Dear Praying Friends,

"Czech is the language of Heaven...because it takes an eternity to learn." Or so goes an old joke. Language classes have dominated my life these past two months. Czech is an endlessly fascinating (and exasperating) language grammatical rules so dizzyingly complex, they would be funny, if you didn't actually have to learn them!

How do you say "window" for example? Well, it depends. There are dozens of variations of the word, determined by a number of criteria. Are you standing by it, going toward it, or being thrown out of it? What is your shoe size? What is your maternal grandmother's maiden name? Did you ride an elephant at any time in the last 24 hours?

Video log:

When we get introduced to some new mind-numbing complication ("This grammatical rule is in effect on alternating weekends and every other December unless it's a leap year") the class collectively groans "Proč?!" (Why?!) Our instructor responds with a sympathetic smile (and sometimes a giggle of delight), and says "Protože čeština" (Because Czech). Czechs know their language is hard to speak, and harder to learn, and they pride themselves in that. As an academic exercise it's endlessly fascinating for a language nerd like me. But then reality sets in, and I remember, "Oh, wait, I actually have to learn to speak this!"

But I remind myself that this is all a part of the process. I knew beforehand that there would be days when I would feel like Sisyphus forever rolling that stone up the steep mountain, only to have it roll back down on me. And truth be told, as hard as it is, I couldn't be more content with my class. I enjoy my classmates (my kamarádky-in-arms), and my instructor is excellent--creative, dynamic, and turns everything into a teaching opportunity, especially our most embarrassing moments!

But even with the uphill struggles, it is easy to spot the faithfulness of God in the everyday. I am resting more in the confidence that God's purposes will come to fruition. And even when I mess up the locative and accusative cases or get my past tense verbs in the wrong order, and my syntax is like spaghetti thrown against the wall, somehow the grace of God enables me dust myself off and get back at it.

So the days are full. I usually leave home a little after 8 in the morning. It's about a six-minute walk uphill to the Kačerov Metro station, and a 12-minute ride to the I.P. Pavlova station, at which point I get onto a crowded Tram No. 22 for the daily awkward group hug with two hundred silent strangers, before getting disgorged out at Národní Třída ten minutes later, and then another five minute walk to the Charles University language center on Voršilská street (right across the street from the Mexican embassy, where sadly enough, I've yet to find any tacos).

Class begins at 9:00 sharp and ends at 1:30. Then sometimes I have a meeting afterward or need to do some grocery shopping, then back home for an hour or two of homework, some independent study if I have the wherewithall (wherewithall is in short supply); then dinner, laundry, and maybe a little Netflix to decompress. I try to get to bed by 10, and some days I don't make it much past 9 PM.

It's hard to believe that I'm coming up on six months since moving to the Czech Republic. Sometimes I still wake up and wonder, "how did I get here?" But even with all the challenges and struggles of adjustment, language learning, and carving out a new way of life, my affection for this place only increases. Life has settled into some familiar rhythms, and becoming...well...normal. But I've had some welcome interruptions!

Last month Utah friends Josh and Sharmilla spent a few days here while traveling through Europe. We squeezed the juice out of their time here and probably logged in close to 100K steps. We visited Dresden, Germany one day, Český Krumlov another day, and then covered Prague about as thoroughly as one can possibly do in 48 hours. A couple days after they left, I flew to Geneva, Switzerland to attend a "summit" with many fellow European Alongsiders and several board members (we actually met in a small village in France just outside of Geneva). The purpose of our gathering was to discuss, reflect, and pray about the future of the organization, particularly in the wake of the departure of a well-loved executive director. Transitional times are an opportunity to ask the big questions, and name the hills we must climb. It was intense and challenging, but there was also a lot of laughter and I came away with a real sense of optimism for the the future of Alongside.

My only other trip was an overnight stay near Brno a couple weeks ago to attend a gathering of Czech and Slovak church planters, at the behest of one of the ministry partners of the Czech Evangelical Alliance. At first I wondered what I was doing there--I knew no one except for my two CEA colleagues, and most everything was in Czech. But I had some compelling conversations with a few people (who spoke some English) and roomed with a Slovak pastor and his son. It gave me a good education into the many of the challenges of church planting and church life in this part of the world.

Speaking of church life, I recently took the plunge into a Czech-speaking church. I had been attending a church that was technically bilingual, but it was for the most part a church of fellow English-speaking immigrants. I liked the other church well enough, but I knew early on that my call was not to be cloistered in the expat community, which is all too easy to do in Prague. So I have begun attending a church that's a short metro ride from where I live. My plan at first was to sneak in quietly and sit in the back and observe in peaceful anonymity. However, my plan was foiled when I was immediately confronted--and greeted warmly--by a few of the guys I knew from English camp!

The next task at hand will be to establish some ongoing relationships with people who will be willing to engage me with my very minimal Czech. It's a big ask, because it requires a lot of patience and restraint on the part of my would-be language partners, especially if they speak some English (which invariably they do).

There's of course the motivation to make connections, build community, and engage in the local language and culture; there's also the fact that the end-of-semester oral exam is breathing down the back of my neck, and how well I do on it will determine whether I am able to move on to the next level, or will have to repeat this level.

But even that, I have to regularly place back in God's hands. Vpřed a nahoru!

He makes me lie down in green pastures. --Ps. 23:2 FOR YOUR PRAYERS… Praise God with me for nearly six months in the Czech Republic! Praise Him for the progress that is made in my language studies (even on the days when I don't sense it), and for His ongoing faithfulness in the day-to-day stuff of life. Pray for my language studies. Pray that I would continue to be encouraged, that I would do my work diligently, and please, please, PLEASE pray for connections and friendships with native speakers who will be willing to be conversation partners. (And pray for the end-of-the-month test I've got coming up this week!) Continue to pray for Alongside Ministries, as we discern together the Lord's purposes for our small society of global workers; that we would be sensitive, flexible, and creative as we seek and serve Him in all we do. (Also note new Alongside mailing address below!) Pray for good health. As we enter the winter virus season, I'm becoming more conscious of the cramped public spaces I occupy, and the places I have to put my hands (public transit grab bars!) Prague is also experiencing a significant outbreak of Hepatitis; pray for the health officials seeking to minimize the spread, and that this would be curtailed. Pray that God would continue to keep my eye and ears open for His prompting, for creative opportunities to reflect Him, and also as seek to incorporate into a new church context, that I would be able to build relationships there.   Blessings in Christ,

 

CONTACT: Scott R. Johnson Budějovická 638/73 140 00 Praha 4 - Krč Czech Republic Phone/Text (+420) 774 268 660 mowglisj@gmail.com USA Address: 7308 Ricky Rd Pasco, WA 99301 ~~~~~ SUBSCRIBE TO MY EMAIL LIST ~~~~~ FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Alongside Ministries Donation Page To donate or set up recurring donations, click on above link, select my name from the "Fund" drop-down menu, enter the desired amount, and recurrence information. Alternatively, checks can be sent to (NOTE NEW ADDRESS): Alongside Ministries PO Box 732 Richland, WA 99352 West Side Church people: You also have the option of contributing to my support via your regular giving to West Side (You can set this up with the finance office.) Funds designated for my support go directly to my support account at Alongside Ministries.