Feeling like a rock star!

The children in the elementary school in Blatna are so precious.  They enjoyed the English lessons so much and hated it when the bell rang for class to be over.  In the halls they were asking for our signatures like we were rockstars. One cute little boy pulled off his shirt and said "Please sign my back."  I wondered how that might look, when his mom went to give him a bath that night and saw MELISSA written across his back! 

It is fun to go into a new place and be the star!  It is important that we keep our focus on why we are there..it's not about us!  

Communication!

So I looked at the blogspot and noticed that we are horrible at updating and probably communication with people in the states in general! I admire people who can manage it in the midst of living life.

Life is never dull at the Lewis house... our guest bed has been empty 1 week since we returned in May!  So if you're planning to come, schedule in advance!

So even though we are months behind in reporting, we do want recognize how God has been working in western Czech Republic this summer.

• English camp Plzen was unbelievable!  There were about 140 students (all ages) who had a great week learning English and we were able to have countless conversations about Christ and our faith.  Maybe the highlight of the week was how the Czech believers worked together with the American believers: they opened their homes, they cooked, they participated in the classes so there would be czech believers in the classes....Both Americans who stayed in Czech homes and Czechs who housed them were so encouraged by praying together and spending time together even when they couldn't understand each other.
• Other English camps that our family participated in around the country were also great times for building relationships and sharing Christ.
• We went to our annual meeting in July in Greece, and we were able to enjoy a few extra days with just our family around Greece.  It was a great family time for us just before Zachary left for college.
• Zachary, Larissa and Laini went to Czech Baptist church camp. (Zachary as a leader and the girls as campers.)  Czech camp is real camping where the kids chop the firewood and start the fire for supper. Zachary invited Honza (son of my friend Ivana) to camp. While at camp, Honza made a decision for Christ!
• The Czechs in the church here in Plzen continue to grow in their faith and reach out to those around them.  Every week brings a new challenge and a new story of how God is working.
• Zachary left for college in the states. The truth is we really miss him.  Because our family is together 24/7 and we do all our ministry together, his leaving has left a big hole. He is a godly young man, and we are excited to see how God will use him next.

Sweet victory! 32-18 Pilsen Patriots vs Pribram Bobcats
Larry and Zachary enjoying some American football.

What a celebration!

Sunday, May 27 we celebrated with Jirka, Lenka, Ivana, Petr and Daniela as they publicly confirmed their faith in Christ.  Sunday really was a day for rejoicing as these 5 were baptized.  They all have beautiful testimonies of how God was drawing them to Himself and how he used their believing friends and neighbors to share the Gospel with them.

Because believers boldly shared their faith...

• Last year, Jiri and Lenka came to our church for the first time when their neighbor Bara invited them to come to her baptism.  They have since accepted Christ and on Sunday were baptized.  We are thankful Bara was bold in sharing her faith with them!
• Petr came because his girlfriend Vera invited him and told him about a relationship with Christ!  Vera is a new believer and was baptized last May.  She has been so bold in sharing the Good News of Christ with those around her.
• Daniela is the daughter of Daniel (the czech leader of our ministry here in Plzen). She is an awesome young lady who has been praying for her classmates every day that they might know Christ.
• Ivana (so maybe her story makes us smile the most...)  Ivana and I met as roommates in the hospital 2 years ago.  I had just come out of surgery and she was waiting to go in and we became instant friends.  She is such a sweet lady and we absolutely love her and her family!  Within the last 2 years she has accepted Christ and her faith has grown, but making her decision for Christ public was really difficult for her.  On Sunday, she was certain that she must obey what God was asking her to do and she chose to be baptized!