Freedom and Democracy Day

Yesterday marked an anniversary here in the Czech Republic.

November 17, 1989 - the beginning of what became known as the "Velvet Revolution" in Czech...the downfall of Communism.

Crowds began to gather in Wenceslas Square on that November day in a student led demonstration, calling for the resignation of the country's communist government.

On November 28th, the government toppled, opening the way for a new era of freedom.

I happened to be in Prague yesterday, on this anniversary, standing on the same street where the demonstrations took place 22 years ago. It's hard to imagine that in this very spot stood thousands of people, putting themselves in harm's way in hopes of a better, freer future.

Their courage opened the way for us to come to the Czech Republic just four years later in 1993...with hopes for a better future for them too!

But as "Freedom and Democracy Day" is celebrated, it is a different sort of freedom that I hope for:  a freedom that comes through Jesus Christ, which leads to true hope and a better future.

This is my hope and prayer for this country that we now call "home".

**See HERE for my 25th anniversary post on the Velvet Revolution**

Claire's Corner

Claire's blog is more creative than anything I could come up with today!

Click over to Claire's Corner to read what she posted today!

Mystery of Pani Muchova

Heading into the apartment building, and up to the 7th floor in an elevator this afternoon, Dave and I wondered what was ahead of us.

 

Today was the day we said we'd go visit Pani Muchova, the subject of much discussion with our neighbor over the past month.

A few days ago we finally heard a bit more of the story behind this woman from our neighbor, but still didn't understand the errand she was sending us on: to deliver her needlepoint gift.

The things she told us were: Pani (Mrs.) Muchova is 93 years old, lives with her niece in Frydlant, is a believer, and at some point in our neighbor's life, has prayed for her and her brother. This gift was to thank her for those prayers.

When we arrived at the door, Pani Muchova's niece greeted us there. As we explained who we were and why we had come, she recognized who we were talking about (our neighbor), but wondered why she had made this gift for her aunt. We smiled, and told her we didn't exactly know, but that she asked us to deliver it and so here we are to do that! She warmly welcomed us in (what a dear lady she was), and took us in to meet her aunt.

Pani Muchova, who turned out to be a very sweet woman, was in the middle of her afternoon snack when we walked into the kitchen. She apologized for not getting up, and then wanted to know who we were. Dave got down on his knees to talk to her as she said she couldn't hear well, and began to explain the errand we were on, as well as who we were and what we do here.

Sadly, she didn't remember our neighbor, nor anything about a time that she might have prayed for them. But she had such a sweet look on her face as she told us to thank Danka for the gift.

We asked if we could take some pictures, and then if we could pray for her. When Dave asked if she had any specific requests she said, "I used to have such a good memory, but now I can't remember things and it disturbs me and makes me sad. You can pray that I would remember."

So Dave did, as well as prayed a blessing over her for having lived a faithful life.

While we still don't know much of her story (her niece did tell us that she started going to a Lutheran church in 1986, before Communism fell, when she was nearly 70 years old), we know that she once blessed someone with her prayers, and that someone (our neighbor) never forgot her.

It wasn't the end to this story that we expected. I thought we'd understand why we'd been sent there by our neighbor, or get more of the story filled in by Pani Muchova.

But I know that sometimes God just asks us to be obedient and faithful without understanding. When we all get to heaven someday, maybe it will make sense then!

If nothing else, I hope Pani Muchova was blessed by our neighbor's gift of love today.

Best Gift Ever

Last night a driver from the Ostrava airport showed up at our house with a much anticipated box.

My dad told me a month ago that he'd been working on a birthday gift to Dave and I for our 50th birthdays - I couldn't imagine at the time what it was! He finished it in time to mail (it weighed 20 pounds!) to Dave in California last week so he could bring it back home with him.

