I've been re-reading the Harry Potter books to get ready for the next and last one coming out July 20th - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and I'm officially ready! I read the 5th and 6th one, then started over and read the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and just this last week i finished the 4th! So I feel good! =) I probably read 3000 pages during the re-reading, it was lots of fun! Now onto the next one!

Anyway, last weekend was a pretty special one - Caleb got baptized! The Hashes came for it and then spent dinner with us, and it was great. Let's see if I can get a few words out of Caleb about it...:

Yup. It was great! I was a little nervous at first because I had to give my testimony in Czech, but I was all good man. Ha-ha, and the water was freezing!! Our pastor said it was warm so I expected it to be, and then when I got in I was like WHOA!! But I was really glad the Hash’s got to be there. That meant a lot. ‘Cause the Ellenwood’s and Becca couldn’t make it, so it was awesome that Jacob, Dan and Laura were there. It was great though. And it meant a lot to me that Tyler and my mom did that song. It was just all good. =)

The song he mentioned is something me and mom decided to do about 5 minutes before the service...and as Caleb said it meant a lot to him. We played "You Alone" which is a song by David Crowder.














Last Saturday we also had some fun... So here's the story: For about two months, our family was planning to have the Pitcher family over for dinner to talk and just hang out. BUT what the Pitcher family did not know is that it was a secret "congrats for your ordination, Ken" party! Ken was just ordinated at instated as the official pastor of "CB Frydlant" two weeks ago, which is awesome! So the Pitchers didn't know anything about it, and everyone from church hid and our family went to greet them etc...and then when Ken came in he saw all the people screaming "Surprise!" It was great! We had lots of food and it was a great time being together as an official church! And also - The next day, on Sunday when Caleb (and another girl, Svatia) were baptized, it was Ken's first baptism as a pastor! So that's pretty cool too!














On Friday we had a Youth Group Team meeting and we were talking about what's up for this next school year. It was great being together and thinking up ideas and encouraging each other to be trying and doing new things. One thing that's up for me in September is that I'm going to start helping out at Tensing - the youth choir here in Frydlant. I'm going to be the leader of the Tensing band, and it's going to be lots of fun, but also lots of work. It's a big commitment, but I believe this is where God's wanting me to be, and I'm going for it! Two guys who trusted Christ through Exit 316 this last year (Honza and Robert) are going to form the band along with me and Caleb. Honza has been playing guitar for a couple of months and he has great promise, i'm really looking forward to teaching him more and playing with him! Robert (who i've mentioned before on my blog) is going to start taking drumming lessons and the music school, which is really cool. And Caleb is already great, and i'm okay =) so it's looking good! Here's a picture of Honza and one of Robert (from our trip to Slovakia)!





























Another thing that our youth group is going to have to be dealing with is the departure of our dear friend Mark Krupa for 10 months to get his masters in the States. This is going to be a big change for us, but luckily he'll be coming back, so we just have to survive those 10 months and then we can welcome him back to continue doing what he loves - working with youth!

And now some things that are coming up... This next week is our last week of school (thank goodness!) and then on the 4th is English Camp! I may have already said this, i'm not sure, but I'm going to be the music leader for camp, and Caleb and a guy that's coming from the States are going to play with me. I'm really excited about it, this is exactly the kind of thing I love to do. But still - it's a little scary. So if you could remember me in your prayers I would be very grateful!














And here's a picture that we took of our family last week...enjoy!

i've been meaning to get back to my wonderful blog for some time now (i have lots of things to write about!) but you know how it is... School is slowly coming to a close and studying and tests are a big time-taker. So. Now i'm back! Rejoice ye faithful readers!















Exactly two weeks ago on May 31st we set off on a 7 hour trip to Slovakia with our school. There were 25 of us altogether and it was a great time! We went to a place about an hour and a half north of Poprad on the Polish border. The scenery was amazing, unlike anything i'm used to - it felt like something from the Lord of the Rings!
















It rained a lot, but that didn't matter much. We stayed at a campground with cabins and spent lots of time in the restaurant playing card and board games. BANG! was the game of the week!

One day we went on a hike up to a place called "Tri Korony" or Three Crowns in English. I was listening to the Fellowship of the Ring audiobook on my iPod on the way up so that added to the coolness of the surroundings! Only half of us actually got all the way up to the top, the rest went down early and missed out on all the cool trees and rocks and random stuff like that!





























