A Czech Thanksgiving

Happy December, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year,

I pray that your Thanksgiving and Christmas were filled with moments of thankfulness to the amazing God we serve for the blessings and challenges he has allowed you this year! I am very thankful for the time I got to spend in the Czech Republic over Thanksgiving with some of the single women there. Spending time with them in their homes and even in their schools was an eye-opening experience that I will never forget!

Let me walk you through my time in the Czech Republic…

I arrived Sunday with a bit of jetlag, but enjoyed walking around with Jessica and her roommate Erin to see some of beautiful city of Prague. Jessica is the manager of the ESL program for TB. She oversees the teachers that are in national schools. She works with the schools as well as the teachers to insure the students are getting a quality English education. She has been in Prague for 8 years and will continue to serve there as long as the Lord allows her. Erin, her roommate, is not with TB but is an English teacher in Prague after living in Jordan for a number of years. They were amazing hostesses during my week!

Erin and Jessica in front of one of the many churches

The Prague castle in the background

Monday was filled with rest and more site-seeing to the castle, a small Christmas market, and the beautiful architecture of Prague. Later in the evening we met up with two of the four TB girls who work at the Christian International school in Prague for a lovely classic Czech dinner.

A view of Prague from the castle

Christmas market at sunset

After our great Czech meal

This is what I ate
I don't remember the name.

Tuesday, Jessica and I arose early to board a train to Pardubice to visit with Danielle and the teachers she works with. She works in a Czech school for students who will eventually be chemists. This is Danielle’s first year as an English teacher and her first year in the Czech Republic, so our time with her was spent making sure she was getting what she needs and assessing how we could better support her in this first year. After meeting with her colleagues and watching her class, we ventured out into the city and enjoyed lunch together. Jessica went back to Prague and I spent the night with Danielle in her small dorm room.

Town Hall...they were getting ready for Christmas

Danielle teaching- She did great!

Wednesday was spent talking more with Danielle and developing a plan of how to support her throughout the remainder of the school year. I also got to sit in on two of her classes, played a vocabulary game with them, and enjoyed learning some Czech words from her students as they laughed at my pronunciation. After her classes, I got on a train headed back to Prague where I met Jessica.

Early Thursday morning, Jessica and I got on a train headed to Cheb near the German border. After our three hour beautiful train ride, we met up with three more TB ESL teachers, Jess, Annie, and Sarah for lunch. Afterward, I spent a small amount of time one on one with each girl. This is Annie’s second year and Sarah’s first year. I met the two of them at TB orientation and have been keeping up with them ever since. This was my first time to meet Jess, and it was great to hear about her 3 years in Cheb as well as her transition to TB from another organization. Even though we had some meaningful conversation I did long for a bit more time with each one as well as learning more about their day to day life. Jessica and I headed back to Prague after our six hour stay.

Train ride

Thanksgiving lunch

Sarah

Jess

Annie

Friday was filled with rest and a bit more site-seeing. I was also nursing a painful earache. Jessica was so kind to take care of and pray over me so the earache would not be a bother on my flight home. Praise God it did not bother me even a little bit!

King Wenceslas in the background.

Prague getting ready for Christmas

My new Czech hat

As you can see, this was a busy trip with a lot of travel, but it was enjoyable and eye-opening. It allowed me to understand the Czech culture as well as experience a bit of how they live life. It gave me more insight into the lives of these ladies and will aid me in better serving them in the future.  

My next post will be... Lessons from the Czech Republic. You don't want to miss it!

Czech Republic here I come!

ESL teachers who teach in Cheb, Prague, and Paradubice

In two days, I will be on a plane to the Czech Republic with a 24 hour stopover in the UK.  Thank you to those of you who are financially supporting me in this endeavor to encourage these ladies.  You have given about $1000. That amount along monthly support is enough to help me get there as well as buy US items for the ladies and a little surprise as they are away from their families for the holidays.  I ask you now for prayers for my travel and the week I will spend traveling to three different places in the Czech Republic.  Here are a few requests:

-Praise God that I get to be a part of the lives of such amazing ladies and that I get to encourage them in their work for His kingdom.  
-Praise Him for the opportunity to serve in this capacity and that my job has allowed me this time to serve them.

-Pray that I will make all my connecting flights.(I leave November 20th and return home November 28th)
-I will be spending November 21st in London/Horsham, UK with members that are in TeachBeyond's global office. Pray that my walking around London is safe, and that I get on the correct train to Horsham. 
-Also pray that I will be an encouragement to the two couples serving in the global office.
-Pray that my time with Jessica, Erin, Sarah, Annie, Jess, Danielle, Kenna, Trisha, Brecklyn, Kelly, and Rebecca will be life-giving and uplifting.
-Pray that I will be in tune with the Holy Spirit as I seek to understand how I can better serve not only the single ladies I work with but everyone I meet along the way.
-Pray that these ladies will find peace, comfort, and enjoyment during the holiday season while they are away from their families.
-Pray that I am able to communicate even though I do not know the language.



Thank you for your love, prayers, and support of my ministry to these and other missionaries! I can't wait to update you along the way!

 TeachBeyonders in Prague and Paradubice

An Opportunity in the Czech Republic

ESL teachers in Cheb

On November 20th, I will head to the Czech Republic for the week of Thanksgiving. While I am there I will not be doing the normal site seeing or touristy things most do. I will be taking time to spend with missionaries in three different cities throughout the Czech Republic.  

