"Home" and my own real life MXC

This past weekend, my roommates and I had decided to take a little trip to a town called Cesky Krumlov for Friday and Saturday, but at the last minute, for some personal reasons, I decided to stay behind. So instead of spending the weekend in a new town, I got the delightful opportunity to be welcomed into the Davis family for a short but incredibly wonderful 24 hours. For that day, I almost thought I was back at home and felt like I wasn’t just a nomad. Kids running around, a trip to the pool, reading, and watching Gilmore Girls. Ahh. I believe it was the best decision I’ve made in a long time. I even got to speak (verbally!!) to Annie-Banannie on Friday! By Saturday night though it was so good to be reunited with my roommates, because I did sorely miss them.



However the real excitement happened Sunday when Christa and I ventured to Red Bull Letecky Den, which was, to sum it up, people who built big, eccentric, and quite elaborate air-crafts of sorts and would fly them off a platform, and maybe after a second or two of catching some wind (but only if they were lucky), plummet into the Vlatava River. There was absolutely no point behind it, but these crazy people would just shoot their creations off the platform, while they were piloting them of course, and fall right into the water. It was hysterical. It was like Most Xtreme Challenge (or what we know as takeshi’s castle here in prague) was being played out right in front of our eyes (“Right you are, Ken”). But then there was a mass exodus and Christa and I got caught in the middle of it. After about 45 minutes in line, sweat pouring down not only ourselves, but all the other people I was smashed up against, numerous encounters with frustrated and screaming Czechs, and a momentary loss of each other, Christa and I reunited and celebrated our escape with cream and dream. Yess.

Here are some shots from the aircrafts and the platform they shot/fell off of...

She's Running to Stand Still

Sometimes I think Sunday school can ruin the intended effects of stories from the Bible. It tricks you into thinking you know the whole story full-well, when the reality is but a distant abstraction. Daniel and the lion’s den for example, I mean he’s thrown into a pit of ravenous, flesh-eating lions, or Noah’s ark where hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children were drown in the fury of a flood. But growing up, I only saw the mouth’s peacefully closed and cute, furry, and a bit larger than normal, cats; and I saw a cool boat with fun animals and after some rain, a lovely rainbow.

All that to say, I think I not only underestimate the depths of human depravity, but the wonder and power encompassed by the hand of the Lord. I mean, whatever happened to the fear of the Lord? I listen to the song “Saeglopur” (by Sigur Ros, try this sometime) while reading Genesis One and I shudder, because for one moment I envision the majesty, dominion, and unhindered strength behind the one I call my creator and my lover. He reminds us in Isaiah
“ ‘To whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal?’ asks the Holy One…
‘Look up to the HEAVENS.’ “
Can you see it? The planets spinning, the universe expanding, the stars flickering endlessly, the sun’s burning rage flooding light to the darkest of corners. The image stirs fear that I am at His mercy, pride that I am allowed to serve Him, and awe in respect to His always surprising majesty.

And in a world where pride is a necessary aspect of life, and self-sufficiency a venerated quality, it is no mystery why my idea of “surrender,” or “humility,” or “death-to-myself” is a pathetic and almost comical representation compared to not only the standard of the Cross, but just what this magnificent Being deserves. So what does this God of Wonder do to remind us of our respective places? He breaks us. Again. And again. And Again.

“To be alive is to be broken…”

And at this breaking point, this point of stepping off the mountain you have built for yourself, and being washed away in a wave of humility, there is a choice that must be made. For the plunge into humility can take two paths for those who so aptly “fear the Lord,” and the effects of each will bear no resemblance to the other, for one will lead you straight into the arms of God, where the other will lead you into a briar patch of deceit, lies, and subversive attacks from the evil one. The point of distinction between the two, the defining choice that weighs cautiously in the balance, the bridge that takes you to the Lord or directly away, is our ability to not only fully comprehend the depths of the Lord’s grace, but our ability to enter wholeheartedly into it. It sounds easier said than done, for we are a prideful people, we are a sin-and-punishment people, we are a people who think that God will react as we do, we are a people that think that God will treat us as our human but Christian brethren treat us. But I tell you, His grace journeys far beyond anything even our imagination can fathom, His compassion sees no hurdles, no walls, no bounds. Not just as far as the east is from the west on earth, but in all of creation, in all of this vast, never-ending universe.

“…and to be broken, is to stand in need of grace.” [b manning]

Do we know that? Not just with our lips can we speak it, or in our minds think it, but feel our entire selves, from our fingers, to our head, to the inner most core of our soul, absorb its warmth as it washes over us. For without grace, humility is just self-deprecation.

This is what He means by humility. It is weakness. It is fear. It is strength. It is a radical kind of love. And for me it will be a never-ending journey. I know I will never accomplish it, but, well…
I’m STILL RUNNING.

the Good

So many people have searched high and low for that perfect cup of ice cream, well stop your searching, we have found it. It is called "Cream and Dream" and I am pretty sure if you looked it up in the dictionary, it would read "Heaven." We go almost daily. I wish I could equate it to something in the states, but I'm sorry, I cannot. You, the reader though, can attempt to live vicariously through me, and I will be sure to eat enough for all of us.

