The space between now and then

Something very sentimental happened this week- Tyler and I moved out our first apartment! We feel nervous, excited, anxious for what is ahead, and prayerful, and have many memories to look back on! This apartment has been such a sweet haven for us.

With this feeling of “real adulthood” coming up we are feeling quite excited and curious. We have both lived in the city for 4 years now- and 1 one those years we have been together married! All we know is public transportation, walking, busy streets and sirens all the time, and the fast paced life…hopefully we can remember how to drive a car! We are moving on to a new stage!

We will be moving out to the west suburbs of Chicago- to the Wheaton, IL area. There are a couple of reasons for this move: our church is in that area and we want to be closer to our church family, Josiah Venture’s state side office is in Wheaton, and one very excited thing- Tyler wants to continue schooling after Moody at  Trinity Evangelical Divinity School! Over the past year or two God has given Tyler such a passion for Hebrew and the Old Testament. He has had an amazing privilege to be a Teacher’s Assistant for one of our Moody professors who teaches Old Testament classes and Hebrew. Through his teaching and mentoring Tyler has come to love these two things. Please pray with us as he will hopefully begin his Masters degree in the Fall of 2014!

After we return from our trip in August we will begin this new stage of life in the suburbs! Until then all of our stuff is locked up behind this red door…

PS: Thank you SO much to all of you who have given so generously! We are currently at 27% support, so still have a way to go. Would you prayerfully consider giving toward our summer ministry? If you are interested in partnering with us, please click here to give online.

We are so blessed by your support!

Say hello to…

One month from today, Lara and I will be landing in the Czech Republic, about to begin intern leader training. We could not be more thrilled that the date draws nearer and nearer, and that we will get to spend the summer serving the people we love. 

Soon following behind us will be the rest of our intern team – and we would love to introduce you to them!

Jeremy Hamann is from Washington and is a current student at Biola University in California. While in high school he had the opportunity to serve on a short-term missions team with JV in Slovenia, and is thrilled to be spending this summer doing ministry in Czech.

Petra Voráčová grew up in Prague, and currently studies at Charles University. Coming from an unbelieving family, she first heard the gospel at an English Camp five years ago. Petra was an intern with JV in 2012, and desires that God would use this summer to deepen her relationship with Him and to witness God’s transforming work in the lives of her people.

Ann Fairall is from Florida and currently studying to become an elementary teacher at Liberty University. She got connected with Josiah Venture through her church, where she first met Rob and Audrey Chestnut, who help head up the Czech English Camp ministry. This will be her first time serving in Czech, and she cannot wait to love on the dear people we will be serving with. 

You will be hearing a lot about these three dear individuals in the coming months! We know that it is the Lord who has brought us together, and we know that he will bind us together as a team and welcome us into what He is already doing among the youth of the Czech Republic. 

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Financial Update: Lara and I are still only at about 15% support for our summer. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with us as we spend our summer serving in the Czech Republic? You can do so by clicking here or on the link on the above right column. Thank you!

 

The First of Many

My first visit to the Czech Republic was during Christmas 2011. Tyler and I had been engaged for three months by that time, and I was beyond excited to go see his home and family! My favorite part was being able to put places and faces with stories he had told me.

I have traveled a lot growing up because my family are missionaries and would go on many trips leading short term teams. This means I have been in some crazy traffic and have experienced some crazy driving. However, I think the bus driver from the Prague airport into the city wins! Connie and Claire had just picked us up at the airport and all I wanted to do is talk to them…however I ended up getting really motion sick and sitting-staring out the window wanting to be on solid ground! Whew! (I guess God was getting me ready for this summer!)

Once we got to Prague I immediately fell in love with the beauty that it contains- the buildings, the streets, the markets, the cafes, etc. It is the most beautiful city and full of history! Tyler and I visited two more times while we were there! I also loved being able to see where he had purchased my engagement ring!

If you have visited the Patty house then you know how welcoming and cozy it is! My favorite part of being there was probably getting up and walking in the kitchen, getting coffee, and then sitting and talking with Mom (Connie at the time!). Those moments are very special in my memory.

Christmas was a huge blessing! We went to the church service on Christmas Eve- Czech’s celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. We got to hear Dave speak in the town that they first lived in- Havířov. It was an amazing night! Cold and rainy, but many people still showed up to hear the word! On Christmas morning we started with stockings, ate breakfast, had a devotion together and then the present opening began! So much fun to be there with them!

We did some local traveling- like going to the grocery store and experiencing typical Czech food! Even experiencing the carp being sold from vats at the grocery stores! It’s a Czech Christmas tradition! Check more out here.

We also did some extra traveling- we got to go Vienna!! Oh my is this city royal feeling?! Beautiful buildings with white columns and statues. We also were each given a certain amount of money to get gifts with. Each of us were given a person to buy gifts for and we went to three different Christmas markets to find them! Some of the best bratwurst I have ever had was in Vienna!

I was able to finally experience taking pictures with Claire! When I met Tyler I was looking through his photography and from then on was determined to take pictures in beautiful fields with Claire! She is so photogenic and it was a nice snowy day!

On our way back to Chicago, at the end of our time, Tyler and I were able to visit Poděbrady- a town closer to Prague where Tyler had done English camps the summer before. We were able to have dinner with the pastor and his family before going to youth group! Those students…I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved being with them. They are such a strong group, wanting to learn more and more about Christ and his word, and wanting to share it with their peers! Tyler and I were so blessed to have that night with them and are excited to go back this summer and see them!!

The Czech Republic definitely has a special place in my heart. I cannot wait to get back there this summer and continue to learn more about its culture and do ministry with Josiah Venture.