Grace Avenue UMC, Frisco TX

AHOJ from Pension Plzen!

Worked on my talk for Sunday service.
Walked to the top of Holy Hill as tradition, and took so many team pictures. Came down to the Center, and had a sumptious BBQ.  Awesome.

We sang praise, Kevin, with the students singing with us this time. Imagine the songs in CZ and American at the same time - beautiful! I am sure God loved listening.

We had the traditional BBQ meal in the side yard, where there is now a deep deep well for unlimited drinking water  Yeaaaaaaa.

We gave the students our gifts of love and encouragement, and were surprised by return gifts from the students.
They spoke of the week with us, and how they feltIt was an emotional time for all - we became ONE TEAM with God over the week, and they expressed their thanks and feeling for us being there, treating them with respect and admiration. We came here to build relationships, trust and spread God’s Love. They responded in kind, promising to pray for us and the Grace Avenue Family that supports us.

We also attended the Friday Club at Maranatha Church, in the rooms above Teen Challenge offices. WHAT A BLESSING!!!!!!  Hey, GAUMC YOUTH, you have some friends over here that would LOVE to meet you. They are your peers, and have begun programs with the local Plzen City government that are against DUI driving, alcohol and drugs. The “Clubbers” created their own program, youth-to-youth! Bulletings were created, and a movie as well.

Some of the Clubbers have been members for more than a year, others are new…but they are all very neat, cool, and definitely our friends. They surprised us with gifts made with the help of the guys at Holy Hill - what an extended team effort. we gave them gifts as well, and stayed from 3PM - 545PM, when we rushed back to Pension for a coffee snack meeting at Petr Balous house.

I am very proud of Jana and Charles, the leaders of the Friday Club - they have continued to build the program for kids in crisis, and have provided Sanctuary of the best kind…building youth trust and respect for themselves and other youth. Jana and Charles are saving lives, as are Gustav and Petr. Bless them and their continued work.

More tomorrow, and more pictures.  Please keep the Comments coming to the BLOGGERS - we need prayers too!!!!!

In God’s Love and Grace,

Charles  (Karel)

Good Friday morning to y’all, from Czech Republic, Plzen Pension hotel.

It is 0745, and time for a quick look at yesterday.

Lisa and Joyce took over the Holy Hill kitchen whilst others continued cleaning bricks, etc… They whipped up on all the Texas condiments, and produced an amazing lunch. Traci and Freida served, Freida and Donna cleaned the kitchen afterward.

Imagine seeing “Old El Paso” on the boxes was weird!!! Who knew, a slice of Texas in Czech.  The tacos, soft and crispy, with soup, rice, beans, jalapenos and chips really were quite good - the CZ students and staff were amazed and loved every bite. It was a big hit overall.

Kevin, in the afternoon after lunch we had a “jam fest” with bass guitar and amplifier, and two acoustic guitars…all played by staff / students!!!!!!!  It was cool, with songs like “OPEN MY EYES” and “EL SHEDAI”, in both Czech and American.

In the afternoon the GAUMC team went off to the castle managed by Gustav’s father. We had a special “behind the scenes tour” including the most special huge glass sculpture with images in gold, bronze and tons (literally) of glass. Images included birth of Jesus scene, Noah’s ark scene, universe, etc… all in shimmering glass, gold and more. It is unique in the world, and had to be constructed in parts and assembled in the castle itself. The lineage of the original builder/owner goes back to 836AD, and includes the Hapsburg family.

Sleepy yet??? Well, we had a wonderful traditional dinner of tenderloin beef, gravy, dumpling bread (ask Jason or Carol Dirks or Billy) lemon slice, cranberry and whipped cream, followed by forest fruit (many berries) and ice cream. We had to say goodbye to Gustav’s father (Gustav also) which was very difficult. He is a wealth of culture and history facts, and kept us enthralled with his stories of past royalty, beheadings, and the intertwining of royal families in an effort to keep royal bloodlines existing.

Today it is back to Holy Hill, for a farewell BBQ, CZ style.  Talk about a partnership - Texas lunch, Czech BBQ, what a miracle.

Watch for more pictures tonight. Look especially for the pix of the new computers for educating and enhancing the students - they are a miracle for the therapy and education of the students.

Tonight we go to “Friday Club” on Friday night!!!

In God’s Love and Grace,

Karel    (Charles Hampshire)

Click here for pictures!

What an awesome day we had yesterday and today.  Yesterday after our work day, we met with City officials from Plzen at Teen Challenge, visited the Friday Club on Wednesday and then had Bible study at Maranatha and showed a slide show of our pictures and sang praises in Czech and English.  Then we went to individual family homes for dinner and we are fed very well. 
Today we finished most of the work except for the cleaning of the bricks.  We also surprised the guys with a home-cooked Tex-Mex lunch on Texas Lonestar plates, a gift from the Brim’s.  They guys loved it!  Then it was time for an outdoor concert and a quick game of soccer where we are all showed up by 10-year-old Michael, Ruda and Lenka’s son who lives at Teen Challenge.  Tonight we are getting a private tour of a castle and even having dinner there.
Thank you for your continued prayers and a special thanks to Carol and Janet for the blogging responses…..we love that!

AHOJ, everyone…what a Blessed day.

We were off to Holy Hill in the morning, and completed the sidewalk!! Look for the completed sidewalk crew!!

We had another delicious lunch, then raced over to the “fotball” leg soccer field for 35 minutes of play. What a time…much laughter, and YEE-HAW’s, as Donna and Jessica were very good. Traci is an awesome kicker, and the students that played were great. Grandpa Karel here used my head a couple of times, and actually kicked a few winning balls.

