SERVING THE LORD IN

THE NEWS FROM CINDY ZIRBEL WRUCKE

JANUARY 2020

[email protected] Looking to the Future

A brand-new cereal showed up at my local grocery store.

OH CHEERIOS! I could hardly believe my eyes when I went to the local grocery store this past week. The European version of one of my favorite cereals was on a special display by the front entrance. Of course, The Charles Bridge in contains many Christian statues. stories about their Christian faith, including I grabbed a box and expected it to be their initial skepticism. I am very excited just like Honey Nut Cheerios from Two years ago, I deployed to Prague. I America. Not exactly. that three of the women who plan to come knew I would be living and serving in the are not yet baptized, but they are curious The description clearly points out that most atheistic country in the world, but I about Jesus and meeting Christian women. the cereal is whole grain, so the taste is now have a greater understanding of the a bit different, though more wholesome. challenges in sharing the Gospel here. Czech prayer app revisions: The first year And the honey flavor is definitely not as The language, the culture and other of pilot test data for the mobile phone app sweet. But the end result is that it is factors all present barriers, but I am more shows who is using the app and what delicious and close enough to home features are being used, as well as what is that I would buy it again. Except that encouraged than ever that God’s Word will reach the Czechs. not working. I am currently revising the two days later, it was sold out! software to improve the app’s functionality Hopefully, they will get another I look forward to using all that I have shipment before my box is empty. and improve access to God’s Word through learned since my arrival to continue linking to an online Bible. Feel free to keep in touch with me: sowing the seeds here, so that someday every Czech will know Jesus as their Czech language study: I have recently • Facebook: Search for Cindy Zirbel advanced to the intermediate level of Wrucke Missionary and follow my Savior. This month has involved a lot of page. preparation for the work ahead this year. language study. When I first arrived here, life was very difficult without knowing the • Mail: My address in Prague is Nad Teaching English to Czech church Želivkou 475, Prague 6 – Nebušice, language. Daily life is now much easier; 164 00 Czech Republic leaders: Weekly English lessons start sometimes I am even mistaken for a Czech next week with four Lutheran church in stores and on the street. I still have a lot • Email: [email protected] leaders and future pastors—a deacon, a of work ahead of me to become fluent and vicar, the business manager and one of confident in speaking a very difficult our alliance missionary pastors. language, especially to witness to native Women’s outreach: Starting this week, I speakers. will meet with local women for I plan to provide updates over the coming devotions, prayer and fellowship at our months about the work that we are doing To be added to or removed from this church complex. In addition to the mailing list, send an email message here together, with more details about each to [email protected] with the LWML devotional materials, I have of the outreach efforts. Please pray that the word ADD or REMOVE in found short films in Czech (with English seeds that are planted take root in a the subject line. subtitles) in which native Czechs share challenging environment. 888-THE LCMS • lcms.org • [email protected] | 1

Charles University

PLEASE PRAY FOR: • A mission-minded pastor to serve the vacancy at our Lutheran church in Prague. • The Czech pastors and church leaders to learn graduation ceremonies. Our class English well enough to A statue of King Charles IV next visited the Karolinum as part of network with other to a tapestry in the first and our orientation. confessional Lutheran pastors in the region. oldest university building, the Lots of history happened in the 14th century Karolinum. Karolinum auditorium, where we • The women in our new outreach group to be sat. For example, Jan Hus was a Soon, I will begin weekly Czech professor and rector at Charles encouraged and uplifted classes at , in through Bible study and University in the early 1400s. He Christian fellowship. addition to meeting with my Czech spoke in the Karolinum auditorium tutor. The university group classes in a public debate against papal provide practice dialogue, as well as GIVE THANKS FOR: indulgences, the beginnings of the standardized testing of fluency, and Bohemian Reformation. Jan Hus • The birth of my first grandson, certification of Czech proficiency Owen. was later condemned by the levels. Catholic Church and burned at the • The encouraging cards and Charles University is the oldest stake in 1415, long before Martin emails that I received through university in , Luther was born. the Advent and Christmas season. founded in 1348 in Prague by King Today, the Karolinum is a National Charles IV. Karolinum, the oldest Cultural Monument of the Czech • All of the individuals and building, is still used today for all congregations who have Republic. generously provided financial gifts and pledges. This month I look forward to what God has PRAISE GOD FOR: planned for the future:

• The gift of His Son, Jesus “For I know the plans I have for you, declares Christ, who conquered death and gives us life through Him. the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) - Cindy Zirbel Wrucke

To support the LCMS through the work of Or, you can make checks payable and send to: There are many opportunities Cindy Zirbel Wrucke, you may send a tax- to serve as short-term or deductible gift and make checks payable to: Mission Central GEO missionaries. Check 40718 Highway E16 out the current list and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Mapleton, IA 51034-7105 download an application at P.O. Box 66861 lcms.org/service. Click on St. Louis, MO 63166-6861 Gifts can also be given securely online through “Service Opportunities.” the LCMS website, on my online giving page at Mark checks “Wrucke-Eurasia Support.” lcms.org/wrucke.

888-THE LCMS • lcms.org • [email protected] | 2