Update #1

Dobry Den!

That's right, I am officially in the Czech Republic! As I am writing this, I am sitting in the Novakoví home...a place I am all too familiar with. This is the first Czech home I stayed in my first trip to the Czech Republic and Honza and Zuzka's parents have given me the privilege of calling them Máma and Táta (mom and dad).
I just wanted to thank all of you for your prayers for safe traveling...God answered those prayers so faithfullly! It is 12:37 AM right now...my body is SO confused. I lost an entire day and was incredibly tired when we first landed because it was 4 in the morning our time, and now my body is waking up, but it's time to go to bed!!!! I'll adjust. :)
As we were traveling today, God has already begun to work in my heart and change me. Something He has been convicting me of is my need to be more thankful and grateful, to pray without ceasing by thanking Him often throughout my day. So, today I have many things to be thankful for:
1) That Landen and I were able to fly on the same plane--that's right! God chose to remind Landen of our lack of control and His perfect control before we even left Los Angeles. It's a long story, but there was some type of mix-up and we were almost guaranteed to be separated with me flying in on my own a few hours after Landen. But, as Landen said, "God is in control of all things...even the British." And He is! British Airways got both of us on the plane! Praise God!
2) For the Wright brothers--thank you for leading us in the invention of the airplane!!!! As I was sitting on the very LONG flight to London, I began to complain (in my mind, not out loud :) ) It's so tiring and uncomfortable and just plain LONG. But, God knew exactly what He needed to do to humble me. The book I was reading on the plane was a collection of biographies of missionary women. Their voyage to the mission field was through ships that would take 6 months or more to arrive at their destination and almost every time, they were sick almost to the point of death!!! Emily, seriously....you're complaining because you don't have enough leg room! Get over yourself!!!!!
3)Reunions--Saying goodbye is one of my least favorite things...except when I know that it is temporary because seeing brothers and sisters that I love after a year of separation is SOO sweet! I was blessed to spend the day with Honza, Viktor, and Jenny. And, Jenny asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding in January!!! What a sweet blessing!
4)That God reigns and is the same yesterday, today and forever--As I was talking to the woman next to me on the plane, she could not say enough about the beauty of Prague. I agree, it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. But what I see beyond all of that is such hopelessness and sin and the need for a Savior! And, it is such a beautiful thing to know that even in the place that is the darkest and feels as if we are suffocating because of the depth of sin, OUR GOD REIGNS!!!! We can bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the Czech Republic because the God of the universe sent His Son to conquer sin forever...nothing can hold Him back! Reading through the lives of these missionaries, I was so humbled to see their selfless sacrifice and boldness for the sake of Jesus Christ. But, the author pointed out that they were serving the same God and He never changes!!! I can bring the same hope and boldness to Czech because I am serving and following the same God who is just as powerful and gracious and merciful and just. He is the SAME!!!
5) Salvation--covering all of these things is the constant reminder that it is only by God's undeserved grace that I can even see my need for Him, can have the hope to change, the hope to spend eternity with Him, and the promise to be used by Him. I don't deserve to be saved or to call upon the God of the universe...but for some reason that can only be described by who HE is, He has seen fit to bless me with the priceless gift of knowing Him, of being saved from my sin, and being able to walk in His commandments. Thank you so much Jesus, for dying so that I might live!!!!

Okay, that's all for now. Crazy to see how much God has already taught me and we've only just begun! I would keep writing, but I should probably sleep. My eyes are bloodshot and that's never a good sign. Let me leave you with some things to pray for:
1)For the time this week in Cheb doing Bible training. I still have no idea what the set-up will be like or how God will work this out. We're just taking it one step at a time! Pray that we would be an encouragement to the youth group and challenge them to grow in Christ.
2)For strength--physically because we're all tired from traveling. Spiritually because I can already see the small ways that Satan is attacking and the war that is being waged against our own flesh.
3) For the students coming to camp, both believers and non-believers. There will be 80 people total at camp this year (including Americans) which is huge for a camp in Czech. Pray for those who don't yet know Christ that they would be open to the gospel and for the believers that they would walk away following after Christ even more faithfully.
4)For unity and vulnerability between Landen, Adam, Jenny and I and between us and the Czechs. Pray that we would be united on one purpose as a body with Christ as the head!

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" -Psalm 107:1

His thankful and dependent child,
Emilka :)