One of the Best

Monday night was incredible. It was absolutely fabulous actually. We got to experience the best of Prague after the sun set. We wandered aimlessly, took a hideous amount of pictures, ate cream and dream, and had simply wonderful conversations on music, movies, italians, and the wonder of Praha.

"The Importance of Being Foolish"

On Monday evening we saw this storm brewing and before you knew it, a torrential downpour began. Instead of getting upset that our plans for the evening now hung in the balance of this sudden storm, what did we decide to do? We chose to soak it up, literally. We threw on some old clothes and ran out into the streets singing and dancing and running like maniacs. No joke. Many men were in their windows either heckling us or motioning to us to start swimming, while one little girl standing in our doorway, was mercilessly laughing at us. But what can I say, it was amazing. it's easy to start feeling a tad suffocated in city life when all you have known is the spacious west end of richmond, which equates to a large backyard, a mile to any stores, room to run and not see a mall. That being said, our escapade in the rain was liberating to say the least.

Insanity: n, chaos; madness; World Cup in Europe

I've been dragged to so many soccer games in my life, I feel as if the game holds no ounce of wonder or excitement or even fun to me any more. That was until last night. We decided to hit up the Old Town Square to watch the big USA vs. Italia game, where it was being played on a huge screen in the middle of the square. Insanity. Thats all I can say. Oh yeah, and maybe also hilarity. I had a stellar time. It was amazing. Never has 'futball' been so much fun to me.

The Faces of my Life in Praha

I feel like I may have talked alot about the people I am with but have maybe failed to actually give the readers faces to the names. Well here they are [or most of them]:



Thats Phil and Shanna Davis. They are wonderful and have welcomed us into their family here. They are parents to Clarke and Lucy.



That is Chris and Laura Syvertson. Chris manages the Czech Inn now (he was formerly at Sir Toby's) and Laura is a warm friend who we already greatly love. They are parents to Owen.



Me, Lo, Shanna, Laura, Christa and Sunny. Amazing ladies. Enough said.



And thats Michael playing the mandolin. Another friend we have made here.

Relocation, Humidity, Humility, and Love

So this is my third post in one hour..."what is going on?" you may ask because I usually update once a week and try to cram as much in as possible, however, I think that will be changing.

We moved this morning. We moved to an amazing flat two floors up from the one we were residing in. Now, Lauren no longer has to sleep in the kitchen, we have internet, chairs to just lounge in, closet space, and a not-so-intimidating washing machine. The only downgrade: no coffee maker. We do have a french press which I used within our first 20 minutes here, but its just so much more work. I'm pathetic, I know. But overall, my roommates and I are ecstatic to be here and are feeling a bit more grounded now that we won't have to move again.

For the first time in my life I am experiencing the phenomonen known as "dry skin." Being from Richmond, the humidity capitol of the world, I have never experienced air sans moisture. Its the weirdest thing, its the strangest thing (Rob Bell anyone...?). Their is truly no humidity here, when you walk outside it doesn't feel like a wave of water crashing over you. I actually had to buy lotion not because I liked the smell but because it was necessary. Seriously, weird.

I am continuing to be humbled as I find more and more that the Czech language is still nothing but jibberish to me. As Christa so poignantly stated upon our arrival, "Where are the vowels?!" It's really difficult to know there is a wall between you and the people you are living amoung. I know its to be expected, but even in Guatemala I could get by with knowing some french and a few phrases in spanish and the structure of the language, but this is such a daunting task and I am very insecure is saying the three words I do know.



I didn't really know it was possibly, but with every day I am here, I fall more in love with this city. It's as if, with ever corner I turn, I find more beauty here and my heart becomes a little softer to this place. We have heard over and over again "Watch out, Prague will get into your heart and you won't be able to get it out." I don't know if thats a good or bad thing. But for the moment, while I am able to soak it up for all it's worth, I will bask in her loveliness and not think past the moment I am living in.


MUCH love to you all.

Not all who wander are lost.

“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began
Now far ahead the Road has gone
and I must follow, if I can
Pursuing it with eager feet
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then?
I cannot say.”

randomness

"oh, the summertime.



we could ride, we could ride. take my hand and watch the world go by



laugh or cry, well we need to try, get off the line, time to fly.
go on ahead and let it fade away.
no looking back you know the past will stay.



jump in and go and we could drive for years.
we could feel alive...



here we are, here we are,
windows down we see a falling star.
waiting for nothing but our beating hearts, going far.

oh, the summertime.
so feel the air, feel the air,"

"sometimes you can't make it on your own..."

“ ‘It depends on what you want,’ put in Merry. ‘You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends.’ “ [TOLKIEN]

This Little Light of Mine....

