Jonny and Lisa Lobel

Frýdlant is really starting to feel like home. There are still days when I get frustrated that I still don’t know the language well enough to actually use it, but for the most part I am really comfortable and happy here.

I really enjoy not needing a car to get around. Taking the train from work is such a relaxing time and often reminds me of my dad. It is so great that I can walk to the store in 3 minutes to get the random foodstuffs I forgot last time I went. The little secondhand/antique shop where I can get things to make our apartment a little bit less like an IKEA showroom is kind of like a Target substitute (if you squint your eyes and use your imagination). 

I have always wanted to live in the same building as my friends and near cafe where I can go and be pretty confident that I’ll see someone I know at some point during the visit… and now I have both! AND Jonny and I get to have a Bible study with the totally awesome couple that lives upstairs from us. I love being able to walk to the river with my husband on random Thursday evenings. And I just found out yesterday that we have a dry cleaners in town!! Frýdlant is a great town.

Besides Frýdlant being a great town, I am also making more friends and building existing relationships and Jonny and I are getting more involved in our Church. Our new pastor recently asked Jonny if he would lead the worship ministry team and, after talking about it and praying about it, we decided it was where the Holy Spirit was leading us and it would be a great way to be more involved in our local church.

I am really looking forward to visiting our families in Chicago and Albany, but although it doesn’t mean I love or miss my family any less, I have to admit that this is home to me now. It feels good to be home.