First day of camp was today. We started our day at 7:30am with a leaders meeting (both Americans and Czechs). At 8:30 we had breakfast and then 9:30 kicked off our 3 hour English lesson. Don is with Jackie, Rachel is with Brian (the leader of the camp, who is British), Gill is with Bob, and Luice and Ruth both have their own group. In each group there are also those that speak Czech and English and are on the leadership team for the camp. Some struggles we faced were with comprehension in English, confidence in speaking, and not knowing how to draw them out. Today was a learning day, we are sure that it will only get easier and better.
We really enjoy the students, they are friendly and fun. We are excited to get to know them better so they won’t be afraid to use their English. Their ages range from 16 to 26 but mostly in their 20s. Their names confuse us because they have a Czech name, an English name, and then sometimes more than one Czech nickname. For instance, Jakub is the proper Czech name, but he can be either James or Jacob in English as well as being called Kuba, which is his Czech nickname. Add to that, there are three of them! So we distinguish them by beard, glasses, and tall. Haha
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| 3 Kubas = Glasses, Tall and Beard |
After lunch, we Americans met with Jackie during the rest time. At 2:30 we had our afternoon activity where we went on a “walk.” It was actually a hike and our destination was this forest where we played an intense form of scrabble. Everyone played in Czech but Rachel, Luice, and Ruth played in English. You had to run into the woods and find letters (only one per person at a time). Then you made a word that went on a giant scrabble board. We weren’t as intense as the Czechs, though, and they creamed us. It was fun to watch and we took pictures of them and the forest which was very beautiful.
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| Hiking |
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| Explaining Czech Forest Scrabble |
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| Our English words next to their Czech ones |
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| Getting Dinner |
In the evening we ate dinner and played some volleyball before the evening program where we sang English songs, and Luice and Ruth taught them the motions for Lean On Me. Then we read some chapters from The Little Prince and broke into our English groups to discuss some questions based on the chapters. We are learning that the Czechs love to debate and sometimes it’s hard for us.
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| Playing volleyball |
Please pray that we will continue to build good relationships with the students, and that all the students will feel like they belong. Pray for unity among the Czech and English leaders. Pray for Luice, Rachel, and Ruth as they run an evening program on Tuesday evening about identity. Pray for Don as he will present the gospel on Wednesday night and just that he will be prepared and that the students will be open to what he has to say. Pray for Bob as he will be giving a testimony on Thursday night. Pray for Gill as her stomach has been upset.
- Ruth
the scrabble game sounds kinda fun, although it sounds like it would take a lot of prep work to get it ready what with moving the giant letters.
ReplyDeleteThe video of you guys in a bed room talking about your first meal and such was seen by everybody at church and was encouraging to see your all doing well.
Keep up the Good work praying for you
Tom
Dear Father, May your Spirit fill the room every time Gill, Ruth, Don, Bob, Luice, and Rachel gather together with the Czech students to share their lives and to share the love of Christ. May Gill feel much better in the morning. May Tuesday evening's program touch many hearts as they understand who they are in your sight. May every word of Don's presentation of the gospel come straight from You. And may Bob know just how best to share his testimony so that it will resonate with all who hear. May all of the leaders, Czech and English, work in harmony, just as You planned before they ever met. May Jackie be blessed, uplifted, and encouraged to have workers uniting with her in serving You. And may many receive the free gift of salvation because 6 people were willing to go when you called them, in Jesus' name, Amen.
ReplyDelete"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
What a wonderful privilege and opportunity you all have!! As I read and comment on this Tuesday morning I imagine you are well into the day by now. I pray God will fill each of you with His grace and power and give you wisdom as you communicate the gospel in creative and loving ways. May each of you be lights that will draw these campers to the true Light of the world!!
ReplyDeleteThe accounts of Saturday and Sunday are very descriptive and do a good job of painting the picture of what you all are doing. Am praying for all of you, and for you Don on Wednesday night (after lunch my time I suppose).
ReplyDelete