Engagement and thoughts

Dear friends and family,

Here are a few long-overdue images of the most exciting and important event that has happened since my Czech journey began. Michael and I are on Charles Bridge, and a kind passer-by humored us and took our picture. Pictures cannot do justice to the gorgeous ring, and I'm not such a good photographer anyway. But you get the idea; and must ask me to see it in person when I return :) I'll be more than happy to oblige.

We've been engaged for almost a month, and it seems the past weeks have been consumed with figuring out how to start wedding planning. I'm sure that will be the case for the next six months while I'm still here, as the tasks will only mount. I'm so excited to plan such a momentous event, and am grateful beyond words for the participation and eagerness to help of Michael, Mom, Aunt Em, and others. It will be wonderful to have so many people actively involved in the process--something that I would be lacking if I were in the States and able to do it all myself. This is the same lesson I've been learning all along about how I could not be here without all the many-faceted support and encouragement of YOU! We are none of us islands; God has given us communities of caring people surrounding us. It can be hard to ask for help, when we are used to achieving and succeeding, or even just getting by on our own; but there is so much abundant blessing that comes from letting others help you.

School is going fine. I can't believe I'm reaching the half-way point, in just another week or so! How time flies! To be honest, part of me wants the next six months to fly by so I can get married already. And yet, I don't want to waste the time I have left here. As I enter the second half, I have some friendships and relationships, a routine, a place here that I didn't have six months ago. Students like Esther, who comes in and chats to practice her English, or Nikola, who asks me lots of excited questions about my wedding; coworkers like Dana, a fellow English teacher, or Sonja, a sweet and funny biology teacher, or Milena, who has provided limitless help and advice; and friends like Che', Pavel, and baby Kathleen from church, or Stanislav whom I help with his English; all these people and more, are part of the fabric of my life as it stands here and now. They don't know how thankful I am for them, or what they are subtly but quickly growing to mean to me. This is an exciting time to be in, as I have somewhat of a foundation laid, and still more time to build on that and appreciate it. I'll be helping out with an English conversation competition in two weeks, and then going to the Ples, which is like a mix of senior prom and the graduation ceremony. I'm honored to be a part of those events. Sometimes I feel I have nothing to offer them; I'm young and inexperienced, I don't have particular skills or even an excellent understanding of my own language which I'm trying to teach. But I can only hope that God is using me as a light, whether or not I know it, whether or not they know it. Some days I'm frustrated by the chatty little students, or when I have to teach a boring lesson that no one wants to learn, or when it's snowy and slushy outside and I haven't seen the sun in 3 weeks. These things, I won't miss. But places and people have a way of getting to you; and maybe I'll only realize how much I love Sokolov when I'm gone. (Let's be honest, I'll be marrying the love of my life so I won't be that sad!)

I could use prayer for continuing and developing relationships; for presence here, when I'm tempted to check out and pour all my energy into wedding planning (which is an awful lot of the time!); and an attitude of appreciation for the time I have here. It's a good thing that the Lord knows best what I need and when I need it. I can fully trust him that here, in Sokolov, at the Gymnazium, is where I should be. It's what's best for me right now, and for the people around me, and what brings praise to God; thus, even when it's not always easy, I can find joy and peace in being able to trust him! He is good.