Hi folks! As usual, I am off planning another adventure... This one (if my application is approved) will take me to Opava, Czech Republic, a college town, with a group from Oak Hills Church in Eagan (a church that is partnering w/Church in Uptown at The Beat Coffeehouse in Minneapolis for 6 months right now). Our group will be teaching varied English classes at a university and then also having open spiritual discussions (also in English) in the evenings which will not be associated w/the university. We'll be assisting a new church in Opava to build relationships in their community. This is the third and last trip Oak Hills Church is planning to have to help them out (they committed to three). I believe we are also going to be helping with their church services while there.
The trip is 10 days - June 16-26. I just found out about it Sunday! - but it didn't take long for me to throw my hat in the ring. I've had some cool connections w/the Czech Republic - my friend Zeb Telfer from college is the photographer who took the awesome photo in my header here, in Prague, and he and his wife live in Brno, a few hours from Opava. And I met Alexandr Sasha Flek, one of the translators of a new
Czech Bible in NYC in 2009. It was the first new Bible since the 70s I think (the two prior were very King James-y or rather generalized, if I understand the issues correctly). They had public readings of it all over the country. Sasha is pretty neat - he and his family live in Prague, and he's very interested in church planting as well.
Also, the Violet Burning, an amazing Christian band I know/knew, has been given some really unusual opportunities and in recent years has been invited to headline 2 years in a row at a secular music festival (known for not ever asking folks to headline 2 years in a row) and has closed out the festival w/worship at midnight on the last night per request. Yeah, it's one of those 'huge in Japan' bands. :) But, believe me, they're pretty great.
Lastly, my new bro-in-law CJ is Czechoslavakian (which he says is different than being Czech, so I have some history to catch up on here).
All that said, in their kind of post-communist era society, it seems like there is some spiritual movement going on, and I would be thrilled if I am able to go on this trip, perhaps see some old friends, make some new ones, and connect folks together that should know one another, far, far away.
The whole trip will cost $2200-$2500-ish. Not quite sure how that's going to happen, but I guess we have some fundraising events (read: bake sales and the like) planned. Of course you know my (lack of) baking skills...so maybe I'll have to write a poetry book or something. ;) My first deadline is my application and a $500 down payment by February 1st, about "a week hence". Thankfully I did some fundraising last summer so I have about $268 or so already, but if anyone can help toward the remaining $230+ before then or give toward the rest, I would be very grateful! You can mail checks to me made out to Oaks Hills Church w/my name on the memo line if you'd like to help.
Apart from that, I just covet your prayers and well wishes... And I'll be thinking/learning about the Czech Republic, as much as I can between now and then. I'll post my thoughts & discoveries here. So come on by when you're in an Eastern European frame of mind. It'll be a pleasure to have ya here. :)
Much love,
Christy
I'm trying to look at some Czech art, history or literature before bed every night. Here's a new artist I discovered this evening.
