In February 2008 I arrived in Prague, Czech Republic. I remember stepping off the plane, after over 24 hours of flying and thinking, "Where AM I?" "How am I going to learn this crazy language?" "Why again did God bring me here??"
For the past two years I had been planning and preparing for this new journey that God had me on. He had called me to live and work among the Czech people and to further His Kingdom. I knew that there was only so much preparing that I could do and was aware that He would surprise me in ways I couldn't imagine. Needless to say, I was in for MANY surprises!
Over the next year I taught English seminars at a local high school, met with local artists and traveled around the Czech Republic as well as many other parts of Central and Eastern Europe- all to form deep relationships with people and engage in their lives. I was supported in many ways to create and help lead a faith community for young adults and artists. For the first 5 months I found myself being ask a lot of tough questions regarding faith, why I choose to believe in a personal Jesus, etc. By late July, I was in the middle of a complete identity crisis. Most of the perceptions about church, faith, God and Christian believers made little to no sense to me. I fit none of the "pictures" that the people had of Christians. And I didn't feel I was answering questions as much as I could/should have. I spent most of the next month digging into the Bible, studying the early Prophets and praying for God to remind me/teach me of who I am in Christ, what I was meant to do and how to be confident in all of that.
I answered the first question with this: I am a child of God. I am an heir with Christ. I am an enemy of the devil and his ways. I am a minister of reconciliation. I am a creation of the ultimate Creator.
Then I found that this was what I am to do: "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he." Isaiah 43:10
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24 Believe and testify. That is my life's mission.
This past spring I returned back to the United States having learned so much about myself and feeling like I had been refined, like gold. Because I was willing to face and change the brokenness in my own life and grow in my relationship with Christ, I feel confident that others around me were able to see that freedom and do the same.
He who has started a good work in me will carry it on to completion. This God story is far from over. In fact, it has just begun!
Kara