Sunday, December 14, 2008
I havent bought presents yet!
I really need to do it soon... only 11 days till Christmas!! Thats all. Tell me what you all want for Christmas
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Winter blues/ a time of growth
Chapter 2
I am in my 4th month in Czech Republic. I find it appropriate that this time in my stay here is coinciding with winter. When I arrived everything was new, exciting, beautiful. The days were the perfect temperature. Prague looked like a scene from a fairytale book. The spires pointing to the heavens with a golden sunset setting over the Vltava River. The year was just beginning.
I am now surrounded by the skeletons of the trees. Piles of dead leaves. A cold that this Texas boy isn't accustomed to. The newness has worn off. The exciting beginning, as with everything, has turned into daily routine.
While that may sound gloomy and depressing (which it can be on some days), don't mistake my observances with me wishing I wasn't here. Some days are difficult. I don't enjoy the 2 mile walk at 7:30 in the morning across town to teach, when it is so cold that I wear a sweater, hoodie, heavy coat, scarf, gloves, warm hat... and STILL am cold.
But then there are days when I walk into my class and I have a fun lesson planned and I feel like they learned something and enjoyed it. Then after go to the pub with a few of my (adult) students and just get to know them. Get in their lives.
Or when I went to Prague with Barbra and Ondra (the 2 kids from the family I teach) and watched James Bond and just hung out... I felt like their older brother, which I like.
So, right now Spiritually, I am wrestling over a lot of things. Like I said in earlier posts, I am trying to push myself to develop the disciplines I really want in life. Spending time deep in scripture. Not just reading it, but trying to really understand it and what it means in my life. Building up defenses in the areas of my life that I know I struggle with.
I want to look back on my time here and see the growth and glorify the Lord in the work he has done in me, because in everything I accomplish whether in my life or the lives of others will be through his power. I do feel a little bit like a hermit at times. Deep in my own thoughts, analyzing my actions, my life. Talking with the Spirit to show me areas of my life to be working on... and he has.
The reality of our existence is so much more than what we in our flesh live for, that we must daily FORCE ourselves to see through the lens of the bigger picture. That no matter what our job is, how many friends we have, what we will do that weekend, who we will marry, how we will make it this month financially... ALL OF THOSE THINGS are nothing compared to our relationship with him. Many of those are important aspects I realize. I am writing this not to preach, but really to remind myself when I come back to read this... all things line up when our focus is right. Line up might not be easy living, or the "good life," but what better place to live than in the cover of the LIVING GOD.
So.. I will give anyone interested a rundown of what has been going on this past month.
Well, Mom and Dad came to visit Brady and I on the 13th of November. They flew into Prague and I rushed after one of my classes to meet them at the airport. It was so amazing to see them. plus... they brought Goodies! Dr. Pepper, Cheddar Cheese, random cooking stuff, clothes. It was like early Christmas for me. They stayed here in Kralupy for 2 nights because I had to teach still. On Friday, we hopped on a train and went up to Herrnhut to see Brady. We got to stay with him at their YWAM place. It was really great to see where he was living and meet all of the people who were on that journey with him.
Then we all went to Dresden for a few days to relax and just hang out. We got to go see some really beautiful churches and buildings, But mainly just talked, hung out, Got to watch dad take his first sip of beer.. EVER, which blew the mind of our German waiter. It was really great.
We had to get back because Brady was going on a outreach for a few days with YWAM, and I had to teach. So we got back to Prague on Sunday night. Mom and Dad were tired and went ahead to their hotel, and I met up with the Prague crew to go see Cold War Kids in concert, which was awesome.
I am now surrounded by the skeletons of the trees. Piles of dead leaves. A cold that this Texas boy isn't accustomed to. The newness has worn off. The exciting beginning, as with everything, has turned into daily routine.
While that may sound gloomy and depressing (which it can be on some days), don't mistake my observances with me wishing I wasn't here. Some days are difficult. I don't enjoy the 2 mile walk at 7:30 in the morning across town to teach, when it is so cold that I wear a sweater, hoodie, heavy coat, scarf, gloves, warm hat... and STILL am cold.
But then there are days when I walk into my class and I have a fun lesson planned and I feel like they learned something and enjoyed it. Then after go to the pub with a few of my (adult) students and just get to know them. Get in their lives.
