Serving Martin

Wow - has it been that long?

2010-07-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

Please forgive me for waiting so long to write to you again....to be honest, it has been very hard to write since my dad's death in December and I just haven't had the heart to write when I know he used to read it. God is very, very good though and has helped me now to break through this writer's block and continue to tell the story of Martin, Slovakia. So to that end I write:

I will never again look at black leather, skull and cross bone shirt, black bandana wearing biker people the same way again. I had the immense pleasure of spending the day on Sunday with 4 of these people and I will never forget them or the ride! Paul, one of the guys on the Serving Slovakia team, invited me to go on a motorcycle ride with a group of his English student's friends. (I think he thought I could help interpret for them a bit). Though I was a bit scared, I agreed to go and had the time of my life! I met Olga and her boyfriend Dusan, Jerry (Jaro), who was my driver, and John (Jan). These people were so kind....the guys treated me like a queen anticipating my every need and thinking of my comfort and safety the entire day! We traveled probably about 100 miles round trip from Martin to Bojnice to Kremnica to Terciansky Teplice and home again to Martin. We stopped in each town at John's favorite pubs and had colas and coffees and lunch. (In Slovakia there is zero tolerance for drinking and driving which makes for a very safe drive for us all). The Lord is so good!! Paul and I even had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them because of their soft and open hearts and God's leading and inspiration!!! Please pray with us for those men and Olga, that God will continue to bring His people into their lives to help them along the Way!

As I prepare for my departure from this place and these people, I want to focus on the things God has done here and is doing here. I want to focus on my faithful friends who have given their money and their hearts to me these past two years in support of the vision for Slovakia. And I want to focus on the many opportunities there are here to provide help, hope and home to these our friends. So, let this entry be the beginning!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

2010-02-08T04:37:00.001-08:00

I know it's February, but I missed out on telling you all the neat things that happened here in Martin over the holidays...so I thought I should just tell you now!

Many of you may have heard about the first ever Christmas Sharing Tree being offered by the Lutheran church here. It was something completely new for them, but they took to it real well! The hardest part of the whole thing was getting people to ask for their needs or wants. We received a gift request for a family with 5 children....but all they would write down as a need or want is, "the children would be happy with anything the congregation wishes to give"....I think I can safely say that we were all touched and humbled by this humble request. It took a little doing but we managed to get the ages and genders of the children so that appropriate gifts could be purchased for them We also put gift tags on the tree for daily needs like soap, toothpaste and basic living items. The congregation at the church gave generously, with all sincerity of love and caring that Jesus, I'm sure, was very pleased with. May He bless them 10 fold for their generous spirit of giving!

Now...for the little hiccups.....and maybe I don't need to mention this, but I do because it shows a certain focus here in Slovakia about Christmas that I do not see back home in the states. I was, unfortunately, called home to my dad's side a few weeks before Christmas and was not here to facilitate the delivery of the Christmas gifts. Due to factors beyond anyone's control, the gifts were not delivered before Christmas. I was heart broken when I found out....but there really was nothing to be done. When I returned back to Martin the middle of January, I began the mission of trying to figure out how to get these gifts to everyone. Within a few weeks, we had the first of the families (13 children) delivered to....and they were so grateful, they didn't even care that the gifts were not delivered before Christmas - in fact, and this is what I want to share with you - Christmas here is about God and the gift He gave us, His Son Jesus the Christ. It isn't about Santa Claus and all the gifts he brings.....it is Baby Jesus who brings the gifts - and He can and does bring them all throughout the year!! What a fresh perspective! How incredibly joyous it was to deliver what I thought would be less than impactful gifts at a less than impactful time of year, to people who not only were impacted, but who impacted me!! God is so incredible - the gifts HE gives are timeless and always leave an impression of His love and goodness on us! Hallelujah!! Today - the last of the gifts were delivered and received with as much joy as if it were the 25th of December. Thank you Lord God for showing me the beauty of your plan, your wisdom and your love in sharing yourself with everyone everyday! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Choir

2009-11-15T20:38:00.000-08:00

This is the new childrens choir that Ada (Andrea Borcovanova, Juraj's wife) is leading! They did a great job on Sunday! In other news, the Advent season is fast approaching and those of us in the adult choir (Larry, Brenda and I) have about 13 new songs to learn before we begin singing every Sunday from then until the end of the year! Pray hard!! :o)

Please Pray

2009-11-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

There are so many people back home that are going through hard times, painful times, sad times, some are having truly heartbreaking times right now, that my heart is heavy. Will you please join with me in praying that God will be especially close to them and that He will give undeniable evidence of His deep and abiding Love for them? Thank you.

First Annual Harvest Food Drive

2009-10-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

Well, we think it was a big success! The people of Martin, though they have never experienced giving in quite this way before, really embraced the concept of a food drive and gave very generously! We have done the preliminary work of unloading and organizing the donations onto shelves and now we will pack the food into the bags that Baumax graciously donated for the cause and get them delivered to the people who need them! We hope to have all this done by Saturday. Our prayer is that this will be an annual event at this time every year, please pray with us!

Bohdan and Zuzka
Friends outside of church
It keeps getting fuller and fuller!

Juraj showing everyone how much fun giving is!

God bless you richly!

WOW! What a great first year start to what we hopekeeps growing.

The Latest and Greatest....

2009-10-03T04:46:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a busy week last week. So to quickly fill you in, I'll tell the story........then add the pictures later. One of the happy problems here (as Pastor Matt would say) is that both the Bible College and the Elementary School are running out of room to teach and play and meet. Michal and Bodhan (both Directors of the Bible School) have been looking for the last few years for a place that was affordable where they could grow into the Campus they desire to be. There have been a few options for them and they have had plans and dreams concerning a couple of different places, but either the timing wasn't right, or the money wasn't right, or the place was too far away to be useful in the community of Martin in the way they believe the Lord is calling them to be. So, they have patiently waited and prayed and waited. And it has pleased the Lord to answer their prayers with the best news possible! (Isn't that just like God to bless us immeasurably more than we could ever hope or dream of!) The news is that the City Council had a vote last week to determine the use of three buildings right behind the college dorm. Bohdan has been talking with the Mayor for months about using those buildings......and the Mayor believing in what the Bible School is trying to do here, has been talking to his council. On Thursday last week, the Council voted 24-1 in favor of leasing those buildings to the Bible School for the next 50 years at something like a euro a year! FREE basically!! For 50 years!!! It is the absolute best solution to this ever increasing (happy) problem of room to grow!

