noel: czech republic

I am super excited this year to be featuring at least two ministries per month as an opportunity to share what God is doing is these friends lives. Jeremy and I are directly involved with most, and so many are a very special part of our lives. We hope their testimonies and ministries show the many ways the gospel is being shared worldwide.

I start the year with my very special friend, Noel, who has been serving in the Czech Republic since 2005. Our journey started together in 2004, when we both travelled to the Czech to help with the summer English camp hosted by the Common Grounds Ministry. Both Noel and I felt the Lord talking to us and asking us to trust his guidance for our future.

There was this one beautiful summer day when we had a break from the teaching and we rode the gondola up to the top of the mountain in this ski town we were staying in, Janske Lanze, near the Polish border. (Note: ski town in summer is prime for hiking - no snow). We had lunch at this local bistro/pub with our friends and decided to hike down the mountain the remainder of the afternoon. It is one of those adventures that is ingrained in my memory so clearly. It was this hike down the mountain that the fog cleared from our vision and we knew for certain the direction the Lord was taking each of us. The hard part was that as close as we hard grown, he was calling us to opposite sides of the world.

Here I am on the hike.

Noel was certain God had called her to work with the poor, and though the Czech people were not monetarily poor, they were destitute in spirit. They did not know God, nor had they been taught about God with years of atheism in their country. She heeded God's call and moved to the Czech Republic the fall of 2005 and has been in full time ministry there since. She worked in Renice with Common Grounds teaching English through Bible study, working with children and young ladies....many of whom are serving in ministry themselves now. She also helped introduce mission work to the Czech people - a concept very foreign to them. She was key in starting a ministry in Ethiopia where she has been visiting on short-term mission. The lady is crazy (in a wonderfully-good way); she does mission within mission and truly loves her work for Jesus. She is a true friend and I am so fortunate to know her!!

You can read more about Noel on her profile with TEAM minstries. {click here} She is now embarking on a new phase of her ministry in the Czech, as she and friend Petra are starting a business focusing on health and fitness in Prague, creating opportunites to share Christ and offer counseling in safe environments.