Or when I went to Prague with Barbra and Ondra (the 2 kids from the family I teach) and watched James Bond and just hung out... I felt like their older brother, which I like.
So, right now Spiritually, I am wrestling over a lot of things. Like I said in earlier posts, I am trying to push myself to develop the disciplines I really want in life. Spending time deep in scripture. Not just reading it, but trying to really understand it and what it means in my life. Building up defenses in the areas of my life that I know I struggle with.
I want to look back on my time here and see the growth and glorify the Lord in the work he has done in me, because in everything I accomplish whether in my life or the lives of others will be through his power. I do feel a little bit like a hermit at times. Deep in my own thoughts, analyzing my actions, my life. Talking with the Spirit to show me areas of my life to be working on... and he has.
The reality of our existence is so much more than what we in our flesh live for, that we must daily FORCE ourselves to see through the lens of the bigger picture. That no matter what our job is, how many friends we have, what we will do that weekend, who we will marry, how we will make it this month financially... ALL OF THOSE THINGS are nothing compared to our relationship with him. Many of those are important aspects I realize. I am writing this not to preach, but really to remind myself when I come back to read this... all things line up when our focus is right. Line up might not be easy living, or the "good life," but what better place to live than in the cover of the LIVING GOD.
So.. I will give anyone interested a rundown of what has been going on this past month.
Well, Mom and Dad came to visit Brady and I on the 13th of November. They flew into Prague and I rushed after one of my classes to meet them at the airport. It was so amazing to see them. plus... they brought Goodies! Dr. Pepper, Cheddar Cheese, random cooking stuff, clothes. It was like early Christmas for me. They stayed here in Kralupy for 2 nights because I had to teach still. On Friday, we hopped on a train and went up to Herrnhut to see Brady. We got to stay with him at their YWAM place. It was really great to see where he was living and meet all of the people who were on that journey with him.
Then we all went to Dresden for a few days to relax and just hang out. We got to go see some really beautiful churches and buildings, But mainly just talked, hung out, Got to watch dad take his first sip of beer.. EVER, which blew the mind of our German waiter. It was really great.
We had to get back because Brady was going on a outreach for a few days with YWAM, and I had to teach. So we got back to Prague on Sunday night. Mom and Dad were tired and went ahead to their hotel, and I met up with the Prague crew to go see Cold War Kids in concert, which was awesome.
A picture of Brady out in front of the main Cathedral in Dresden
The fam on top of the top of the Cathedral (you can see the top of it in the picture above)
So mom and dad went to Austria for a few days while I had to work on Tuesday and Wednesday. Then came back Wednesday night to spend it with me before I had to leave on Thursday morning to go to the ESI thanksgiving retreat. It was so great to see them and for them to see my life over here.
So on Thursday I went with all of the Praguers to a small town in Southeast Czech Republic where everyone in the Central Europe team was meeting for our Thanksgiving retreat. I wont really go into it. It was great fun. Got to see everyone. Katie and I played a Nickel Creek Song for the talent show. Had some really good talks with people. All in all a very good weekend.
The Central Europe Team at the Retreat
So jump to this past weekend. I had the opportunity to go to a Ples (which just means ball) in Prague with the guys there. So this is kinda the equivalent to senior prom.. but amazingly different. It is a very formal thing. Everyone dressed in suits and formal dresses. But the most amazing part was that the night was filled with traditional ballroom dancing. Now, granted, I'm not really skilled in ballroom dancing, but it was fun nonetheless.The Students Dancing at the Ples
Me and Gina At Ples
So, lastly we had a big Prague Thanksgiving. This one was more of a "traditional Thanksgiving." Steph and I took on the endeavor of cooking for around 20 people. Steph in charge of the 2 Turkeys and me in charge of most of the sides. Everyone pitched in though. Britt had her amazing sweet potatoes and helped me make my cherry pie look awesome. Anyways, It was a very big undertaking because the ovens in Czech aren't near as big as in the states, and so getting everything cooked and timed right... it was a challenge but in the end it was great! Not only that, but we had ESIers, Czechs, other teachers, all come. It was a blast.
I'm not going to lie. I passed out at like 8:30 because I get a little stressed when cooking for that many people, and cooking from 8:30- 3:00 in the afternoon.... I was mentally tired.
The Prague Thanksgiving.
I hope all of you are doing well.. please feel free to email or leave a comment. I love hearing from people from home!
Be blessed,
Aaron
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