So, an architect by the name of Paul Snyder donated his time and talents to come here and draw up plans for how to build the campus to enhance and add to the charm of the City of Martin (and add to the numbers of those being saved by the work being done in this place!). And hopefully by December of 2010 the work can begin! There are tenants using at least one of the buildings now so we have to wait until they are out of the building to begin the actual rehabilitating....but time most quickly here, and 2010 will be here before we now it!

As for me, I have started teaching the City Hall folks as well as the college students and my private students so the year is in full swing. It has been a bit of a challenge getting schedules and times and appropriate materials together and meeting the needs of everyone involved, but God is Good.....and Brenda and Larry are coming soon, so I think everything is going to smooth out and calm down a little as I finish my last year here in Martin....but that's another post.

Baumax....

2009-09-21T12:39:00.000-07:00

We are collecting food donations at the church for the next couple of weeks to do baskets for needy families in the community. This is a new thing in Slovakia....and therefore in Martin. The congregation isn't used to giving anything more than the regular offerings or tithe to the church. So, when it was announced last Sunday in church what we're going to do and how they could help, it was met with a little confusion maybe and uncertainty....and then a little excitement! It is to honor and worship Him and to thank Him for His abundant harvest lavished on us that we want to do this.
Our first donation came from an unlikely source...and it wasn't even food! The local home improvement store, Baumax, generously gave us 35 huge bags to put the food in to deliver to the families....They had never heard of such a thing at Baumax...actually they had never heard of the Lutheran church or the Bible school....but when Sisa and I went to talk with the manager about donating some bags, he was eager to do it....and...now he knows about the Lutheran church and the Bible school - and we know about him!
Please pray for the harvest we share with the community to reap a bountiful Harvest for Him!

My Prayer....

2009-09-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

Help me Lord, to come into this year from where you are. I want your heart and your mind in this place. I want to know what you see as the needs of this community. Please take all I have seen and heard and felt and form these experiences into a central theme for your plan and purpose here. This is my earnest prayer. Thank you God for your Presence in my heart, mind and spirit…thank you for impressing on me the need to wait for You and thank you for helping me to see what You want me to see. I love you Lord Jesus and I am so grateful to You for everything…my life here and hereafter. I gladly give myself to You….thank you for calling me…thank you for wanting me…thank you for loving me….Amen.

It's Been a Long Time....

2009-09-06T03:28:00.000-07:00

..and I've missed you! It has been an interesting and active summer. To start with, about 30 people from my church (New Heights) were here for two weeks teaching the summer English courses. They did a great job, as is their reputation, and the two weeks flew by for me! When they left, one of them (my friend Kim) stayed behind with me and we went to Italy for two weeks! We actually took the bus with New Heights to Vienna and played for a day with everyone in that marvelous city and then Kim and I took another bus to Bratislava where we spent the night in preparation for our flight from there to Milan, Italy the next day. In Milan, we rented a car and then headed straight for the coastline in Genoa...we followed the outline of the country almost all the way around in the little over 2 weeks we were there! Visited some incredible areas (the Italian Riveria, Florence, Tuscany, Pisa, Rome, Naples, across to the other side at Bari, up to Ancona and finishing off in Venice before heading back to Milan for our flight home. It was a trip I will always remember. Once home in Martin, we did a little shopping, a lot of clothes washing and packing and then took a train up to Krakow, Poland to have lunch and spend the night before Kim caught her flight back to the states. From there (since no one was going to be in Martin for the rest of the month...they all take vacation time then), I decided to catch a flight to Spain. I flew in to Alicante, took a train to Denia and spent some lovely time on the beach there. Then trained it up to Valencia and Barcelona...and then on up into France....stopping in Montpellier first, then to the French Riveria..Cannes, Nice, Monaco....and then finally heading up to Paris. I spent several days in Denia, Nice and Paris and a day or here or there in places along the way. After Paris, I flew to Stavanger, Norway to visit some friends who live there. All in all, it was a very relaxing and awe-inspiring summer....one I will never forget and always be grateful to God for. But now...it is time to get back to work! And boy oh boy , is this year ever gonna be busy! I'm praying for strength even now!

Hello Again!

2009-08-30T04:07:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone.....it has been a busy summer, but I'll be back with you very soon! Pictures and stories of what I've been up to will be forthcoming, so please check back soon!

Lubka is Installed as an Official Church Staff Member

2009-07-22T01:04:00.001-07:00

Lubka is officially installed as the newest church staff member for the Children's Sunday School Program. The choir is angelic!Lead by Mariah Hrohban

The girls of New Heights! Ken and Ann& Phillip

It was a good turn out and gorgeous weather!

The Arrival

2009-07-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all....sorry I've taken so long to blog to you again. My church mission group from New Heights is here and boy are they keeping me busy! I can't believe our first week is over already and I still don't have pictures of their arrival on here yet! So...I am going to remedy that right now! Here's some highlights from the arrival: Kimmie!!! Louella and Nancy and Patti!Debbie, Deb! Drew...Martha! Brenda and LarryKathi KirstenBill!!

The Lucnica Folk Festival...

