Can of Worms

While Becca was in bed last week, Lauren, Michael, and I went to the top of the clock tower that is Old Town Square (every tourist gathers on the hour to watch the hands of the astronomical clock strike the hour and certain symbolic things happen, like little people pop out and move around briefly, its actually very anticlimactic and on Stephen’s tour we watched the tourist instead of the clock because it is more entertaining to watch the disappointment and realization of how little this much talked of clock does than to actually watch the clock). The view was great and there was a band in the square playing jazz.







Last night we were at Sir Toby’s, playing cards and hanging out (it was really really hot down there) hoping to strike up a conversation with some guests but it wasn’t really crowded, so we were chillin’ on these long benches and tables that are in the anteroom to the pub. We were on the right and on the far left were a group of Brits and Aussies hanging out. We had been eavesdropping on and off, listening to their opinions of Bush and how to spot an American, when I heard one Aussie say “You remind me of a man” pause “A man with a power.” None of his friends responded so I shouted across the room “the power of Voodoo!” Becca and Lauren look at me quite puzzled, I think, as the Aussie, quips “You know that jingle?” I continue “You remind me of a man, a man with a power, the power of voodoo, who do? you do? I do? You remind me of a man…” (each phrase is supposed to be passed back between two people at rapid speed, continuing on and on). “Yeah, I didn’t know the end,” said the Aussie, and each table went back to their own conversation. Um, I learned it from the movie the Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer, Cary Grant and Shirley Temple. Tiffany Verch, where are you when I need you!! Ok, I know, I am a dork, certified, notarized, signed, sealed, and delivered. Add that to the list of how to spot an American.

Like just mentioned, it was really hot yesterday, so when we got home at ten-thirty or so, we were still sweating, even our flat was sweating and there was not even a breeze to stir the stagnate air. The only cure for these moments is an ice cold Magnum bar (the perfection of ice cream on a stick), just like the only cure for cultural dissonance is cream and dream. Lauren had bought me an incredible Magnum, Dark Chocolate and Coconut, which I decided to munch up last night. It did the trick, but while I was eating I noticed that the actual name of this magnum was ‘Dark Coconut Sound’ and the package claimed this treat was ‘the best of 5 senses.’ I am just amused by the fact that the marketing team thought if they put the word ‘sound’ into the bar title then that accounts for that sense being satisfied in their claim to be the best of all 5. Really, I can understand taste and sight, even stretch touch if you count how satisfying it is to bite into something cold and smell because it’s chocolate, but sound…um…does the bar sing to me? Does the bar have musical or oratory talents of any kind? Unless their argument is that silence is the best sound (wrong on so many levels), they have some major false advertising going on. I think I need to write a strongly worded letter to the Magnum Corporation, I have been misled and this wrong will only be righted with a life-time supply of chocolate ice cream bars.

Exciting up coming things:
-I am in charge of organizing a distribution of lunches to some of the homeless folks in Prague, I am hoping some hostel guests will come, and some other non-Christians, so that it will be a ministry on many levels. Please pray that I will remember all the details and remember its not about the details.
-Wednesday evening the girls and I are attending a business and ethics forum that meets every so often here in Prague, listening to a speaker and having dinner. It should be really interesting and I am very excited.


I don’t write a lot about what is going on in my heart on my blog, but let me just say I have been really aware of my weaknesses and feeling like I am plagued by old wounds and insecurities a lot this past week. I have learned a lot this summer about community and the need to share your life with people, as imperfect as your life may be, because that allows God to work more in you and allows Him to love and comfort you through other members of the body of Christ, while also allowing Him to use your life, my life, to reveal His glory in our weakness. World Harvest is really good about emphasizing that we minister through our brokenness and I am so glad because I am really bad about putting pressure on myself to perform and understanding God’s grace. Our brokenness enables us to see God more.