coffee and a little shopping, it was a happy group who posed at the fountain for me!

Happy Birthday to Kelsey...and thank you Lord for good surprises!

Girl Week

With Dave and Caleb gone to the States, it's a girl week around our house. And that means some girl food!

Not to say guys don't or can't eat what we've been cooking! It's just not the regular fare we have around our house when they're here.

Last night I made risotto...the real deal! I made it with arborio, an Italian short grain rice, and stood at the stove cooking it "hands on" for the 17 minutes it took to completion...that's my kind of a meal!

Seriously, this was a taste of heaven in a bowl!

 

The recipe came from one of my new favorite cookbooks - everything I've made from here has been "benissimo"!

If you don't want to run out and buy the cookbook, but want the recipe, let me know!

One Hundred and Ten

The Exit Tour finished up last week in Nitra, Slovakia.

But not before ONE HUNDRED AND TEN young people responded to the Gospel! This is unprecedented!

Please...take a moment to pray for these new believers: that they will stand firm in their decision, that they will be folded into a local church where they can be nurtured in their young faith, and that this will result in transformed lives to the glory of God!

The Exit tour is in Presov, another Slovak city, this week - pray for an outpouring of God's blessing there too!

Exceptionally Beautiful

We are in the midst of a beautiful fall! I couldn't resist taking the camera out today to capture its beauty. Enjoy a little window into my world!