As we crossed the border between the Czech Republic and Germany for the last time (with the only border control being a reduced speed limit on the highway at the crossing point), we again had to marvel at the changes the Czech people have experienced in the last 20 years. At his last evening in the pub with the firemen on Monday night, Phil shared stories with them as they reminisced about what it was like when the iron curtain fell, and they could visit (West) Germany for the first time. There was so much to see and buy and experience in those days!
They also talked of why the roads in West Bohemia were so curvy. It was to slow down any invading western army on the way to Prague to give the communists a chance to mount their defenses. (Today there is a major highway directly from Nurnberg to Prague).
They spoke of why there are so many Vietnamese people in Tachov. There had been student exchange programs between the allied communist countries of the Czech Republic and Vietnam during the 1970s and 1980s as a gesture of goodwill between nations. Many of the Vietnamese stayed in the Czech Republic and are now integrated in the community.
They spoke of their freedom to travel today, and the joy they have in exploring many places in the world (Virginia too, we hope!!)
We will have many opportunities to remember fondly our time in the Czech Republic, and we are looking forward to sharing our experiences with our American friends. As we returned to church on Sunday we received a heartwarming welcome home, and we presented our congregation with the Ralf Most painting we had bought in Prague while at the Methodist District Office. It will be displayed in the church here in Virginia.
In the coming weeks we look forward to making presentations about our experience to various groups and congregations. On October 2, Phil will share some of the things we learned in a sermon for World Communion Sunday.
Today, on his first day back at work, Phil received update reports from our youth group's sponsored World Vision children in Ghana, Bolivia, India and Indonesia. He received a thank you letter from the Boy Scout troop in Majuro, Marshall Islands, who appreciate the many supplies we sent them. He received a thank you note from the Board of Commissioners of Meriweather County, Georgia for the work our Early Response Team did in the aftermath of the spring tornadoes. He reviewed reports from our mission teams that had been in Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Jamaica this summer. And he looks forward to hearing more from the young adult missionaries who went to the Dominican Republic and Israel this spring and summer. Not a bad track record for Sterling United Methodist Church for 2011, and the year is far from over! We are privileged to be part of a congregation that takes to heart the Great Commission Jesus offered us as His parting command.
Thanks be to each of you and thanks be to God.
Nashledanou Tachov - Goodbye Tachov (for now!)
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