“The light shines through the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it.” [john 1:5]

So of recently I have been coming to terms with the darkness within my own heart. It’s a scary, hurtful vision to behold, but its happening. It wasn’t a rash decision I made that led to it, or a choice made on a whim to let go of the only One who should command my all, but it was a slow decline. A long string of almost subconscious compromises. A long string that eventually twisted a web of dirt in my heart. And what did I do? I turned away, terribly afraid to face my own depraved humanity.

And now I have jumped in, I’ve come face to face with this “darkness.” But I know I have power over it. And that’s the thing, it doesn’t take much of anything on my part except recognizing it and humbly asking my Father to take hold of this decay inside me for healing to set in.

The other night I was doing just this while laying in my bed, waiting for sleep to come, praying for light amidst the darkness. And then, I kid you not, a light turned on in my blackened bedroom. It flickered for a moment then shone at its full brightness. Maybe some may have been scared from such an electrical miracle, but I found comfort in the way God was making His presence very blatant.

His light does cut through the night literally and spiritually. It sweeps clean the tangles of death that have built up inside me. And just as the light that poured forth from his mouth set our world into motion and created life on this mere earth, He creates breath anew in me. So not only is He suffocating the darkness, but creating new life.

I seriously don’t deserve that.


“ ‘ My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. ‘ “ [God, isaiah 55:8-9]

The First Weekend.

On Saturday, we decided to walk around the entire city of Prague. No joke at all, we did. The city actually isn’t that large so it wasn’t too difficult [and thank God for chacos. they are my feet’s savior]. In all, we probably traversed around 5-6 miles. It was glorious to say the least. Plus the views and especially the company were spectacular so it was all enjoyable.

On the journey, we found an amazing café, a bookstore, the charles bridge (which should NEVER be crossed mid-day Saturday in the prime of tourism season…bad bad idea girls…), a park equipped with a ridiculous amount of stairs and BLADERS, yes dad and the rest of the parker clan, that’s right, people here rollerblade like crazy. It’s hysterical. After a good degree of aimless wandering, we ended up at the pub. Sir Toby’s is possibly the coolest hostel around and the pub is just ab fab (yeah I said it) so if you are ever in the area, it is a must. check out all the pictures below.

Yesterday was church at Project Antioch and then our team meeting with the syvertson and davis fam’s. Both were wonderful and I think I’m really going to just love these people. PLUS I think I’ve made new best friends. Their names are Clarke and Lucy and Owen. I think I am in love. After spending numerous hours with them all at the davis flat, we journeyed home and had a lovely relaxing Sunday evening here.

I feel like ive accomplished so much that I never even thought about like being able to master running down the escalators to the metro, hopping onto the trams and know where I am going, buying groceries at an all-czech store, enjoying Prague beer (do you know they drink the most per capita beer in the whole world?), and sacrificing sleep because lauren just gets “a little crazy at night.” It’s all so wonderful really.

food is getting tricky though. phil told us today that we are going to “wither away” very soon. we need to start working on this…our meals are quite a joke. oh well.


and you should probably check out christa and the davis's blogs linked on the right because they are here and their blogs are also very fun.

CZECH me out

this is clarke. i like him alot.


hollerr. prague beer is wonderful.


sir toby's pub. ahhhh sweet.



a lovely street.


thats charles bridge. and thats the prague castle in the far background. its very pretty.

Bathrooms are dangerous these days

"I'm locked in a bathroom with a door that doesn't have a lock!!"
-Lauren Backenstose

Yes, its true. She got locked in a bathroom for about an hour and a half because the door somehow jammed. It was horrible and long and I was 5 seconds away from knocking the door over or cutting her out or pulling a straight up Jack Bauer on the door, but I decided to make a better impression on our landlord and refrain. A brilliant Czech man came to the rescue and in a quick flip of a miracle-slash-magic tool, freed our dear lauren from her bathroom oppression. It is certainly something we will never forget and have been laughing about it all night long.

The Big First Day....

Here are some pictures from our day of aimless exploring around the city. It was phenomonal. This city is gorgeous and I am fully aware that these pictures will never do it justice. But I might as well give it my best shot.


I LOVEE the metro


This is outside of our flat. It is wonderful.


The "Old Town Square"


CHE BELLA

"Outside it's America...."

So I have arrived in Prague and I don't even know what to say. Saying this place is incredible is an understatement and I have no doubt I will fall in love with this city within a few short days.

I left my house on monday and spent a wonderfully relaxing day at the Smith's house in good ol' Ambler P-A. Then we moved on to the WHM sending center where we spent another day or so in briefings, meetings, and periods of severe anticipation building. Except for the fact that I can now say I have slept on the floor of the Frankfurt, Germany airport, the plane rides aren't particularly worth noting.

Since I've been in the city, me and Christa and Lauren have been mastering the metro system, shopping at our local grocery store up the street, walking allllll over the place, drinking coffee at cafe's, taking crazy photos, pretending i'm a true-blooded euro kid, translating the currency, meeting some incredibly sweet people, and bonding with my roomies.

There is no way I can express to you how much excitement is building in me towards what is happening in this city and what I have the chance to be a part of. I am beyond ecstatic.