BMA Breakfast Surprise!

I love BMA! This school has such a unique atmosphere and this week we did something special. I think this event shows two awesome things about BMA.
The students at BMA travel from really far away by train to come to this school. Some of them walk, then take a bus, then a train, then another train and then walk to school. They spend two hours riding the trains to school and two hours riding home..every single day! I think this really shows how excited the kids are about going to BMA. They sacrifice so much time in order to get a great education at BMA.
So one morning this week the three American teachers, a German teacher and myself woke up at 4:00am and rode the trains out to where the students live. We brought with us dozens and dozens of pastries and boxes of strawberries. Then we got on the same trains that the students take to get to school. Their faces when they saw their teachers were priceless! They were so pleasantly surprised to get a treat on their ride into school. This is the second year that BMA has done the Breakfast Surprise and I think it's such a unique and fun tradition. It really shows how much the teachers care about their students. They made such an effort to go out to where they live and say thank you. I love the passion and creativity found at BMA. Below are some pictures from the rainy Breakfast Surprise morning. :)

Prayer Requests!

Hello! I have a few prayer requests..these next couple of days are very busy and I would really appreciate your support through prayer.
1) This is my last full week here so that means that I will be attending my last Fusion (music club). Each week I really look forward to Thursday evenings. I love singing and dancing and spending time with fun friends. Because it's my last one, I've been asked to do the devotional. Please pray that God would speak through me and that I would feel confident (public speaking always makes me a bit nervous). Also please pray that the kids hearts would be open and that the scripture I read would bless them in some way. Finally please pray for the translator: that the transition between us speaking would be smooth and that he would provide an accurate Czech translation.
2) Over these past couple of months I have spent a lot of time in the classrooms at Beskydy Mountain Academy. I've joined in on some conversation activities, helped with some games, read out loud in a British accent and passed out and collected papers. But this week I have a huge opportunity.. I am going to teach a real high school class! I am really excited but also a bit nervous. It is completely my responsibility to come up with the lesson plan and conduct the full class. I really appreciate prayer for a few aspects of this. First, please pray that God would guide me as I am preparing for the class. I would like to come up with an interesting topic and a creative yet informative way to teach it. I only have two days to prepare my lesson so pray that God would 'get my creative juices flowing'. Also, please pray that the class itself will run smoothly. I'm a bit anxious about teaching kids that are just a couple years younger than me, but I hope that they will be respectful and participate. And most of all, I really want the kids to enjoy the hour but also leave with some new knowledge.
Thank you so much for your support! I will definitely let you know how both of these things go.
God bless,
Florin :)

Sports Day!

This week BMA had Sports Day! Each year the school rents out a gym and has a big volleyball tournament. Each year (grade) puts together a team, the first year class asked me to join their team! Their class only has four boys in it and they all play football and don't really enjoy volleyball.. so we had the only all girls team! Plus, to make it fun they chose to all play in silly pajamas. So when I showed up they handed me a onesie and we started warming up. Although we came in last place, we had a blast! :)

Learning Czech!

I've never been in a country that speaks a language other than English for this long of a time and I must say that it is a unique experience. Before I arrived here I knew how to say hello, good-day, please and thank you. Because I am only here for three months and the school that I am working at focuses on teaching English, I really am fine not knowing any Czech. Not only is Czech a very complicated language to learn but also each student here knows English very well so talking with them isn't hard. The only place that I really need Czech is when I am at a restaurant or store. I am VERY glad that the first phrase that I learned is, "Hello! I'm sorry, I don't speak Czech!". I can also add, "but I'm learning". :) This comes in handy when I arrive at a store and greet somebody in Czech and then they start speaking really quickly! I just say, "Omlouvám se. Nemluvím česky.". Most people nod and smile and hopefully they appreciate my effort. :)

BMA Family!

My favorite thing about BMA is the family atmosphere. Each of the teachers and staff really make an effort to make the school environment unique and more like a family than just a school. The picture below features three of my friends from first year who spent part of their math class one day with their teacher making flower crowns. After class all of the students went outside with their teacher and took pictures together. :) I love my job!

Fusion

Each week on Thursdays at the local church there is a music club meeting! Here is a video from last week's rehearsal. Students from all different schools in Frydlant get together to sing and play instruments. We also play games and have a devotion. Everyone has been so welcoming and it's been a great way to get to know people and connect with music. This week some more exciting things are happening with Fusion, stay tuned!

With my friend, Elle, at Fusion!

Abba's Girls!

This weekend I attended a female only retreat called Abba's Girls. Three students at BMA organized a great weekend for us girls to get together and have fun, learn about God and deepen friendships. A guest speaker shared her story and taught us about healthy relationships. We played games, did crafts, ate a lot of yummy food and spent time getting to know one another. Below are some pictures from the retreat!

Abba's girls :)

Beautiful mountains all around us

Picnic outside on a gorgeous day!

Blindfolded makeovers! :)

Roommates!

Below is a picture of my wonderful roommates! 