2009-07-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

I love when the Americans come...not only to meet new people from my side of the pond, but also because I get to go on the trips with them, if I'm able to (private student schedule and all)! So, last night the bus pulled into the Bible School parking lot to pick up the Minnesota group, the Bible School staff, some students and me at about 6pm. We took about an hour or so drive to the other side of the mountain from Zilina to a village called Terchova and then piled out of the bus and walked up a massive hill (no surprise there right?) to the top of a mountainside that had an incredible open air amphitheater stage. Yes.....I do WISH I had my CAMERA with me......if I've told myself once, I've told myself a thousand times.....never, never, never leave home with out it around here! Sheesh! I really had no excuse for it though....I knew we were going, I just completely forgot it until we were almost to the festival grounds. Anyway, it was wonderful looking, you'll just have to trust me for that. This festival is an annual event they have held since 1948 and even traveled all over the world to perform. The first hour was the put on by the younger up and coming singers and dancers who did a fabulous job. Then, at 9 pm, just about the time the sun went down, the main attraction got up on stage and I'm telling you what - I was totally enthralled from start to finish! I don't have any pictures for you, but I did find two clips on youtube that are the exact performances so you can see some of what I saw. You'll have to use your imagination though to see the stage at night time, lit up perfectly and the girls batons all lit up and oh my gosh...it was an incredible feast for the eyes and heart.....and soul! As you'll notice from the videos, line dancing and break dancing surprisingly enough were invented centuries ago! We didn't get home until about 1:30am, but it was well worth it! Enjoy the vidoes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDSgDZAFGII&NR=1 this first one is called Welcome Spring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcvYIs-Glu0&feature=related, this one is called Shepherds dance. I wish I could have the one with the hats and the one with the ribbon - those were my two favorites - the whole thing was just the best festival I've ever seen!

Gardeska Dolina Hike with the Bible Study Group:

2009-06-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

We went hiking one day...to Gaderska Dolina....some of you from the first year mission group might remember the trout house....I had been trying to figure out where this place was so I could go back and sample that fabulous trout.....I found it...

Lindsay fooling around on the monkey bars! MartinaCeciliaI'm not sure why they thought sticks would hold up this huge boulder....? The leaves were so thick in here it was like lush carpeting!

Lindsay was thirsty...but happy! Mima and Martina Cecilie and me...I don't know why the closed eyes, but they made me pose again to make up for it...

Lindsay and Mima

Have I Told You About......

2009-06-18T01:46:00.000-07:00

....Milan and Iveta? These are two very wonderful people in the community of Martin. I met them through Bohdan, who asked me if I would teach them English. Of course I said yes, because I know when Bohdan asks, it is important. So we began lessons last month. In exchange for these lessons (and this is where God is so gracious to me!), Milan, (who owns a used car dealership here in Martin) and Iveta GAVE me a car to use while I am here in Slovakia! Can you believe that??!! It comes complete with insurance and oil changes, maintenance and whatever else it may need! All I buy is the gas! It never ceases to amaze me....the above and beyond ways that God cares for me...for us all really!

Here it is... isn't it cute? And it is just perfect for me! And my friends! Last Sunday I was able to fit 3 of my Bible study friends in the back for a hiking trip to Gaderska Dolina (pictures and story to follow). It only has two seat belts in the back so we doubled up and used one for Martina and Mima! Cecilie got one all to herself this time!

I am not the only one to benefit from the generosity of Milan and Iveta though!...

Milan was featured recently on a reality TV show here in Slovakia. The TV show is about people and families who need miracles in one way or another, so the show is a 'dreams come true' sort of show. The latest episode was about a family whose young son (8 or 10 years old) was hit by a bus and received brain injuries to the degree that he is now mentally disabled. As if this wasn't enough of a tragedy to him and his family...the young boy was recently diagnosed with cancer and now needs to travel to the hospital frequently for treatment. This family could not afford a car on their meager salaries....so, the producers of the show contacted Milan and asked if he would be willing to help. And boy did he! He gave them a minivan so that they could easily transport their son to the hospital as often as necessary for his cancer treatment!

That's the kind of people Milan and Iveta are....and God is using them to bless their community and to show His Love and Care for all His people, here and abroad!

Thank you and God bless you richly Milan and Iveta!

Cutest Little Slovak Frog Dance Ever!

2009-06-14T11:32:00.000-07:00

You just never know what you'll find when you go to the centrum in Martin....which is why it is always wise to carry your camera at all times!

Saturday was a day for dancing and these kids danced their little hearts and legs off! So much fun to watch....Each group had theirown unique dance, style and costume.Little Ladybugs...This was an interestingtroup.Obviously more modern than traditional... There were more dancers, but I think you get the idea....it really was alot of fun to watch! Especially those frogs! :o)

School's Out....Summer's In

2009-06-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

School may be out but there is a lot going on this summer to keep us all busy! Already, there have been 4 different groups here from the U.S. working on various projects around the Bible school and making a very wonderful difference! You'll all notice the freshly painted benches, fences and playground equipment, but you may not notice the parsonage, with its floors and windows and newly cleaned and repaired interior, or the roofing that has been repaired or replaced over the elementary school. There was also a huge undertaking underground at the parsonage, with an enormous trench dug and pipes repaired and then a new porch area and other cement type patchwork done in the main areas in front of the parsonage and Bible School. These are the builder's groups who come...and they don't mess around...they are here to work and work they do! I have been blessed by their commitment to work so hard year after year and I know that everyone at the Bible School has been too. Now, the people of Martin.....ya, I think they see it too....every year, all throughout the year, different people groups come to this church community to serve with Love and commitment to them....there must be something special going on here to bring people back year after year....and I think the people of Martin see that. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will draw them closer to find out just Who it is that makes this place so special.....

Elementary Play.....

2009-06-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

The day I got back from vacation I wandered over to the Bible School and this is what I saw:

I'm not sure exactly what the play was about....but they sure were having a great time!

This was Q&A time after the playto see how manyEnglish words theyrememberedand how much of the play they understood!

I'm Back!

2009-05-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since we've met...I've missed you! I have been on vacation for a few weeks exploring my roots in Scotland and Ireland! I had a great time and would love to go back one day if time and finances permit! Here are a few pictures from Ireland - I'll post more later:

Ireland:Castle on the Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher

Dublin

2009-05-13T21:02:00.000-07:00

I was invited to join Michal, Starka and Marek on a trip to Germany to see Michal's brother's confirmation in the Lutheran faith this past week. It was a great trip up through Bratislava, through Austria and up to Frankfurt to visit his sister, Lucia for a day and then down to just a bit south of Stuttgart to his mother's house.

