and then it all went down....

this afternoon got super real.

we watched a video last night about Corrie Ten Boom. She and her family housed Jews during the Nazi occupation in Holland, and they were sent to prison and then a concentration camp for it. One of the questions that we were asked was what the movie showed us about ourselves. my friend Ashley responded that it made her feel like she had to go through that kind of suffering to be made holy and righteous before God.

so that opened that can of worms.

what about those families who are going to closed countries? persecution for them is a real possibility. the men - THE MEN! cried to us about their fear for their wives and families.

it is sanctifying, and holy, to be called to more. to our fears. and to answer that and say, yes God. it doesn't make us more holy....but it makes our callings so special to know that they're from God and that He's calling us to trust him.



this week. it's been emotionally exhausting, overwhelming. we've dived into depths with people we've only known for two weeks. we've dealt with spiritual vitality, transitioning into our new environments, conflict styles (for 8 hours), we've learned how to not make assumptions about foreigners through a simulation that was intentionally confusing. we've worshiped together, met together in small groups to go deeper, eaten every meal together, watched each other's kids, gone shopping together, cried together, gone sledding together, shared our fears and anxieties about moving and support raising.

We got to experience this double rainbow together...and both ends of both
rainbows were on our grounds!

The same day as the double rainbow

A role play to experience other cultures - we all formed different cultures
according to some guidelines and interacted with each other

...and then we wrote down what we thought of each other

today we talked about transition. here we see a "family" and a team all tied together

they had to go over the "bridge," and we observed the individual
and team dynamics of transition

Hashtag: Crocorado

In the news: I'm at a month-long training in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We're learning language-learning techniques and strategies with living cross-culturally. Today we finished day 3...

I came here Monday - a complete rush of emotions and tiredness. For the first time ever, I rented a car  - which just so happened to be a compact. Most of the drive to Colorado Springs is UP hill, so the poor little car was huffing and puffing to make it here. Much like me when I climb a flight of steps.

So what am I doing here for a whole month? I've already lived overseas and experienced Czech culture... Why do I need to go through training?

I'm staying here, at this conference center called Missions Training International. There are just over 30 other missionaries (plus a ton of kids) who are all in the same stage of life of getting ready to take the big step and trust God as they move overseas to share the Good News. It's been so good for me to connect with them - about anything and everything. 

Along with that, a majority of the training for this week has been about language learning.

How sounds are made in our mouths

- which has been helpful to me so that I can differentiate sounds. Sometimes when I speak Czech, I'm told that I pronounce it wrong, but I can't hear the difference. Now I can determine how sounds are made by watching lips and looking inside mouths :)

I'm also part of a growth group, and I meet with 3 other girls a few times a week. We've already been able to go pretty deep as we all share the same stages in our lives.

I could go on and on about what we're doing and how it's been encouraging and helpful. Thanks for your prayers as I'm here and making new relationships and preparing for the future!

so, what do you do? [featuring...my first ever vlog!]

I realize just how bad of a job I've done in communicating what I actually do in Czech! So here are 3 ways you can hear about:
1. My first ever vlog! Just scroll to the bottom for an awkward video of me!
2. A one-paragraph synopsis for those who get bored reading any more than that (that's definitely me)
3. A long, detailed summary! Keep reading :)


My ministry in Czech is almost all relational. Czechs as a whole are not open, trusting people, and they won't hear any of the gospel message until they trust the person who's sharing it. So in short, my ministry is two-fold. 
-I work to help disciple young girls who are believers, so that they will know the Bible and Jesus well, and so that they will teach and disciple others. 
-I also have a ministry of outreach, which includes meeting with students, running an English club, and working with an orphan ministry called Hand of Hope: this includes running camps for orphans and visiting them in their homes.


And now the long, drawn-out version.

My mission and vision in Czech is the Great Commission: 

"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."" Matt. 28:18-20

I work with the local youth group in order to build up and teach young women about the love of God, so that they in turn will share his truth. I'll list what I have been and will be doing in order to fulfill this vision:

Bible Study: I meet weekly with 4-5 girls, who range in age from 16-20ish, and some are not believers. We have a Bible study in English where we read through different parts of the Bible together. The goal of this is for the girls to learn how to independently study the Bible, and to become firm in their biblical knowledge so that they can relate it to others.
Discipleship: I personally disciple my girls, meeting with them individually to discuss life and relationships with Jesus. But together with other leaders, we've been developing a discipleship program, so that the female members of the congregation can start to mentor the girls of the youth group (and hopefully the guys will start this too).
Outreach ministries
English club: Throughout the year, I hold an English club. The goal of the club is for students to learn to speak English better, but it's also a way for youth group members to maintain relationships with those who wouldn't necessarily come to youth group. We've seen a good turnout to English club, and the students have been able to hear the gospel and be loved by others.
Orphan ministry: YFC is partnered with a ministry called Hand of Hope which reaches out to orphans who reside in childrens' homes. Hand of Hope hosts several camps throughout the year, and they are also trying to visit the homes more, so that they can build up relationships with children. For a greater idea of what this looks like, check out this video: https://vimeo.com/117043239


I have the joy of meeting with students, those I've known for a long time, and new students, every week. Support from you gives me the ability to be in full-time ministry, which means I'm available to spend lots of time with students.

Thank you for being a part of God's movement in Czech!

onto the vlog!

