Greetings once again. Happy Easter. I have great news ...He has Risen. Our Lord Jesus IS alive and walking among us all. Isn't that Wonderful news. I thought you would like that. So you may be wondering as to why I have not been documenting for the past few weeks. I honestly just didn't feel led to and I was in so deep with a lot of supernatural adventures. What I experienced , a lot of it cannot be put into words and it is beyond comprehension even for me. I was in a battle for 3 straight weeks. I was up against a great deal of different situations. Along with prayer, intercessory prayer and, as well, mentoring . I ended up calling the big guns because I could only handle so much. When you become mentally and physically exhausted and in pain it is time to call the brothers and sisters to step in along side you. And that they did.
Even though God was using me in many ways here, back at home and even in other areas in the states, he too was doing a work in me. The main thing God has been working on me ,once again is to be the "Receiver". I have always been the giver,the server and a provider for my own needs. I was sent to do the works of God and to help others and to give them love among other things. But every since I have arrived here, it has been the total opposite. For being a foreigner, I have felt more like a native Czechster!! To be embraced and to have acts of kindness showered upon me with gifts in hand, has greatly humbled me to a place I have never been before. Not only has the Czech community reached out but the missions team has recently as well, in small yet very intimate ways. I say it that way because no one on this team really knows me or my heart , but God does. 
I came home from the gym one day to have a short but sweet visit from the Rector's. They handed me these interesting teas to try and a bouquet of flowers. Now I never discovered the flowers until after they left. I have never seen such vibrant red lilies in my life. This was an amazing bouquet. So my favorite color being red and my favorite flowers being Lilies(and daisies),They had no clue of these simple yet important facts about me. But God does. The little message in the card simply said the words I needed to hear, "Here's to a fresh start". They too, had no idea that when I accepted this call, one of my personal reasons for doing so, was that it gave me a chance to have a brand new start in my life. To me, it is a new chapter of my life. A place where no one knows me, my past is at rest far behind me and everything about me and in me is fresh. A more focused and assured vision on life and my hearts desires.
As the days went by, I was continuously showered with droplets of kindness. It goes as small as buying minutes for my phone for cutting hair. Someone else did the same just because they felt like it. Then I go to our team meeting and there at my seat is a beautiful plant screaming "Hello Spring" from it's bright yellow blossoms. Attached to it was a simple note, "Staciemae, Have a Happy Day." Yup , it is that simple. Then I had all the in between moments filled with words that were spoken to me each new day. They were the very things I needed to hear. They may not have known this , but..yes, you guessed it, GOD DOES. It is those simple moments of kindness that have the most impacting measures to my heart and my life. On a chilled rainy Saturday, the Pastor, his daughter and one of the elders brought me a bed. I needed a bigger and more comfortable bed. Now with this bed and a memory foam mattress, I will be as comfortable as a new born baby in it's mama's arms. I too, in the past 10 days have receive 7 boxes filled with goodies from America. My daddy sent 3, my best friend sent one and my church sent 3 as well. I am set for many things for some time now.
Then today I feel was the most profound and impacting moment of kindness that I have received. Not only was it just that, but to me it was a moment of God's truth and realness. I say realness because HE truly does know all. A man from the church, that I barley know, came up to me and handed me this small piece of folded paper with my name written in Czech. He smiled and I said with a huge smile on my face "Thank you so much". Now I had no idea about what was written inside this folded piece of paper, but it immediately brought me great Joy when I "Received" it. I was anxious to see what it said. Being language barrier and all it made me wonder. I began to open this paper and as I did I noticed that it had something in it. I stopped and took it with me out to a different room. As I opened it up, my eyes saw that inside this paper contained a large amount of money instead. I instantly was hit with emotions that I could not control. My first thoughts were, "I cannot take this, I cannot do this." I went back into the sanctuary and found my little Katka and took her back out into the hallway. I told her that I could not take this money and I needed to give it back to this man. I saw complete disappointment on this girls face. I expressed how sorry I was and that I really am not good at receiving money from others. I know what you are thinking as you read this , but this has been a thing with me my entire life. I am just not good at taking money from others even if it is a gift. Then this precious 14 year old girl says ," You know once there was a man who fell in water and was unable to get out. So a few men stopped to try and help and the man refused and said, no no it is ok GOD will help me. So those men went on their way. As he continued to cry out to God , another group stopped to help and he again said no. This man then went to heaven and when he saw God he said why did you not help me father. God said I did, I sent you help three times and you denied it all three times.
