What started out as Alisha and me and one of the campers leading some of The Ragamuffin Stampede's songs has evolved into what we have dubbed "The Poděbrady Sound Machine." More and more of the youth have been asking to get involved and the best part is they're GREAT! We now have a keyboard player, a drummer, and a youth singer in addition to our original lineup. We also were able to recruit an additional youth guitarist to help Angela with morning worship.
If I had to describe the Czechs in our group in just two words, I would say they are "deep thinkers." While Czechs are traditionally reserved in their willingness to voice personal thoughts and opinions, our group has been exceptionally transparent and vulnerable in its conversations.
The campers have arrived!
After a morning of instruction and last-minute preparation for their arrival and an afternoon of getting our last "down time" for the next week (more on this in a bit), we all rushed outside and made a welcome tunnel at 3 p.m. as the charter bus inched up the steep hill to Chata Jadlová.
One thing I can assure you all is teenagers always act like teenagers, regardless of what part of the world you are in.
Lots of rolling hills with fields and small farm houses. As we neared our destination, Chata Jedlová, the hills became much larger -- I dare say "mountainous."
We met the groups we will be working with at the camp: Josiah Venture, an international mission agency consisting of interns from the U.S. and Czech team members and focuses on empowering local churches in Eastern Europe, and a church group of young adults from Portland, Oregon.
Yesterday (7/15) we spent the day bonding with our Czech hosts and growing in our knowledge of the Czech culture and outlook on life. We woke up early, jumped on the train, and traveled back to Prague.
Through enjoyable, honest conversations we are beginning to learn what it means to be a youth in a post-Christian society. It requires a strength of character and fortitude to walk in the counter culture and that's exactly what young Christians are doing.
I've decided my goal is to try to learn a different person's perspective on faith every day and talk to as many strangers as I can. By nature, I tend to be more introverted. However, I've been feeling a sense of boldness and curiosity that is not typical for me. I hope to discover the hidden beauty God has placed in the Czech Republic and bring it to light.
[...] we all are admittedly broken vessels who desire nothing more for the next three weeks than to follow God's call to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. Actually, this reminds me a lot of the Apostles -- a thought that fills me with a wonderful sense of boldness.
After arriving at the Discipleship Center, we explored the massive house and rested, anxiously awaiting the arrival of our mission mates- Jana of Pennsylvania and Angela of Indiana.
Tonight we had the opportunity to dine and converse with some close friends at Souper Salad. The food was good and the friends were better!
