Czech in with the Dycks

German Class

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:46:00 +0000

Everyday this week I have walked out my door to go to language school in the snow. I leave at 8:25 to catch the 8:31 bus to our Ubahn station. Then I ride from my stop to Karlsplatz where my school is located. I have class from 9-12 Monday through Thursday. So far, it has been a wonderful experience!

My class has nine students from all over the world: Cuba, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Ecuador, England, Portugal and of course the USA. It's a wonderful group of people, all here for various reasons, trying to learn Deutsche.

Learning a foreign language as an adult is a very difficult thing. And I'm not talking about learning to just order food, or mail a letter -- that doesn't count as being able to speak a language to me. It's going to be a good deal of hard work, but I am encouraged and determined to do it. Our ministry will be much more far reaching when we really speak German. Right now, we are basically working in English with people who speak English as a foreign language. While that is working for us now, we want even more and we want to invite every German speaker we see to our home for Bible study in German.

This Haus Frau, (German for housewife) is going to work hard an appreciates your prayers. Johann is working hard too (from 3-6 Monday through Thursday). He's very excited for the day when he can introduce himself and not have to explain why his name is Johann and he doesn't speak German:)!

Public Transportation

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:38:00 +0000

Another thing I am thankful for this February is public transportation. I love it!

Here's how it works for us here in Vienna. Johann and I get monthly passes. The boys are free until age 6. We have a bus stop a block away from us that will take us up to our UBahn station (subway) or we can walk it. Walking it takes about 8 minutes without the boys and 15 with them:) So, we usually take the bus.

Once we get to our UBahn station, we can go anywhere pretty quickly. Riding by public is very stress free and healthy! You move constantly on public, so you aren't bored. It's much safer than driving in cars -- no worry of accidents for traffic stress. It is simply a wonderful way to travel about a city and many times is the most efficient.

Vienna is said to have the best public transportation system in the world and I believe it. The signs are easy to follow and everything is clean located well.

Sometimes, it is difficult. Sometimes hauling purchases home on public is a pain. But, 90% of the time we prefer public over driving a car. Plus, I would bet my boys can walk more than most American children their age -- lots of good exercise!

Today, I am thankful to live in a city with such wonderful infrastructure.

Warmth

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:16:00 +0000

I have a friend named Donna who lives in Romania. I've known Donna for about 10 years now. She was very much an overseas mother figure to a young group of twenty somethings who found themselves living overseas alone. She always checked in on us and really understood our lives better than anyone back home.

Well, this morning on her facebook page her status was, "if for some reason you don't feel incredibly blessed, you should watch someone go through your garbage like I just did."

Spurgeon ended his February 1 entry of Morning and Evening with this statement, "See to it, brothers and sisters, that you praise the Lord this day."

Both my friend and the great scholar are very, very right.

In light of our difficult past month, I have decided to start this February off right by being thankful for all I have been given. Especially things directly related to our life here in Vienna, little things and big things.

One "little thing" I am thankful for this morning is having heat and lots of it! When I lived in Hungary, I only had heat in half my apartment. I had heat in my bedroom and the living room, I did not have heat in the bathroom, kitchen, entry way or eating area (it wasn't really a dining room at all:) I did have a little space heater on wheels and I would roll that from room to room as I needed to.

Here in Vienna, we have marvelous radiators in every room and our apartment itself is very well insulated from the 4 degrees it was last night. I have no fear of my babies being warm enough or being able to stay warm while the temps continue to drop. This is not the case for millions in Eastern Europe.

So, today on February 1, I am grateful that I can sit here while it is 12 degrees outside and feel very warm and thankful that the Lord has blessed us with abundant warmth!

Play Place

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:54:00 +0000

Jack and Lucas proud of their tower.

For Christmas, Papa gave the boys tickets to go to the play place. Actually, he gave us some money and I made tickets out of construction paper to give the boys:) There are several of these places throughout the city. It's wonderful for a cold place where a majority of the children live in apartments. It's a fun place for them to go and run around when it is just too cold to play outside. This place is almost the size of a football field. They had so much fun!

Lucas at the top -- this is alot like those things at McDonald's.

