Seasoned with Salt

After another wonderful night’s sleep, we think even those who struggled to sleep during the first few nights of our mission trip are finally catching up! Our team enjoyed breakfast together before gathering for our morning devotionals.  Today’s reminder was to keep our conversations “seasoned with salt.” Scripture reminds us to keep our words meaningful and full of grace. We can bring joy, encouragement, and hope into a classroom simply by how we interact with others. Our goal isn’t to force a conversation or push for a particular response. Instead, we want to faithfully represent Jesus in everything we say and do.  Our challenge was to make it less about us and more about Him. What does that look like in the classroom? Sometimes, it means talking less and listening more. By giving our students room to share their thoughts, interests, and experiences, we create opportunities to build genuine relationships. We want each student to know they are seen, valued, and worthy of our time and attention.

With that reminder fresh in our minds, we headed to the school. As we entered the teachers’ lounge, we were greeted with a wonderful surprise: warm apple fritters! What a treat! The incredible hospitality we’ve received from the school administration all week has been a blessing. We are grateful for the kindness and support they have shown our team.  After enjoying our sweet surprise, we headed to our classrooms as the school bell rang.

This week, our team has the privilege of teaching the entire eighth grade during English week. We have six classes, with two teachers assigned to each. The student-to-teacher ratio is fantastic, giving us plenty of opportunities to connect with students individually and build relationships.  Today’s teaching themes were sports and health, which sparked lively conversations! We played games like Taboo and Swat It, using a fly swatter to practice English vocabulary and listening skills. Seriously, what eighth grader doesn’t love using a fly swatter in class?  There was lots of energy, laughter, and friendly competition. But even better than the games was the opportunity to connect with our students. Every conversation, shared laugh, and moment of encouragement gives us another opportunity to demonstrate the love of Jesus.

Our team is grateful for the school administration's support, the encouragement we give one another, and the unity we share through the Holy Spirit. Thank you for continuing to pray for us. We truly feel your prayers!

After lunch, we shifted gears and prepared for an afternoon of games in the school gymnasium. Callie did a fantastic job organizing the activities, and we were ready for some fun!  We kicked things off with group games, including Rock, Paper, Scissors; Egg, Chicken, Dinosaur; King; and Ships and Shores. Then the students chose their next adventure: football (soccer) outside, volleyball in the larger gym, or dance lessons in the smaller gym.  There was something for everyone!

For the next few hours, students and our team members played, laughed, competed, and connected. Sports created a natural way to build relationships—not only with the students we teach in our classrooms but also with students from the other classes.  Sometimes, the best conversations happen when you’re simply spending time together. A shared game, a little friendly competition, or learning a new dance can break down barriers and open the door to meaningful connections. We’re thankful for these opportunities to get to know our students beyond the classroom!  And let’s just say that by the end of the afternoon, we had definitely earned our dinner. Between running around outside, playing volleyball, and dancing, we had plenty of hot, sweaty team members! Depending on your age, there may have even been a few aches and pains. But everyone returned to the hotel tired, happy, and feeling fulfilled after another wonderful day.

After cleaning up at the hotel, we headed out for a hearty Czech dinner. The menu included pork schnitzel, chicken schnitzel, and tenderloin medallions. After all that activity, we were more than ready to eat!
We finished the evening by preparing our lesson plans for tomorrow. It’s hard to believe we’re already more than halfway through our teaching week. The days are flying by!
As we reflect on today, we’re reminded that sharing the love of Jesus doesn’t always require a big speech or a perfectly planned conversation. Sometimes, it looks like listening carefully, laughing together, encouraging a student, or showing up with a willingness to serve.
Our mission is about more than teaching English. It’s about building relationships, showing each student that they matter, and faithfully representing Jesus in every interaction. We pray that the seeds planted in these everyday moments will keep growing long after our team returns home.

One-on-one conversation: One of our teachers talked with a student about the stickers on their water bottle, each pointing to God, and shared their Scripture meanings. The student’s response: “I like your water bottle”. Thank you for being part of this mission through your prayers, encouragement, and support. Please continue praying for meaningful conversations, growing relationships, and opportunities for our words and actions to reflect the love of Christ.
We are grateful to serve, grateful for these students, and grateful for the work God is doing here in Teplice!
Děkujeme vám! (Thank you!)