On Easter, two weeks ago, Glenn and I left for Prague for a retreat for everyone on the regional support team (RST). The RST is made up of missionaries who work for the good of and provide support to the whole CEE region. Most of the RST live in Prague and work in the office either as a regional leader, on the media team or on the accounting team. The Member Care team is part of the RST because we serve the whole region, even though the Borders and the Doyles live in Budapest, Hungary and the Jarboe's live in Moscow, Russia.
Craft fair in Prague
We had to go up a few days early before the retreat to take care of some "business" (no, really!) and to meet with a couple of families. We were able to take advantage of the Easter festivities a little while we were there.
Lovely, isn't it?
Watercolors of Prague
Our son Chris collects paintings from countries he has visited. (Cote d'Ivoire, Jamaica, France...)Every time I saw one of these booths, I thought of him and wanted to buy him a painting. But I didn't because he and Kate are coming this summer to visit us in Budapest and then we're coming to Prague for a few days! I'll let him pick out his own picture!
Our favorite place-Bohemia Bagel
We managed to find our way once or twice across town for lunch at Bohemia Bagel. If you remember from a previous post, this is the place that offers unlimited refills on fountain drinks with ice!
Even McDonald's has gotten into the "cafe" scene
All aboard whose going aboard-to the retreat!
Wednesday 72 of us (20 volunteers from Glenville, Georgia and 52 missionaries and kids) headed to a place about 2 hours outside of Prague for 4.5 days of worship and fun!
I'm so excited I can hardly sit!
The Park Villa Hotel
This picture was taken on Sunday just before we left when it was quite warm (50's). The weather was cold and snowy when we arrived, as you can see in the picture below, but got better and better with each passing day!
Not enough on the ground to make snow ice cream but still pretty!
Our worship leader-Keith Rushton
We had worship time in the mornings and evenings, and free time in the afternoon.
Break time-free drinks, usually with ice!
Fellowship time with our regional leader, Rodney
In the afternoons during free time, many of the families hiked up the hillside and climbed on some of the rocks! It was an unusual sight to me to be walking along, and then all of a sudden, there were these huge rocks sticking up out of the ground! I heard that a movie (a recent, pretty famous one) was filmed among these rocks, but I can't remember which movie it was. If I can remember before next week, I'll let you know which one it was.
Our boss and friends, Lynn and Glenda
It's action packer time!
In February we got an email asking us to come up with a wish list of things we'd like from America because the volunteer team that was coming out to lead the retreat was going to bring each family an action packer full of goodies from America.
Because we'd just returned from the U.S. (Member Care conference and vacation time) in January, it was hard to come up with things we needed or wanted, but somehow we managed! You know, things like Wheat Thins, chocolate chips, antibacterial wipes, pop-tarts, games, etc.
It's Christmas in March!
One of the things I asked for on our list was a couple of used DVD's (either if a family has seen it 100 times or if they have a used DVD store like we have in Marietta) for the Eden House ministry. We are in the process of changing over from VHS tapes to DVD's at the Eden House, and had only a handful at the time. Well, seven families from Rehobeth Baptist Church, one of whose daughter came as a volunteer to our retreat, filled our action packer. I was expecting 5-6 maybe, but hoping for as many as 8-10, but they sent us 92 new DVD's for the Eden House! They sent us GREAT movies for the whole family and we were so overwhelmed with the gift that Glenn and I couldn't stop crying!
It was very humbling. We got lots of other goodies for Glenn and me, but ALL our missionaries will benefit and enjoy all these wonderful movies when they come to Budapest!!!
Thank you Pastor Freddy, Rachel, Christopher, Kay, Doug, Kathy, Sean, Angel, Matt, Carrie, Robert, Vicki, Herman and Helen! (special thanks to Doug and Kathy who actually packed the things for us!)
Ambiente Brazil
And then, as if the retreat and the action packers weren't enough, the volunteers also took us out to dinner their last night in Prague at a place called Ambiente Brazil. It's an all-you-can-eat place where they serve to your table 15 different kinds of meat, from small pork chops, to mutton, to octopus!
Sausage on a skewer
The retreat was wonderful and very relaxing even though Glenn and I did end up meeting with several families before, after and during. We had a great time worshipping in English and getting to know at a deeper level some more of our fellow missionaries.
On our way back to Budapest we took a side trip for a couple of days to visit with two other families. Pictures from that trip will be posted next week! I was afraid that todays blog would be too long, and I couldn't decide which pictures to leave out, so I'll just put them in next weeks' update!
When we finally returned home, we had another wonderful surprise waiting on us!
Another care package from our friends, Pam and Adam! They have spoiled us rotten, which we love! We appreciate so much their remembering us with care packages, but most of all their faithful prayers for us! Pam tells me Adam prays for us every night, and that means so much to us!
Glenn is now in Greece, attending a meeting with Strategy Coordinators, and will return on Wednesday. The house is quiet, but there's lots to do!
Brian and Michelle Stevens will arrive next Sunday morning so if you aren't already praying for them, please begin! Once they are settled and have a little language study, they will take over the Eden House ministry from me. Pray for their adjustment to living overseas, being away from family and all that is familiar, and for the ministry of the Member Care team as we all work together for the support of our missionaries. We covet your prayers!!!!
3 comments:
yay for Praque! our good friends matt and valerie will be there soon!
Found your site! Looks like you had a great time in CR.
wow, that action packer stuff is awesome! I started crying about your 92 DVD's that is so sweet!!!
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