Day 9 – Bilina, Czech Republic

Today was a great day for the team! We spent the morning at the gymnasium (middle/high school) teaching English to the students. This was a major victory for the church as up to this time churches had not been allowed in the schools. We split into groups and spoke with the students. We were also allowed to invite them to an evening program at the church. Several students came and even brought their parents!

In the afternoon we went out into the city and invited residents to the program as well. While we were out Scott witnessed to a couple of boys and they gave their lives to Christ! The key to this city is he youth. They are so hungry for love and they know that there is something more to life than what they are being offered in the world.

In the evening we did our program about Kentucky and gave testimonies. Several students from the school came to the program and after the service they said they would come to the church again later in the week. Many doors were opened for members of the church to speak the people about Christ.

Tomorrow is our last day in Bilina and we come home on Friday. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Danny and his Czech Shower (yes, the shower head is in the sink)…

The team getting a lesson on teaching English…

Day 8 – Bilina, Czech Republic

Today we traveled to Bilina.  This area is heavily influenced by witchcraft.  We can really sense a heaviness here and it is difficult to describe the heaviness.  We came to our accommodations ate lunch and went straight to a prayer meeting with the local pastors.  From there we went to the streets to invite people to a presentation tomorrow where we will talk about where we live, give testimonies, and preach the word.  After that we went back to the church and had dinner and fellowship time with people from the church.  They asked many questions about our church and we they were inspired by the work that is going on at 7Hills. Please pray for the team that we will finish strong!

Day 7 – Cheb, Czech Republic

After our day at the Roma church yesterday a couple of the members of the church asked if we would come to their homes and pray for them.  We divided three groups; two of the groups went to pray with the church members for their requests and the third group walked around the city praying over certain areas.  During the walk to pray for the city we stopped by a mural that was painted by a local resident. It represented the oppression of the city due to the high level of prostitution and drug activity.  While we were there a young man approached us and let us know that his friend painted it.  We spoke with him about the city and he said that there were many that wanted to see change but nothing was happening.  He asked how it could change.  We were able to talk with him about the Lord and encourage him in his work to see Godly principles take hold in Cheb.

After lunch the group came together and we went back to the Roma church to work with the children.  They were happy to see us again and were very engaging and welcoming.  We spoke with them about the fruit of the spirit and at the conclusion Meredith asked if any of them would like to receive Christ.  Four of them raised their hands and prayed the sinners prayer!  Four more members of the Kingdom!  They sang us songs in Czech and taught us some motions to some of them.  We played games and prayed over the children and the children’s pastor, Boris.  He was very grateful that we came and he asked that we continue to pray for him.

In the evening we returned to Doris’ apartment where we had dinner with some teacher from the U.S. who were in the Czech Republic teaching English.  Then members of the local church came and we had a prayer meeting to pray for the church in the Czech Republic, the human trafficking problem, and the Roma church.  It was a great time to get into scripture and spend time in prayer with our fellow brothers and sisters.  Tomorrow we leave for Bilina and we will be there for the remainder of the trip. Thank you for your prayers as we continue the work he has put before us!

Mural on the streets of Cheb…

This mural was painted by a local artist depicting the current state of the city of Cheb.  As we were praying by this mural a local young man came up and said his friend had painted it.  He said that it depicted how prostitution, gambling, and drugs had brought the city into bondage.  He said he and his friends were trying to make changes and little was happening.  He asked how it could change.  We were able to share with him that we were there praying and we believed God could change it.  We believe it encouraged him to see others there who cared and we encouraged him to continue the work that he had been doing.  He said the name of their group was True Hills.  I told him the name of our church was 7Hills.  He asked about our website and said he would check it out.  Later when we walked by he yelled out “7Hills!”  Who knows, maybe he will plant 7Hills Cheb!

City square in Cheb

Doris at her apartment…

Meredith teaching the Roma children…

Meredith and Dawn with the Roma children