There were alot of 'firsts' for both Starka and Marek on this trip! It started with traveling during the day instead of night time! Starka got to see the scenery this time! (Michal and Katka usually travel at night so the kids can handle the long 12 hour journey better).It was their first time on a subway!Strange building design!The old with the new. Ice Cream Break! Starka didn't want to waste any!Yum! And now for a little ride around the city Love the planters...Ahhh Bavaria! The Danube RiverMarek and Meand Lucy and Tobias

Minnesota Says Goodbye

2009-05-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

Dan and Marktalking things over. Stanand Bohdan expressing gratefulness to our Minnesota partners for all their hard work!

Ahhhh, such a cute couple!

Gifts and hugs all around!

Mishko, Philipko, Martinko, Marko (sitting down) and Sisa.

Marilyn looks happyabout her choices! I can see that our relationship (Christian's and mine) will be a little rocky starting out! But I thinkhe'll warm up to me once he gets to know me....

Hi guys! This is the best band in all of Slovakiaat least that's one opinion!Hi Susan!

The brothers Ken and Ed.....Fino in the green and then Slovka (I bet I spelled that wrong)...

Those Creative People in Slovakia!

2009-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

It all started right here....sure is alot of vegetables, huh? What about some meat guys??Hey Adrian, what are you smiling about? Huh? Do what? Look a little closer? Huh? Oh...up front here....ok...I...uh OHHHH!!! Ok!! I see what you mean now!

WOW!!!

Good stuff!

Florida Says Goodbye

2009-05-02T21:47:00.000-07:00

Great fun at the good bye dinner! Slovak Goulash - yum!

Pretty Katka!

Bohdan Michal, Bob and BohdanThe Florida group gave us beautiful flowers as a thank you for going with them to Banska Bystrica, Lavoca and Kezmorak.....if they only knew what a pleasure it was for us and that we should have been the ones giving them flowers to thank them for letting us go with them! I think they are about the most beautiful flowers I've ever received!
Martinko wasn't sure about the nose at first...

But he warmed up to it real quick!

On the way to Lavoca and Kezmorak.....

2009-05-02T21:20:00.001-07:00

The High Tatras Gorgeous!

Natalia was taking some very creative pictures....I caught her zooming in on this beautiful Quince!

Look at this lovely table!
Lindsay repenting of her sins......me repenting for knowing I was going to post her picture of repenting on the blog! This was actually a cage in the middle of the town square and was used only for women to shame them for whatever moral sins they had committed (adultery, blasphemy, late with dinner....)

Sisa was compelled to walk up the stairs toward Jesus.Gene and Sisa

Banska Bystrica Day with the Americans:

2009-04-30T05:12:00.000-07:00

What fun we had when the work was done! A trip to the wooden church in Hronsek and then off to B.B. for shopping or hiking....Minnesota teamand Florida team. Banska Bystrica Paul and Lindsay Adventure at the end of the road!The river Vah that Paul, Lindsay and I crossed on the way to the adventure! This is what I could see from up the road and the catalyst for our adventure! The fantastic panoramic view from the top of 'Adventure Hill'! The church on the hill,meadow behind see the cross? :o) Sisa's new do! It's straight!The lovely tables set at the restuarant where we had an incredible dinner and all ate too much!Beautiful Pink Tulips!

It Wasn't All Clowning Around.....

2009-04-29T12:26:00.001-07:00

....there was also some serious work taking place around here!

The playground equipment got a fresh coat of paint,

Some incredibly large and heavy posts that had been cemented into the ground from a building long since removed, had to be dug up and removed.

They cooked and repaired landscapes too!

And this is just what I saw them do, heaven only knows what kinds of blessings these people with the big hearts for Martin left behind!

Day 2 with the Americans....

2009-04-29T12:00:00.003-07:00

Yes, I call them that too.... :o)

There were a couple of clowns in that Florida group! And boy didn't we all have fun!

Even Paul was having fun.....

Well, at least until....

he lost his Mutant Ninja Turtles Undies! Hahahaha.....what is it about kids that makes them want to see their teachers humiliated like that! So sorry Paul....

The Summer Rush Begins.....

2009-04-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

It isn't summer yet, but the Bible School had their first wave of American visitors this past week. Where did the time go?! They were here and gone before we knew it! They were actually two groups, one from Florida and one from Minnesota. All of them very lovely people with great big hearts for what is being done in this place. I have a few pictures for you that I want to share but it may take a couple of blogs to do it in...please enjoy them with me though....The group at dinner. Lupka and Andrej (Tomas' youngest son)Sisa and Silvie (Silvie is going to America this summer!) Christian up above on the right (Gina and Karol's new baby boy) and Paul (elementary school who just signed on for his fourth year here!) and Yanka at the bottom.

Judgement Day....

2009-04-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

My friend Lindsay and I were asked to be judges this year at the annual English competition held at the Medical school here in Martin. It is for Slovak students only who are learning either German or English as a foreign language and the prizes are enough to make it a well attended event. The competition consisted of 4 parts: a written exam in the appropriate language and then a power point presentation which was judged on 3 parts, Content, Language and presentation skills. Of course, being medical students, their presentations were about topics of most interest to them as first year students (and one fourth year student). I learned a good deal about malaria, menengitis, phobias, intestinal transplant, air copter rescue, and AAT/DAT (animal assisted therapy and dolphin assisted therapy).

I had never been on a panel of judges before so it was rather fun and interesting! In the end my number one pick was the 2nd place winner!

