English: First, I have learned that I have had to teach myself all this before I can teach my students. I have not seen this kind of grammer since 3rd-8th grade. I am talking from the simplest like verbs,adverbs,present participles,gerunds(I know,I had to look it up too) all the way to proper pronunciation and all that mumbo jumbo. Speaking it verses teaching it, is a totally different aspect.You get my drift, ENGLISH!! Which means I have to talk REAAAAALLL SLLLLOOOOW and pronounce not (sounds like)" pernounce" my words right. So this has helped me come to the conclusion that I, as an American suffer from a southern twang mixed with back woods redneck slang!! Holy crap!! These poor people. I am a writer, but I have been realizing that if I can't speak with proper grammer then I will not be that sucessful in my writing career or my Teaching. I feel God has placed me as an English teacher to make me a better writer, a better speaker and an AMAZING teacher. I teach two different levels,Intro and 3B; which 3b is a bit more advanced. They can speak great English ,to my ears anyway. We just learned world history events with future,future present and continuous . I know right?? It is a challenge to be creative because they are more apt to be bored or lose interest. Then there is my Intro class...I LOVE THEM!! Simple as that. They are a very fun,smart and a happy bunch who know very very very little if any English. We are now learning seasons, sports in each season, I can, I can't , I want, I need . You get the idea. In the beginning I did not think they were going to like me or understand me. It has been three weeks and I have been stretched to a place I have never been. It has been uncomfortable. I have doubted my ability and I have endured not knowing what the hell to do. However, my main focus is to be sure that they never leave without knowing I care about them, that they are reassured of their abilities and that I have to be the best teacher for them. It is my responsability . I have taken a hold of my placement as a teacher and the authority in my class and made it my own.
WE have reached another level. There is laughter beyond the walls to be heard ,progress in the material, building of relationships, trust and understanding. I brought in my girl Katka to translate from time to time. This has helped me know what more they need to know, what they want from me as a teacher and how well we really work together. I have bonded with some outside the classroom as well. I also told them something that I think broke the ice and braught us to that place we are now. I told them that
"I left America to come here and help you."" My heart told me that this is where I needed to be.I want to give you hope for your future and to let you know that you have what it takes not only to learn English , but to do anything that you want to do in your life.Concider me a friend." These people needed to hear this. And their response to my words told me so. They already walk in a state of hoplessness and low self confidence.
"I left America to come here and help you."" My heart told me that this is where I needed to be.I want to give you hope for your future and to let you know that you have what it takes not only to learn English , but to do anything that you want to do in your life.Concider me a friend." These people needed to hear this. And their response to my words told me so. They already walk in a state of hoplessness and low self confidence.
I am going to love on these Czechsters so much that they will shoot to the moon. Czech people , most of the ones I have met so far are so kind, and loving. They really are. They have emotions pushed so deep inside that they don't even know how to express them. So, English, yeah! It has taught me more about myself, my own language, how to be stretched uncomfortably yet pleasantly and just how much fun teaching can be. All my students have their first test of this semester Wednesday, so we will see how my teaching skills went this round. 
My new hang out: Well all those that know me, know that I practicaly lived at the gym back home. Then moving to a new place, having SNIH (sounds like snee, means snow in Cz) up to me freakin ears,and no friends really; almost drove me into a bit of insanity. So my fellow missionary Steve came to me with a six month membership to the local gym here in Hlinsko. The deal is that I train him and encourage him in return. Done deal my friend. I had mentioned to him in the past that I did not feel right using my support money to buy a membership to the gym. By Steve-O with his kind heart doing this, gave me an opportunity to do something I love and missed alot,help him and to meet people. So the gym, once again is my hang out. YAY!!
I have felt so much better and I have met a great woman by the name of Vera. Love this girl. She speaks English beautifully and has a heart of gold. She has a little boy, Oliver. He is so super duper cute. We have started sharing stories about our lives, our journeys and men. HAHA She introduced me to her brother, who actually owns the gym. And yes, he is Gorgeous and married so don't even ask. Anyway, he is just as cool and by far the best hockey player I have ever seen in my life!! YUP you heard me right!!! He is faster then road runner on ice and slick to steal the puck and scores before you actually realize where the puck went. It is in the net Dude! Vera and I have had small talk about doing things from time to time together once the weather gets better. So I look forward to the friendship God is orchestrating.
