Easter Snow

We awoke this morning to a beautiful snowfall.  Snow is lovely while it’s falling and it makes the trees and the fields around us pure white.  In one way, it covers up some ugly stuff, but underneath, nothing  much has changed.

That’s where the “Easter” part of this post becomes important.  If Christ is really risen from the dead, things have changed.  If what we say in the apostle’s creed is true – he was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead – then something fundamental, mysterious, amazing has changed.  As long as men have walked the earth, death has been the inescapable fate of all.  Not only have we been cursed to wither and die physically, but we have been alienated from the only source of real life.  We’re twice dead – outwardly and inwardly. 

The resurrection changes all of that.  Jesus experienced both kinds of death, and yet he lives.  And he promises that we will also live.  “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”  If you do believe this, you have been changed, way down deep inside – not with a pretty covering, but by a gift of life that cannot be extinguished, even by death.

“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”

Dateline Berlin, March 2013

One part of Johnny’s new responsibilities on the Europe Leadership Team is to meet regularly with others on this team, including Ken Matlack, Johnny’s boss. More often than not the meeting happens over Skype as all nine of the team members try to stay connected (Skype gives them a lot of trouble!) They try to meet “face to face” to develop community, relationships and support for one another. The members then seek to bring that faith community to the MTW missionaries throughout Europe as they seek to serve, pray for and support them.



Europe Leadership Team

Recently we had the joy of meeting with the ELT team face to face—for real in Berlin. We experienced sweet times of conversation, great food, and especially wonderful times of worship together. Thanks Ken and David!)

We did not have a lot of time for sightseeing, even though Berlin is full of wonderful things to see and do. The train station we arrived at was only a block from one of the larger pieces of the Berlin Wall, so we were able to catch a glimpse of it. Unfortunately, on that outing I did not have our camera, only my phone, so photos are sketchy at best.

The outside of the Wall on the old East Berlin side



The inside of the Wall in what was formerly known as No Man's Land

The ELTeam and wives at Check Point Charlie

 

We’re Not in Kansas (or Alabama) Anymore

This may sound a little crazy, but shortly after we arrived on the mission field here I developed a simple game.  It goes like this: see how far you can walk before you notice something – a sign, a car, a person – that lets you know beyond a shadow of a doubt you’re in a foreign country.  In our country, it’s really hard to go very far without running smack into something that looks truly foreign.

It was plain when we arrived in Prague last Saturday that we had gone way beyond the bounds of our little home in Shelby County, Alabama.   Thankfully, our Czech friend, René Drápala was there to meet us and make us feel welcome.

We returned to the Církev Reformovaná on Sunday and were delighted to re-connect with our dear church family there.  Both of us got a hug from someone who normally only gives handshakes – that was pretty special! 

Since we’ve been back, there have been several snowy days.  The snow helps brighten the gray days, so we both enjoy it (see the picture nearby).

We are so grateful to all of you who allowed us to spend time with you during our visit to the US.  Thank you for feeding us, housing us, and sharing your joys and sorrows with us.  Many thanks to all of you who prayed for our travels – the Lord surely heard your prayers. 

  

Welcome the New Year, Welcome Our New Team Member

So much of life is process.  Sometimes long.  Sometimes short.  But always process. In the process there are often sweet wonderful joys and gifts found along the way.  And as it has been said so many ways and times, God never does things the way we dream or expect, He is always doing bigger and better things - more than we can ask or imagine.  So wonderful is He!

This is a brief story of a long process, beginning even before we arrived on the field, we begin to pray for team members to come join us. You know, we had ideas. Ideas of what they would be like; how we would work together; where they would fit in—sort of.

Then last summer we had visit from a veteran missionary who was somewhat interested in moving to the Czech Republic and joining us.  All went well.  The time together was simply too brief to base any kind of major decision on what we knew of each other.  We both needed more.

(Inviting someone new is almost like getting engaged.  There’s commitment, the need to listen, love, help, support, and so much more involved in an invitation to join a team on the field.)

So we invited our friend to return and work with us and visit with us.  We wanted to really get to know each other in a deeper, soul-knowing way.  The Lord was gracious to us and really began to turn our hearts to the opportunities and possibilities of what could be, of friendship that could deepen, of laughter to be shared, and of good works yet undone.

Soon the invitation was offered and accepted!  Our prayer is that soon our new team member Miriam Grady will be on her way to Zlin.  Please pray for all the details of things we all will have to deal with before she arrives in the Czech Republic.

But foremost, rejoice with us!