They both LOVED jumping into the ball pit.

A Lego dreamland!

Lots of big things to crawl around in.

Coming out the other end.

The whole place is also decorated really cutely. They also had a couple of bounce houses.

When we are weak . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Our family in front of Schönbrunn Palace

in Vienna. This was the summer palace of the Habsburg Empire.

We didn't go in the palace, but the the Carriage Museum next to it -- it was one of the museums on our pass. It held many of the Imperial Carriages.

The wheels were huge!

This one is a little dark because it was taken after I got in trouble for having my flash on:) This was the one used for coronations -- lots of gold!

See that saddle? It was for Sisi the Empress. See the stirrup -- it's shaped like a slipper.

It's no surprise that we have had a rough 2012 so far. I am ready for January of 2012 to be gone and behind me! But, through a hard few weeks, when we have felt at our weakest God decided to show Himself strong. I guess, like He usually does:) We've been praying for months for God to grow our Sunday group. And this Sunday found me running to the door to let people in! It was a wonderful time of study and worship through song. It was a time of seekers trying to understand who Jesus is and what He can do in their lives.

While we have felt our weakest and least prepared -- God moves in a big way. We are very thankful and encouraged!

Three Kings Day

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:57:00 +0000

Since I've either made you all worry or be depressed:) Here's an interesting little video for you. January 6 is Three Kings Day. Children dress up as the 3 Wise Men and knock on your door and sing a little song for you. You give them money for it and the money goes to charity. I took this video on January 7. We spent the morning at a palace museum and then ate at a cafe on the palace grounds when these "kings" walked in singing. You'll see Lucas eating his schnitzel and Johann giving them some money. And I hope it cheers us all up!

Longing

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:11:00 +0000

I read once that Vienna is a city of cafes and waltzes. Its old world elegance shines in its sophisticated music and charming cafes where a cup of tea comes with a doily. I've experienced some of this here. I've also experience other things.

It is the other things that have the mood of our home low and and our stress level high. I could go into great detail now, but I won't. All I really want to do is convey our struggle right now, to ask for your prayers for peace to come to us. Due to a series of events, we find ourselves in a mess right now. None of it is our fault, nor do we have any control over anything. Nobody is dying, no one is seriously injured -- I do have a little perspective. But, the mess remains. The stress it causes remains. The uncertainty grows. The amount of work ahead of us multiplies. And my longing to escape it all weighs on me heavily. I know our God is greater than any problem, He has proven his faithfulness to me time and again. I also know that sometimes, God allows some hard situations in our lives, even when we are perfectly centered in His will. Even more so. I really do know He can overcome any obstacle. However, it doesn't mean that I enjoy these obstacles and it doesn't mean that I don't long for day when there will be no obstacles. I long to escape to an obstacle free world, one that is not really my home.

One day, I will escape it. One day, all this worry, stress, frustration, fear and numerous other adjectives will disappear. Through all of the struggles this week, my longing for that time has grown. I don't want to jump off a bridge somewhere. I do, however, look forward to the day when my citizenship is eternal and my visa has been paid for in blood. And the waltzing will be on streets of gold.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior" Phil 3:20

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Vienna Christmas Market

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:49:00 +0000

The Vienna Christmas Market at Museum Quarter

One of the things I love about living in Europe are the wonders of the Christmas Markets. I love everything about them: the atmosphere, the beautiful homemade pieces, the weird pieces, the food. It's a wonderful experience all the way around. Here are some pictures of the Vienna Christmas market at the Museum Quarter.

All kinds of warm drinks

The stalls are numbered -- Stall 49

Austrian Christmas ornaments

Sweet Bread

Masks for the balls that roll around in January and February

Chestnuts Roasting on a not open fire

This belongs in the weird Christmas decoration category

Weiner Sausages

This girl is making my favorite Christmas market snack -- a nutella filled crepe.

Yummy crepe!

