A Walk

After a long afternoon of working on the Project, Lisa and I decided to head out for the evening to do something fun. We took the tram up to Prazsky Hrad (aka Prague Castle) and walked around the cathedral and down the little side street, across Charles Bridge, through Old Town Square, up Wenceslas Square, and back home. It was so fun to see places that I've been before and that were so dear to me during my stay here.

We went passed where Sarah and I sat my last night in Prague, where my friends and I walked back early one morning, the way I took to school, the places that had such a strange, but unique place in my heart. It was so fun to look beyond the hundreds of tourists to the architecture, the stories, and the lives that fill this wonderland and call it home.

Internship

Since returning to Prague, I have had the greatest opportunity. I have been the "pseudo-intern" for The Family Project this past year, which entails formatting documents, brainstorming, etc. For those who don't know, The Family Project has been working to provide parenting resources to the Czech Republic with the potential of providing other global translations. The Project has created a resource library that holds in-depth book reviews in many languages (currently English and Czech) to provide to churches, family centers, schools, etc. as a resource for parents to turn to for tips and suggestions.

The main reason for my trip was to spend some time working with my friend Lisa to get the Family Resource Library in full swing. We have had a few days of hard work talking with people, outlining needs for the group, figuring out a rough game-plan, and working closely with a few others to get the website live and loading the actual book reviews onto http://bible.org/ (check it out-search Family Project). We are excited to see the response to the this project and the way that it can be used to better parents and build relationships.

Camp Synopsis

This may seem bold, but I do believe MK/TCK camp was the best camp I have ever been to (and if you know me, you know I've been to a lot). It was so neat to see how God orchestrated everything and put together a team that was able to work well immediately and really love on these kids. From the moment I met the team from Illinois and the Prague team I felt so welcomed, which can only be a blessing from God. We played hard, laughed lots, listened to the Gospel, and ate more Czech food than I have ever seen before. I was the cabin leader of four beautiful high school girls (and one in middle school), and let me tell you that God is growing a love for serving Him and others in these four. I pray that we can keep in touch and that I will see them again.

Some highlights:

1. We played the most hilarious game of "steal the bacon"
2. Hanging out around the campfire until 1am
3. Being surrounded and then thrown in the slimy lake
4. Playing Never Have I Ever for over an hour
5. Playing night games such as "Fred the Jailer" (aka kick the can), "Capture the Person", and "Tree Conservationists"
6. Saran wrapping the cabins, placing frogs in cabins, dumping water on the boys of cabin 19, and serenading the high school boys at 2am

There is so much more that I could say, but I'll sum it up by saying camp was so rich and thoroughly exhausting.

On the road again

To be honest, I didn't think I'd be saying this again. I'm heading off to Prague tomorrow! It has been about 14 months since my feet walked along cobblestone or passed a castle on my way to school, and I could not be more delighted. My dream was originally to spend the entire summer in Prague, but when reality set in and I remembered I was still paying for school...my dream faded away. God has a funny way of working though. I was blessed with two great jobs this summer, completed 7 college credits, and was able to spend the summer with my family. This summer has truly been one of the most exciting and fun summers at the Yuhas Casa and I cherish the memories we made. When the opportunity to go back to Prague presented itself, everything fell into place. I'll be traveling to the Czech Republic for two weeks to help out and visit a city that is very dear to my heart.

When I arrive in Prague, I will begin my trip helping out as a counselor at an MK (missionary kid) camp. We will travel to a camp near Brno and enjoy a time full of teaching, games, and swimming. After I return, I have the privilege to work with my hostess, Lisa, on The Family Project for the remainder of my stay.

So, adios mi familia de Tucson and Ahoj Česká republika!

Rain

It's raining. Again. I still cannot comprehend how the sky has so much water. It has rained off and on for the be past week and it has rained approximately 75% of the time since Saturday evening. I love rain, but this is a bit excessive.

I miss the sun.
I've come undone.
This rain makes me want a cinnabon.
The sky, you see, has won.

That's how I feel about rain. Well at least at this present moment. I think rain should be enjoyed, but I am bound to the confines of homework. And I don't have an umbrella to walk back with...

Pack it Up

Well, here I go again. I think all I do is pack these days...or think about packing...or travel with a pack. You know, I think I'd like to be able to fit everything I own in a suitcase. Packing would be so easy! Why am I so materialistic? Things are just...things. They don't really matter. I may say that now, but if you asked me to pick 10 shirts and give the rest away I'd run around my room like a chicken with its head cut off.

After spending almost one full month back in America, I miss traveling. I miss feeling like I can simply go out and offer a helping hand without having to worry about lawsuits and technicalities. Europe was a nice escape from the "real" world and yet, I experienced more of the "real" world than I ever had before. I'm swarmed with decisions here and it's overwhelming. I KNOW that God provides and He delivers. I've experienced both, but it just seems so much more real when He's the only one I have to communicate with. I miss being alone. I miss being able to simply walk wherever I needed to go. I miss those days when I sat next to the Vltava River and watched the sun set just beyond the castle. I miss feeling God. I knew that He was with me. I knew that regardless of what happened, my travel plans would be just as He wanted them. Yes, I know the same concept applies here, but it was far more tangible when foreign languages surrounded me.

I suppose as I prepare to venture off the Puerto Rico, I find comfort in the fact that there will be a language barrier, a place willing to let me help, people who may be lost and in need of something I can give them. Maybe I just need to accept being that weird person. Maybe I really need to simply take a stand and not grow comfortable at work or at school. I should ALWAYS be a witness. After living in the "world" for a while, I think I am better able to see how to live amongst people, but not of them. So why do I not do that in my own country?
Well, as I ponder, I pack. I pray God will bless this trip and this experience.

Prayer Requests:

1. Travel Safety-I think I'm more afraid to travel in America than I was in Europe...
2. Smooth training camp-all the plans and what not will go smoothly
3. Team Unity-most of the people on the trip already know each other or have met, so hopefully I can just come in and we'll all be a happy family
4. Effectiveness-our construction, friendly discussions, and camp activities will truly spread the gospel
5. This will be the beginning-That each member will continue to serve in the years to come, that this will be the start of a new passion in each member to share and serve in whatever way God calls

The End...At least of this trip

Now don't go blowing your nose and getting all teary eyed on me. I still haven't told you anything about sister adventures that took place...that will be my plane-ride-busy-work.

It's over. I honestly don't know how to explain this terrible feeling. I feel so full of memories and stories and relationships, and yet I feel so empty. It's like I'm being cut off. I have a life here and I see so many ways that I can help, but I'm leaving. These transitions are simply hard. I hate saying good-bye to so many over a long period of time. It hurts to have friends fade away one by one as people leave and schedules clash. God blessed me with wonderful friends and a few relationships that developed to more than just a surface level buddy, but I've said good-bye. Not even "see you later," but good-bye. Such a strange concept!

I have learned so much on this trip and I hope I never forget where I have been, what I have seen, and the companion who traveled along side me. This trip created a new passion for and a new understanding of the world. People are lost and have questions, so I need to have answers.

I fear going back to English overload and forgetting how to process the world and truly concentrate on what God is doing. It will be a fight to make time and continue in this relationship with the Father.

My favorite saying of "God provides" has been expanded to "God provides and deliverers!" He is my rock and has truly delivered me from the pit I lived in for so long and has set me on a path. And so I end this journey to begin another. Farewell Europe....until we meet again.