Wow—what a difference a good night’s sleep makes. After several days of travel and early mornings, today was a true rest day for us. Chris and I had only one thing on the agenda beyond the usual rhythms of life here: washing clothes, making meals, getting some exercise, and settling into the pace of Český Těšín.

Many of you already know that we’ve been exploring the possibility of purchasing an apartment here in the Czech Republic—not to move here permanently, but to establish a ministry home base for our multiple annual trips, and long summer stays. Having a place of our own would make these extended trips easier for us and for the local church, and it could also serve as housing for other missionaries working with Josiah Venture or CB Český Těšín when we’re not here.

So this morning we took a leisurely walk to meet our good friend Radek and the realtor at the apartment. We toured the space with someone who could handle the technical inspection, and afterward spent time discussing next steps. The purchase process here is similar to what we’re used to in the United States, but there are enough legal differences to make things more complicated for us as foreigners. It’s a steep learning curve, but we’re hopeful—and grateful for the help of friends and professionals who know the system well.

We’ll share more news as things develop in the coming weeks. As exciting as this possibility is, it’s not the main reason we’re here. Tomorrow we head to church, reconnect with people, and begin shaping our pre‑camp ministry schedule.

Thanks for following along with us. It means a lot to know that people back home care, pray, and walk this journey with us from afar.

That’s all for tonight.

Ciao, Pastor Doug