- I flew on an airplane
- I was on a missions trip
- I was in a foreign country
- I was gone from home for more than a week
This day 5 years ago was very anticipated and all of us in the group (19 going on the trip; the rest were in the Czech Republic) had been waiting to go for a very long time. Originally scheduled for October of 2001, our trip was canceled after September 11th happened, so we were ready to go when April rolled around!
The oh-so-quiet bus ride:o) Everyone else was laughing and talking, but the two blonde heads you see looking down were Rachel and I (ever the bookworms!) reading books:o)
The view out the airplane window as we approached the rising sun
Most of the group... with the exception of the mom (who brought her oldest on this trip) as well as her youngest, who was 1 month old at the time. We affectionately named Anna our Czech baby!
Now Anna is 5 years old and a very active little girl and reminds us of how long ago our trip really was!
The day this picture was taken was the day after we landed in Prague. All of us split up into groups to pass out tracts at the metro, bus stations, and along sidewalks. Our group finished first and headed back to IBTS (where we were staying during our week in the Czech Republic). When we got back to IBTS, we realized we didn't have a key to get into the girls' rooms (all the rooms were in the same hallway dorm-room style) but one of the boys had a key to the boys' room. So for 2 hours we girls hung out in the guys room, waiting for the other groups to come back so we could get into our rooms:o). Ah, the memories!
I've always liked this shot because it's so pretty! Last year when I was in Prague again, I took a picture of this same view:o). The view is from the Charles Bridge, which dates back to the 1500s. The bridge used to handle traffic, but now it's only for pedestrians and merchants who sell some interesting stuff on the bridge!
That's quite the scowl Rachel gave Chris as he took this picture...we had just finished our church service after a very long day, so I'm sure Rachel was hungry;o). 
Charles Bridge...
Just one aspect of the beautiful, but spiritually dark, city of Prague. At night it's even prettier.
Like all things, this trip came to an end. The bus ride home was filled with looking at pictures, chatting and laughing about memories from Prague, and just a feeling of wanting to be home!!!
For me, though, this trip acted as a springboard. Not too long after this trip, I headed over to South Africa (September 2002) and saw a totally different culture than what I saw in Prague. It's one of those things you just have to experience and I'm glad I did!
Edited to add: In light of this being a post on missions trips, I just wanted to include the fact I bought my airline ticket for Thailand! Now it's starting to feel official: I leave Tuesday June 5th and return Thursday August 16. What a great way to spend my summer!
8 comments:
What a great opportunity to go on a missions trip. Prague looks beautiful! I would love to go there someday, my mom's roots are in Prague and my great-great-great- grandfather was an American ambassador to the Czech Republic. I LOVE family history!
Abigail ~ That's so neat that your great-great-great grandfather was an ambassador to the Czech Republic... not many people have that for bragging rights;o). My family (on my dad's side anyways) is from all those countries over there, so my dad was quite excited when I told him where I was going for a missions trip then! Hopefully you get to Prague one day... it's one of the best trips I've ever taken (twice!)
Ha, ha! I'm sure Rachel was hungry after the church service! :)
Nice pictures!! Your photographer must have been really talented.
:-)
Very talented, huh:o) And after, what, 300 pics (at least) we were all thankful for Chris!
yeah, so I guess I was having one of my blonder moments.....I read the title to this and immediately thought, 2002 was NOT half a decade ago! And then continued to think, wait, just how long is a decade anyways? Oh yeah, I guess that's right.......lol. :) Good post, I like all the pictures. I would love to go on a missions trip sometime, maybe a medical missions trip. That would be awesome.
yeah, so I guess I was having one of my blonder moments.....I read the title to this and immediately thought, 2002 was NOT half a decade ago! And then continued to think, wait, just how long is a decade anyways? Oh yeah, I guess that's right.......lol. :) Good post, I like all the pictures. I would love to go on a missions trip sometime, maybe a medical missions trip. That would be awesome.
Memories like these last forever, don't they?! :-)
Loved the pics... thanks for posting!!!
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