An Update from Colleen

Hi Everyone,
Hope all is well with you. Here's an update on where God has
me at the moment and I appreciate your continued prayers.

It is difficult for me to write to these words but God knows all--I had to
change my return to the Czech Republic to 6th of January 2010. The reason is I am still in need of financial partners. My monthly partner shortfall is $1,000 per month. (Translates into 10 partners at 100 per month or 20 partners at 50 per mon)

This challenges my faith and yet God gives me a peace and an assurance that I will return to my beloved Czech Republic. I am trusting my God in directing each step I take and I continue to learn from this experience.

I would appreciate your continued prayers as God opens the doors & windows He has for me. Until next time--Take Care! Below I have included a message from my Team Leader, who gives a interesting perspective...

Dear Ministry Partners and Friends of Colleen:

Ten years ago this October Colleen came to the Czech Republic for the
first time. On that Vision Trip a seed was planted in her heart to
serve the Czech people and share the good news of Jesus Christ with
them. Over the next seven years she often returned on short-term
ministry trips to teach conversational English.

Early on we noticed Colleen's humility and love for the Czech people.
We also paid attention to how Czech people loved and responded to
Colleen's ministry. Through her unpretentious ways many people were
drawn into friendship with her. Czechs would make positive
exclamations to us about Colleen. When we saw these qualities in her
life we started to recruit her to serve with us on our Czech ministry
team. The planted seed was being watered.

You have been a part of the watering and growth process in Colleen's
life. Your financial support to get her to the field and your prayers
to keep her on the field have helped her fulfill God's calling on her
life. I can assure you that the potential we saw in Colleen produced
fruit in her first term of service. She has invested herself in
relationships, more than we can number! Many people are eager for her
return and Colleen herself is anxious to return to her adopted home.

We have set a return date for Colleen's return, the first week of
January. It is important for Colleen to return by then for several
reasons. One, the annual visa renewal process takes significant time
and energy. Her presence is the only way to expedite that process. If
she can't be here then she risks having to start the process all over
again. This is even more difficult than the renewal process.

Another time-sensitive commitment is a two-week, intensive Czech
language course at Masaryk University in February. This intensive
course leads into the winter semester. These language study
opportunities play a critical part in Colleen's long-term ministry
future in the Czech Republic. The earlier she can complete her
language studies and achieve Czech linguistic competence the sooner
she can engage in full-time ministry with our team. A delay of a few
weeks in her return could set this goal back six to nine months!

Finally, Colleen's friends--many of them are unbelievers--are eager
for her return. She has so many opportunities for personal evangelism
that her "free" time is almost entirely taken up with them. This is
exceptional and we are amazed at the number and variety of
opportunities she has. Colleen's personal ministry and calling are
maturing; we believe people will come to know the Lord Jesus
personally through her friendship and witness. We do need her here to
maintain and develop these relationships--fruit unto eternal life.

Now is the ideal time to help Colleen on her way and invest in the
coming harvest. Let us encourage you to begin by sending in your
regularly pledged support this week. Perhaps you haven't pledged
regular financial support but would like to make a one-time
contribution. That would be most welcome and we thank you for your
generosity. Before Colleen can return to the Czech Republic the first
week of January she must have 100% of her support raised. In practical
terms this means promises of support and gifts must be realized, i.e.
they must be received into her account at UWM. In this way we can be
assured she has the necessary funding to do what God has called her to
do here in the Czech Republic.

Be assured that the fruit borne in Colleen's life and ministry is your
fruit as well. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of her
financial support. May God bless you richly.

by his empowering presence,
Br. Don and Ellen Harris
UWM, Czech Republic

Need a Miracle/A Call to Pray

Hi Everyone, Hope things are going well with you. Got a question for you--have you ever found yourself needing a miracle? Well that is where I am at the moment... here is the miracle I need that really only God can provide... I hold in my possession my return airplane ticket scheduled for the 6th of Oct. The challenge is I may not be able to return to my beloved Czech Republic at that time if I don't have all the support I need :(

Sometimes being a missionary challenges every fiber of my being--it really does especially the aspect of raising support. But I know that I know God has planted me there and wants to continue growing me up for what He has for me. So I must continue to trust that God WILL provide the additional 25% of my projected budget by the end of September in order that I might continue the work.

If you have read this far in my blog can I ask something of you... Please go to the Lord and pray on my behalf & ask Him to provide all the dollars I need (approximately $950 per month is still needed) Thank you for standing with me regarding this. I need people to invest in the work Lord has for me through their prayers and financial donations. Feel free to pass my need on to others who would be willing to pray & keep me lifted before the Lord. Can't wait to share how God provided the miracle. For more information on how to donate go to my new website that is referenced in the box to the right.
Until next time take care!
Blessings,
Colleen

More Pictures & Highlights...

#1 Riding Roller Coasters at Cedar Point
#2 My First NASCAR Race Experience
#3 Watching the race at Michigan Speedway
#4 A Dinosaur at the Cleveland Zoo

Pictures of My Roadtrip...