Then, off to Plzen for a shower (ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh) and then a meeting with the Plzen Government Drug Enforcer. He has very good financial contacts, and is enthused over the Maranatha/Teen Challenge programs. I talked with him, and after the usual reaching of understanding, he wanted to talk Americansky poloticsky…..Obama, CLinton and JOHN MCCAIN. Needless to say, he favored John.

Youth of Grace Avenue - prepare to be amazed!  We went upstairs to the “FRIDAY CLUB…on Wednesday.  What a wonderful time. There were 7-8 teens, many of whom could not attend on Friday, all of whom had heard we were coming and patiently waited. What a great time - we talked, laughed, were serious, and shared thoughts, questions and answers. Jana, one of the leaders, was proud to anounce to the Youth there that she was expecting a sibling for her daughter Elen. Everyone there greeted the news with ooows and awwwwwwws - they were very excited.

Well, we had to leave for the Bible study at 1800. There we saw the students from Holy Hill, and Mila from Karlavy Vary, the picturesque town with the hotel featured in the movie with Queen Latifa.  We sang, Petr talked a bit then turned it over to us. Lisa ran the picture show, I introduced the team and we had prayers.

Then we split off to go to some person’s homes. Thge Maranatha congregation had requested to be more involved this year in offering for a team member to come home for dinner and “getting to know you” time.

Billy, we have built and renewed so many relationships - whew…it is like our church family of Grace Avenue / Maranatha has grown steadily and continues to grow.

Tonight Lisa and I went to Nada and George’s home for dinner and a family picture show.
Since we have known them for all the times we have been here, we enjoyed all. Dinner was sliced cooked turkey, special potato pancakes, salted cheese, tomatoes, peppers, watermelon and icecream…and special Czech fruited cookies…wow, so delicious. The pictures they shared allowed us to meet their sons and families, and share in their 30 year wedding anniversary.

Late here, 2345 Plzen time ( take away 7 for Texas time.)

Tomorrow, a Texas surprise from the GAUMC folks to the Holy Hill lunchtime…WATCH FOR THE PICTURES !!! 

Dobre Note…..Good Night….more tomorrow.

In God’s Love and Grace,

Charles  (Karel)

I hope you have looked at the new pictures. The building is now down. The yard is now chopped up soil, weed and grass free. We have some really great new friends. We will keep in our hearts forever. I had dinner with some friends last night we have decided it is now a tradition since it is our 4th year to get together. I have also had dinner with two other families from the Church and feel they are my new friends also. There are 8 Men at Holy Hill. They are all awesome and will forever be in my heart too. We have now seen 5 of the guys that were in Holy Hill before. They are all doing sooooo good. It is so cool to see how God has touched thier hearts and changed thier lives. Love to all!!!!!
Joyce
Love to my family and hugs all around.

Pictures from the team are here.

Hi All!

We had a short but wonderful day on Holy Hill.  I spent the morning cutting the grass…and yes…to those of you who know me…I DO know how to operate a lawn mower…Lisa has pictures to prove it :-)!  After lunch, singing (my favorite part of the day!) and sharing information with the clients and staff…we worked a little, then played Leg Ball (soccer with a net in the middle of the field).  It is so much fun!  And so funny to watch!!  I had no idea that this almost 50 year old body could still kick a ball!!  It truly is amazing what God can do…when you are serving him!!

This evening we have Wednesday night bible study at the church, and then we are off to another night of dinner with the church families.  Jessica and I are going to be with a family that has 3 teenage girls…we are SO excited!!

Tomorrow we are making a Texas lunch for the guys at Holy Hill…tacos, rice, and whatever else we can come up with that seems like Texas food.  They are pretty excited about the lunch and so are we!!

Love to everyone there…thank you for your prayers and support…and your comments!

Donna

Good Morning - Dobra Rano,  from Plzen and Holy Hill.

Well, we started building a sidewalk, cleaned more bricks (recycle) and turned the dirt on the field where “THE PILE” existed years back ( Yes Alison, the PILE is dead!).

Weather warm in day, then cool in evening. PickAxe is heavy, dirt and rocks also, bricks are large and heavy…but the “fotball” (soccer) game at the end of day is wonderful. Jessica has an awesome serve, I used my head a few times, and the students are very good. Petr Balous joined in, and we had a terrific rooting section, with several loud “WAVES” that I captured on photos.

Our lunch was very good, and the after-session was excellent. Yesterday we had a joyous sing-a-long with Lord I Lift Your Name and Open Your Eyes…Petr Balous and I played guitar, and the team, CZ and USA, sang along. We shared questions and answers with each other, and met the new Drug Enforcement officer for Plzen. He had heard we were there, and came to visit.

We had dinner with Jerry last night, who had written the very emotional letter three years ago after we were here. He is a testimony to the success of Teen Challenge at Holy Hill. He has a job building houses which he enjoys, has been alcohol and drug free for 3 years and he is dealing with the regular things in life while enjoying life so much more. God continues to guide him and comfort him.

Wednesday is 1/2 day work, then meet the Vice Mayor and officials of Plzen, then Friday Club (ON WEDNESDAY!!), then Bible Study this evening with VIM presentation.

Keep the prayers coming - the students and GAUMC teams are now “THE TEAM”, and they are a wonderful group!
I worked with John on the sidewalk construction, and Paula and Traci and Lisa, with the results on the BLOG. Today we finish.

In God’s Love and Grace,

Karel

Today was another great working day.

Great progress was made on the various projects.  We also had a nice time singing praise songs in Czech and English and spending time getting to know each other.

The weather remains great.  Although there was a little rain today, it was just the right amount to cool things off a bit.

Tracy