Summer

Summer is an interesting time for ministry here in Prague.  Life moves on at a hundred miles an hour during the school year, then all of a sudden it stops.  Normal people aren't around to hang out and do ministry with.  School is out, football is done.  Summer is very much a season of hurry up and wait.  Some weeks will be packed with camps or other activities, while others are completely empty.  

The hurry up and wait mentality is magnified by my changing organizations.  I fill out applications and paperwork, then wait for references to be contacted.  That's where I'm at right now.  I know this because about every other day I get an email from one of my references telling me they had a conversation with my prospective new organization.  The mentality is also magnified simply because since I'm in between organizations, I haven't received a paycheck for some time and I also have no account from which I can reimburse ministry expenses.  That means I must keep my expenses, both ministry and personal, quite low, which means fewer events, which means more downtime.  

The upside to this is I have an opportunity to focus on guys that I already know.  I don't have to extend myself out to meet new people.  I have met with George a few times.  He's always good to hang out and our conversations are always at least surface level spiritual.  

Luboš, my boxer friend, is usually good to hang out for an afternoon every week or every other week.  He is Christian and is much beloved by those who go to his gym.  I recently heard from one guy who works out at his gym that Luboš is unlike any other boxing or fitness coach he's ever had.  Luboš is very encouraging, taking an interest in the lives of those who attend his gym.  This is not normal Czech behavior.  Coaches here tend to be very severe and belittling.  Luboš's coaching style is, in a way, a very passive witness to those around him, yet people notice that he is different.  

One new opportunity that I have was basically handed to me by the good folks at Starbucks.  One of the baristas was asked by a former NHL hockey player to help his young protege practice his conversational English, since he would soon be headed for the States to play in the farm system of an NHL team.  She said that she would be apart of the conversation, but that it might be better if she brought someone like me into the conversation.  So she asked me if I would help and I, of course, agreed.  I'm glad God used my caffeine addiction to open some ministry doors.  I'm not sure where this open door will lead down the road, if I'm just doing this for one person, or if this will open the door for further relationships.  

This lull in my schedule will be brief.  We had Multikemp last week and junior team training camp next week, after which our season will take off, so I'll savor these last few moments of peace before the next round of organized chaos that is ministry here in Prague.