The Big Easy

Well, I've been accused of dropping off the end of the earth, so I figured it was time to post an update.

Actually, I was home for only 8 nights during April, and my access to a computer was limited, but in any case, I am alive and well, for the most part!

A highlight for me was serving in New Orleans for a week with a group of 7 incredibly passionate people who poured out themselves for the sake of the Gospel and the good of others!















We were able to encourage our brothers and sisters at the Living Witness Church of God and the Nehemiah Restoration Program with our words, our work, and our very lives. We can't wait to go back and continue building the Kingdom of God together!!

By way of announcements ... we will be switching our blog site over in the next few weeks, so start checking both this blog and our new one - http://www.nextinternational.blogspot.com/

Comin' Home

Mark and Cathy Jensen and I arrived home to Wisconsin late last night. Our "transit" was uneventful (other than some "confiscated goods" in the Amsterdam Airport ... ask me to tell the story!!). Joyce met us at the airport and transported us to Menomonie.

Honestly, we are all a little "road weary" ... but certainly not feeling like the guy in front of the National Theater in Budapest. We're holding our heads much higher!

Again, this was an incredible trip and we were able to accomplish a lot ... and much of what we did was directly related to all of your thoughts, prayers and encouragements. Without those, we truly feel like our efforts would have been significantly diminished. Thank you so much!!

So, we're on to "decompress" and make plans for whatever comes "next." Stay tuned to the blog, and check the web album link for more pictures and video.

Givin' It Up!

The last couple days have been filled with work on the Mozi Ministry Center by day and visits with great friends by evening. Rise and shine is around 6 to 6:30 AM, breakfast and morning devos are finished around 8:oo and work starts. We've done a variety of jobs, with the primary focus on the reconstruction of the kitchen.

Today (Wednesday) the team "tithed" their efforts to another missionary family who is renovating an apartment in the center of the city. John and Jofi Wilson are working to plant a church, and have purchased an apartment. Along with the help of some friends, they've done a significant amount of demolition. Our job was to haul over 100 - 50 # bags of debris down 7 flight of stairs. We figured that each person made 10 trips up and down, nearly filling a dumpster with debris.

So, whether we are laying tile, carrying debris or praying on the sidewalk, it is truly our joy to love God together, and serve Him by serving our brothers and sisters as they carry out ministry in this great city.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers and encouragements during our time here. We sense the light of Christ shining through us.

Worship with the Nations!

Today (Sunday) started out with the team praying over this area of Budapest (Kelenfold) from the roof of the Olimpia Mozi Ministry Center. Standing there, you can rotate 360 degrees and see row upon row of communist style apartment buildings, housing over 100,000 people ... and all within a couple kilometers from where we stood. Keeping this in mind, along with the new metro line ending just below the entrance to the Mozi prompted us to pray for laborers for the harvest field and for the gospel to penetrate the lives of the people who live here.

Then it was our privilege to worship together with the KeGy church at the ministry center. We sang songs in Hungarian (well, we tried) and English, and heard a message from pastor Mate'. We listened to a simultaneous translation on wireless fm receivers (hearing for the "old guys!")

The next "stop" was the train station to buy tickets for public transportation around Budapest.

We rode to the base of the castle hill and then climbed up for a beautiful view of the Danube and the Pest side of the city.

Of course, a "touring trip" would not be complete without trying on a couple of Russian army hats.

It was a great "low key" day ... praying, worshiping, and enjoying one-another's company. Tomorrow we'll be hitting it hard ... and probably into the night, as we begin to put the kitchenette together.

More than Two Times the Fun!!

Well, the Rhinos certainly hit the ground running! We worked last night until almost midnight, and completed the demolition work necessary to begin reconstructing.










Because of some needed "preliminary rough-in," we split into two groups to do ministry at different locations.

Mark and Dave were the plumber and concrete worker at the MOZI Ministry Center.











Chris, Joe, Aaron, Lon and Rob went to the home of a family from the church who is in the process of redoing their house in order to make it more usable for ministry. They worked on insulation, framing and sheetrock. Rob really appreciated the ministry of food, today. It started with fresh hot pogace from bakery just down from the ministry center, and continued with warm apricot cobbler from Zuza's oven. It ended with authentic Italian pizza and "buffalo cheese."

The work that the team did on the family's house was a great encouragement. It would have taken month's for this family to do this amount of work.

