My new home...Praha!

After about 20 hours of travel on Tuesday and Wednesday I have finally made it to my new home for the next year! I have had some opportunities to start to learn my way around Prague and see some of the historic sights. I start at my school tomorrow with a staff meeting. I am really excited and a bit nervous to get there and find out what it's all about.

It's Time!

I really can not believe that at this time tomorrow I will be on an airplane bound for the Czech Republic. A lot of times it seems like it just yesterday when I found out I would be leaving everything I knew and was comfortable with in Oshkosh. Right before I left, I was doubtful about this decision that the Lord had called me to. Who was I to think that I could move to another country, be a teacher and serve the Lord. I must be crazy. But, since I have been here, I have felt nothing but peace, contentment and assurance that this is what I am supposed to be doing for the next year of my life. I know it won't be easy and at times I will think that I am once again crazy, but I can rest in the Lord and that He has called me to the right place for this season of my life. Time and time again at training I have gone back to Paul's words, he says, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58 That is my cry, that we all would be steadfast, immovable and abounding in the work of the LORD. That we would trust that our labor, hardships, culture shock, homesickness is never in vain. I praise God for this opportunity to serve Him and the people of the Czech Republic. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of this journey! God Bless

One week to go!

At this time next week, I will be in transit from Los Angeles to London and then on to Prague. It is so hard to believe that training is almost over. We are done on Thursday night and then some of our Central European teammates are leaving for Slovakia the next morning. The Hungary and Czech teachers have a long, long weekend to wait to fly out.
A few prayer requests...
That all our Visas would come in
For safe travel
That all baggage issues would be worked out at our airlines
Continued team unity as we prepare to embark to our different locations
**Thanks so much to everyone for all your support and prayers. You mean so much to me.

Malibu...Zuma Beach

This past weekend was our weekend off, thus all the stories. Here's the last one, I promise. A group of 10 of us headed up the coast to go to the beach in Malibu. We ended up at Zuma Beach. I it was a fantastic day of enjoying the beauty of the Pacific and relaxing, honestly I spent most of the time napping on the blanket trying to get over my cold. I was really nice to get out and spend time with some of my teammates and new friends.

Hollywood

On Saturday, after the excitement from the morning, I ventured into Hollywood with a friend, Beth, who is going to school in California. Once again, thanks Beth for driving down from Fresno to see me. Here's some pictures from Hollywood Boulevard and the Hollywood Hills.

"...or you will be shot!"

On Saturday, Kassidee and I decided to make a quick run to downtown Pasadena to run a few errands. Should be relatively uneventful, right? WRONG! As we were driving down Colorado, all the cars in front of us started pulling over to park at a restaurant or so we thought. In frustration, we drove around them, as we got to the front of all the cars, we saw a bunch of police cars and upon closer inspection I realized that they had their guns drawn! Kassidee quickly pulled over and we found ourselves directly across the street from a car full of guys with their hands up, with the police about 20 feet behind them, all guns drawn!
Kassidee and I proceeded to duck down in our seats...and to get out her camera to video tape the entire thing. All three guys had to get out of the car, one at a time, pull their shirts up and turn around to check for weapons, then back up to the police, where they were then cuffed and put in the car. After all three were arrested, the police continued to point their guns at the car and yelled, "We know you're in there...come out, this is your last warning, or you WILL BE SHOT!" No one came out so the police approached the car and there was not another person in the card. What happened to him, I don't know.
So needless, to say, there is some excitement brewing in Pasadena, we have proof on tape. Hopefully, I can get it from Kassidee to post.

Roscoe's

So apparently Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles is a cultural must during a visit to Southern California. We thus just couldn't resist it and had our first foray into the chicken and waffles experience. Oddly enough it was pretty good, strange combination, but good.

San Gabriel

Last Sunday, the 30th, a group of 9 Central Europe teachers went on a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains. We set out looking for a waterfall, that other teachers had supposedly been to. After over 2 hours of hiking in a mostly dried out river bed, we still had not found the waterfall and we turned around to head back before the park closed. Much to our surprise we found that we had started above the waterfall and actually found it on our way back. For those of you who may say I am extremely undurable, you will happy, or amazed to know that I handled the hike like a champ, with zero whining. SO THERE!