A Full Fall: Update 3 from Prague

In the past two months since our last update, we have celebrated two birthdays and a 14th wedding anniversary, finished an academic semester, had family visit us, and had a flu-like illness cycle through our family. We have lived in the tension between settling in and being reminded at times that we are still outsiders. The flurry of activity this fall has brought both a sense of encouragement and, at times, a sense of loneliness. It has become darker earlier (4pm to be exact) and much colder, yet we are finding hope in the people that the Lord has put in our path.

Early on in the semester, a Czech student waited behind after class because he wanted to tell me (Josh) something. I had just assigned an essay about tragedy and he slowly told me how he was dealing with the tragic loss of a good friend who died in a car accident early this year. He began to wonder out loud about wanting to believe in a personal God but not sure about it. Mostly I listened and asked questions. The after-class conversations have continued, and Marek has even come to our apartment for dinner. I’ve learned that his grandmother is a believer and that legacy of faith has stayed close to him. I was reminded this semester that often God wants us to love one at a time.

Being a foreign professor and administrator has brought both freedom to be different and also loneliness. The desire to belong, to prove oneself, and to achieve takes on a different complexion when you are left out of some conversations (because they are in Czech), searching for relatable examples and humor to a diverse group of students, and learning both culture and organizational politics. One class Josh taught had students from Italy, Ukraine, Kosovo, Serbia, Mexico, the U.S., Latvia, and Czech Republic. Teaching to such a “global” audience is constantly challenging and invigorating.

Anna has been meeting with a small group of women each week in Bible study and spiritual support. Anna has also connected with other women in her “New to Prague” group which gathers to share the challenges and opportunities of cross-cultural living. And, she has been surprised by a growing community in the women she takes ballet classes with. More than once Anna has gone to ballet to recharge after a tough day with the kids and returned home with stories of unexpected connection with the women she is getting to know there.

Our desire as a family to practice hospitality is also becoming a reality. We’ve had students over twice and it has been fun to see how our kids have welcomed and taken an interest in them. Kids can take the pretense and formality right out of the dynamic, and the students have loved it!

Collier turned 10 in November and as the one who has struggled the most with our transition, we wanted to encourage him and mark his passage into early adolescence. We had family and some friends write letters to him and Josh took him to the highest mountain in the Czech Republic on a “heart trip.” It was an unforgettable time of conversation about Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:21, and Psalm 73:26 complete with an icy adventure up Sněžka mountain. We read C.S. Lewis’ The Silver Chair and were amazed at all the connections between the story and the theme of what it means to guard one’s heart. There is so much in the story about not being deceived by the things we think will either make us content or help us escape our fear.

Christmas celebrations are alive and well in Prague. There are markets with manger scenes, Christmas trees and advent wreaths, and Christmas music playing in the stores. It’s interesting to be in a place where people are so highly skeptical of the institutional church, but yet highly wedded to certain church traditions. In late November Josh had an opportunity to interview the Bishop of Prague, a personal friend of the late Czech hero Vaclav Havel. Bishop Maly is highly respected as one of the leaders of the Velvet Revolution (we celebrated the 30th anniversary on the streets here in November), but also a man whose faith in Jesus influenced so many, including Havel. Maly led a crowd of 100,000 to recite the Lord’s Prayer during the Revolution in the spirit of radical forgiveness of communists. It’s hard to understand Czech culture without acknowledging the deep wounds from 40 years of communism. It was an honor to meet a man who along with others have long been a faithful presence here.

The Advent season has come with some homesickness for us all. One oversight we made was not bringing any of our Christmas decorations, in particular the ones that are special to us and have marked our family rituals and traditions. It was a reminder of how our memories are often tied to the things we use together. Anna’s parents, Joe and Carol, came to visit and were a welcome gift of family as we explored Prague with them. It was so good for us to have them get to experience our ‘world,’ attend school Christmas programs, shoot a crossbow, and walk a LOT in the cold.

What’s ahead? Our first Nashville visitors come late this month. We are excited to show them Prague! Next semester Josh is teaching a new class he has designed at AAU called “Leadership and the Self” and he is excited at the opportunity to introduce more courses and seminars in leadership. We have been praying about school options for Abigail and have just received word there may be an opening at a preschool that has been recommended to us. We are looking forward to more visitors in 2020 as well as a visit to the U.S. in the summer.

We read a study that recently came out in the Czech Republic citing the professions that make well below minimum living expenses, and among them: professors. We are so grateful for all our supporters. Should you feel led to include us in your year-end giving, your gift would specifically make sending Abigail to preschool a possibility for us. The link to give is here.

Our prayers are that the Lord would continue to develop the relationships mentioned in this update and open our eyes to what He is actively doing here. We have so much to be thankful for and our family is growing together and deepening our faith. This Advent, we remind ourselves to wait for the light to grow as each advent candle is lit – for we know ‘our Light has come…”

Peace and blessings to you this Christmas and Advent season. We miss you all and look forward to being in touch very soon!

The Haydens

Celebrating an anniversary at Český Krumlov

Treats at the Christmas market

Caleb reading New Evidence that Demands a Verdict (he checked it out) in his Stormtrooper costume

Big boys at The Nutcracker with mom