Prague

Are we getting old?

We're down to the last week of our mammoth extraordinary, and still very much enjoying ourselves. Prague is as beautiful a city as you can find, and we're with good, old friends. I've been close to Fred Prudek since I was a sophomore in college, and Popie has known him nearly as long. We've known and loved Kelly since they married 25 years ago. (Not long after that blessed event, friends of Fred began to marvel over her with each other.) So we love having this chance to catch up in depth. A lot of our time has been taken up with long, long walks. From their home you can walk into the center of Prague, as well as out into thick forest parkland. We've done both, sometimes on the same walk. Czechs specialize in little snack bars along the way where you can buy a beer or an ice cream and kick back.

We've also been able to see some of the Prudeks' work. Popie has gone with Kelly as she leads ESL classes and, every Friday night, goes into central Prague to meet with and talk to prostitutes. We've met members of the little church they are helping to launch in an outlying town, and we attended there Sunday when Fred was preaching. It's great to get some of the texture of their life and work.

Thursday we fly back England for a last fling with Silas and Coreen Hester, and Tuesday the 26th we fly home. Can't wait to see our daughter, our house, our dog, our church and our friends. (No hierarchy implied.) But will we suffer from post-sabbatical stress?