2012...
Ever get the feeling that's it's going
to be a great year? Well, I've got that feeling : )
I'm currently on a train to Slovakia to
visit friends and ski for the weekend.
It's been cold in Prague, -18C/2F. But
in Liptovsky Mikulas, my little city in Slovakia, it's a whopping -30
C, -22 F, COLD! But I am looking forward to the
120+ cm of snow, almost 4 ft. The mountains are going to be
gorgeous.
This month I've been continually
reminded of God's love and care for me.
On my lowest days, God would
send a reminder via mail, packages and spontaneous
Skype/FaceTime/Gchat calls. It also reminded me that, although I may
feel lonely sometimes here, I'm not alone. God has put certain people
in my life right now that, although they may not be my closest
friends, they are friends. And I appreciate their friendship very
much. Needless to say, I was very excited to see my classmates and
fellow film students when school resumed.
Lots of exciting events and
opportunities evolved from January. Know that God is doing great things and your prayers are being heard.
Thank you for praying!
One answer to prayer I can share about
specifically is the friendships. A good friend who taught English with
my family and me in Germany last summer was able to visit Prague and
stay with me for a weekend in early January. It was so refreshing to
to speak with a Christian friend about life, the future and what
God's doing. That weekend honestly may have been one of the most
valuable weekends thus far during my Prague experience. I am very
thankful for her friendship :).
Also, during a school get-away to the
gorgeous little of Cesky Krumlov, I sat next to a film student
there and back on the bus ride who I hadn't hung out with too much
last semester. As we got talking I found out he was a new
believer and that was a lovely surprise, as there are no other
students that I know of here that share the same faith as me (which
is a non-denominational Christian belief that Jesus is God's Son and
the only way to eternal life is through a relationship with Him.
Which is simply believing in Him, admitting you're a sinner and
asking for forgiveness). It was even more exciting when he said he
had been praying to meet someone here that shared the same faith as
him. Ironically enough, I've been praying the same thing. It's a
tough industry, and can be difficult to view things from a Christian
standpoint. It's nice to know you're not alone.
As for school -
We started back up on the 9thand has been in full swing. Some of our professors are different from last semester, as are our classes.
We started back up on the 9thand has been in full swing. Some of our professors are different from last semester, as are our classes.
(I think I mentioned this in previous
blogs, but all of our professors are working professionals, so if
they have a call back, or their shooting dates get extended or
switched, it alters our class schedule. Since the industry is their
main job and focus and teaching is extra, which I love.)
In the middle of
January we had Bruno Coppolo visit our class for an intensive week of
film acting and cold script reading. It was great to study under
someone who has done so much and it was also a wonderful reminder of
how not all successful film makers are self absorbed. Bruno was real,
chill and a really great guy to talk with and learn from. He also
came with my school on our class trip to the lovely town of Cesky
Krumlov and it was really great spending time with him and talking
with about industry, as well as non-industry.
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Now I'm on the train back to
Prague.
My mini weekend in Slovakia was super
short, but so sweet.
The slopes we were planning on going to
on Saturday (and the best in the country) were so cold that the lifts
weren't working. So we went to a much smaller slope, and even then,
we only survived three runs. THREE! That was the shortest and coldest
ski day I've ever experienced. But I'm so glad we were able to do it.
Better than nothing at all ;).
My good friend Veronika had a name day
Saturday (in Czech and Slovakia, and a lot of Eastern European
countries, everyone has a name day, which is celebrated the same as
birthday) so Saturday night was full of celebration in town. It also
reminded me that I missed my own name day, which was January 19th.
Opps. No birthday or name day while in Europe this year for me.
Some thoughts and notes form my
devos the past few weeks:
“The only way to keep money, or land,
or talent, or happiness is to give it away” - Helen Barrett
Montgomery
“Opening your hand, letting go of
what you have, putting others before yourself... leads to something
greater than happiness; it brings inexpressive and glorious joy.” -
1 Peter 1:8
“Has God given you a vision? Nourish
it with prayer. Write a plan of advance. Share your thoughts with
wise counselors. Start small, but dream big.” - women's devotional
“You did not chose Me, but I chose
you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit
that will last.” - John 15:16
“Observe children, listen to them.
They live within earshot of God's voice and often come up with
brilliant solutions.” - women's devotional
“Just close your eyes and open your
heart, and feel your worries and cares depart.”
And two things I'm consistently
reminding myself is:
-Ask, and you shall receive.
-Live in the moment
I have a specific prayer that's been on
my mind all month having to do with the future.
If you could please pray specifically
for guidance to know where to go. There are two very specific places
in my mind, and I want to make sure it's God telling Sarah where to
go and not Sarah telling Sarah where to go.
I appreciate you, all, so much.
It's so comforting to know there are people worldwide praying for me.
Love being a part of God's family : ).
With love and gratitude from Prague,
Sarah
John 15:16
Sometimes I wonder,
"what in the world am I doing with my life?..."
Then I remember, it's not my life. It's His.
And with Him, I can do anything in the world.
A look through the lens:
To those of you who sent sent packages and letters - thank you so much.
This was all received in one day, at an absolute perfect time.
Thank you, thank you.
The lovely Sarah Finn came for a visit : ).
School's back in session.
Happy to see my friends again : )
The lovely little town of Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Back to filming.
The Czech McDonald's commercial is now showing in Czech Republic and Slovakia.
It's also one of those annoying ads that you can't skip before watching a YouTube video ;).
To see videos: http://www.youtube.com/sarahmbrown88
More pictures and recent updates: http://www.facebook.com/SarahMarieFanPage