Back to Czech

I realize that a blog post about what I'm up to is long overdue! Here I sit, 7 months after returning to the States, regretting that I haven't been to spend as much time with everyone as I'd like. Particularly, my nieces (shameless plug about how adorable they are) -

Most of you know I'm raising monthly support to head back to Czech, though this time with even more exciting opportunities! Here's a little information about what I'm up to:

I am returning to Czech with the missions organization, Youth for Christ (YFC). YFC's been around for 70 years and have spread into about 140 countries. YFC's mission is to work with local churches and other partners to raise up lifelong followers of Christ - which is great because that's my mission too!
I'll still be living in Pardubice (where I've lived the past two years), but will also be working with YFC throughout the country.

What am I doing in Czech?
The ministries that I'll continue are specifically working with Pardubice's youth group. This takes shape in a few forms:
-a girls' Bible study,
-a discipleship program where youth are mentored by members of our congregation,
-English club, which is a form of outreach as well as long-term follow up with those who come to our summer English camp

What will I do with YFC?
This part is a little more unsure. I'll definitely be working more with a conference center near to Pardubice which has a large orphan ministry. I'll probably be doing more summer camps with YFC too.

When am I going?
This is 100% dependent on when I reach 100% of my support. The goal is to return in the spring.


It is my prayer and desire that God would lead you to give joyfully to ministry in Czech. For more information on giving, you can visit this website: https://securegive.yfc.net/amelone

a long walk through the desert

i wrote the greater portion of this in september. still it remains true...

the closest i've been to a desert was when my family drove from San Diego to Idaho. as we passed through Nevada, we drove miles and miles on a straight road through the desert. and all i remember of it is the complete nothingness there. no other cars, no gas stations, no mountains. only flat morbidness and the continued pressing idea that if the car broke down, we would have no idea what to do. we would be stuck.

for 5 months i've been walking further and further into the desert - trying to find my way back, but getting lost and sucked further into the desert's lair. getting lost in the little lies and easiness of the world. calling out to God to bring me back from time to time, but ultimately relying on myself to find the way.

If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. -John Piper

you choose the most appetizing steak (or seafood, or pasta, or whatever you love) on the menu when you're at a restaurant. and then, before you see your entree - before you can smell it or taste of it, you have bread and a salad and an appetizer set before. you're filled before you can taste the best part, the healthiest part, the part that will really fulfill what you've been slobbering after. i've been satisfied with pretzels and gummy bears when i could have had a feast. i have a muffin top when i could have a six pack.

------------------

Four months after writing this, and I'm still tiptoeing the borders of the desert. trying, waiting. crying out, forgetting. backtracking, hurting.

Make haste, O God, to deliver me!
    O Lord, make haste to help me!
(Ps. 70)

English Club

apology upon apology for not updating my blog in almost 3 months! there are many reasons, the main 2 being that 1. i suck at remembering to take pictures, and 2. i killed my computer (accidentally) and so have no way to upload any pictures :)

but enough boohooing and on to the good stuff.

what's the good stuff?

one good thing is English Club. i started up this group in October, and we meet twice a month or so. we've had some pretty fun activities and meetings, and we've also seen a lot of new students joining us, which is exactly our mission. here's what we've been up to.

the first meeting of november we talked about fashion (a huge hit with the fellas, let me tell you...)




we started the evening with a fashion show. the four you see here with me (L-R: Mihin, Radek, Eliska, Anca, me) are all members of the youth group who i persuaded to model for me. then the students had fun labeling us with as many clothing words as they knew.

after talking about different clothing words, we spent some time making our own clothes out of masking tape and newspaper. the students got really creative, and even made themes for each of their own models.

these are the finished products...they got to present to us what they were all wearing. from L-R, we have a baby, a scotsman, a knight, and...something.

also in november we celebrated thanksgiving.

eliska and a few other guys from the youth group helped me with all the cooking (an all day affair). this is the second turkey i've made without the help of my mom :) (and i think it was ok!)

we had 22 students at this club, and i had expected a lot less. but there was enough food (i think). wes, sheri, and jenny shared their thanksgiving traditions, and then in true andrea fashion, i made everyone make a leaf and stick it on the thankful tree.

at the beginning of December we had a christmas party. the students got to participate in their first white elephant gift exchange which was fun.

we talked about american traditions and then our own traditions in small groups.







how to pray for english club:
-for students to come out and become engaged with youth group members
-for me to prepare well
-praise for other americans being involved!

oops.

well the diet's done, because:
1. i'm a quitter to the core
2. it was stupid of me in the first place.

but on with the show!

here's what's been going on...

jenny works with orphans sometimes on the weekends. i got to go with her to an event for them about a week ago. one of the little girls seemed a bit scared about being there, so i pulled my camera out and let her snap away. she took this picture out the window.

this past weekend i went to a big christian festival in havlickuv brod. there were a bunch of youth groups from all over the country that came, so it was awesome to be in a big group of believers. not so awesome was sleeping on the floor for 3 nights, but that was all worked out today when i got a massage :)

sports! unfortunately we lost volleyball

there was a relay race, and pardubice won!

 as soon as i got home from brodfest, i turned around and went to english club at church. we had a costume party, where we talked about the traditions and history of halloween and carved pumpkins.

jenny's working on getting her visa, so we spent the day wandering around hradec with our friend/translator, Katka. it was rainy and nasty, but i found a place that has chai lattes and bagels! a huge surprise.

and then this morning i got to hang out with my long time friend, lucie. we got massages and went out for coffee.