Follow Up!

Hey everyone, 

We just finished our weekend of follow-up!

After camp was done yesterday, we took a bus back to Šumperk and students went to stay with their Czech friends. Some took naps, others had feasts of homemade food... But after a few hours we all met up again to go for a walk around Šumperk and have a picnic in the park. 

Today we went to church at Kostel Jinak- it was (and always is) such a joy to worship with these brothers and sisters. It is fun to see our team experience "church done differently" (translation of Koste Jinak) and love this family. After church, we went to our host homes for delicious lunches and then met back for a walk to a nearby village for a BBQ. 

We were so glad to have students from camp join us for these follow-up activities! It's an opportunity to not only continue our relationships with them, but also to further connect them with Koste Jinak. When we leave tomorrow morning, we want them to also have deep relationships with the believers here in Šumperk. 

And so our goodbyes tomorrow will be bittersweet. Many are already tearful thinking of saying goodbye to the friends they poured everything into this week. 

And yet, we leave with joy knowing this partnership we (New Hope Church) have with Kostel Jinak continues. We leave feeling mutually encouraged and built up, as we have been co-laborers this week together. We leave with hope and anticipation for what God will continue to do in the coming weeks, months, and years. 

Will you pray?

--That the Lord would continue to grow the seeds that were planted this week. That students who heard the gospel would not be able to forget it. That as students visit Kostel Jinak- they would not be able to ignore this community who accepts, loves and cares for one another.

That through this local church, many would come to know Jesus.

--That our teams would say goodbye well tomorrow. 

--For safety as we travel to Prague tomorrow morning.

--For the next two days of debrief in Prague. We are looking forward to debriefing with the team everything they experienced and what the Lord was doing in their own hearts too.

--And finally, would you pray that in the next ten years, there would be more who come to know Christ. More church planters, more young Josiahs, more pastors and leaders that the Lord would raise up in Šumperk.

Thank you for your support, prayers and love. We will see you all in a few days!

Jess  

 

Last Day of Camp!

Today was the last day of camp. It always goes by so quick! We are all tired, but our hearts are full after a week of growing closer to our new Czech friends and seeing the Lord at work.

Tomorrow we start "follow up"! We will be in Šumperk for two days staying with students and their families and getting to experience more Czech culture. We will attend Kostel Jinak (the local church we partner with in Šumperk) with students from camp along with other activities (picnic, tour of the city, BBQ, hike, etc). It will be a full next couple of days, so we appreciate your prayers!

-Pray for students from camp to attend follow up and to get connected in a deeper way to Kostel!

-Pray for strength, energy and health... Some of us are wearing thin due to little sleep and going hard during the day. 

-Pray for safety as we travel tomorrow by bus from Malenovice to Šumperk-- and then from Šumperk to Prague on Monday for debrief. 

Thanks for standing with us!

Day FIVE!

Hello from the Czech! We just wrapped up Day 5 of English camp and things are going well. It's incredible to see the many strong relationships that have formed in such a short period of time.

Here are some highlights:

⁃We hiked a mountain!

⁃Man night (throwing rocks and eating meat) and girls night (fingernail painting and cookies) were a huge hit

⁃Talent night! Daniel and Lanae's group won (and Daniel and Jen kissed 😳😳 in front of everyone!)

⁃Ben Reis and Michaela Bunke have continued to share the need for Jesus during the evening talks

⁃We built a giant slip-n-slide and no one got hurt!

Tomorrow is a big day. Michaela will be sharing about Jesus death and resurrection. Pray for the Spirit to be at work powerfully in students lives. 

Also, we are going to a waterfall to swim for a bit. Pray that I don't freeze to death. It's colder than a Minnesota winter. 

We miss you all, and we're pushing through. Continue to lift up the students who pour out 14-16 hours a day in hopes that some will come to know Jesus! Pray for strength and energy. We have two more full days of camp left and we are excited to see what the Lord will continue to do.

-Justin