On the very last full day (Monday) we got into four rubber rafts and rafted down the river for about 15 km! It was lots of fun, and because I have some experience with rafts, I was named captain of ours, so i got to boss everyone around. It was great! =) I sat in the back of our six-person raft and steered most of the way, occasionally helping with catching up to everyone else. We reached this one spot which totally reminded me of the Fellowship's journey down the river Anduin - cliffs on both sides...it was really cool.















And then this Friday and Saturday something significant happened! Me and Caleb (but mostly me, Caleb abandoned me eventually) had our first real live performance! You see, every year, our youth group does a Streetball (basketball) tournament in town. This year we thought it would be fun to get a tent and make it into a little coffee-house, or "cajovna" in Czech. And of course they needed live music...who to call, who to call... Ah! Me!














So i prepared about 30 songs and with breaks in between and doing songs over again, played for about two hours on Friday. Caleb played for a while, and then his bass started acting up, so he left me to fend for myself, which i was fine about. Here's a picture of both of us when he was still loyal to me!














There weren't a whole lot of people who were in the tent, but on Saturday a LOT of people showed up for the Streetball tournament. So that was cool. I played on Saturday from about 6 to 9, and it really wore me out, but it was lots and lots of fun, i really enjoyed it!



























And so, we start to come to a close. Our grades are wrapped up next Wednesday, so after that, hardly any more classes and more freedom! Our English Camp starts July 4th, my Birthday is July 20th (for those of you who didn't know...hint hint!), then in the middle of August we're headed to the island of Corsica with our family and the Ellenwood and Hash family. JV Kids' camp starts on August 20th and before you know it...I'll be back in school! Aaah! It'll go by fast...Oh well, i guess i'll just have to enjoy the summer as much as I can while it lasts! Till next time!

These past few days have been very bittersweet for me. From Wednesday to Sunday I spent time with my closest friend, sir Hudson Jones. As I have mentioned in a few posts a little ways back, the Joneses are leaving JV, leaving Slovakia and leaving all of us behind. God has really blessed me, my family and many people with friends in the Jones family. But, now God has called them somewhere else, and there's no changing that. SO, since there's no point in getting angry about something you can't change, and I've accepted that God's plan is the best for all of us, even though we may not like it at the moment. And even though it's not fun, I am grateful that God is sending the Joneses to an accessible place - the States - instead of somewhere like Japan where none of us ever go! =) (I tend to look at the positive side of things, if you haven't noticed already!)














So, anyway, about these past few days! The reason Hudson got to come so early was because Miss Hannah Ellenwood was having a voice recital on Friday (practice on Wednesday) and had the great idea that me and Hudson could assist her and play with her! It was great and we all did a great job, especially Hannah! (Hudson messed up in the beginning...i'm gonna annoy him about that for a long time! =P Actually, you could hardly tell, it's all right, don't cry, Hudsy.)















So we had practice on Wednesday, and had nothing to do on Thursday, so the wonderful Becca McMartin suggested we go shoe shopping at Tesco! So we did! And the amazing Andrea Pitcher sponsored us, so that added to the funness! Thanks Andrea! I got the blue ones, and Hudson got the white ones. We then wore them everywhere and felt so cool! =)















Once we got back from Tesco, we thought it would be fun to dress up (in the clothes we were planning on wearing to the recital on Friday), bring a couch outside and get Claire to take pictures! It was lots of fun and we got some great ones. Don't we look so handsome?!?!








































Then Friday came, the concert went well, and me, Hudson and Hannah joined up with Mike Sullivan who drove us to see...ba dum dum... Pirates of the Caribbean 3 - At World's End!!! That was really awesome.















Come Saturday...me, Huds, Hannah and Caleb went down into town to our church and recorded some songs (about 8) and hung out together making music! We made a little EP under the name "The Aftermath", and it was really fun! It won't win any awards or score us a record deal...but it was fun! =) Every band's got to start somewhere!


































And then Sunday came...














So, when I look back on these past few days, God has really blessed me with incredible experiences with incredible friends. Goodbyes are always hard, but luckily, it's not goodbye forever. The future is not clear, but it is bright, even though the present feels gloomy.