Tomorrow we will be worshiping with our Hungarian brothers and sisters and doing some sightseeing in the afternoon. We will be praying for many of you as well, as you attend worship services tomorrow. May God be especially close to each of you!!

How Far Have You Come?

Greetings from Budapest, Hungary. Mark Jensen and I arrived here this morning (Friday) on the EARLY!! train from Kosice, Slovakia. I am writing this from "the executive suite" in the Olimpia Mozi ... the former communist movie theater which is now better known as the ministry center for a number of ministries in Budapest. This will be our final "home-away-from-home" before we return to the US next Friday.

The Rhino Team from Northern Wisconsin arrived a couple hours after we did, and seemed in pretty good shape. During the team orientation meeting, we did notice a couple of nodding heads, but it wasn't long before these guys (and gal!!) were going at it full strength!
Mark and I almost feel like we need to apologize for repeating ourselves, but once again, the last couple days have been totally incredible. We've met some people in places we hadn't planned to go, and have seen God's hand using us to encourage people all along the way.

We've prayed with leaders of organizations who were feeling alone. We've played with and read stories to missionary kids who needed a couple more "uncles" to love them. We've shared a word of encouragement with congregations who often feel like they are the only one's in the world struggling against opposition and oppression, and we've seen young leaders taking a key role in outreach and service. There is much more to say, but for tonight, this will have to suffice. Mark and I are extremely grateful for all the prayers and words of encouragement from so many. Keep on prayin'!! I'm sure that this week will be full of God sightings and lives being touched by His power, love and grace. Stay tuned!

Dave, Mark, Cathy and 2008 Hungary Rhino Team!!

Schemes and Dreams

It's Tuesday evening and we're winding up our time at the Ellenwood's in Czech Republic. Our time here has been great, and we certainly have lots to think about. Our efforts for the last 2 days and for the next 24 hours will be spent dreaming and scheming for "next steps" for teams to come to Central Europe and help with a number of potential service projects in partnership with Josiah Venture.

Yesterday (Monday), Mark and I went with Mel across the boarder to Poland to visit a camp which Josiah Ventures recently purchased. The camp was previously owned by 50 different coal mine companies, and had been left for sometime with a very "short-term" owner's attitude.

Since being purchased by Josiah Venture - Poland, the camp has been redesigned to be attractive to students of a twenty-first century generation. A Polish construction company has been hired to do phase 1, and they've started some initial renovation. A number of American teams came last summer to help on demolition and site work.

Hearing and feeling the vision and passion of the leadership of Josiah Venture as to how strategic this camp is and how it will be used to touch the lives of Polish young people was incredibly inspiring and we're hoping to someday be able to help by sending groups there to serve. It may be a ways off, but this project certainly has plenty to do for a while!! And even though the camp facility will be "under construction," they will begin to use the camp as soon as this coming summer. Please pray with us for this project called H2O (like the water).

Today, Mark and I had the great privilege of taking the short bus and going "back to school" with Amy Ellenwood.

Amy teaches a class of "seniors" who are preparing for their "maturita" ... or graduation test. They do things a little different in Europe, as the students need to pass a final oral test on at least 4 different subjects.

This is a tough test and the kids begin studying now for the test in May! Our time with the kids was to help them in their English pronunciation. It was really fun as they asked us questions to determine what our jobs were, what our wives did, what our favorite cars were. I think that our time with them was profitable, as well as being an influence for the sake of the kingdom!

Tomorrow we are going on to Presov, Slovakia. We thought we were going to take the train, but its worked out that we can ride with one of the Josiah Venture workers who is going to Presov by car, so we'll ride with him! While in Presov, we will connect with Pastor Daniel Jurco, who is a friend of mine (Dave's) from when we lived in Czech. Daniel has asked me to "bring a word" to his church tomorrow evening, so pray that I can be inspiring and relevant to this congregation in Eastern Slovakia.

I'm not sure when I'll be able to blog next, but, as far as schedule goes, we'll be in Hermanovce, Slovakia on Thursday, and Thursday night, then on to Budapest by train early Friday morning to meet the team coming from Wisconsin! So, we very much appreciate your prayers, and your encouragement. We'll update as soon as we can!

Over and Above!

