The pictures you've been waiting for...

I know many of you are wondering, "Why have we not seen any pictures of CISP or Annika's classroom! Isn't that why she moved to Prague?"  Well the time has come.  I have pictures to show and news to tell!  The last week has been jam-packed with new information, so I will do my best to condense and share the important points. :) 

Are you ready for your tour??

Almost there! Perunova 6 is where you find CISP.

CISP shares this building with a Czech preschool and
elementary school.  We use the first two floors.

Imagine walking up a few steps and stepping into the building.
When you look to the left, you can see
the hallway to the office.

You look to the right and see
the hallway leading a few middle school classrooms...

You peek your head in some of the rooms and see the big gym
where we have P.E. and elementary chapel on Wednesdays...

 
                                          

And another room holds a smaller gym with
a basketball hoop.

You walk down the hallway and turn right.
You walk down some stairs and go through a door leading to "The Pitch."
This is where our students have recess each day.

You wander back inside and climb one flight of stairs to the 2nd floor.

                               

You glance to the left and see the creatively decorated hallway
to a few elementary classrooms, the principal's office, and...

The library!  If you were to walk through the room and turn to the left,
you would find yourself in the computer lab.  (sorry didn't get a picture of it)

When you're finished with the computer lab, you meander down
the hall and find to your left a door wide open, welcoming you to
the most important room in the school! ;)

Here you see the chairs of my future forty students....
Haha, just kidding!  We have actually had all our meetings
for teacher inservice in this room, so I haven't been able to set up
the desks and chairs for my students. 

I am so blessed to have a lot of space in my classroom!
Our elementary school is quite small this year; I only have 5 students!
Join us in praying for more students and families to come to our school

I could not believe the Lord's goodness in this wonderful discovery!!
I have really wanted to learn guitar so that my students and I can begin each morning praising the Lord.
I play piano, but it's not exactly a portable instrument.
But God put the only piano in the whole building smack dab in the middle of my classroom!!!
I was awed again by His gracious provision and how much He really does care about the details in our lives!

Miss Harmeling, 5th grade teacher at CISP!

Last week we had two full days of new staff orientation, in which we discussed everything from the school's history, to the daily schedule, to the school's online communication system, to basic tips for living and working in Prague.  I also spent many hours organizing my classroom, going through curriculum, and planning instruction.  There is still much to do, but each day becomes a little less overwhelming.  I am reminded daily that the Lord is good, He will equip where He has called, and His power is always made perfect in my weakness!

Continue to pray for our school!  We are in the process of accreditation and applying for recognition by the Czech government.  It is all a very complicated process, but God is sovereign over all.  He alone can bring about what is best and will bring Him most glory, so to Him we go with our requests!  Thank you for your consistent thoughts and prayers!

More Praises!

I have officially been in Prague for a week! 
Just wanted to mention a few more praises that have happened in the last few days!  Couldn't contain the thanksgiving, and I knew I needed to share them...

Unfortunately, I had an issue with the police when I first got here… 
 The foreign police, that is. :) When you move to the Czech Republic, you have to bring your visa to the foreign police so they can confirm that it is ok for you to be in the country.  You have to do go within 3 days of arriving in the country.  My school is fortunate to know a Czech man named Richard who does an excellent job dealing with these things, so I was set up to go with him the day after I got here.  However, I found out late the night before going that I needed some proof of my health insurance, which I had not received and didn't even know I needed.  This turned in a big problem when Richard said I would need something, even a letter from my organization stating I was indeed insured, which, of course, I did not have either.   I tried contacting other members of my organization, but could not get in touch with any of them.  I could do nothing but meet Richard the next morning, explain the situation, and hope for the best.  Our meeting the next day turned out to be fruitless, since I had no way of proving I was insured, but he suggested I try to contact my organization and meet again the following day.  The next few hours were crazy, between our member care person printing out a letter for me, asking TeachBeyond to send me an electronic copy of my card, and trying to find internet to check the status of all these things! But God was working all things out for good!

I pause in this story to discuss the other major praise of this day.  Both resolved at the same time, so I promise this story will connect to the previous one in a few moments!  At the same time all this was happening, I was also trying to finalize a new bank account I opened about three days before I left the U.S.  This was rather difficult because I had to find internet to skype them as well as find a fax machine that could send a signed letter to their office. (fax is very unreliable here)  Again, the Lord provided time at the school to skype the bank and my fax seemed to go through, but I couldn’t be sure until the next day.

