Laura, one of the other two interns, is my roommate for the summer. We are staying in a dorm. In our dorm there are three bedrooms with two beds each. The other two rooms have Czech college girls in them. The 6 of us share a shower room and a water closet (i.e. toilet room.) It is nice because I have the comfort of having Laura with me yet the opportunity to meet Czech girls!
I think it is fair to say that coming here was the most overwhelming thing I have ever done. It is all so foreign. Foreign language, foreign food, foreign living arrangements, foreign transportation... just foreign. I couldn't get anywhere or anything. It's not like I could ask for help either... they wouldn't understand me.
One thing I learned quickly was simple thing I had in common with the people of Czech. A smile. So simple... but everyone seemed to understand. It is so neat to me that a smile is such a universal language around the world.
The first couple of days were also a big mental game, so to speak. It was a struggle for me... harder than I thought. It was just a huge concept to wrap my mind around that I am away from my family, friends, and boyfriend, Heath, for over 8 months... but all in all, I held it together the whole time.
We had lunch with the team here Saturday. I can't explain the feeling I felt when I saw them. I was SO excited. Then the strangest thing happened... when we went to say "goodbye" just for that day after our 2+ hour lunch... I couldn't hold it together anymore.. I just cried. I didn't want them to go. I felt so comfortable when I was with them. They could speak to and understand me... and also the Czech and their culture.
That moment was quickly overcome by the shield of sunglasses and the tour of Olomouc that Christie (a team member) took us on. The beauty of this old city was overwhelming as well. Also, a full night of rest helped those emotions. :)
Sunday, we had our intern orientation, where we got all of our tasks for this summer. Again, lots of info at once :) Then we had church. I was amazed by the turn out. there was 27 people that came! It was so encouraging to see that the Czechs cared enough to come just to encourage us and meet us! I loved the warm, cozy, setting that filled the room.
Throughout this whole weekend, a phrase one of the elders at my church back home rang in my head. It was just one of those things that loomed right in front of my brain and I couldn't quit thinking about it not only during my first weekend in Olomouc, but during the whole trip to Olomouc, and really, since it was told to me. Wednesday night, before I left on Thursday morning, I was at WOLFLIFE for our weekly bible study, this particular person gave the usual "we are thinking and praying for you... and keep us updated spill," but then he said "Bree, let them (Czech people) know how much WE love them."
Wow. This is my mission. To pour my heart and faith and LOVE into this empty population, missing a huge piece of the puzzle of life. My job is to be the messanger, not only and ultimately God's messanger, but a messager for Christian community in general... and what an important role that plays within our personal and/or development in our spiritual walks.
Sunday, was the light for me. This was the first time I was able to meet several Czechs and begin to love them. I began immediately asking them to go eat with us and trying to find times to meet up with them this week, because I have lots of lovin' to do!
It was so encouraging to hear that... And then SEE the opportunity here! I only hope that I can fullfil that as my time here marches on! I am so elated to see how God can use me in that simple, but dynamic way through my display of HIS love for US!
John Coffey, a fellow intern, and I our first full day in Olomouc. This is taken in the town center.
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