company!!!

This past week my friends Kim and Joe came to visit. :) They're missionaries in Kenya and decided to take a vacation to Vienna and Prague. It was great having them here! There's something special about connecting with other missionaries who understand you in a different way. I really appreciated being able to get such precious time with them!

3 roommates & 2 towns

I've been told that one of the hardest questions for a missionary kid to answer is the question, "Where are you from?" I'm starting to be able to relate to them, because I have a hard time answering a similar question, "Where do you live?" My answer is usually, "Umm...well...I live in Strakonice AND Vysoké Mýto." I usually get a reaction of confusion in one way or another. I would imagine they typically wonder if they misunderstood my English or they if I said it wrong in Czech. The question that always follows is, "Why?"

So here's why:
I live in Strakonice with two amazing roommates, Leah and Emily. One thing that's really important to JV is that the missionaries are cared for. So for a while, I get to live with these two wonderful ladies in Strakonice.

The other place I live is Vysoké Mýto. I'm a part of the team helping with youth ministry. I get to help with the game club and youth group and small groups...things like that. I'm blessed to have another wonderful roommate in Vysoké Mýto as well, Zuzka. We definitely enjoy our time together: laughing, praying, relaxing (when we have time), speaking Czech, and doing ministry together. It's been fun getting to know her even better!

A couple weeks ago, two of my roommates were able to meet for the first time! It's crazy to think that that's even possible. :)

So there you have it...this is why I live in two towns. Just don't ask me where home is. :)

Easter Monday

I was going to post about the Czech Easter traditions, but when I read my friend Lauree's blog about them...I thought I'd just send you to her blog instead. You'll see why...

http://laureeaustin.blogspot.com/2009/04/charming-czech-tradition-from-twilight.html

a conversation with Sierra

I talked with my four-year-old niece today and this was the conversation we had:

Sierra: Why you live far far away?
Me: Because that’s where I live now.
S: But WHY so far far away?
A: I live here because I want to tell the people here about God.
S: But why they not know about God?
A: Because their moms and dads didn’t tell them about God.
S: But why they not tell them?
A: Because THEY don’t know about God.
(pause)
S: But how will you tell ALL them and their moms and dads about God?
A: I won’t be able to tell ALL of them, but I’ll tell the people who I meet.

This must have satisfied her, because she moved onto the next subject.

S: What’s your house look like?
A: Umm…(I’m really bad at describing things) The walls are white…and…you know what? We have a couch in our kitchen!
S: What?
A: We have a couch in our kitchen.
S: I cannot hear you. Talk louder!
A: (louder) I said, we have a couch in our kitchen!
S: Hang on…(talking to everyone in the room) Mom, Dad, Hayden, Nana, PipPop…you need to be quiet because I cannot hear my Auntie Autumn.
(talking to me again) Now what did you say?
A: I said, we have a couch in our kitchen.
S: Oh! We do not have a couch in our kitchen. We have…Mom, will you tell Auntie Autumn what we have in our kitchen? Okay, I love you! Bye!