Three Weeks In

There were some days when I didn’t think my return to Prague would happen. There were days when I questioned what the draw was to live overseas. There were days when I felt impatient, and days when I relished the activities and even the routine of life in the US. Now, I am (almost) three weeks in, having returned to Prague days after Easter. As I reflect back on the journey leading up to my return to Prague, as well as the three weeks I’ve been back, I remember the questions.

Questions like:

·       Would my Czech come back?

·       Would relationships that I built still be there?

·       Would I remember where to find things in the grocery store?

·       What will it be like to be the foreigner again?

But there were also questions about leaving the US.

·       Would the relationship that I built with my nephews stand, once we returned to only Skype and FaceTime?

·       How will things change while I’m gone?

·       How am I going to deal with missing out on family events again?

·       Will I miss the over-attentive waitresses and the ability to communicate with ease?

But the question I keep coming back to is…did I make the most of my 9.5 months in the US? Was I able to connect with people and to invest in the lives of those I rarely see? Will I look back on these months with fondness or with disappointment of unmet expectations?

While I really wasn’t sure I wanted to spend so many months in the US, I am very grateful that I had the opportunity. These months were filled with big things, like completing my Master’s studies and celebrating life events. They were filled with emotional things, like visiting Grandma’s grave and moving Grandpa out of the farmhouse to the nursing home. They were filled with trips and weekends away. And they were filled with the every day events of life – reading to my nephews, drawing animals for Caden to color, playing tractors with Grahm, binge-watching shows with my sisters, many conversations with a variety of people and the list goes on. Without these nine months in the States, I would have missed out on that. I would have missed Grahm’s sweet voice telling me to “take me to Prague, Stacy!” it was a precious time.

At the same time, it was hard to live in transition, knowing that I wasn’t living in my own home and that I was dependent on the generosity of others. I would think of my life in Prague randomly each day, for a variety of reasons.

Now, here I am. The past three weeks have been filled with settling in and re-engaging with people. It has included home group and helping out at the Family Center. I have gone to church and actually understood parts of the sermons. I have started both Czech and English lessons again. I have even hosted visitors to Prague already!

As I look to the future, I am not sure what the future holds. In many ways, I feel like I have a clean slate, now that Grad School is finished. I can take the time to sit with God and hear his heart for this place and the work that he wants me to do. I can invest in people that I didn’t feel I had enough time for before. I can focus more on improving my Czech skills. This excites me and I look forward to what lies ahead.

To those of you who hosted me, met me for coffee or a meal, attended a fundraising event, supported me (financially and in prayer), or simply spent some time with me: Thank you. I am grateful for the time I had with you!

To those in Prague who have welcomed me back, I thank you as well. You have helped to make my transition go smoothly. I look forward to more time together in the future!