Our last 2 days are really indescribable. On Saturday, Mark Jensen was able to see Hradčany (Prague Castle) for the first time. Walking through the 700 + year-old castle hill and into St. Vitus Cathedral was a time of reminiscing and reflecting for me, and a time of awe and wonder for Mark.
We've posted a bunch of pictures in a web album. Simply click the link near the bottom of the right-side panel. -------------------------------->>>

I was struck by God's amazing grace in my life and the life of my family from 1993 - 1996 when we lived and worked in Czech Republic. I remember Zach and Abi at ages 11 and 9 giving tours of Prague to construction teams who had come to work on our projects in Central Europe. I remembered the times of prayer with missionary colleagues for the people of Czech Republic, and I remembered the ways that God kept our family and used us to enhance and advance his kingdom. For these memories, and for God's work in our lives that is over and above our greatest expectations, I give Him all the praise!

On the way out of the castle grounds, we ran into some old "friends!" As we gave tours through Prague in the 90's, we would often see this small "orchestra" playing just outside a gate. Well, much to my surprise ... and joy! ... they are still playing there today! If you want to hear a little clip of their music, simply click on this link!

In the afternoon, we rode the train to Cesky Tesin and were met by the Ellenwoods. They welcomed us into their home with wonderful hospitality and after some great conversation, we were finally all tired enough to settle in to some very nice accommodations in their guest apartment. What a great day ... but more was in store!

Today, (Sunday) Mel took us to the Josiah Venture retreat center/hotel Malenovice. This former communist hotel is nestled in the Beskydy Mountains in Eastern Czech. It was refurbished primarily to accommodate campers who come evangelistic English camps run by Josiah Venture. The little yellow dot in the beautiful mountain photo is the hotel/ retreat center. (click on the picture to see their website).

There we met Peter, the hotel manager, and he shared with us the plans for building some cabins and other "out-buildings" that would be used to expand the ministry of this facility. At this time, hundreds of students are coming here to learn English, and at the same time, they are exposed to the amazing love of God in Jesus! "JV" has a reputation in Czech of offering one of the highest quality English camps in the entire country! What a joy it would be for people to be raised up and come alongside this already thriving ministry and see their efforts produce even more fruit for God's glory! We are praying that this would become a reality for a number of groups, starting this summer! We left Malenovice very inspired and pumped for the possibilities!

OK, so if that wasn't enough, we drove to the other side of the valley, and up another mountain-side to a retreat house that Josiah Ventures wants to renovate. This place of respite, relaxation and refreshment would provide JV staff a place where they could come and step out of the mainstream of ministry and get the much needed "in-filling" that is so necessary for people in full time ministry. You can click this link to get more information on the Ellenwood's website.

Beskydy Retreat House

Mel shared his vision as to how this place would be used to touch hundreds of lives, through those who would come here and be refreshed. Again, short-term construction teams could play a big part in this renovation! Mark and I were overwhelmed by the potential impact on ministry that this place could have! So, what can we say??? ... Well, what comes to mind is that God is continually at work all around us in some ways that are above and beyond our imagination, and that He wants us to join Him in what he's doing! Would you consider joining Mel and Dave and Mark and others? The opportunities are here!!

Stroll Around the Grounds Until You Feel At Home!

A most amazing day is coming to an end in Central Europe!

After a wonderful night's sleep we had a delicious breakfast (chleb, or Czech brown bread topped with slices of cheese, salami, cucumber and tomato was certainly my favorite!). Marek Susta arrived and took us to visit his workplace, the Prague Psychiatric Center where he does research. This center is a part of Charles University, where I studied the Czech language in 1993. We had a very engaging conversation with Marek and his colleague Petr on the inter-relatedness of psychology and theology. They gave us a "mini-tour" of the grounds, prefaced by the warning from Marek S ... "I'm gonna show you around a little, stay close if you want to get out!" I as able to snap a picture of the 2 Mareks and Peter "strolling around the grounds" ... hence the title of the blog ... and they did let us out!! We then joined a former colleague of mine, Ritch Trca, for coffee and more conversation about what God is doing in and through our lives. I think it was a very encouraging morning for all of us ... but, there was more to come!

During our time with Ritch, Marek Susta received a phone call from one of my dearest Czech pastor friends, Jiří (George) Hofman. Jiří was the pastor of the Liberec church in Northern Czech Republic; which hosted many construction teams from 1993-1996. This picture of the "tower ceiling" and the cross are projects which God allowed me to work on. Actually, my Dad, Al, and I built the cross! Ask me to tell you the story of installing the ceiling in the tower!