English Chocolate Chips

2009-04-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Last week, in my first year beginner English class, we talked about ingredients and recipes and shopping lists and cooking utensils, etc. This week, we put our new found words into practice and made chocolate chip cookies! Everyone brought an ingredient needed and each took a turn reading the directions on the package and measuring their ingredient into the bowls. Chocolate chips and liquid vanilla extract are novelties here because none of the stores sell them. (I had these shipped special from America!) We had a great time assembling everything, practicing the words and of course tasting the final products! All in all I think it was a good couple of weeks worth of English! the vanilla extract was a little different...in Slovakia it is like granulated sugar. Anna is due next Thursday! Teamwork! Yep, this looks right! Now what do we do? A perfect tray of cookies = a perfect plate of cookies! Bless their hearts - Martina and Kate washed all the dishes!

Hiking Magura

2009-04-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

These pictures do not do it justice.....but here is the monstrous hike I did on Sunday!

The view from Danka's apartment:Pretty flowers on the way - Spring has sprung in Martin! Little boy (Joseph, our hiking partner) playing in the water! This was the easy part of the hike: It may look like I'm on my knees taking this picture, but actually I'm just a few feet behind her!

About half way up...uh huh....this part was fun!I've been climbing for hours and I'm still not there yet!

When I finally got to the top of the monster hill shown in the previous pictures - this is what I had looming ahead of me!!There's still snow up here!!!Ahhh....and the pay off! The chalet with the beautiful view!
All in all in took close to 3 hours to get to the top (for me, Danka and Joseph could have made it in 2 1/2) and about 2 hours down. My legs the last two days have been screaming their utter contempt for my abuse of them.....but they need to get used to it cause I plan to do alot more of this! Happy hiking season everyone!

1st Annual Martin, Slovakia Easter Egg Hunt

2009-04-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

On the Wednesday before Easter, the Bible College staff started the first ever Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. It wasn't exactly like I would see back home... but one thing was definitely the same: it was fun!

The Easter traditions are a bit different here. We boil eggs and decorate them by coloring them with dye and then hiding them for the kids to find and put in their baskets on Sunday morning. They empty their eggs of all contents with out breaking the shell (some kind of magic I think) and then they use all kinds of craft supplies to decorate them. They are really quite beautiful!

A Lovely Easter Weekend.....

2009-04-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

I had an opportunity to take a train to Budapest, Hungary on Saturday and stay over the long Easter weekend....so I took it! It is really quite a beautiful city set right on the Danube River. The Buda side is hilly and ruggedly gorgeous. The Pest side is flat with river walks and pedestrian malls and just wonderful ambiance. Though I was able to see a fair amount in just 2 days I still didn't get to see all that I wanted to.....which of course means I'll have to go back!

I was a little afraid to travel so far away all by myself, but I knew I could trust Him to keep me in His Hands and that nothing would happen apart from His Will for me. At one point, early in the morning I headed across the Elizabeth Bridge and started up the Geller Hill to the Citadel at the top. The climb is pretty steep and pretty far up but well paved. At about the halfway mark I was feeling all alone up there in the woods...I hadn't seen a soul and my mind started working overtime and getting the better of me until I was almost ready to turn back.....but I decided to ask God if He would protect me instead and let me know He was with me. Around the very next bend, came a lone woman on her way back down. I asked her if it was 'safe' up there and she said 'absolutely'! Tears of joy streamed down my face as I climbed up the rest of the mountain - praising my Savior for His Mercy and Grace in providing a woman to minister His Peace and Assurance to me! I felt His presence with me all around the city the entire time I was there!

The views are incredible, the scenery absolutely breathtaking, the weather impeccable - what a glorious Easter it was!

Fisherman's Bastion on the Buda side

King Stephen I, who brought Christianity to the country in 1083(?) He was later martyred for bringing this faith to the people. He ordained Gellert to be the first Bishop. Gellert was reported to have been put in a barrel and thrown off the top of the hill, known today as Gellert Hill, by the Magyars who were the inhabitants of Hungary at the time. My first Jewish Synagogue..... It was quite beautifulThe breastplate

Heavenly Choirs...

2009-04-08T01:06:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday the church held their 3rd or 4th (we can't remember) annual Turiec Region Choir competition. Well, it isn't really a competition...more just a friendly display of musical talents from around the region. I believe there were something like 11 choirs who performed. My two favorites were, of course, our own choir....and then the choir who played with the string section, (I don't know where they were from)! Love that orchestra music! (Hi Ben! :o) ). Anyway, here are a few pictures from the event:
A good gathering! It was hard not to sing along even if it wasn't your choir's turn yet! :o)The choir with the stringed accompaniment.

There wasn't room for the Bass to sit with the rest of the orchestra. Cute, cute, cute....

Our choir sang like angels!! Honest!

Elementary School Easter Play

2009-04-04T21:37:00.000-07:00

It was incredible! Wow! What a powerful performance....I've never seen anything like it! These kids did a great job....they did a couple of plays. The first one was about a modern day Barabbas and how kids can be led into bad attitudes and behavior by hanging out with the wrong crowd. Very good - even in Slovak!

The next play was done to the song "Turn Around Bright Eyes" by Heart. It was six kids with signs around their necks that said different things like, 'love of money', alcohol addiction, drug addiction, self love, and something else. One girl was taken in by all these real life afflictions and as the the other kids (who were the addictions) surrounded her so she couldn't escape, she began to call out to 'someone'. Then a boy came on stage and stood up in front of the makeshift cross and with each thrust of the nail into Jesus' hands, one addiction hits the floor and falls away from the girl until all the addictions are laying at her feet. The girl then drops to floor in tears at a loss for how to live. Jesus dies on the cross, people come to take him away....the girl continues in her tears and then the Risen Christ comes back to her and lifts her up, letting her know He was there.

I know my description here does not do this play justice, but it was so incredible and powerful I had to try....

Friday Night Youth Group

2009-03-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

You know how fear can sometimes immobilize you for a little while....well that's what has kept me from going to the youth group meetings on Friday evenings for the past 6 months. Fear. Of the unknown mostly. But all that has changed now thanks to a little girl named Nicole who is in the 9th grade. She was in my English class last summer and after listening to some of my music, asked me to bring the cds with me, which I did. I just have not seen her since I have been here...until Sunday after church when we ran into each other outside the Sunday school class she was helping in. We got to talking and she invited me to come to her youth group on Friday. It was from 5:30 to 7 but since my Bible study starts at 7 I could only stay an hour. Anyway......I had a great time! I don't know why I am always so surprised when God surprises me with having a great time with His people - of any age! I plan to go back next Friday - and take my camera this time! Those kids are so sweet....they even sang one song in Slovak and English just for me! (Lord I Lift Your Name On High) Well, have a blessed week!