Away in a Manger

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:53:00 +0000

Skating Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:11:00 +0000

I found out a few weeks ago that most Austrian children take skating lessons when they turn four. You see, we live in a country that LOVES winter sports. Rightly so since the whole country experiences a hard winter ever year. So, here's some pictures of Jack at his skating lessons, he's had 3 so far. All the little boys wear hockey skates and dream of being hockey players while all the little girls wear figure skates and dream of dancing on the ice. Right now, Jack would just like to be able to get up after he falls down:) He is much improved though and I'm excited to see what he will be able to do when skating lessons are over in March. He goes every Friday afternoon at 1pm for an hour and a half.

Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Agi and I on New Year's Eve in my flat in Hungary -- 2004

Agi and I at her flat for Christmas -- 2004

This year for Thanksgiving some of my friends from Hungary came up to Vienna to share in the special day with us. One of these friends was Agi. Agi was one of the first people we baptized in Hungary. I was blessed to see her come to Christ and then to watch her grow into one of the most faithful witnesses I have ever seen. Agi is a computer professor at a university and a blessing to all who know her. She has come to visit several times since we moved back to Europe and I love every visit with her. This Thanksgiving, I am very thankful for my Hungarian friends and what a joy they are. I watched many of them come to the Lord and now they are leading others. THAT is something to be very thankful for!

Thank You!

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:49:00 +0000

I want to say thank you to all of you who have offered prayers and words of encouragement the last couple of weeks. Your prayers were really felt and we are coming to the end of a good week here in Vienna.

It's so nice to know that people are reading our blog! I know you are all very busy with your own lives, so thank you for taking the time to keep up with us and pray for us so faithfully.

We really appreciate you!

Out and About

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:52:00 +0000

This is our bus stop. Usually we take the bus to the UBahn (subway) because the boys walk slower. If we are without the boys we walk -- it's only about 7 minutes.

The bus schedule for the weekend.

Two cute boys on the bus. It was 34 when we headed out but turned into 42 -- a beautiful sunny day.

Waiting for the U Bahn

One of the old Straßenbahn or tram/trolley

One of the fancy new Straßenbahn -- the major difference is the new ones don't have steps so they are more handicapped friendly and stroller friendly.

Straßenbahn line schedule for this particular stop

Say hi to Mozart

Pretty park on the way to the museum

Jack looking at some instruments in the Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments.

Beautiful museum. We have a year pass that is good for several museums and this was one of them -- a good thing to do on a chilly day.

On our way home. This street is in the Museum Quarter.

Homesick

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:40:00 +0000

Right now, I am sitting in my boys room with them while they fall asleep. Lately, they've had a hard time falling asleep without me in the room -- so here I sit. And I sit here homesick.

I've been on the mission field six years now and I've grown accustomed to how suddenly homesickness can come upon me and hold me in its grip for awhile. All missionaries feel this way at some point -- some of us more than others.

I have a new niece and a nephew on the way. I don't know when I'll meet them -- they will likely be walking and talking before I do. I miss them, yet I do not know them. I miss my Mom's roast dinner. I will miss Thanksgiving. We'll celebrate here, but no around us will be and it's just not the same. I miss knowing how to do things. I miss electric bills. Here, we don't get regular bills -- next spring we'll get a big giant bill. We are taking a shot in the dark when we put money aside for it and just hope its enough. Today, I miss many things.

Is it worth it? Today, I don't feel it is. Today, nothing is worth me being over here with so many I love being over there. Today, the constant moving, visa struggles, what foreign life is for my children is simply not worth it.

Thankfully, I know, as I always know when I am homesick, that tomorrow I will wake up and realize it is worth it.

The two people who walk through our door on Sunday mornings are worth it. The Thai check out woman who lights up every time she sees me in the grocery store is worth it. The children who walk down our street and receive their only prayers from me are worth it.

It's worth it, because me being homesick doesn't change the fact that likely 99 percent of the people around me would die tonight apart from Christ. Me being homesick doesn't really matter when they face an eternity apart from Christ.

No, me being homesick doesn't really matter.

15, Please

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:53:00 +0000

Last week, Jack counted all the Bibles we have for our Sunday morning Bible study group. We have 15 total: 5 Hungarian, 5 German and 5 English. Jack didn't really know it, but he made a very profound statement. He said, "Mommy, we need 15 people for our 15 Bibles."

