Family Health

I mentioned in the last prayer letter the surgery on my finger. The result is not as good as I hoped, but it is better than it was. Praise the Lord. David spent three days in the hospital with a urinary tract problem. Not an infection, but he had a problem with his internal plumbing that needed to be repaired (Narrowing of the urethra). He is doing fine now. Glad to be out of the hospital. We are grateful that we have access to good medical care for a reasonable price.

 

Evangelism

 

We are currently finishing the editing of two new tracts. I am encouraging the people, which have made professions, to write their personal testimony tracts. We got David’s testimony translated into Czech this month. That is one of the two we intend to print.  Our desire this spring is to reach into surrounding villages and communities to seek those with spiritual interest. I am currently teaching lessons on personal evangelism to church members and attendees. Our hope is to replace the fear people have of speaking to others with faith in the Holy Spirit to guide them in witnessing. I believe that anybody who has been truly saved can tell someone what God did in their life. Just like in any other sphere of life, we need to be prepared. So, together we are memorizing Scripture verses helpful in sharing the gospel. First, we completed the Roman Road. Now, I intend to encourage people to practice with one another. I am adding other important verses as we go along.  The Bible distribution in the park continues as well. We are encouraging church members to take Bibles and our display to their village and offer the Bibles. We are laying out villages and providing maps so that people can distribute tracts in these various villages and mark the maps so we know where we have been.     

Happy Fathers' Day

Happy Fathers' Day

 

 

 

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Safe in His hands

What a blessing it is to serve the Lord. No matter what the world or the devil throws at us, we know we are safe in His hand. On May 1^st, there were protests around the city of Brno. There was even a communist gathering and march through town. The police and military were on high alert all day. A few arrests were made, but no major problems or violence. An overwhelming show of force by riot police kept the crowd under control.  The attitude in the Czech Republic seems to be very similar to what we see in America. Civil conversation is all but completely absent. Society appears to be polarized in ways we have never seen before. Dear friends, we must work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work.

Happy Mothers'Day

                               Happy Mothers' Day (Šťastný Den Matek)

First time visitor

At the end of March, we sent invitations to all of our prior correspondance students. Today, we had a man come to our services that received an invitation post card.  He was somewhat different and had many questions including the question asking Jeff if he had Slivovice (moon shine) in his water glsss on the table. He also asked me if I had added Rum into his coffee when I served refreshments. Okay how would you respond? We hope he returns next week.  Pray for this man who needs the Lord to save his soul.

Burning of the Witches, April 30th

On the evening of April 30th, Czechs gather to build a bonfire and prepare an effigy of the witch that kept winter around so long. Czechs used to believe that the power of witches would weaken as the weather got warmer. So they thought that if they made something that looked like a witch and burned it, they could finally get rid of the cold weather. First, they tie two large sticks together to form a cross. Then they stuff old shirts, pants and socks with straw and place a pointed hat on the top of the stack. The witch is tied to a broomstick and set aside until darkness falls. When the fire is roaring, people roast sausages on sticks, strum guitars, and sing their favorite songs. Everyone looks forward to nightfall, when they will face the spirits of the witches. As soon as it's dark, the effigy of the witch is brought out and held up for all to see. Then, with a heave of the arm, it is thrown on top of the bonfire. As the witch burns, so does the last of winter's chill.