I remember when I first heard about the change of plans - that my team of 4 would not be going where we originally thought we were headed – but would instead be going to Prague. God had already confirmed that I would be on this team, but until that moment, I didn’t know we would end up here. So, there I was, googling this famous city that I knew nothing about.
I want to go back a few steps before my journey of Faith through missions. I met the Holy Spirit at a youth gathering when I was 14. The following year, at a different youth event, in the same place, a girl tapped me on the back during a worship time, - God had given her a glimpse of how He saw me. I was struck by His love and felt the Lord singing the lyrics from a Phil Whickham song back to me. “You’re beautiful”. That same week, God gave me a picture of a cross. I had the impression that it was an invitation from God to ‘lose my life so I could find it in Him’. After these encounters, I continued to struggle in my relationship with the Lord (and still do!) but I would say they have been anchors for me in searching out the good plans the Lord has for me and all His children.
What do you want to be when you grow up? This was a question I thought I knew the answer to when I graduated high school in Canada, where I grew up. I wanted to be an architect. But what did I know? I also wanted my dad’s blessing to date a guy I liked. My dad challenged me to go to a discipleship school with Youth with A Mission (YWAM). ‘After that, he would ‘release me’ with his blessing (Good one dad!). I thought it was a sweet deal to get what I wanted, but when I arrived for my discipleship school in Australia, it was clear that this was part of God’s plan to pursue me. This turned out to be the beginning of a 5-year journey through full-time mission work. More than 2 of those years have been in Prague, where I met my husband, but that’s for a different story!
I arrived in Prague 2.5 years ago, a decision that has turned my life upside down and continues to challenge me in ways the Lord knows I need. It has also released me to work out of my giftings for the cause of His beautiful children, His found and lost sheep. When we didn’t have a vision or plan, He did. Through surrender, He beckoned us to “follow-Him”, not a man-made program but to follow the person of Jesus. He called us to seek Him for daily mana, strength, and - especially joy during internal and external pressures to prove ourselves.
Since becoming a missionary in Prague, I have learned so much more I could have learned form that original Google search.
I learned that God has been writing a story of redemption for the Czech Republic. I learned how to see this country and its people, as a field that God wants to prepare for a spiritual revival in the Heart of Europe.
I learned about Jan Huss and his fight for truth - his teachings influenced Martin Luther, sparking the flames for the Reformation. Huss gave the country its slogan: Truth Wins. I learned that we, as a church body, have an assignment to believe that the Lord has the final ‘win’ and a say for His plans for His nations. As a church, we are called to be intercessors and royal priests who stand in the gap with Jesus, for ALL His lost sheep.
Ywam is a 3-fold ministry focusing on Training, Mercy Ministries, and Evangelism. Last year, the Lord released a vision to us to play our part in Preparing the spiritual ground for revival, creating space for seeds of the gospel & awakening the heart of Europe. With this, we seek to empower a generation of disciples, usher a heart of creativity, and cultivate a community of servant leaders. Something we are moving towards as a team was to run a discipleship school in Prague, however, the Lord leads us on a journey of laying it down. Over a month ago my team-mate and I stepped into the role of team leaders and are currently seeking the Lord for our next steps as a team, in this season. These things are for sure: We are in the Czech Republic for a purpose and we want to press in to know Him and make Him known.
Just like I had no idea what I truly wanted to be when I grew up; so it is with the lost sheep of Prague, the Czech Republic, and the world. They also need to hear their loving Father’s voice saying “You’re beautiful”, “Lose your life to find it in Me”, “Let me change your plans and I will bless you for the purpose of my redeeming plans for ALL”. He knows us well, friends. Our lives are in His hands. Let His plan rule!
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20-21
is a missionary with Youth with a Mission in Prague, Czech Republic. She is part of a small team that is seeking to partner with God’s heart for the Czech Republic. She is married to Michal and enjoys relaxing Saturdays.