So that is our new prayer - that God would bring 15 people through our door. We will delight in the day we run out of Bibles!

Would you please take a moment to pray for 15, please?

Sundays

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:49:00 +0000

In July of 2003, I arrived in Hungary to share the gospel for two years. I left in May of 2005 -- having witnessed the changed lives of those who accepted the Good News I shared. I remember that on the plane ride home I read the journal I kept those two years, reflecting on what I had seen God do in the lives of Hungarians and in mine. I also thanked God that I was done with the Hungarian language.

Now, in October of 2011, I find myself sitting in my home on chilly morning in Vienna, Austria. Tomorrow, on Sunday morning, we will open our home to Hungarians living in Vienna. And I will speak the few phrases I still know in Hungarian. And I'm sure God will chuckle. He brought the Hungarian language and its people back into my life in a way I could never have forseen a year ago.

Last week, we welcomed two Hungarians for Bible study -- one Christian and one not.

These two sweet Hungarians come in and sit around the coffee table in our living room. I make tea ( Hungarians really like tea ) and they eat the muffins or scones or whatever it is I made that morning. Our visitor last week is a university student and he devoured last week's scones. University students are the same everywhere:) Johann plays a couple of songs on the guitar and we sing together -- Jack and Lucas included. Then Johann teaches through the book of Matthew. We pray and conclude our little meeting.

There is nothing more exciting than living a life controlled by God. When I said goodbye to Hungary in 2005, I had no idea that God would take that experience and knowledge and use it to further His kingdom with the Hungarian people in Vienna. It has been our joy to watch God work this all out. He has brought these people to our door -- dropped them in our lap.

I don't know who or what will come to our door next time -- but I know that with God it is sure to be an adventure!

Our Vienna Home

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:46:00 +0000

From the door of the kitchen -- all rooms have doors even the living room and kitchen.

The bar area where the boys sat and ate biscuits this morning.

The wooden cabinet to the left is the fridge and freezer -- fridge on top. Beside that are a bunch of pull out drawers - I love them!

Dishwasher,Sink and Microwave

The corner cabinet is a giant lazy susan that holds a ton. Stove and oven.

More cabinets with appliance barn.

My little storage room. The pink bag has wheels and it was I take to the grocery store to carry home all the goods. No car trunk to put them in!

Going into the boys room -- Jack's bed.

Corner of the room -- the fan is now put away because it's 45 degrees outside.

Lucas side of the room.

You'll notice the outside blinds on the window. All our windows have those and I love them. They are controlled by a turn crank on the inside of the window and are great for keeping out the hot sun in summer.

The boys closets -- or wardrobes really. European homes are not built with closet space -- you purchase your own wardrobes after you move in.

Our one bathroom. Yes -- one! It's a nice one though.

The washer and dryer are in the bathroom. Most European homes do not have a laundry room. The washers/dryers are kept in the bathrooms or kitchen.

The hall leading into the bathroom. Johann put together all the wardrobes on the left.

Johann working hard at his desk in his office.

Our bedroom. We don't have an actual bed because it would take up too much room.

Our wardrobes -- Johann also put these together.

The window in our bedroom with the outside blinds closed. The white thing under the window is our radiator. Each room has a radiator and they are SO much better than electric heat -- I love those as well.

Part of our living room. We have some pictures to frame and put up behind the couch. First I have to figure out where and how to get them framed. I have no idea.

Our tv area with some of my fall decorations up. This is the first year since we've been married that I've had real fall decorations. I got some at Hobby Lobby while we were in the States and brought them back with me. You don't really find that kind of stuff here.

Our living room window and the door leading out to our balcony. Look how the door is cracked at the top -- all our windows either open at the top like that or swing totally open.

Our table and two cute boys sticking out of a tent. We have giant picture to go above the table as well. Notice the living room door.

The view from our balcony. This is where the boys have spent their summer -- in that sandbox. It is much closer than it looks -- we can be there in 30 seconds from our front door.

The entry way with coat hanger and shoe bench. When you enter a home in Austria (and Czech Republic and Hungary and most of Europe) you take your shoes off. The host provides slippers for your feet. So, that is our slipper basket. Sounds weird -- but is much more sanitary than a bunch of people tracking through your house with dirty shoes.

