Monday: Jeez, this might be a little harder than I thought...I can't even remember Monday. Ok, so I had language class from 9 till 2 just like usual. Wow, I honestly can't remember what I did. I probably just did a little window shopping and such with Kim. We usually grab lunch and check out a shop or two after our classes are over. Then I probably came back to the room and stayed in for the night. If I remember, I will make sure to let you guys know! :)
Tuesday: Tuesday was a lot more fun. Class as usual in the morning, but the home group for PCF (Prague Christian Fellowship) met at 6:30 pm that evening. So, let me tell you a little bit about that. You know how I said that it took me like an hour to find the church last Sunday, well I gave myself the same amount of time on Tuesday...I don't know why, since I already knew where it was...and ended up arriving in the area about 35 minutes before I needed to be there. So, I hung out in a local bake shop and reviewed my Czech until 6:30. I followed Marketa (who is one of the "leaders" I would say of the group...I will explain that a little more later) inside to the flat where we would be, and there was no way I would have been able to find it without her help. So, I got there, and met a couple of people that I had seen on Sunday, and most of them remembered seeing me too. :) However, people continued to trickle in for about another 30 minutes. The first 30 minutes are like a socializing/eating time. In the end, there were 13 people there, 9 Czech, 3 American, and 1 Brazilian. Also, it split into 6 guys and 7 girls. One of the regular attendees is also homeless. Pretty good mix, I think. There is definitely a chance for exposure and growth with so many different backgrounds. It is an English speaking Bible Study, but obviously the Czech members speak English as their second language...so a lot of the social conversations around me would be in Czech. Although they all spoke English to me. It actually makes me reallllly grateful that Chris (the other American student) is going through this whole process with me. We made like an instant connection at church on Sunday just out of a pure desire to find another American Christian to hang out with. We are also the only students who are a part of the home group...all of the other members are mid to late 20's I would say. I have been so thankful for Chris, because I think a lot of my anxieties and fears about trying to fit into this new group of church people have been eased just by the calming presence of a friend. Friendship, I think, is HUGELY undervalued. Just from a simple, old-fashioned point of view. Life's journey is just easier when a friend travels it with you. Ahh, see, rabbit trails are my weakness! So, getting back to the study. Conversation with the other members was a bit awkward, but that happens with language differences and meeting new people in general. But, I will say that these people went above and beyond to make Chris and I feel accepted and part of the group. I know I mentioned we were going to be studying 1 Corinthians on Sundays, so on Tuesday night the plan was to read and discuss the first chapter in preparation for the sermon. It was much more of a discussion than an actual study. After we read the first chapter, it was just free-for-all discussion about the major themes and purposes of the chapter...with a little help from some online summaries. However, there was definitely a feeling that some people's opinions weighed a bit more on the group than others. That is why I said that Marketa was a "leader." There aren't really set leaders, just kinda discussion leaders. However, the theology thrown around during the discussion was dead on, so no worries! I had a really good time, and actually the place where we were is owned by an American from Indiana! Cool, huh! His name is Joe, and he teaches something or another over here. We didn't get quite that far in conversation. Mostly, people just wanted to know why I was in Prague, where I was staying, what I was studying, how long I was staying...it was almost like answering all those stupid college questions at the end of your senior year of highschool. You know...where are you going, why do you want to go there, what are you studying? Sometimes I think people should just carry "bio" pages that they hand out when they meet people, so that conversation can immediately move on to more interesting topics. Because I really hate answering all the same questions over and over again. All in all, it was a great night! I am really excited about the people and having this group of solid Christians to hang out with.
However, you can definitely pray for me concerning my non-Christian friends here, who happen to be who I hang out with most of the time. I really need to be stronger in the stand that I am taking for Christ. It isn't enough to just not drink as much as they do, or not dance the way they do, I need to be making a bigger stand in my attitude towards the whole thing. I want to be a light, but that urge is conflicting with human nature's desire to be accepted and liked. I haven't done anything stupid, nor do I plan too, but I don't think that I have made myself different. When I hang out with these friends, I am just watered down versions of them...and I want to be a different drink altogether. I have an opportunity tonight to do just that...so keep me in your prayers. And thank you for your prayers. They mean more than you could know!
Well, even though I only made it to Tuesday, I think I should give you readers a break. So, stay tuned for the rest of the week soon!
praying!
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