As I was drowning in my own tears, I began to weep in a way of disappointment in myself on top of the humility that was falling upon me. Why is this so hard for me to do, I thought? Katka then went and found the man that gave me this money and in front of me; as i wept uncontrollably she explained to him that I was unable to accept this money. He asked "Why"? I tried to reassure the man that I was ok and taken care of, yet I was deeply blessed by his kindness. He then began to tell me a story about how he went to a place to serve that was very poor.They had no money ,they really and nothing. On his last day there a man from the service that day handed him a large sum of money to buy a plane ticket back home. He refused several times. But then he realized he had to take the money, so he took it but left some behind as well. And then he embraced me and says," It is a gift, take it, enjoy it". You must learn to take as well. " I was breathless and tried to speak the words thank you, but could not. I just looked him in the eyes and I believe he saw my gratitude all over my face, he again said, " Enjoy it," And he walked away. I went into the bathroom , locked myself in the stall and cried from the deepest part I could get to.
As I walked home shame started to surface. I made it into my door and I just let all the emotions out. I cried so hard asking God to forgive me for denying his love and provision and for rejecting someone's kindness . I thought to myself, this act from this man could very well have been him yielding in obedience, and I took that from him. Then I heard God say,"remember what you asked of me yesterday?" And it hit me like a ton of bricks. During this fast a lot of detours have popped up in regards to my finances . And just recently I went to check my account for my tax money and noticed some how two large amounts were deducted with my debit card and has been taken from my account. My power of attorney and myself are the only ones with access to my account. We were at a loss as to what happened. So this left me in the negative by a lot. I have not worried at all during my time here about money. I have grown frustrated but never worried. See, I do 100% , trust in my God to provide my every need for the rest of my life. And just to add, when I checked my account today, those unknown charges vanished and my money was back in the account. No, I am not kidding and Yes, I am believing God just fixed it all on his own. Which brings me back to yesterday.
I have been fasting for 40 days and I am hungry. My body has been craving some fresh fruit and veggies. As I looked in my fridge looking for those very things , I realized, "oh yeah I don't have anything in here." So I stood with the door open looking at a completely empty fridge and laughed out loud and said," God I would really love some fresh veggies and fruit right now, please provide a way for this." I more less said it as like a wish not a prayer. Then I thought again to myself , well I can wait a few more days then my tax money should be in the account. And there it was.I stood in awe today as I was beating myself senseless for my stupidity and said , "OH My God! You have given me the very thing I had asked for. Right there in front of my face and in my hands was the answer to a prayer that I didn't really take seriously . As I decided to throw in a few more punches at myself, I suddenly became calm and the tears stopped and then I just took one deep breath and I said out loud, " God , Thank you for answering me, and for giving me the very thing I had asked for. Thank you for the kindness of my brother who you asked to bless me. I then picked myself up and just let it all rest in the very fact that today, of all days God has given proof of his promises, of his love, in such a way that has impacted my life profoundly.
And finally, just because our GOD is just so cool and so loving he wanted to show me one more last thing to bless me before he commanded night to fall. I walked home in the rain after Easter dinner at the Steels house. Refreshed but chilled, I went in and changed my clothes then noticed that the sun started to shine and the sky was clearing. I took Tesla outside and as I turned the corner I noticed a very large RAINBOW, fully rich in it's colors, bowing over the hilltops of Hlinsko. I stood and stared at it in amazement and then I heard a whisper, " My Promises". The very symbol of God's promises rested on the entire city of Hlinsko and my Heart. It is a great day to be alive and an even more greater day because Jesus, My Lord and Savior, My Redeemer, My Provider, My Everything; IS ALIVE and he lives in me. What more could a girl ask for.
As Always, from the depths of my heart, I give you, all my love.
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