Blessings in Affliction: Praise and Prayer for the Harrods in Prague

password: jesuslovesprague

Ahoj z Prahy... Hello from Prague…
We hope that the month of April has been a blessing to you. It’s been an interesting time for us, but one of the things that marked this month for us was the theme of RESURRECTION. With Easter falling at the start, it served as a powerful reminder that Jesus is in the business of resurrection—bringing life to what was dead, beauty to what was ugly, and belonging to what was cast off. This Easter, I (Zach) couldn’t shake the feeling reminiscent of New Year’s Day—a time of new options, new chances, and new life. That’s the season we find ourselves in—moving out of what felt dead and ugly, and into a sense of belonging after feeling cast off. Thank you for journeying with us through it all.

CLICK FOR PDF COPY OF THE APRIL 2024 NEWSLETTER

EVERYDAY IS PIZZA DAY
It’s been a bit since we had people around our table. After last summer, it felt like it would be a long time before we would have the energy to open our doors and sit at our table with friends. Thankfully our sabbatical was refreshing, and as we have wrote it, YOU, gave us the space to see growth. So for the first time in forever we had a full house of kids and friends, who filled our house with laughter, love and relationship again. Living on mission isn’t hard, but often times taking those first steps (again) are the hardest. One of Zach’s former players came, who thanks to one of the Reverse Mission trips came to know the Lord, but it’s always been hard to try to walk with him through the apprenticeship (We favor 'apprentice' over 'disciple' because it reflects learning through a holistic model akin to following Jesus, diverging from traditional Western methods, and avoids misconceptions associated with 'disciple,' prompting deeper reflection. Pick up John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way.) process because he, nor Zach, had time to sync their calendars because of football. Well that has changed for both of them. So there we sat well after our boys had fallen asleep, washing dishes together, talking about life and what God has done and is doing. Please pray that Zach and Leoš might be able to get regular time together and that Leoš would be like Jesus, spend time with him and live as Jesus would live.

I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN
We want to take a moment to celebrate God’s work, particularly in Oliver. Recently, Ollie and Artie had their first sleepover at their best friends’ house, a milestone we're excited about. The boys had a blast and couldn't stop talking about all their fun afterward. What was truly encouraging was when our friend Magda, their friend's mom, told us, “If I hadn’t known that Ollie was crippled by intense anxiety last year, I could not have known from spending 24 hours with him!” Our hearts overflowed with gratitude to God for His transformative work in Ollie's life and the progress we've made together. While it’s been a journey, we're encouraged by the strides we've made. Please continue to pray for Ollie's healing and for us as we head to the same friends' cottage soon. Pray that we would love them well and reflect Jesus in all we do.

BENCHMARKS & THE FUTURE
Our sabbatical is behind us and some days it feels like we are caught somewhere between what was and what will be, which can feel strange at times. With our first summer trip to the States as a family approaching, it creates a pause in our forward momentum, allowing for a soft transition into the future. This period offers us an opportunity to experiment and explore new endeavors. In short, what we feel God calling us towards, and what He is gradually revealing, are two collective family initiatives: 1) Kolem Stolu (Around the Table) - a network of missional communities and eventual replanting, and 2) a Creative Collective to serve, build community, and reach out to Prague’s creatives, positioning us as missional insiders. Why focus on creatives? Because throughout Czech culture, creatives have been pivotal in driving movements. Look no further than Václav Havel, the first president, who was an author, poet, and playwright. We are praying for how and when Míša can reengage in anti-human trafficking, as this isn’t a ministry she can do solo. We are still refining the specifics and seeking God's guidance in this unfolding process. Please pray for clarity as we navigate this journey and seek partners, co-laborers, and the necessary resources.

Converge has been amazing throughout this process, serving as our biggest cheerleaders. We have received regular affirmations about God’s work in us and our perseverance through challenges. As our team leader returns from a much-needed sabbatical, we were tasked with setting benchmarks for the spring (April to June) before our return to the States. We wanted to share them with you, inviting your prayers for us amidst these endeavors, that God would be present in every aspect:

• Host 2-3 gatherings around our table, such as the Pizza Party.
• Take 2-3 trips to engage with and support the creative community in Prague.
• Develop the vision and branding for KOLEM STOLU (Around the Table), to effectively communicate it to like-minded Czechs and potential supporters.
• Cultivate partnerships with local believers, with the goal of seeing two couples and two singles join us by 2025 in our replanting efforts.

We understand this is a lot to digest, and many of you may have questions, as we do! Rest assured, one of our primary goals from our sabbatical and this spring is to establish healthy boundaries and space. This will enable us to operate from a place of margin, allowing God to lead us to people of peace in the city and align us with His movements. Our prayer and goal are to lead from this space, drawing from our healthier marriage and family dynamics. Will you join us in praying for this journey, asking the Holy Spirit to breathe life into us and all our endeavors as we move forward?

HARRODOVI + SUMMER + STATES = FIRST TIME EVER

As mentioned in our previous update, this summer marks a significant milestone for the Harrodovi—we'll be in the States when the weather is warm! While we're excited about the possibilities this trip holds, we also find ourselves facing a myriad of options and commitments. It's a bit overwhelming, to be honest. As we navigate the busy calendar ahead, we're learning to prioritize our well-being as individuals and as a family. We're seeking God's guidance, asking Him to lead us to the opportunities He has in store for us.

We invite you to journey with us as we prepare for this season. If you have any fresh ideas or connections you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to reach out. Here are a few specific prayer requests and considerations as we approach the summer months:

• New Opportunities: Would you join us in prayer for new avenues to impact Prague and the Czech Republic?
• Financial Support: We're trusting God for an additional $2000/month to meet our updated budget, accounting for inflation and tax adjustments.
• 10th Anniversary: Míša and I will be celebrating our 10th anniversary during our time in the States. While we'll be at a conference for work, we're hopeful for a quiet weekend getaway afterward. Can you assist us in making this celebration memorable?

We're thrilled to embark on this new adventure and reconnect with many of you. We eagerly anticipate witnessing God's work unfold in unexpected ways. Please keep us in your prayers, and if you feel led to share any insights or offers of support, simply hit REPLY or send us an email—we'd love to hear from you!

WHAT’S UP WITH OLLIE & ARTIE?

Ollie, “GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS! Last month, I asked you to pray for school. Well, we just found out that I was the first kid drawn for the school just down the street, which is great for bilingual kids, and more importantly for me, where my best buddy Kubi could go. We still need to make the final decision, so please pray for me.”

Artie, “I might be smaller and younger, but I can do everything my big brother does. He’s learning to read, so I will learn. He can get food out when he wants it, so I do the same. Mommy and Daddy find me crawling up everything; they seem worried. Why is that?”

Consider what areas of your life where God wants to bring life, beauty, and belonging. We pray that you will daily encounter the reality of the resurrection. Please also join us in prayer that Czechs would experience this reality daily too!

CLICK HERE TO GIVE

US address:
W1815 CTY HWY B
GENOA CITY, WI 53128
American phone #: (920) 203-6132

Czech address:
Rooseveltova 31/764
160 00 Praha 6 Bubeneč
Czech Republic