Embracing What Life Brings Us: Update 4 from Prague

Schools and universities are closed and have moved online, all restaurants are temporarily shut down, the gates of some parks are locked, churches are not meeting, and many have internalized the isolation, fear of the unknown and lack of control. Whatever they are feeling, people don’t show it here easily. Czechs have a long history of severe restrictions on daily life and a kind of toughness that has come from this suffering. The constant and daily changing information about Coronavirus stirs the feeling of uneasiness, chaos, and unrest in us as well. When we think of what the Lord is doing right now, “refuge” comes to mind; how can we be a home that lives with peace and comfort even as we feel the “cabin fever” and uncertainty of the outside world? How can we be people that bring a sense of refuge to others during this time? What a time for Lent!

We’ve felt a lot of emotions as we’ve longed to be there to help in Nashville after the tornado. Our house in East Nashville is fine, but it’s path was about a football field away and many neighbors and friends were directly affected. It has been so strange to see the devastation of familiar places, and though we can pray for our friends and city, it is hard to be so far away.

As Anglo-American University (AAU) closed its doors to students this week, Josh was asked by the president to take on a new responsibility there: to head a task force that would train and work with faculty to deliver online education for the rest of the semester. Ironically, I (Josh) am skeptical of online education, but I see this as an opportunity to serve colleagues in a really unique situation in this leadership role. The Lord always seems to bring the unexpected and calls us to trust. My new course, Leadership and the Self, has been a great opportunity to challenge students into exploration of what is good, true and beautiful in them; and how they can authentically engage others to change what is disordered and destructive in their communities and organizations. One of the most pleasant surprises at AAU has been the relationship I’ve developed with my boss (one of the VPs) Richard, who is Czech and grew up in Prague. There was an almost immediate connection and the depth of our conversations at work and at lunch have been encouraging. Richard has been really helpful in understanding the culture and history here and we have been a great team so far in our administrative roles.

From Advent (our last update) to the present national emergency, several relationships have been significant, and we have seen glimpses of God’s movement here in our spheres. There are now four followers of Jesus who are professors, including Josh, and we started getting together to pray for the campus and share our experience. When you remember us pray also for Ted, Angel, and Tomáš in their work and influence. At the same time, a small group of students at AAU has formed to encourage one another in Christ and invite others into the conversation. One of the students was in my class last semester and we’ve had a couple conversations about faith, church and student life. I have told them I will help them in any way they need.

I (Anna) have been meeting each week with a Czech woman named Petra and her one-year-old daughter, who has been really open with me about her life and her experiences as a new parent. I hope to be an encouragement to her as a fellow traveler a little bit farther down the road of parenting. I have also begun having playdates with another Czech mom (Kate) I met through Abigail’s ballet class. Another area where I have been developing relationships is in the dance community. I have started to get to know some of the women in my classes and before the coronavirus closures we were planning on getting together outside of ballet class. They are also begging me to teach a pointe class for them! Also, I performed with other professionals and retired professionals in the ballet Giselle March 3rd at a local theatre. Šárka, the woman who organized the performance, has a vision to reach out and do shows at theatres, libraries, and houses for seniors. I am excited to see how this unfolds as bringing the arts to a wider community is near and dear to my heart.

The kids are taking on this new reality creatively and are bonding together through it. It's sweet to walk into our living room and see our four children talking on the couch and trying to figure out what they will do with their time. What do you do with all their energy when nothing is open but the streets? They are tackling online school assignments well, but it is difficult to get them motivated when it’s at home. Tape, art supplies and new games are being introduced each day!

We are thankful for your friendship, prayers and support of us- it is certainly bearing fruit here! May the Lord be your refuge during this time, keep you safe, and give you ways to thrive even in the worldwide constraints brought by virus and storms.

Shalom,

The Haydens – Anna, Josh, Collier, Caleb, Joseph and Abigail

Please pray for:

· Anna and the kids as we have school at home and generally operate in a completely new way in our daily life.

· Thanks that Abigail has been able to attend a bilingual pre-school two days a week

· Thanks that we received our longer-term Visas in February

· Josh as he takes on a new role at AAU and that he would teach online with excellence

· For God to continue to grow and deepen our relationships here: pray for Richard, Ted, Angel, Tomáš, Petra, Kate and Šárka.

· That we will be able to return home this summer for a visit.

Abigail's pre-school class

Visit to St. Agnes Convent.

We found a great studio where the kids can be creative.

Our living room has really seen some improvements :)