Snapshots

Our days seem like one long attempt to get things done on time and to make it to bed by 10 pm so we can get up again at 5am when the alarm clock goes off. Sometimes we get to take naps. I am not complaining - our lives are busy, but rich. (As my shuttle bus driver said: "If I felt any better I'd have to charge admission.") It helps that the kids are well and enjoying school (Emilia and two of her class mates had a short article in the school district newsletter this week!) and it is wonderful to live in a spacious place and be surrounded by friends.

I (Marek) went to Prague last month. It was a productive trip and it moved us a step closer to having a place to live when we go back to Prague next summer. I try to avoid thinking too much about what all has to still be done and how it is all going to get done. By common sense standards the project is a mess and a half, but so far we are still able to move forward so we are doing that. My next trip is scheduled for the end of this month.

Just after coming back Elaine and I joined several other couples for a weekend retreat. It was wonderful! On Saturday morning we took a walk between Illinois cornfields and it was so foggy that our hair got all wet and our entire world was only about 100 feet long and infused with an "I can't see where I came from and I am not sure where I am going" feeling.

We had a huge yard sale last weekend. Friends donated things to sell as well as time and service to help us raise money to pay for Jan's hockey. With all this help we made pretty good money, but also managed to sell one of our friend's food warmer (worth about $200) for $5. That was by far the best deal of the entire sale - for the buyer.

Since the beginning of September we have been teaching and mentoring students at Lincoln Christian U. That is a neat experience too - trying to provide guidance to students preparing to do what we do now. We keep telling them "turn back while you still can" and "hang on to Jesus for dear life!"

My grandma is back home from the hospital after recovering from two broken hips. She can walk, but is now very careful and needs 24 hour care. She appreciates the company of her nurses from Slovakia - speaking the language of her youth again. And she loves to eat - a very good thing since she weighed only about 70lbs when she came back from the hospital! Her 97 years finally seem to be catching up with her, though. She cares less for the things of this world and in her thoughts seems to be spending more time elsewhere.

Love to all,

M

Our great daily task: renewing our mind so that we do not conform to the pattern of this world, but are transformed! That's what the morning quiet time hour is for - repenting daily of believing the lies the world feeds us, turning to Jesus, having our minds renewed and trusting him this day. As the Springfield Vineyard motto says 'taking God seriously - at least as seriously as we take everything else.'

August 19

I feel I need to apologize for not posting anything over the past month and a half. I am sorry. Somewhere in the past I thought I'd be able to write something every day. Ha! I have to admit I just don't have the time or energy to do it. I do think about writing this or that from time to time - usually when something memorable happens. So in place of day to day account let me give you the highlights:

- My 97 year old grandma Emilia is at home again after two! broken hips earlier this year. My hat off to my sister Pavla has been wonderful in taking care of her while we are away.

- I became a US citizen on July 27! My naturalization was the end of a long process that, in one sense, started when I was about Emilia's age. And while I am thankful for and value my Czech background I am an American at heart and proud to be one.

- I turned 41 on August 4. I am thankful for the years (many people died younger that this) and I am amazed at the incredible favor God has been showing me and my family.

- Elaine's grandmother Mildred Ayers passed away last week in Rising Sun, Maryland. She was almost ninety years old and Jan and I got to see her for the last time at the end of July; Elaine just came back this past Monday from attending her funeral.

- Four of our oldest kids started school on Tuesday! After years in Czech public schools and one year of home school it is a totally new experience for them to get on the school bus in the morning. I know they will do very well.

- I got my new passport and I plan on traveling to Praha early in September (Renate it will be a short trip like I promised:) to help get the UpWord English program off to a new school year and to move our Zelivka/Rivenhill project forward.

So, these are the highlights of the past month or so. There are some pictures at on my facebook page.

Blessings, M.

Hello

Yes, we have dropped of the face of the earth, but don't worry we are all fine.  It is only that our on-line existence has shrunk by about 70% over the past weeks/months.  In Prague our computers were always on-line, now we need to leave the house to connect. But there are other things that make us less active in the www department too: different schedule, different daily activities, different focus etc.  

We have been in Springfield since the beginning of May.  The Vineyard Christian Church and Contemplative Community has given us not only a place to live but also created a nourishing environment that is helping us (re)discover who we are and what we are about. Our days consist of early morning prayers, manual work, various kids activities, time together as a family, and 'gender specific' fellowship. We are in a nourishing environment and we are being renewed inside and out.  

God has been stressing several things that can, perhaps, be summarized like this: it is impossible to communicate God in words, only with words that come to life in a person.  Jesus is the Word and there is a message in this for us - we need to be words and our words need to be us. Otherwise our christianity is just a bunch of ideas.  

Things are good.  I wish I could write down all the neat things that are happening.  I'll try to add more next time and, by the way, our last newsletter is almost ready to be sent out.  Blessings to you.

M.

At Rest Again

The trip went well.  Here is a very quick summary: 

We left Aberdeen on Thursday and our first stop was in Northern Virginia to see our good friend Ruth (and her two puppies).  A wonderful visit - just way too short.  

Then later the same day on to Wheeling, WV were we stayed in a hotel and the kids thought it was wonderful, because it was almost brand new and it had a pool and big screen TV in the room. 

The next day we drove on first stopping at Judy's house in Cambridge for lunch.  Judy has the most charming house of all!  And then on to Cincinnati where we stayed for two days with Stephanie and her family.  They showed us great hospitality and while in town we were able to catch up with several dear old friends (all of them really young): Jonathan and Yuliana, who just happened to be in town as well! Joel and Becka and Kyle.  Most of these people we met in Prague. Stephanie is preparing to teach in our UpWord program next school year. What great visit! 

After church on Sunday we drove the rest of the way to Springfield.  Now this is amazing: as soon as we entered the Midwestern farm country we felt like we were coming home. Strange but pleasant feeling.

See pictures here.

Into the West

Tomorrow morning we are starting our trip further West.  Next stop - West Virginia.  

Slate Run Cabin

We spent a wonderful weekend with our friends Kevin, Anne and their two boys Josiah and Andrew at a cabin somewhere in Pennsylvania.  Beautiful weather and scenery, great company and yummy food!  

This was our third time at the cabin with Kevin and Anne.  The last time was in June 1996, before we had any kids.  The place is just as simple and as enchanting as it was then.  

See more pictures here