Snow, Snow Go Away.....

2009-03-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

....don't come back until I say!

Seriously, it's March 25th....can we be done with this now?

WWMS?

2009-03-22T04:11:00.000-07:00

Evidently, I'm a quote-aholic. But I don't quote just anyone.....no, I tend to quote most frequently from just one person. And he isn't famous in the world and many people don't know who he is...but I find myself, during discussions regarding practical Christian living, quoting the memorable little ditties that I have heard from Pastor Matt over the past 12 years. There are things he says sometimes that stick to me like glue and the Lord seems pleased to allow me to remember them (along with His Words of course!). So, I find Matt's words in my head quite often....and they seem to find their way out of my head and off my tongue to whomever I talk to, and as the discussion warrants. My lead in phrase appears to be: "Well, Matt says...." One of my favorite Matt sayings, and I use this one alot, is - "talk to God about people before you talk to people about God". (I also love the Wyatt Earp analogy! You know the one....'you said WHAT about God!!????' as rapid shots fire out of our 'Holy' guns to set other people (who obviously don't know what they are talking about when it comes to God) straight!). I don't think I realized just how often I quoted Matt though until this past Friday at Bible study. Jan and Cecilia,a very sweet, and God-loving couple from Norway, studying at the medical center in Martin, shared with me that they now have a 'buzz phrase' between them....it's WWMS? Yep, you guessed it....'what would Matt say?' Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard! Matt would probably not like to hear that he is a 'buzz phrase', but the great thing about Matt's sayings is they always and forever lead you to Jesus....if ever I were to think 'what would or did Matt do or say about this or that, the answer would always point me to Christ...oh Matt would pray to Jesus or Matt would say this about Jesus'...it may be Matt's sayings, but it is always Jesus' Words and Heart! And you know, the 'talk to God first' thing helped Cecilia in a situation where she had been wanting to talk with a friend at school about Jesus but didn't know how to, so she said she remembered 'what Matt said'....'talk to God about people before you talk to people about God' and so she talked to God....and God provided an opportunity for her to share some things with her school mate last week - and isn't that really what it's all about!
There are many great, great Pastors out there, with great, great sayings to help us remember how to live for Jesus...I thank God for all of them, but mostly, I thank God for Pastor Matt, who speaks in words I can understand and gives me tools I can use right now, so that I can walk closer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you Pastor Matt for your faithful teaching...God bless you real good!!

It Was a Good Morning!

2009-03-13T04:51:00.001-07:00

I had a nice conversation with an official of the city of Martin this morning. He asked me how I liked the snow....(to which I replied:Isn't It Spring Yet??! see below)...and he asked me how I was treated by the police (which has been fine)....and the foreign police for my visa (which again I told him was fine)....and then he asked me how the store clerks and shop people treated me. Now, I don't think it is a secret that the store clerks here are not the happiest people on the earth, so I expressed this view to him. He agreed and said he also experienced the difference (he lived in the US for a couple of years...where he said many of the store clerks treated everyone the same and with a friendly attitude). I then told him of the plan I had been working, at the store nearest my dorm, to get the clerks to smile and be friendly with me. I was carrying out my plan with as much frequency as I could - trying to shop there as much as possible instead of going to Billa or Tesco and smiling at them and saying something in Slovak to them, ususally just Dovidenia (goodbye) to which they rarely responded. Anyway, it didn't matter....they were God's and my private little mission. I asked my Slovak teacher to teach me to say 'have a nice day' so I could say that to the clerks. A few days ago, I had the opportunity to use my new phrase! I got in line with my items and as I was quickly bagging up my groceries, (you don't have time for much at the check out - they expect you to move in, through and out the line post haste!), I looked at her, smiled and said 'maj sa krasne'... She gave me a cold, blank stare....so I said 'maj sa krasna?'...'maj sa krasnie?'.....and she repeated the first phrase I said back to me.....without a smile. So I quickly picked up all my things stuffed them in my bag and shuffled to the door. A little embarrassed but undaunted to the task! There happened to be another clerk in the same area who heard and saw the exchange and I think she said something to the cold blank glare girl. Anyway, so I've been back a few times since then - said 'good morning' in Slovak one time and 'good day' another time, but no sense of friendliness between us - just a quick 'good day' on the other end. Ahhh, but then this morning! This morning was a joy to behold! I went to the store to pick up a few things for Bible study tonight....and purposed to use my phrase again....so as I was putting my items on the conveyor belt, I glanced up at the clerk (not the glare girl, but the one who said something to her and who had never smiled at me before either)....and she glanced back at me! I looked again and smiled this time.....she smiled back!! She rung me up, I paid her and as I was stuffing my bag with my groceries, we locked eyes again and with a smile I said 'maj sa krasne'.....and with a smile, she said 'Dakjuem' and then 'maj sa krasne' back to me!!!!!!!!! You'd think I'd have won a million dollars or something! But oh how I Praise the God who makes little smiles worth more than gold!! I can't wait to go back again and see what God has in store for us! Now how do you say 'would you like to come to church with me on Sunday' in Slovak? :o) Thanks for your prayers - you are a great encouragement to me!

It Isn't Spring Yet??!!

2009-03-13T04:37:00.000-07:00

We were soooo close - we had our snow piled into neat little stacks, the streets were down to bare pavement again and I could have sworn I felt a shift in the temperature from wintery to springy....but alas...this is what we woke up to this morning:

From my widowsill to show depth.