Michaela, Florin, Terezie

Helena, Tereza

It has been so great getting to know each of them over these past few weeks. Tereza and I share a room, but all of us girls spend lots of time together chatting, cooking, watching movies and hanging out. :)

Culture

We all live on the same planet but yet each culture is so, so different. Yes, we are all humans and we are all similar in so many ways. But when you really submerge yourself into a new culture you begin to learn just how different things can be. I've only been living in the Czech Republic for a couple of weeks but already I've learned so much about not only Czech culture but also American and English culture. It's easy for us to think that everyone else in the world behaves the same as we do, but in reality things vary so much. If you ever get the chance, I really, really encourage you to go on an adventure and experience the real culture of another country. Sure, many of us have probably visited other places but we've stuck with the more 'touristy' things or just the big cities. But when you really enter the heart of another culture you begin to realize just how diverse this world really is.

So full of joy...

Dobry den from the Czech Republic. WOW! I have been so, so busy here and now I have so much to share. I want to start off by saying that I haven't felt so full of joy and peace in as long as I can remember. It has been very refreshing to step away from my life in Chicago and start fresh here. I have been very warmly welcomed into the Beskydy Mountain Academy family and I already feel at home. I spent my first week at the Till's house and focused on getting settled at the school. Then last weekend I moved into a flat (right around the corner from BMA) where four girls who attend the school live. I am sharing a room with a girl named Tereza. She and I have already quickly bonded and have loved spending time having fun together and also sharing testimonies. I've also gotten to know the other girls too and we have shared a lot of laughs! It has been a very new experience living on my own. I'm learning that while you get a lot of independence, you also have a lot more responsibility. From cooking to cleaning, it's been a lot of work but it has been a great time to put to use all the skills that I have developed while growing up.
Monday through Friday I am working at BMA. Going into this internship I didn't really know what to expect, but what I have experienced so far has been awesome! Every single day is different, which makes each day exciting. Basically I am doing anything that the English department needs..this includes grading multiple choice activities, organizing bookshelves, taking attendance, making photocopies, typing activities. Also, I attend many of the English language and Bible classes and pass out papers and help the teachers. I'm also working on a couple of bigger projects including getting Visas for some students who will be studying in America over the summer and also doing voice recordings (in my British accent) for listening tests and activities. Not only has it been great to get to know each of the three American teachers here but also I have loved being able to interact with the students.
I apologize for my lack of posts! As I said, I have been so, so busy but I hope to start updating more frequently. Thank you for your prayers!
~Florin :)

I've arrived!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have arrived in Frýdlant nad Ostravicí, Czech Republic. I had a very smooth journey and have been very warmly greeted into the Till's home. I will be staying here for the first week so I can get set up with my work at the school. 

Almost there...

I've had a wonderful week and a half visiting my family all around England! It was so great to see my grandparents and cousins as I don't get to very often. I'm currently at the airport waiting to board my flight from London to Vienna. I can't believe that in just a few hours I will finally be back in Frydlant. Please pray for safe travels and a quick adjustment. :)
Once I'm in the Czech Republic and settled, I will post pictures, prayer requests, updates and more.
<3

Made it to England!!

Last night my friends and family dropped me off at the airport and sent me on my way to London, England. I had a great flight!! No problems at all. Thank you for all of your prayers! I will be travelling around England for the next week visiting friends and family. Also, a fundraising update: through North Suburban in total I have raised $4,100. Thank you!!!

Fundraising Update!

Wow! God is so good! As of this morning I have raised $3,295 (my goal was $2,800). Thank you so much to each and every person who has donated towards my trip. I am truly grateful that you have invested in my trip and I can't wait to share my adventure with you. Thank you for your generosity and support. It's such a blessing to see the ways that God has already provided for me and I am excited to see His hand at work during my trip.
I leave Chicago one week from today and will be spending some time in England visiting family and then arrive in the Czech Republic on March 1st. Please keep me in your prayers over these next couple of weeks as I am packing and completing preparations and then flying by myself overseas.
Thank you again!!

Thank you! - Fundraising Update

Just want to say a huge thank you for everyone's generosity! As of this week, I have raised $1,000 of the $2,800 that I need to raise. I still have a long way to go and I would really, really appreciate your support! If you are able to donate towards my trip, please visit this website: https://webpay.easydraft.com/CS/NorthSuburbanChurch. Then click on "Make A Single Contribution". Please choose contribution to "meet a need" and then write in the notes "BMA 2014 Support Project". There is more information about my trip in the posts below. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. Thanks again!

Fundraising!

My focus at the moment is fundraising! As I am doing an internship and will not be paid, I need to raise my own funds. The two main things that it will go towards are flights and room & board. In total, I need to raise $2,800. I am praying and leaning on God and trusting that He will provide. If you are able to support me financially, please visit my church's website and click on the 'Giving' tab. I will post updates on this page with how I am doing. Thank you and God bless. :)

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my blog! I'm very excited for this journey ahead of me and I can't wait to share it with you. As you have probably figured out, in a few short weeks I will be heading to the Czech Republic to do an internship at a high school. For more information please read the letter below (click on the pictures to view larger images). On this blog I will be posting updates, pictures, prayer requests and much more. Please comment or email me (florin.homer@yahoo.com) if you have any questions, I would love to share. Thank you! :)