Update 21 from Prague: Čas sklizně/ Harvest Time

Dear family and friends;

After a very encouraging time visiting family and friends in the U.S., we returned to begin our 5th year of ministry in the Czech Republic. It’s been hard for us to reconcile life in the US with life in the Czech Republic–they feel like two very different worlds–but God has slowly shown us that these two places are integrated in us though they are distinct. So far, we have seen relationships flourish, though we’ve struggled to not be swallowed whole by our schedule as a family. This year already feels like a harvest time of close relationships, service and God’s presence in Prague. Spiritually, our invitation has been to “dwell in the house of the Lord” (Psalm 23) and be present to the needs of others.

Josh is teaching “Ethics and Leadership” and early on in the semester he challenged his students to envision how they would want their lives to be remembered 70 years from now. They had to answer questions such as: What virtues will you have developed? What will you have contributed to the lives of others? What ‘bigger work’ do you want to give yourself to? The next week after class, an Israeli student stuck around until everyone was gone. She told Josh a story about how she called an ambulance and accompanied a very drunk fellow student (whom she did not know) to the hospital and stayed with her until late in the evening. She was taken aback when a nurse asked her, “Why are you wasting your time on a drunk Mexican?” The student felt bad for not knowing how to answer that surprising question in the moment. She was told she had to leave, but came back the next morning to pick the student up. She told Josh that his challenge in class and the Jewish new year (Rosh Hashanah) sparked reflection in her about the life she wanted to live and that motivated her to help this student she did not know. They talked about God’s judgment and mercy and how her example to that nurse (and that student) were her words in response to the nurse’s callous question.

The beginning of semester celebrations were a reminder of great relationships with colleagues Josh has built at AAU. One (pictured) recently told Josh, that he and his (this colleague's) brother were the two people that made him realize that being intellectual and Christian are compatible. This colleague calls himself an atheist, but he and Josh's friendship has delved into deep theological discussions and experiences.

The kids are off to a good start to the school year, and Anna is teaching 7th and 8th grade English, 6th grade Bible, and after-school ballet classes. One highlight this year is that Anna is teaching two of our kids: Collier in 8th grade English and Caleb in 6th grade Bible. She has the opportunity to interact with them in their school environment everyday and has seen a different side of them with their friends and in an academic setting. Anna has students from a variety of countries and religions and loves to introduce them to contemplative Christian practices, spiritual disciplines, and, as the Bible Project puts it, “the unified story of the Bible that leads to Jesus.”

Anna's classroom

Our involvement in the Ukrainian community continues every Friday. We are praising God that the husband of one of our dear friends, Ana, was able to legally leave Ukraine and join his family here in Prague. We were flooded with gratitude this morning watching their whole family sit together in the pew at our church. Here are a few pictures of the weekly ballet classes and the Bible study and discussion time between moms/grandmothers:

One thing that has been especially hard for us here has been consistent intentional fellowship with other followers of Christ. Thankfully, our church here, St. Clements, has been growing, not so much in terms of numbers, but in opportunities for spiritual depth. Josh just returned from a guided silent retreat outside of Prague that provided both nourishment as well as fellowship. We had people from South Korea, Ukraine, India, the US and Nigeria attending and worshiping together. Josh is continuing a men’s fellowship group with some Czech friends here and you can pray that this becomes more consistent. Josh and these friends are joining some German followers of Christ in a couple weeks on a retreat. Anna has found a spiritual director as well and we are both thankful for faithful people who help us listen to God and encourage us in our ministry.

St. Clement's spiritual retreat Josh attended

Thank you all for your generous support of us and your continued prayers this year! Peace be with you all.

Love,

Anna, Josh, Collier, Caleb, Joseph and Abigail