Visiting with family, friends & supporters!
Top picture is according to my nephew, "the cool
car" I drove during my road trip :)

Website is Completed--Yeah!!

Hi Everyone, Attention!! Attention!! After working on it all summer long, I finally can say that I have published my new Czech Website (It has lots of great stuff on it.) There are two ways to get there 1/ You can click on the side box which says Colleen's New Website or 2/here's the long address to it that you can copy/paste into your browser...
http://web.me.com/darlingczech/http___web.me.com_darlingczech%40me.com_A_Czech_Journey/Welcome.html

Please give me some feedback let me know what you think of it.

Hope you enjoyed your summer! I have been on the road since July 30th & have put over 2900 miles on the car I borrowed from my sister. I've stopped to visit in 5 states so far. Please keep me in your prayers as I leave early Friday to head to North Carolina for Labor Day Week-end & hope to arrive back to Tampa, Tues. evening the 8th of Sept. Still got plenty of driving ahead of me and I'm starting to get a little weary of all the traveling. It has been great reconnecting with relatives, friends and supporters. I'll be posting pictures of some of my highlights soon!
Until next time take care.

Many Blessings,
Colleen

Three Basic Questions...

Hi Everyone, Hope all is well with you. I am traveling around the US and sharing about the work God has me doing in the Czech Republic. I got the idea to post the above video that I created sometime ago. The purpose of the video is to share about the need of missionaries in the Czech Republic. About 3 years ago, I asked a couple of basic questions to Czech friends regarding missionaries & their country. It takes about 5 minutes to view. See what God is doing in another part of the world. Enjoy! And as God leads take some steps to join me where my heart lives. So until next time take care.
Many Blessings,
Colleen

FYI, I will continue to make post here plus I will soon be publishing out on the web a new website sharing more information about my life as a missionary, about the Czech Republic which is the country God has me serving in and about my mission agency. I expect it to be published within the next week.

Out of the Mouth of Babes...

Hi Everyone, Hope you are enjoying your summer! My summer is going well but I do miss my Czech home. One way I am able to keep in touch and practice my Czech is through Skype. I like talking with my dear Czech friends. Sometimes I even manage to contact a Czech friend by calling their cell phone. Today I surprised my friend Bohumila with a phone call to her cell. She was at the zoo with her two boys (Tony and Jarda). It was great to hear her voice and she told me that my "nephew" Tony reminds his parents to pray for "Aunt" Colleen to return to Brno. Tony will be 3 years old in a few weeks and God uses him to remind his parents to keep me lifted in prayer. His parents are amazed that not only he says this (not once but periodically) but also at his understanding of my situation and so am I. But maybe I shouldn't be because I can tell you Tony has been as much a part of my life in Brno as I have been apart of his young life. He was born 4 months before I moved there and after I arrived we quickly became friends as I would watch him for his mother once a week for a few hours. During my first 2.5 years there, Czechs often commented on how well Tony and I interact with each other. If nothing else God continues to teach me He knows my situation better than I do and uses even little ones to encourage adults to do the important things like pray-- Oh how I miss that little boy and his little brother. So can I ask a favor... please join with Tony and his family in prayer asking God to provide all of my financial and prayer support needs so that I can return on the 6th of October to minister where my heart lives. Thanks so much. Until next time take care.
Blessings,
Colleen

What is "HMA"?

Hi Everyone, Hope you are enjoying your summer! This summer I am serving what they call a Home Ministry Assignment. It is hard to believe but in June I finished my first 2 year term on the mission field. (God actually had me stretch it for an additional 6 months so I could complete my language course that ended in June). So what does one do during their HMA... while I am here in the US for the next 3+ months--my goals are to reconnect with family, friends, and supporters ; to ask and get the necessary prayer and financial support for my next 2 year term; to take a break from the rigors of Czech language acquisition, culture learning and relationship building; and to draw close to God as He helps me process through the last 2.5 years on the field.

It was difficult to say, "See you later to my Czech friends" as I packed up for the summer because that is home to me. I tell Czechs all the time (& I mean it when I say it) "Moje srdce žije tady" in Czech that means "My heart lives here". It truly is a gift from God that He provides a way for me to minister among the Czech people. I know that He continues to grow me up and equip me for the ministry there. I am honored to serve among the Czech people and look forward to my next term.

While I am here in the States, I sometimes have an opportunity to talk with Czech friends through the internet. It helps me practice speaking Czech so I don't forget what I've already learned. It is great to keep in contact with them. Many of them say thank you to all of you who support me not only with finances but especially with your prayers. The Czech Christians know it isn't always easy for me as I struggle at times to learn their language. But they tell me, "We see that God is with you and He helps you." It really encourages me when they say that! I think they are looking forward to my return on the 7th of Oct. as much as I am. Please pray God will lead and direct my steps as I look to Him in helping me get the necessary financial commitments for my next two years during these 3+ months I am here in the US.

Just wanted to share a few thoughts about my HMA.
Take care until next time.

Blessings,
Colleen