yearning

I want to yearn, to long, to beg for more of Jesus. I want to be more like Jesus. I want to cling to him like I used to cling to my Dad's leg when I was little. I would wrap both my arms and legs around him and hold on for dear life as he walked around the house. That's the way I want to cling to Jesus. There are times when I feel like I do and times I feel like I don't. It seems to me that the times when I feel like I do are generally the more difficult times... maybe just following a tragedy, maybe amidst loneliness, maybe just feeling a bit empty. I want to know Him more. I want to help others know him more. 

The Zoo and a day full of Czech

Greetings!

Yesterday was a beautiful day. It started with an extremely packed bus ride to the zoo. There I met some good friends to enjoy the great weather and amazing animals at the Prague Zoo. Somehow the otters almost always take the cake as the best part. They are always full of energy and playing around in the water. My favorite part though was the lions. I've always been drawn to lions. I remember doing a research project on them in 5th grade. Did you know that lions can run up 40 mph? Yes, it's a little bit weird that I remember that fact from 16 years ago... but what can I say? Lions are awesome. At one point yesterday, a zoo worker walked to the door where the lions were just on the other side... in an instant the male lion sprinted to the door, jumped up and put it's front paws at the top of the frame and roared (quite ferociously I might add). It was amazing. The wildness was beautiful. Lions to me are the most majestic animals. I used to want one... still do actually but I don't think it'll happen. I'm not sure if this makes sense, but I want to carry myself like a lion... Confidently. Not arrogant but confident, in who I am and who I was made to be. 

After the zoo I went with my friends to see one of their families in a small village about 30 minutes from Prague. The whole day I was the only American around. My friends can speak English but often speak Czech. I like this because it helps me learn more. Most of the time with the family was in Czech. Again, difficult but good. By the end of the day I was exhausted. When I hear Czech I try not to turn my brain off, but really focus on what's being said. I listen for words I already know and also guess at what is being spoken about. I hope this helps my learning. It's a difficult but lovely language. The more I pick up the more I feel as if it's home here. Please feel free to pass on any advice you have for learning a new language. I'm taking lessons and studying some at home. And I'm open to any and all methods.

That's it for now. I'll be writing more soon.

love,

d