Unfortunately, somewhere between Los Angeles and Frankfurt, the box was misplaced by the airline. I was just sick when Dave told me he got to Prague and the box wasn't there. Though I didn't know specifically what was in the box, I knew it was going to be a treasure since my dad had lovingly handmade it...so I did some praying over that box for the next two days! Praise the Lord, they located it and that's the box that was delivered safely to our door last night.

At the top of the box were three letters written by my dad - one each for Dave and I, and another one written to the two of us. You can't imagine how precious those letters are!! They were words of blessing from my dad that I will honestly hold in my heart for the rest of my life.

After reading those precious letters, it was on to finding out what this special gift was!

It's an intricately crafted wooden treasure/jewelry/precious things box made completely by hand by my dad!

There were a few surprises...like a special note from my dad on the back of the drawer!

And a picture of my dad with the box at their house in Oregon (beside the matching lamp that I have here at our house!).

This gorgeous little chest is one that I will treasure forever! My dad told me on the phone last night that the special piece of wood he made it from was 20 years old! It's been through several moves, just waiting for the right project to use it for. I'm SO glad he thought we were worthy of its use!

Thank you DAD!!!! I love it...and even more, I love you!!

What Makes You Happy?

I was out Christmas shopping with a friend today...that makes me happy!

But another thing that makes me happy is a random act of kindness...like this:

A handwritten note in English, by a Polish girl at a coffee shop in a mall! That makes me happy!

11-11-11 at 11:11

How could I resist posting that as the title today?! And where was I on 11-11-11?

At one of the balls that we have come to know and love over these past few years!

It was Caleb's final ball after taking dance lessons again.

I'm glad we actually had a special event that fell on this "once in a lifetime" date!

Caleb's dance partner was Kristy, a girl from Claire's class at BMA.

Claire with Kristy, Hayley and Eva - BMA friends!

What a privilege to have my son lead me on the dance floor!

Amy was there too - fun to share this experience together again!

I love all the traditions of the ball - the guys lined up to give their dance partners a gift.

Dance competition - Caleb and Kristi were #11 tonight!

They did a great job!

An extra special gift of the evening - seeing our friend Katka, home from Scotland where she attends college!

Pavla and Katka are the sisters that we've known ever since we moved here 18 years ago. Katka, on the right, graduated from BMA, and Pavla, on the left, is in Caleb's class who graduates this year.

From every angle...a very special day and evening!

Eighteen and a Goodbye

Yesterday was the anniversary of our eighteenth year here in the Czech Republic!

I didn't remember until I was sitting in Dan and Laura Hash's living room last night, in the midst of a good-bye to some of our JV teammates (more on that in a sec).

All of a sudden I realized it was November 9th - the day we drove into the Czech Republic in 1993, to begin Josiah Venture.

Dan and Laura were with us that night in '93 - we'd driven together from Germany that day, leaving behind our previous life and ministry to embark together on the calling God had given to us. They drove into Poland the next day - thus JV began in the first two countries!

Eighteen years and twelve JV countries later, we "happened" to be together on our anniversary!

The occasion was a goodbye to dear teammates, Jay and Cameron Hughes.

Jay and Cameron came in the same way we did all those years ago...as pioneers, to open up a new country for JV.

Six and a half years ago they began a JV ministry in the Ukraine, and have served faithfully there with much fruit for the Kingdom. As God called them here, He is now calling them elsewhere. They left for Alabama today, where Jay will begin a new work as youth pastor in a church there.

It was a joyful celebration of their ministry and lives last night, as a number of us gathered to honor them and rejoice in what God has done in the Ukraine through them.

We will miss the Hughes' tremendously, but bless them as they go, knowing that God will continue to use them in the next place, as he has in the Ukraine! And...the ministry there will continue with our other two JV families who are faithfully serving there, the Williams' and Chmiels'.

As a side note...the team there in Ukraine is expanding. Ben and Kristy Williams had a baby boy just yesterday, and Chmiel's are expecting their second child in just a few weeks!