Pastor Hofman and I became very close, and since I had seen him last, his wife had died of cancer. It was a joy to reconnect, and he invited us to come to his apartment just a short ways from Prague and join him for a bowl of soup and more conversation. My Czech was beginning to show signs of hope after a very long lay-off!

Reminiscing and praying with Pastor Hofman was, once again, very encouraging for all of us, but especially for Jiří and I. Bless Markie J's heart for putting up with hours of Czech conversation. If you ask him, he'll probably say that his brain is ready to explode!!

I believe that those of you who are praying that we would be a "Barnabas Team" are having your prayers answered as we move through these days. It seems like the opportunities to encourage are popping up everywhere and we're able to engage in some very worthwhile conversations! Tomorrow we will spend a little more time with Marek, and then take the train to Český Těšín, where we will meet up with Mel Ellenwood and his family. Keep watching for updates, and you can click on the link on the right for more pictures!!

Thanks and blessings,

Dave & Mark

Familiar Faces and Places

Greetings Blog-Land friends!

Mark Jensen and I arrived safely in Europe on Thursday morning!

Wednesday was a great day of getting hauled around, prayed for and traveling through the night (albeit, very short!!). The Cedarbrook Church staff sent Mark and I off with wonderful prayers of blessings for God's protection and leading for us, and for our families! It means a lot to us to have so many people holding us up in prayer. After the prayer send-off, my good friend and New Orleans Outreach Team Leader, Steve Jensen, took us to the airport in Minneapolis. We arrived in Amsterdam at 6:00 (Europe time) ... having very little sleep, but excited to be on this side of the pond!

With lots of time to spare, we took the train to the center of Amsterdam to hook-up with some folks that I met last year at the YWAM base. Click on the link and see how this committed group of people is having a huge impact on this notorious city. Unfortunately, the people I had hoped to see weren't around, but instead, Mark and I met a new brother in Christ, Franz, who we were able to encourage in prayer for his ministry to Muslims. This is one of the purposes of our trip, simply to be an encouragement to the body of Christ wherever we go!!


From there, it was on to Prague where Markie J was introduced to my closest Czech brother, Marek Susta. Friendships were forged even stronger as we relished the flavor of some home made venison jerky as we drove from the airport!! We checked into our hotel and then, Mark J got Marek S's 45 minute whirlwind tour of all the important tourist places in Prague. The quote of the day came from Marek "Well, that's about it for the tour. Anything else will cost you!" (sorry for the blurry picture, the camera phone had fingerprints on! We'll have some crisper one's tomorrow!

We are now settling in to our hotel in Prague, resting after an amazing day and seeing God's hand in a variety of ways.

Please pray for these items as you finish your day!

- Pray that we rest well tonight.
- Pray that Mark J's foot doesn't hinder him getting around (he has a torn ligament)
- Pray that we will continue to encourage those we meet!

Stay tuned for more adventures!! ... and keep in touch, we love hearing back from you on the blog!

Dave Johnson & Mark Jensen

Familiar Journeys

Hello to all my faithful (I think there are at least 3 or 4 of you!) readers of my blog! Please try to restrain yourself, but a few "whoopees!!" and high-fives might be in order as I return to the blogosphere!

On Wednesday, January 30, my close friend Mark Jensen and I will embark on a 17-day "project development and encouragement" trip to Central Europe. We will land in Prague, Czech Republic on Thursday, spend a couple days there with a very dear Czech "comrade," and then "train on" to Eastern Czech. There we will spend 5 days with Mel Ellenwood of Josiah Venture, looking at some projects, and dialogging with him about what kinds of things he could use help with.

On Wednesday, February 6, we're on the train again (click the link to hear Willie sing! ... I'm gonna re-write the lyrics and publish them in tomorrow's blog!) to Eastern Slovakia to visit some very special people we've known for over 8 years ... and encourage them in their work!

On Friday, February 8, we'll jump one more train and make our way from Slovakia to Budapest, Hungary. There we will rendezvous with a work team from Northern Wisconsin, which will included Mark's wife Cathy! While in Budapest, we will work on a variety of projects on the Olimpia Mozi, the ministry center where we've worked in the past and where Mark and Cathy lived for 3 months in 2004!

Our main goal for this trip is to "look and listen" for service opportunities for people to become involved in as we dialog with a number of leaders in Central Europe! If God would open up a door for our organization (NEXT International) to partner with some of these groups to help advance their vision and mission, we'd be delighted!

So, keep posted, we'll be sure to update as often as we can!