And on a side note, what's up ahead for me in the next two weeks - On Thursday I leave with my school on a trip to Slovakia for five days. We'll play some games outside in the wilderness, river raft, and hopefully have some good conversations. My youth group leader, Boža, is also coming, so that'll be great. My second year of high school is also slowly coming to a close, only a little over a month till the summer. That means tests and other unpleasant things of the sort. But it'll soon be over!

Back to what I was writing about earlier. As many of you know, I look like my dad. And though so far I don't share much of his passion for gardening or physics, I do respond in similar ways that he does to things. I don't cry often, not unless something manages to catch me off guard (like when my dad told us the Joneses were leaving JV), I'm more of a brooding type. I think, I write. Writing my blog helps me to cope with what's happening. So, for those of you who managed to read this far, I commend you! =) I do start to get carried away and write a lot when I have a lot going on in my head. It's who I am!




















And it's not goodbye forever.

Just listening to The Fray, and i'd like to tell you all (and remind those who were here) about my weekend! Some of my favorite people in the whole world came over to our house for a little party and we had a great time!

Last year around this same time we had a similar party - a Journey + Zeteo party to be more precise. For those of you who don't know what Journey and Zeteo are, they are age groups that the wonderful Becca McMartin started quite some time ago in JV for us JV kids. I'm in Journey, and Caleb is in Zeteo, and we all have lots of fun together! Becca joined us this weekend for movies, fun and just being together.











Everyone came over on Friday afternoon and we hung out, popped a soccer ball and watched a movie.











Saturday we went on a little trip to a place called Stramberk and walked around, took pictures and some of us (not me!) went on this ride that made everyone (except for me and Becca!) sick...It was funny! (For me at least, I don't think it was funny for everyone else!)








































Saturday night we ate enchiladas, watched a movie, drank coffee and tea and told stories and remembered past experiences, and then watched another movie! It was a great time being with my friends (and brother!).




















On Sunday Caleb made french toast, Hudson led a little devotions thingy (thanks Huds!), sang a couple of songs and then we all said goodbye and went our separate ways... I had an amazing time and i'm sure everyone else agrees! The only bad part was that our dear friend Corrie couldn't be there...We sure missed you, Cor!




















Last week I was actually sick and stayed home from school from Tuesday to Friday, and God really protected me this weekend, I felt totally fine! Over the course of the week I got some reading done, rested and painted a couple of my Lord of the Rings figures. Overall it was quite a productive week! =)









Discovery of the week - I can sing pretty high in falsetto if i sing loudly!
Song of the week - Lollipop by Mika
Verse of the week - Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a refreshing couple of days! Our Spring Josiah Venture Conference was really great full of fun and also some good learning experiences! Keep reading to find out more about it!










During the mornings us older kids (Zeteo and Journey) were part of a photography class taught to us by the very talented Joshua Longbrake (who's blog is now linked on the right!). He's also an avid blogger and i got to talk to him about what makes a good blog and how to make mine even better. You may have noticed that it's already looking a little different...hopefully even more changes will come along!










That was only one part of the morning...the other part was spent with Aubrey, a really talented artist with whom we did crazy projects! Our favorite by far was throwing water balloons filled with paint at a canvas!

























The afternoons were spent hanging around, playing soccer and entertaining the little kids! In the evening, Hudson, Hannah, Connor and I led worship for all of the kids. It was lots of fun and i think we all learned something about how exactly to lead and play better! Corrie and Corey (hehe) also helped a lot by getting the songs together, making the powerpoints and picking out verses to read! it was lots of fun!

On Friday night we had a murder mystery planned with Becca... Ben Williams, Anna Stepanian and Zac Shepperson joined us...it was lots of fun! I played an undercover police guy...and got killed in the end =)

Another awesome part was our big hoedown on Saturday! We had this big tent and a bluegrass band came and played and people danced, ate popcorn and had a fun time!






















It was a great time being with my favorite people in the world. Five families are leaving the field this year, four are leaving JV. We talked in our groups about what was ahead for all of us, cried and remembered fun experiences we had together. On Sunday morning all of the JV kids got together and said our goodbyes...it was a teary morning and lots of hugs were exchanged! So - Jonesies, Desnoyers, Morrs, McSheffrey's and Cupery's, we will miss you all!!!

Claire is also in England right now on a trip with her school! Nicholas and Zachary Pitcher are also with her. Mom let me and Caleb stay home from school today, and tomorrow we have a holiday, so I'm really glad about that!

And if you're wondering where the HP countdown went, just scroll all the way down to the bottom! =)