ESL teacher in Pardubice

What some may not know is life as a missionary can be hard. Sure living in a foreign country sounds cool and adventurous, but learning a foreign language, living in new culture, and teaching in a different culture can be difficult. Of course excitement and joy are some of the main emotions that most missionaries have when heading off to serve the Lord. They are excited to live in a new country. Excited to meet new people. Excited to serve the Lord. They are filled with joy because they said yes and He provided. Eventually that excitement wears off, and confusion, fear, sadness, and even anger can take its place. This is called transition.  We all deal with transition in our own ways, and when it happens we turn to those that know us or our situation well. We long for someone to connect with, someone to help us destress, someone to help us see life from a different perspective, someone to listen, but mainly someone to remind us we are loved and cared for.  

Teachers at Christian
International School
of Prague

This is where I come in.  My desire since I started working with TeachBeyond was to allow people to see that they are loved and cared for by an amazing man, Jesus Christ. I started with teaching and counseling in Bolivia, and now I get to show single ladies of TeachBeyond they are loved through member care.  This trip to the Czech Republic allows me a chance to gives hugs, spend some quality time, and encourage these ladies face to face (there is only so much a hugging bear emoji can do for someone). I will be spending time with some ladies I met this summer at orientation and others that I have never met in person. I will get to learn about how they live their lives in their new city and new school. I will drink coffee and discuss the pain of transition with them.  I observe them teaching and lend a hand.  My job is to be that person that they can connect with and who understands how it feels to be overwhelmed in a new culture with new people.

Manager of the National Schools
TEFL Program

 I would love your prayers in this endeavor.  I have never been to the Czech Republic. I don't know the language, so pray that as I walk into a new culture that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus. I have some great people in the Czech Republic that will be helping me make plans. Please pray that my trip there is not a hinderance but a breath of fresh air, and that the Holy Spirit will lead me in my interactions with the ladies there.  I can wait to be there and work with them. 

Teachers at Christian 
International School
of Prague

I would also love your financial support. The estimated price for the trip is $2500, which includes airfare, train tickets, lodging and food.  If you would like to support me in this trip or in my ministry as a monthly partner, you can click this link... donate ! If you would like to receive my praise and prayer monthly emails, email me at kjohnston@teachbeyond.org, and I will add you to the list.  I can't do this job without those who believe in what I do and walk with me through it! Thank you for prayerfully considering joining me!

Thank you for your love and support as I seek to serve the Lord through caring for these single ladies! 

California- July 3-18

In the summer of 2014, I returned home from Bolivia with a heavy heart.  I had just said goodbye to some of my dearest friends.  It is amazing how missionary life brings you so close so fast.  These friends went through ups and downs with me.  They knew how it felt to be away from home when family members were sick or dying, when friends got married without you there, when babies are born and you can't hold them. Living life so closely was what made my experience in Bolivia so good!  They became my family and will always have a place in my heart.

Jessica Carlson is one of those people. She was part of my family my last year in Bolivia, and was an answer to prayer after my neighbor, Kaitlyn left.  I needed someone that I could speak freely with and lived pretty close.  She was one of those people (of course there were others). She was one of the best people I could have as a friend, sister, and at some points mom walking life with me in Bolivia.

When I knew Jessica would be home this past summer, I started making plans to visit her and see her home state of California!  I saved my airline miles gained from my back and forth to Bolivia.  I set aside my monetary gifts I received throughout the year, and I was ready for my world wind tour of California RV style.

My trip included:

My first In-N-Out burger...I ate 4 total throughout the trip.

Had my nails done by Mama Carlson

Cheered on the Fresno Grizzlies on the 4th of July

Spent a day in Sequoia National Park

Spent the night with strangers...lovely Christian people!

Took in the breath-taking views in Yosemite!

Put my feet in really cold water on the valley floor, Yosemite!

Toured the Jelly Belly Factory

Rode and lived in this RV, our chariot, for a little over a week.

Saw a castle in Napa Valley

Rode across the Golden Gate Bridge

Enjoyed the view on a clear day

Watched the Giants beat the Phillies 15-2

Met the Painted Ladies

Rode down Lombard St.

Took a ride on a cable car

Wandered through Chinatown

Ate good chocolate

Walked the boardwalk in Santa Cruz

Kayaked the Elkhorn Slough out of Monterey Bay

Saw a waterfall falling into the ocean

Hugged a Redwood

Drove the Pacific Coast Highway

Put my feet in the Pacific Ocean for the 1st time

Met up with Annie, a TeachBeyonder in the Czech Republic

Ate ice cream in Santa Barbara

Camped on the coasted near Ventura

Conference called Hana Kamiya with coffee served by Papa Carlson

Drove around Pepperdine and Malibu

Saw lots of people...hyperventilated...too many people for me!

Walked down Santa Monica Pier

Saw the sunset at Venice Beach

Took a gandered at the Chinese Theater

Became friends with Sandra Bullock

Saw lots of stars

Toured MGM

Got sorted

Had coffee at Central Perk

Became a Hobbit

Rode a broomstick

Slept many nights in a box

Enjoyed a little bit of Bolivia for breakfast...cuñapés y café 

Suffered through the Red Sox getting beat by the Angels
with a Mike Trout walk-off HR :(

My time in California was a blessing!  It was refreshing and enjoyable to see a part of the US that I had never seen before, but the best part was taking the trip with Jessica and her family!  The conversations had, meals shared, and laughs laughed were by far some of my favorite parts.  I loved every minute and will remember it for years to come! Thank you Carlsons for the adventure and fun! Thank you Jessica for the eternal friendship and for dealing with my love for cheesy Christmas movies!