Days 8-10 – 2012 ABCRM Czech Republic Mission Trip

On Friday, September 7, our mission team started the day after breakfast at the International Baptist Theological Seminary by attending the daily 9:00 a.m. service in the IBTS Chapel as we had done the previous Friday.  Immediately afterwards, we stayed in the Chapel to hear from Czech Baptist Union staff members Honza Jackanič and Iveta Prochazkova about how they’re spreading the message of Jesus to non-believers in the Czech Republic, a formidable task considering that over 80 percent of Czechs consider themselves atheists.  Our mission team prayed for them as we ended our meeting.

In the afternoon from 3-5 p.m., our mission team went with Nora to the “Teen Challenge” facility in a residential area of Prague, where we helped Director Anna and her staff (Margarite, Bela, and Renee) with fun activities for Roma kids from surrounding neighborhoods between the ages 4-14.  This included the kids making bracelets and necklaces with beads brought by Clara, as well as making “lion’s head photo frames” with paper plates, crayons, construction paper, and the kids’ photos taken/printed by David and Brian. Clara told the kids the Bible story about Daniel and his trial of faith while in the lions’ den.  Then David and Meghan accompanied the elementary kids and several staff members to a nearby park for exercise, while Joe, Clara, and Kerry accompanied the pre-school kids to a nearby playground with other staff members.  This was the last of the projects done by our ABCRM Czech Republic mission team, and we all enjoyed doing fun activities with Roma kids.

On Saturday, our mission team did sight-seeing in Prague with Pieter, including a morning visit to the Prague Castle that overlooks the city.  First constructed in 870, the castle later was expanded through the centuries to today being an enormous structure that’s over 1500 feet in length and 400 feet wide with a steeple 300 feet tall, making it the largest castle in the world.  Pieter was an excellent guide in showing us various places in the castle complex, telling us about the historical events that happened in each place.  An especially interesting area is “Golden Lane” that used to be where various artisans (including alchemists) lived in small homes attached to the castle walls.  House 22 was the home in the early 1900’s of the famous German writer Franz Kafka.  Later in the day, team members saw the famous Charles Bridge (built by King Charles IV in 1357) that spans the Vitava River, as well as other scenic places around the city.  Prague is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

On Sunday, October 9, our mission team attended the Prague International Church service with Pieter, Nora, and Norita, where the Kalkmans are active members.  Pieter introduced our mission team to the congregation during the service, and we enjoyed talking with congregation members afterwards.

To finish our time in the Czech Republic on this last day of our mission trip, Pieter took us in his van to the Karlstein Castle about one hour from Prague.  Built in 1348 by King Charles IV, this castle is the second-most important castle in Czech history after the Prague Castle.  Our team took a tour to see (among other things) the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower, where at one time the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire and later the Czech crown jewels were kept for safe-keeping.  The mission team enjoyed our last evening meal together at a Czech restaurant next to the Karlstein Castle. 

Early on Monday, September 10, our mission team members parted to various destinations after being together since the team’s arrival in Prague on August 30.  We were extremely blessed by being able to complete our projects at the Konstantinovy Lazne Baptist Church and the Teen Challenge facility in Prague.  We also were blessed by Pieter and Nora being our ABC-IM missionary hosts, and by the nearly perfect weather we enjoyed throughout our stay.  Our mission team members made many friends here, especially with members of the Konstantinovy Lazne Baptist Church.  We hope to return some day to see the church after it is completed.  We praise God for allowing us to serve Him through our ABCRM Czech Republic mission trip.