Christmas season is upon us here in Iowa. Christmas is a hard time for me because when I’m in Prague, I miss my family. When I’m home with my family, I miss Prague. I wrote in a letter to a friend that it seems paradoxical to me that on the most family centric holiday of the year, I miss the place that takes me away from my family.
Prague at Christmastime is magical. A huge Christmas tree is set up in Old Town Square and there are Christmas markets everywhere. Nativity scenes and advent wreathes are set up in homes and various other public places. It is an ideal time for ministry because Jesus is literally everywhere. He even delivers the presents on Christmas Eve! Ministry is as simple as taking a walk around town and talking about the various decorations that we see and the traditions we have.
Please pray for my friends who are still in Prague during the Christmas season. Pray that God moves in the hearts of those they do ministry with and that God would open their hearts during this Christmas season.
We started off our Christmas week with dinner with members of Mom’s family. Both of her sisters were there, as well as some of their families. It wasn’t a large gathering, but it was the first such Christmas gathering that I was able to attend in 9 years. I am so glad I was able to catch up with some family that I haven’t seen in a number of years.
Whoever is around on Christmas Eve will be attending Christmas Eve service at my home church in Griswold. Growing up, the Christmas Eve service was always one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. Afterwards we would always go to my grandparent’s house, eat soup and dessert, and open presents from them.
Family Christmas with my immediate family will be the day after Christmas. We are at that unique point in our lives where our family Christmases are starting to get bigger. My sister, Megan, and her husband, Paul, had a daughter this past May, so this is our first Christmas with a member of the next generation.
As we celebrate the birth of our savior and enter a new year, I just want to say thank you to everyone who prays and supports our ministry in Prague. God has certainly moved over the last 12 months, and I am looking forward to see Him at work in 2016.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Micah Lembke 