Beautiful isn't it? :o)

Graduation Day

2009-03-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

It was graduation day for Katka on Friday! So she and Michal, Michal's grandmother Starka, Katka's mother and me piled in the car at 6 am to make the several hour drive to Bratislava for the graduation ceremony. I sat in the very back, took my dramamine and slept peacefully most of the way there! The ceremony was about an hour and very nice. She is a PhD!

Dog Sleds and Alpine Races

2009-03-01T09:36:00.000-08:00

Friday at the elementary school on the other side of the dorm, (not the one affiliated with the Bible School), the children had all kinds of exciting visitors. The police were there and an ambulance, but the visitors that excited the children the most were the Sled Dogs! Those dogs love pulling sleds! And those kids loved being in the sled when they did! I snapped these pics from my apartment:

Saturday evening I went with Yanka (from the office), her husband Roman, and some of their friends, Yanka and Adja to the Alpine Ski Race up in one of the nearby mountains. Some of last years NH team might remember the place as the one we took the bus to and then half of us went to the left and explored the alpine lodges and restuarants and hiking trails and the other half of us went straight up the road and found a river - Shannon I think you and I went up the road together! Anyway, Roman bought some new kind of ski material so you can walk up the snowy mountain and then take them off and ski down. The lodge area was having a competition to see who was the fastest....so we went to see....(Roman didn't enter the competition - just wanted to try them out). We had a great time - the two Yankas are in my line dance class so we practiced line dancing when we got too cold to just stand there anymore!

We hiked while he went skiing:

Charity Ball

2009-02-21T20:26:00.001-08:00

Friday evening the Elementary school put on a Charity Ball and invited the community to come. I think it raised quite a bit of money for them will help to buy uniforms for the children's choir among other things. The children sang and 2 children are taking private ballroom dance lessons so they danced for us too. It was great fun and for a great cause.

The first week of semester two is done. I feel a little more confident this semester and a little more prepared, for which I thank my teacher friends! I am looking forward to teaching new vocabulary, definition and usage in the coming months. We are using dialogues to learn conversation and memorizing specific dialogues to be able to speak fluently and confidently. If week one is any indication then I think it is a good way to go for these classes.

New Semester Hope

2009-02-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

Well....it's finally here. After two months of no classes, we are now ready to begin another semester of Conversational English! Thanks to some dear friends (Diana for her teaching ideas and Lindsay for her help building a curriculum), I think I am ready with some good classes for my students! I will let you know how day 1 goes!

God Bless you each along the Way....

Difficult Times For Me.....

2009-02-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

I have been in Bremerton, Washington since the 29th to be with my oldest brother, Mike....who died of liver failure on February 2nd. The memorial service is on Saturday where he will receive full military honors, (taps, 21 gun salute, flag ceremony) as he was a 30 year veteran of the U.S. Navy. I am here with my dad, another brother and sister. My heart is so heavy at his loss...yet I rejoice because though he was sedated and unresponsive when we arrived, we took him off sedation and after a few days, the Good Lord allowed him to awake and be responsive enough to blink his eyes at yes or no questions. Our Gracious Heavenly Father also allowed Mike to hear the Words of Salvation and with a decisive blink of his eyes, he accepted the offer of Salvation in Jesus Christ. The next few days were spent praying, singing and holding his hand all the way to heaven. He died peacefully with his family at his side and Jesus in his heart.
I will be home late Saturday the 7th for a few days and then will fly back to Slovakia on the 12th to begin classes again on the 16th. Please pray for strength to get through the next few days and weeks....
Thank you - I am grateful for you all.

Line Dancing

2009-01-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

Line dance class was a blast! We learned two dances - Electric Slide and Watermelon Crawl and oh my gosh were we exhausted! I had about maybe 15 people at the start but about 5 left after about an hour. It was soooo much fun! Of the 15 people I would say I have 4 or 5 that could take the intermediate dance lessons. But, for now, I think we need to get a good repetoire of basic dances down and the names of the different steps and how they feel on the beginner dances and then move into the intermediate ones and then on to the advanced ones gradually - that way I can hopefully take more with me to the advanced level. Of course, I could split the class and teach beginner dances on Tuesday and intermediate/advanced on Thursday. Well, we see how it goes. I took two very, very bad pictures that I can't even post...but we dance again Thursday so I'll take better ones then!

A Very Good Bible Study....

2009-01-26T00:20:00.000-08:00

Friday night was a very good Bible Study. We are doing the Max Lucado Bible study on The Heart of Jesus and one of the discussion points was around God not wanting anyone to be lost. One of our members was not sure they could agree with that because of that member's belief in predestination. This created a rousing discussion on the subject of predestination and free will and oh my gosh was it interesting!

I have been thinking on the subject since then - (it is good to know what you believe)- I believe in predestination - it's in the Bible - God said it, I believe it. And I believe we have a free will to choose (its in the Bible too). But how those two things work together I am at a loss to fully understand. I have read some commentaries on the subject on-line and am asking God for clarity, and while I wait for illumination, I get to chew on it some more (which is actually kind of fun because you never know what will come of it - might be a whole new understanding of Christ on a totally different subject!) and always defer to His Wisdom on whether or not to enlighten me with the answer (in full or part!). I'm reminded of Matt's words: "if anyone says they have all of theology figured out - run!" so I don't imagine I will ever know all there is to know about it, but what I don't know, I'll trust God for.

We ended the Bible study praising God that we were united in faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation and in the end that's all that mattered. No one was offended and no one was unhappy. It was a wonderful manifestation of the Holy Spirit working in each of us to Love each other deeply from the heart over any supposed rights to be the 'winner' of the discussion. Amen? Amen!

What are you learning in your Bible studies?

See....I am doing a new thing!

2009-01-19T23:30:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in over a week! Shame on me!! Everyone is still gone for the long school break and there just isn't much going on here. Nothing external anyway....

I have been spending my time in several ways....recuperating, (had a little bug for a few days), unfortunately it was during the High Tatra retreat so I was not able to attend this year....but I'm going next year for sure! I have the ability to read alot more, (I am currently reading "Revolution of Character" by Dallas Willard about spiritual formation and renewing the mind in Christ), listening to Matt's sermons on podcast as well as ones I bought and brought with me (one of my favorites is the Christianity 101 series, if you haven't listened to it I highly recommend it!). Bible study on Friday nights started back up again as has the Children's English hour on Mondays, so I'm glad of that. And I am giving private lessons throughout the week to various people in the community.

