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!

Orientation- June 20-27

Catching Up...

The last full week of June, I attended TeachBeyond Orientation in Wheaton, IL. It was a very full week of catching up with other TeachBeyond staff and getting to know new members.  I really enjoyed getting to know the new girls/women that I will serve this school year.  These ladies will be teaching at different school all over the world.  Some will teach English in national schools or private schools run by nationals and others will be teaching in Christian schools with missionary kids and other expats. All of these ladies desire to be involved in aiding in the transformation of lives. 

Here are some of the women I will be working with this year...

These ladies are serving in Bolivia, Thailand, Germany, the Dominican Republic, and Tanzania

These ladies are serving in Colombia, Eastern Europe, and the Philippines

The hands and feet of those serving in unnamed countries.

 I would love your prayers as I work with these singles ladies as well as prayers for them as they enter into new cultures, new languages, and new jobs. May they come to understand more fully the power in the name of Jesus!