The door to my storage closet and the door on the right is the toilet room. Usually bathrooms do not have the toilet in them -- they are separated. Also more sanitary.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:55:00 +0000

At the entrance to the museum

Today, we went to one of Vienna's finest art museums. Pops and Nanny are still in town and we have had fun exploring the city in which we live.

One of the blessings of living in Austria is experiencing the beauty all around us. From the natural beauty of the Alps to the beauty made by human hands -- Austria is filled it evidences of God everywhere you turn. I am thrilled that my boys are growing up in such a cultural place! They loved the museum -- the statues were their favorite.

Going up the main stairway

Jack punching in the number of the painting on his child audio guide

Learning about the painting

The boys recognized the hieroglyphics they learned about from Little Einsteins

Jack can sit like royalty

I love this one

The ceiling was as neat as the stuff in the museum

Lucas loved the flowers on the ceiling

Grundlsee, Austria

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:11:00 +0000

Well, I have been a blogging slacker. It's a shame too, because there is so much to tell and so many pictures to show! Hopefully this week I'll get some things up.

In the meantime, you can enjoy these stunning pictures of my little romantic getaway with my hubby. Pops and Nanny are here and we took advantage of the babysitting to enjoy a couple of nights away by ourselves. It was our first date in about 5 months!

We went to a place in the Styria region of Austria called Grundlsee. As you can see by the pictures, it is a stunning alpine village. We did a 10 mile hike around the lake and loved it! These gorgeous Austrian Alps are only a 3 hour drive from our front door.

Our Neighborhood

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:32:00 +0000

This is the main street in our neighborhood. On the right in the yellow building is the grocery store -- about at 2 minute walk from my front door. On the left you can see a pink sign that says "Bipa" this is a store kind of like Walgreens except without an medication. All medication is at a pharmacy. You have to have a prescription to buy children's ibuprofen.

We actually live on a little island within Vienna. We live near UNO City which you can google and read about. The boys are walking across a pedestrian bridge to our favorite park in the area.

We live on the other side of that bridge -- about a 5 minute walk once you get off the bridge. That river you see? It's the beautiful, blue Danube!

This is the marvelous gelato cafe about a 30 second walk from our front door. This is both good and bad!

We live on this street on the left -- about half way down.

This is the front door to our building.

The Vienna Zoo

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:56:00 +0000

The entrance to the Vienna Zoo

We are finally feeling settled in our new home. So, today while Johann worked, I took my boys to the Vienna Zoo! It opened in 1752 and is the oldest zoo in the world. We took the U Bahn ( or subway ) out to the place that was once the summer palace of the powerful Habsburg family -- the leaders of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The zoo is on the grounds of the palace and is GORGEOUS! I've seen my fair share of zoos and I think this is the nicest one I've ever seen.

Enjoy the pictures!

Looking at the giraffes

One of the lovely cafe's throughout the zoo

The aquarium was fantastic!

I paid 1 euro and Jack had the time of his life

Lucas checking out the map

eating lunch -- Lucas had schnitzel of course!

Posing with the elephant

They got really close to the peacock

Watching the ant eater feeding

Jack enjoying a granola bar on the U Bahn ride home. Lucas was passed out!

What We've Been Doing

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Every now and then I read a blog meant to encourage and give ideas to stay at home wives and mothers. Sometimes I find some helpful things, mostly I just feel like I cannot relate at all because all that advice is for American stay at home Moms. These Moms lead a very different life from mine and while the fundamentals of what we do is the same, the logistics of things is completely different. So, with that is mind, here is what my first week in Vienna has looked like as a stay at home wife and Mom (I guess I should put missionary in there too).

We arrived on Thursday night -- so I'll start with Friday. Our first day here.

Friday -- The movers arrived with our stuff at 8 in the morning. They set about a million boxes in our apartment and left. I mostly unpacked my kitchen things and found new homes for them.

Saturday -- Still unpacked most of the day. I also went to a brand new grocery store (walked there because we don't have a car) and tried to navigate my way through reading every label in German. I practiced my few German phrases with the check out lady because I am teaching myself German right now with the help of many computer resources.