Because of the time difference, I had to wait until later in the evening to check up on all the loose ends.  My roommate and I packed up our computers and traveled to a small coffee shop to access the internet.  God is faithful! I skyped the bank and they said they had received the fax and would Fed Ex my debit card to my school asap (it came today, by the way!!! No more foreign transaction or atm fees!!!) Right after this, I checked my email and TeachBeyond had quickly responded with a copy of my insurance card!!! I was so excited and so thankful to the Lord for His provision.  He definitely gets the glory for working it all out.

Getting the email about my insurance card. Super excited!!! :)

But wait, it gets better!  The next day I went with Richard to the foreign police and was able to get everything approved within 30 minutes with no glitches at all!  The best part of this trip was when he asked me questions about my calling to missions.  I was able to share how Christ had changed my life and given me a new heart with a desire to know Him and make Him known.  I also told him that the Holy Spirit has given me a passion to tell others about Christ in places where they may not have access to the truth as in America.  It was such a blessing to share these things with him. 

The list really does go on, both little and big things that God does each day.  Of course, there are daily complications and frustrations, but ultimately, I know the Lord is in control and will accomplish His purpose in each situation.  I am more and more aware each day of my desperate need for Him, and I am humbled to be a part of what He is doing.  Praise be to our great God!!!

Praises from Prague

God is good! I kissed my family goodbye at the Raleigh airport Monday night, and 13 hours, two planes, and a taxi drive later I arrived at my apartment in Prague.  Several staff from CISP and my roommate Kristen were waiting to welcome me and help me carry all my stuff!  I am so thankful for the smooth travel and the great help everyone has been here.  The Lord has truly been paving the way for me to come here.  This post will include several pictures of my first few days in Prague, but I also want to include a praise report for the specific things God has done to prove His faithfulness in this time of transition.

First of all, my bags checked through in RDU and were the exact anticipated weights! Additionally, my carry on luggage was not an issue and went through all the way to Prague without a problem, well, except for a few carry on liquid casualties. :) I was also able to sleep most of the way to London, which never happens for me!

Made it to London and now boarding to Prague!

Bus from terminal to the plane.  I can't believe I'm actually going! :)

First sights of Prague

Can you see the Charles bridge in the distance?

A few snapshots from the taxi window on my way to my apartment

The "Dancing Building" :)

Made it to Korunni 14!  This is our entry way

To the right is our closet

The bathroom

The living room and kitchen table

The kitchen.  So excited for all the space to make some delicious food!

First visit to the grocery store.
We got a very thorough tour of every aisle thanks to Ben, a teacher at CISP.
It was quite the cultural experience!

A group from CISP took us to get authentic Czech cuisine and see a few of the sights!

My roommate Kristin and I at the restaurant

                                     

Kate and Melodee

We had a view of the Prague castle from our table.

Becca and Ben

My meal:  duck, cabbage and potato dumplings.  Yum!

Kristen's meal:  bread-like dumplings and beef in some really good sauce

The Charles Bridge

The famous astronomical clock.  So cool!

These are just a few of the many pictures I've taken so far.  God seriously has been so so good.  So many things have just fallen into places and I'm trusting Him for those things that haven't!  Thank you for praying!  Hope to post more pictures again soon!

                                   

Summer Travels

Here's a snapshot of where I've been the last two months....

TeachBeyond Orientation

Love these girls!  They were amazing roomies!

Enjoying time with the TeachBeyond family

Most of our time was spent in meetings in this room.
So much information to give us!

My new friends, Ellen and Jennifer, who are headed to Black Forest Academy in Germany.

Friday night's commissioning service

My roommate, Michelle, who will be teaching 5th grade in Budapest, Hungary!

Rachel will be teaching 2nd grade in Germany.  Definitely planning to visit!

Can you find Prague?

California Trip

We were blessed to spend the day at the beach with my mom's side of the family

Family dinner after the beach

My dad's parents flew in from TN for my cousin's wedding

Austin eagerly awaits his bride,  Rachel.

My Aunt Lynn and Uncle Bryan

The Harmeling row :)

Austin, best man, and my other cousins, Drew and Chase

Yeah!  Rachel and Austin tied the knot!

Our cousin Lyndall and her family also flew in from England for the festivities

Engaged in a friendly game of crochet as we wait for dinner.

As usual, my brothers were being ridiculous.

Rhianna Topp and I enjoyed some delicious experimenting in the kitchen.

Close up of the cute fish marshmellow pops

Precious friends in Camarillo, CA came to hear me share about teaching abroad.

Sharing about Prague!

Group shot of everyone

I also spent three weeks as a camp counselor in Asheville, NC at Camp Hollymont.  This was a wonderful time of mentoring young girls and sharing God's Word with them.  Unfortunately I am not able to post pictures with campers, but you can find many I've been tagged in on Facebook!  Thank you for praying for this time.