Hello dear friends and family,

A quarter of a year is far too long for us to go without touching base. Our apologies! We will do our best to keep that from happening again.

Much of our life is as it was last time we wrote, but there are a few things to make note of.

In this update:

• A Jewish tradition in a Czech Christian context
• Steps forward in Czech learning
• Need for new church location
• Visitors
• Our first home visit
• … and, of course, lots of pictures.

A Jewish tradition in a Czech Christian context…

There are a lot of Jews in the Czech Republic’s capital (Prague), but we didn’t spend resurrection weekend (Easter) with them. (Although, come to think of it, maybe we should some time!)

Claire’s family, for longer than she can remember, has carried on a tradition of a Christianised Seder dinner. Jews recognise the passover with their Seder celebrations. Specific instructions are followed, certain rituals and symbols performed and used, and various scriptures are read. Christians, however, recognise Christ as the fulfilment of all God’s promises. What the Jews are waiting for, we recognise as having already come. Truly, what they reject (the Messiah) we exalt.

We had the great joy of hosting this meal in the church office with a number of dear friends. This year we did it in English, and we hope to do it next year in Czech – possibly with more people too!

Here’s a link to the Seder instructions we borrowed from Faith Bible Church in Spokane. Consider making this a tradition in your home!

Steps forward in Czech learning…

We’re a few months into increased study hours and increased time with our teacher. We’re regularly humbled, and we are still stumbling our way through Czech, but we can confidently say we’re trying!

In addition to our lessons: Claire speaks Czech regularly with a friend she rides into Prague with at least once a week. Another dear friend from church meets with her to practice as well.

We’re still engaging with neighbours in Czech as our default, and they graciously help us along.

Jared has attempted 3 times now to lead Bible study in Czech. While the point gets across through the reading of pre-written questions, additional ‘back and forth’ is still difficult in this setting. But we have to start somewhere! He also had the chance to meet several times a week with a neighbor friend (25 years old) who is learning English. Two brothers from the church meet over video call as regularly as possible on Thursday nights also. He also continues meeting with an unbeliever on Mondays who only speaks Czech.

We’ve even taken a few stabs at trying to communicate bits of the Gospel to a few people in Czech.

Then there are the random occasions, like speaking up for a woman who was being treated unfairly on the bus, responding to a one-off joke with a coffee shop worker, or the occasional anomaly that comes more naturally than expected! Even our dreams have Czech content sometimes!

It’s the little things that pleasantly catch us by surprise. What’s no surprise, however, is that we still often feel shy… embarrassed… constrained… tired.

I imagine it’s what walking through knee-high mud with a 100lb anchor tied to both feet would feel like… but for your heart and brain… 😉

The road is still long… VERY long. But Eternity is longer, so we’ll labor on until then.

Some much needed encouragement…

Jared had an amazing opportunity to attend the Preach London conference at Grace Life London. This is where Michael Dionne (Claire’s brother) and his family are serving as missionaries.

The conference was on the life and legacy of William Tyndale – the first man to translate the Bible directly from Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic into English. Second to this was the theme of expository preaching.

Briefly stated: Jared was reminded of the reason we’re here. The Gospel was proclaimed with clarity and power (in English 😁). It was a much needed ‘tune up’ for his heart.

The church needs a bigger building…

While God graciously grows BSKK numerically, it’s happening faster than our meeting room can handle. Currently we meet in a conference hall at Hotel Kladno. We’re pushing 100 people some weeks, and it is getting tight.

We’re not at a place where we can plant a church yet, and we’d like to avoid having two services. Also, discussions about the possibility of a children’s ministry happen on occasion, but if we did have one our current space couldn’t handle it anyways.

Additionally, several times a year the hotel needs to use ‘our’ meeting space for other events. This requires that we scramble to find another place to meet for those given weeks.

Recently, we met at a community hall/pub/restaurant in another nearby village (pics below). While there was plenty of space, it’s still not… ‘church.’

Please pray God would provide a space and the funds for a new space. Our current rent for the hotel is very low. Any improvement will cost much more than what we currently pay. Pray the church would grow in its desire and ability to help meet this need as well, and that God might provide through outside support, should we need it.

A new friend and an old friend…

A new friend: We had the joy of hosting a young lady from Indian Trail Church in Spokane, WA. Her name is also Claire. She had the desire to use much of her summer to help out a missionary family, and we were the lucky family! She freed us up to have a bit more study time each week (for 5 weeks!), a couple date nights, and help around the house. Thanks Claire!!!

An old friend: We go way back with Tanya Cammack, from Faith Bible Church in Spokane, WA. She brought notes with her from some of our dearest people at Faith. A few tears of joy were shed. The few days she was with us made what already feels like home feel even more like home. We love that we got to share our life here with her!

Our first home visit…

We are greatly anticipating our first home visit. After an important wedding here, we’ll be heading to Austin, TX to visit Grace Community Bible Church for about a week. Then we’ll head to Spokane to visit Faith Bible Church and Trinity Church. We’ll have plenty of meetings and gatherings, and Jared will preach three times. We’ll also get some quality family time while we’re there.

In future years we’ll visit all of our supporting churches. At this time, however, with the age of our kids we’ve decided to make it a shorter trip. Pleas pray for our preparations for this, our travel, our fellowship, and for the kids starting school as soon as we get back.

We’ll leave July 24 and come back August 26!

Until next time (hopefully sooner rather than later)…

You’re a part of this just as much as we are! The Czech church is being ministered to by YOU!

Thank you, thank you, thank you once again. Only in the New Heavens and New Earth will we be able to fully express just how grateful we are for you all. Until then please accept these meager attempts at expressing our gratitude. Please continue rejoicing with us, interceding for us, and carrying out the Great Commission with us from where you are.

Enjoy a few more pics of our family and this beautiful place we get to live. By God’s grace, one day the life of the Czech church will be as beautiful as the life of its lands.