Sunday -- Yet more unpacking. I take the boys to a park to play and then get them ice cream cones at the gelato place one block away from us. It was fabulous ice -cream.

Monday -- Johann leaves bright and early to register us with the city. This gets us a piece of paper that allows us to do basically everything. Then we go to Ikea. We ride the bus, the metro, then another bus to get there. We buy 3 huge wardrobes because the apartment we have has zero wardrobes and no closets (very European). We also got a bed for Lucas and various other things. We think they can deliver this the next day like they do in Prague. Wrong! They can't bring it until Friday, which means we are couchless until they come.

Tuesday -- I take my paper from the city and leave bright and early to go register Jack for Austrian preschool. It's a half day program and all they do is play all day. It will be perfect for him to learn German. I manage to get him on the list, but won't know until Mr. School Dude gets back from his vacation in two weeks.

Wednesday -- We go to open our Austrian bank account because we have to have one to live here. We are introduced to a very nice woman who speaks English, but she can't see us until tomorrow. So, we make an appointment for the next day. Then we go shopping at the giant grocery store in the mall. I think it is my favorite grocery store EVER! It is like Central Market on steroids. I love it.

Thursday -- Go back to the bank and spend an hour with Julia -- our wonderful banker. In one hour of time she gives the boys: coloring book and colored pencils, candy, mini piggy bank, more candy, toddler deck of cards and as we were leaving she stuffed more candy in their pockets. Customer service is alive and well in Vienna.

Friday -- Ikea comes! So many boxes. Poor Johann. He has very nearly built everything we have from Ikea. I had tea with a lovely Turkish girl whom I will help prepare for a big English exam in September. She is 17 and comes from a devout Muslim family. She wore a most beautiful headscarf. She comes next Wednesday morning.

Saturday -- Johann goes back to Ikea because they brought us the wrong bed for Lucas. And somehow we got twice as many drawers as we wanted. He got it all taken care of and spent the day putting stuff together.

Sunday -- Poor Johann. He built Ikea furniture all day. I baked some cookies with the boys. They got to roll them in powdered sugar and thought it was so much fun. Baking is a good stress reliever for the wife and the husband who partakes of the baking.

And here we are on Sunday night and I am typing this blog from my new home in Vienna. The apartment is still filled with boxes, albeit not nearly as much as a week ago. Maybe next week there won't be a box in sight.

Moving Day

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:35:00 +0000

This morning, five huge, tattoo covered Czech guys walked through our door and began to pack up everything we own so we can move to Vienna, Austria tomorrow. We have been married almost 6 years and this is our 7th move.

We are going to Vienna to do the same thing we have done in Prague, just with different people. Johann's job changes a little, but the basics of what we do is the same. We will seek to share the gospel with the people living in Vienna, just like we have here. We will seek out students as we have done our whole missions career.

I've always said that the rich need saving just as much as the poor. While the people of Vienna may not be starving, or poverty stricken -- most of them are still apart from Christ which means they are going to the same hell as the poverty stricken peoples of this world. Vienna is an incredibly lost place where what little church there is, is supposed to be gone in the next ten years. Maybe we can change that.

We were asked to go to this very lost city to make a difference for the gospel -- to share it boldly with all those we will meet there. Please pray for our new adventure. It begins tomorrow as we ride the afternoon train to Vienna and sleep in our new home (that I've never seen!). Please also pray that all our stuff currently sitting around me in boxes will make it safely!

Engage Sochi

noreply@blogger.com (Stacy) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:43:00 +0000

One of the projects Johann has been working on is called Engage Sochi. You can read about it here:

http://engagesochi.org/

Sochi is the Russian city that will host the Winter Olympics in 2014 and lots of work is already underway for a massive evangelism effort. Think about it, thousands of people from countries all over the world, gathering in one place. It is a prime time to evangelize! And, since we work with European peoples my talented husband is at the forefront of this effort. He's built this website that will tell more about what the plans are for Sochi. He'll be busy with Sochi stuff for quite awhile. Take and look and see how you can even be involved!