Learning Czech: Well, I will say that it is very difficult, I love learning it, it is fun learning it and I will make it a goal to speak Czech and carry on a small conversation by this time next year. Or by the grace of God, before. I will admit that I have not been to Czech Class yet. I learn with flip cards,byki.com google and czech people. The girls teach me, Vera helps out and woman's meet every Thursday helps alot too. I know the days of the week, basic greeting for morning,afternoon and evening time. I know most foods, some numbers,miscellaneous words and I am learning to pronounce the different towns and cities around here. 
I also surprise my students from time to time with czech words that I researched to help them understand what I teach. So I try to do a little each day and I pay attention when people speak. I have been able to recognize words, even though I don't know their meaning. The key is that my brain recognizes the words, then I try to say them, and later look them up if I get that far. Our youth worship team sings mainly in Czech and yes, I can proudly say, that I can sing along in czech. And no, I don't know what all the words I am singing, mean. HAHAH But, I know they are good words because they are all about Jesus and I feel good when I sing them !!
Robbery: 2.11.10, I was on my way to Nela's house for Woman's Meet. And I was going to take a quicker route but something told me not to. I needed to go to Lidel anyway but I was trying to talk myself into going to a different store. I ended up going tho the Lidel instead. I did my thing got the two things I needed and stood in a very long line. It was rush hour after work. It is the busiest time . I notice a young guy walk into the store but he went through the wrong side of the walk way. He literally pushed open the cart door(where you push your cart through) then you go through the turn wheel thingy. I thought two things ...First,thats strange what the heck is he doing and secondly, what a jerk because he did it with this cocky attitude. I watched him like a hawk. SOMETHING told me not to take my eyes off him. I watched him go to the front aisle and looked at beer. Then he walked back to the entry way and stood behind the hanging posters for advertisment. I noticed two more things immediatley. There was a discount cart FULL of stuff right next to him and he was hiding. I watched carefully as he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out what looked like money and looked as if he was counting it. Now mind you this whole time I knew he was going to steal something and that I had no way of warning anyone because of this stupid language barrier. I was calm and yet angry at the same time. I then noticed a big guy in front of the doors outside. He was holding it open by standing in front of it. They are those automatic sensor doors. I then saw this young guy watching me. I looked right at him with a look of "I know what you are doing." He kept playing peek-a-boo behind the posters. I was finally 2 people back from the checkout and I could finally say something. I then watched this jerk pull the cart in front of him and literally walked out the door as his buddy was holding the doors open . I didnt say anything in that moment. And his buddy watched me as I got to the check out and I look at the cashier and said "do you speak any english?" She said, Ne (no) I said, "cart" and pointed to where it was and said "a man stole it" and pointed out the door. She looked and knew exactly what I said. She ran out the door, I followed and this guy was seriously GONE!!! It was a heeping full cart and less then 60 seconds. No one was in the parking lot at all. EXCEPT the buddy who held the door. The lady asked him if he saw anything, he looked at me and said Ne. I was like you lier. You are in on it. So he stuck around for a bit as all the security guards came out and stuff. I called Kat to come translate for me. Long story short, I found a cashier who spoke great english, gave my description, my story and my info if they needed anyhting from me.So now I am mad at myself for NOT SAYING ANYTHING when he was in motion of stealing the cart. However,As I have racked my brain and played it over and over in my head, I dont know as if yelling out during the act would have caused a more dangerous situation or if GOd is doing something else that I cannot see. I do feel like I will see this punk again,and I hope I do. I also know that I was meant to be there at that time because I wanted to walk a different way and go to the store downtown instead. So whatever it is, God knows what he's doing. I am still trying to just let the fact go that I had no voice at the time. I had no fear either. I rememeber just standing there watching every move in slow motion and I knew ahead of time it was going to happen. So why didn't God tell me to warn someone then too? I dont know but, everyone in that store knows me now.hehe And the lady who was my cashier, is my neighbor here in the building. I see her alot and I put two and two together a few weeks ago. I explained to them at Lidel that I was sorry , I know little czech and "he is stealing "was not part of my czech volcabulary yet. I felt bad. I said that "I am new to the town and I have only lived here a few months."
They were appreciative that I even stuck around . When I told them I saw it all they were very HAPPY. All though we didn't catch the guy, I can't help but feel GOD is up to something because that is a strange yet good thing to happen for me. I am a face to them now. I am an Honest friendly face to them. And I feel something cool is going to come out of this. God is moving!!!! He is showing people that there is Good people here, foreign and local who care about them and this town. 
GOD BLESS YOU and YOURS
ALL MY LOVE
CzGirl =)
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