Saturday Morning

I intended to update last night, but by the time we got back to the hotel after our whirlwind walking... I'm not sure anything I said would have been coherent. 

Our first visit was to the English Speaking United Methodist Church headquarters. It is located on the site of the very first Methodist church in Czechoslovakia. They are under the leadership of Michelle McKinnon-Young and her husband Gary Young. 




At the site we visited, there are lots of things going on! There is a cafe where they hold English classes for mothers and children in their neighborhood. It is very important to them that they impart a knowledge of English to their children so that they have the ability to live and work in an international culture. We have already helped this church by helping to fund electronic equipment for use in the cafe area (keyboard, projector, sound equipment). Sidenote: We were made aware of this ministry because our church member, Mike Ozymy, has a brother, Dennie, who is an active volunteer here.





Many of the people who live around this location are Czechs and Russians. For this reason, the ministries at this location are targeted at that population. However, the worship services of the ESUMC are held at an alternate location, because it is closer to where the international population resides. More about that when we worship with them on Sunday.

This location, called Prague 10, has a worship space that is used by a Russian congregation. It is in great need of updating, and if done properly could be used as a multi-purpose space.

We learned that there is an aversion toward "membership" in religious institutions in this country, primarily because of a distrust born of their history with occupying countries. 

This site also has flats and apartments that are leased primarily to students at a discounted rate. The students who are chosen to live here profess Christian faith and meet four times per week for group devotions.

I need to go run and get ready right now... but later I will explain the church's situation with restitution, and explain a little more about our visits around Prague. We are benefiting from the services of Sean Miller, a church member and former American who is now a Czech citizen. He is a linguist, historian and chemist. What a combo! He has given us insight into the history of this city.... I could never begin to recount all he has told us, and that was only in the evening hours yesterday! We'll spend all day with him today.

More later...






PS - Everyone has been taking pictures... I'll collect those at some point too and share some great ones!

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