Our First Day of English Week: Every Student Has Value

Today was our first official day of English classes, and our team was excited, a little anxious, and ready to get started! After months of preparation, we finally had the opportunity to meet our students and begin building relationships in Teplice, Czech Republic.
Starting the Day with Purpose
Our morning began with a delicious Czech breakfast of hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, cheese, bread, sausage, and, of course, coffee and tea. After breakfast, we gathered for our team devotional, where we were reminded of an important truth: Every student has value.
As we prepared to meet our students, we challenged ourselves to look beyond the names on a class roster and see each student as God sees them: uniquely created, deeply loved, and valuable to Him. We challenged one another to intentionally learn and use each student's name throughout the week. Names are personal, and learning them is one small but meaningful way to show students that they matter.
After praying, we gathered our supplies and walked to the school, conveniently located just a short distance from our hotel.
Upon arrival, the principal and school administrators warmly welcomed us, gave us a tour, and showed us our classrooms. We were excited to learn that the entire eighth-grade class would participate in English Week! Colorful posters throughout the school advertised the special week, building anticipation for what was ahead.
We also met Merik, the pastor of a local church in Teplice, and his daughter. They will join us throughout the week to introduce students to their church, share about student ministries, and, most importantly, share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are grateful for their partnership and the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with these students.

Let the English Classes Begin!
When the school bell rang, our team was ready for our first 90-minute class session. Our opening theme was All About Me, giving teachers and students a chance to learn each other's names and discover more about each student's personality, interests, and life.
And yes, everything was in ENGLISH!
Our daily schedule includes two 90-minute class sessions with two 20-minute breaks in between. We are also learning that Czech schools operate a little differently from American schools.
For example, when you enter the school, you remove your outdoor shoes and change into indoor shoes. That's right! Slippers or house shoes are the norm. Our team agreed that this is one Czech tradition we could definitely get on board with!
Our second class focused on All About Family. Students shared about their families, learned new English vocabulary, and participated in a lively game of charades. We even used candy as an incentive to encourage students to speak English and participate in class.
We were impressed by the students' English skills and enjoyed watching them gain confidence as they practiced speaking. Every conversation gave us another chance to learn something new about one another and build meaningful connections.
As the classes unfolded, we were reminded that teaching English is about more than vocabulary and conversation. It is about building relationships, creating opportunities for connection, and showing each student that they are seen and valued.

Discovering the Beauty of Teplice
After our morning classes, we enjoyed lunch at the school. Our Czech meal included fried cheese, potatoes, and soup. It was a delicious way to experience another part of Czech culture!
After lunch, we reviewed the day's lessons, shared stories about our amazing students, and gathered our belongings to return to the hotel.
Tomorrow, our schedule will look a little different. Instead of returning to the hotel after lunch, we will stay at the school for afternoon activities as part of the special English Week schedule.
With some free time this afternoon, our team hopped on a local bus and headed downtown to explore Teplice and learn more about its history.
We discovered that Teplice is known for its rich mineral springs and long history as a spa town. The town's origins are connected to the discovery of its hot springs, and it has become known as one of Central Europe's historic spa destinations.
We enjoyed walking through town, taking in the beautiful architecture, colorful flowers, and gorgeous autumn leaves. The rich fall colors were breathtaking! It was a wonderful opportunity to experience Teplice's beauty and spend time together as a team.
After exploring the town, we shared a delicious team dinner before catching the bus back to our hotel.

Looking Ahead: Trusting God with Tomorrow
Our evening ended with lesson planning for tomorrow's themes: Travel and Texas! We are excited to see how our students respond to these topics and look forward to another day of learning, laughter, and building relationships.
As we reflect on our first day, we are grateful for the school's warm welcome, the opportunity to teach eighth-grade students, and the privilege of serving alongside our Czech partners.
Most of all, we are carrying today's reminder into every classroom: Our students are more than names on a roster. Each one is a person created in the image of God, worthy of our attention, love, and care.
Please continue to pray for our team as we teach, build relationships, and share the love of Jesus throughout the week. Pray that our words will be gracious and seasoned with salt, that students will feel comfortable participating in English, and that God will open doors for meaningful conversations about faith.
We trust God with each conversation, each new friendship, and each opportunity to share His love.
We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!