They

returned home with stories of hope, from a country

drowning in despair.

A 12-member

mission team from Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church in

Peachtree City relived their two-week stay in the Czech

Republic for their church friends last weekend, through a

series of slides, souvenirs and anecdotes.

For some of

the team, the trip was a renewal of friendships founded

on faith and English language classes initiated in

previous years. For others, it was an eye-opening

experience of life in a country whose population is more

than 99 percent atheist or agnostic.

Despite its

natural beauty and grand architecture, which remained

unscathed during World War II, the Czech Republic has a

depressing feel to it, according to the mission team.

"There is an overall tone of sadness; there's little

laughter," commented Dan Swartz, who co-led the trip

with his wife, Grace. While the majority of the

population is pessimistic about their future, the small

congregation of the Reformed Church of Zlin is moving

forward, building on their Christian faith.

The

Carriage Lane group has formed a close alliance with the

church and residents of the community, which is an

industrial city of about 100,000 residents. Worshiping

together was the high point of the trip for many of team

members. "It was such a blessing," said Rhonda

Quillian, recalling the day of worship.

"The

church was very welcoming. Listening to 13th century

melodies in Czech was such a joy... I didn't feel like an

outsider at all... they welcomed me and reached out to

me," she said.

Larry

DeBert described the setting for the service -

"They meet in the hall in the Institute of Shoe

Design," he said. After the service, he recalled the

lunch they shared with the small congregation. "They

were speaking in broken English... it was a very

heartwarming time."

The purpose

of the trip was to provide English classes, help with

church organization and share the gospel with the

Reformed Church and its extended family. The volunteers

agreed that many Czechs came to meet them for the English

classes, but came back again for something else. That

extra something was the spiritual conversations and

testimonies shared by the Carriage Lane contingent.

"I

spent a lot of time with Jacob, 20, who has cerebral

palsy," DeBert said. Lengthy talks about God and the

Bible led to an invitation to the young man's home where

DeBert shared a meal with his parents. Others had the

opportunity to shop, or visit places of interest in Zlin,

or nearby cities with their native hosts. Members of the

group were often pressed to tap into their personal well

of faith to answer probing questions about Christianity.

Jan

Polgardi told about her encounter with a young woman

named Hannah whose conversation "quickly turned to

the spiritual. "I had a New Testament with me and

shared scripture with her," Polgardi recalled.

Selecting a verse from Ephesians, Polgardi talked with

Hannah about being saved by grace and at the same time,

said her own prayer, "I'm really responsible here,

Lord." Ultimately, Hannah accepted the Lord as her

Savior," Polgardi said.

Matt Rees

found a larger than anticipated audience after he agreed

to talk about business management principles to the

church. The impromptu seminar was advertized city-wide

and Rees found himself a major attraction. He has

continued to communicate via e-mail with a man who wants

to learn more about the American way of business.

Despite

delayed luggage, cramped living quarters and no cooking

facilities, the team kept their spirits up through

prayer. They left the Reformed Church's pastor with a car

to carry on his mission and a promise to return and

further the work they have started - establishing

personal, God-centered relationships.

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