Even with these activities, the past weeks have given me far too much time to think (a dangerous thing for me sometimes), and I started feeling quite ineffective in my surrounding community. I can't speak the language and have gotten a bit depressed over that and felt frustrated and isolated again. I hate feeling like that - with all I have to be grateful for how can I be so selfish? So....I (think) I've finally picked myself up by the boot straps, and devised a plan to get back out there!

I have talked it all out with Michal and Katka (Bible School) and Jozef (Elementary School), and they like the idea alot! So, I am going to start teaching Country Line Dancing in the school gym to all who want to learn. The lessons will be free, to start with anyway, and then I would love to see this be so successful that we can have a dance maybe once a month or so and have the admission price be a can of food or bag of rice or a couple of Euros that we can use to feed the hungry in our community!

I would like there to be no alcohol or smoking allowed at the dances, that way the teenagers could come and see how to have fun without drinking. The language barrier won't be a problem because we don't have to speak the same language with our tongues - just our feet! When there are a sufficient number of people comfortable with the non-partner line dancing I hope to be able to teach the couples dances that are so fun in country music.....the Schottish, the Horseshoe, the Traveling Cha Cha....and many more. Well, there you have it - that is what I am going to do....a new thing in Slovakia to be sure - they don't listen to a lot of Country music here so it will be interesting to see how they take to this. One of the great things about line dancing is that you can do it to all kinds of music, not just Country.

Of course the ultimate goal here is to reach our community and give opportunities for people to be with the church in a fun and safe environment. Please join me in praying that God would use this line dance ministry to His Glory and that through it, many will be blessed. Amen

I'm so excited!

Praise the Lord!

2009-01-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our Lord and our Czech neighbors we will not be running out of gas! Things are ok here and the crisis seems to have been averted before any real damage was done. One more thing to Praise the Lord for in the new year! (The first was the new year!) Oh!! I almost forgot! I finally got my visa!! And instead of it being for the expected one year term...they approved it for the whole 2 years! Halleluiah and Amen!

I appreciate the notes letting me know you were thinking of us and praying for us....

Please Join Us in Praying....

2009-01-09T03:25:00.000-08:00

The gas crisis between Russia and the Ukraine has affected us here in Slovakia as well. The latest news is that if the industrial companies reduce their energy consumption to the bare minimum, we have enough gas to last for 10 days. If they don't we have enough for 2 days. The gas directly affects electricity here which means, no gas, no electric, no heat, no schools, no stores.....it's a domino affect. Michal has a plan to care for us so no need to worry about us in the immediate, but please do pray that the crisis will come quickly to an end and that the gas will be turned on in the next few days....it's really cold here and I hate thinking of little chilren freezing in their beds. Most places around here don't have fireplaces for heating so electricity is the main source for cooking and heating.

Thank you...and God Bless us all!

Cheers!

2009-01-05T22:27:00.000-08:00

After Christmas, I had the immense pleasure of meeting my dear friend Kim in London for the New Year! What a blast! We saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and met a very nice man who gave great information - like where we could see 80% of the entire ceremony with front row seats! Well, they weren't seats...we had to stand, but still!

We saw many sites in London : London Tower, London Bridge, Westminster Abby,

Kimmie in the Underground (Tube as they call it). We were also very fortunate to see my personal favorites the British Museum, Victoria and Alexander Museum, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths in Bath, England. It confirms everything you've ever read in the Bible when you see original artifacts in person - history....I love it!

These two fellows heard me say something about my faith in Jesus and jumped up and ran over to me and in a very hushed and urgent tone said..."shhh...are you one of those..you know, Christians?" I said "Yes, I am!" and then said, "shhh, please, keep it down, don't say that so loud...do you want to get us all killed? It's not that we care so much, we say live and let live, but there's others who don't take to kindly to Christians...so just, be careful, keep it quiet". How much fun was that! They played their parts well.....and they startled me at first jumping up and running over to me like they did! You know, it was interesting though to hear them - the urgency and concern in their voices - for their very lives, and mine I guess.....made me think about how it really was back then. And I bless and thank my God for allowing so many of us to live in a free world today where we can say we are Followers of the Way, we are Christians, without fear of death.....and then I pray for those who are still under fear of death for proclaiming Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Well, I hope you've enjoyed the pictures - I had a wonderful time....I hope you all have a very Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2009!

2008-12-31T13:53:00.000-08:00

I want to take this time to thank you all for your support in the past few months - it has meant the world to me to know you are all behind me, praying for me, sending me care packages, and notes of encouragement - I seriously mean it when I say I could not do this without you.....and without the God who cares for us all! Happy New Year to you all! I look forward to to what 2009 has in store for us! I love you all deeply, from the heart..... Mary

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

My first Christmas in Slovakia has been a wonderful experience! This is my apartment with my little Christmas tree and lights!

I went to the Christmas Eve service at church - the place was packed - almost standing room only! The choir was absolutely angelic!

After the service, I went to Michal and Katka's to enjoy Christmas Eve with their lovely family. The tradition is much like what we do back home - eat too much of all the wonderful traditional foods you love at Christmastime and laugh and enjoy....and, oh yes, open presents! I don't remember what Starka was laughing about, but it definitely tickled her funny bone!

This first one is Michal, Marek, Lucy and Marta (Michal and Lucy's mother)

Christmas Day was spent at Bohdan and Biba's house with their family. Again, I had amazing food and a wonderful time with new friends:

This is Martin, Bo and Biba's 1 year old son.....he is going to play the drums! Sisa is Biba's sister and my counterpart in English (she teaches grammar to the beginner students). Below is Biba with Bohdan's mother.

Well, it has been a lovely Christmas and I am incredibly blessed to have such warm and inviting new friends willing to share this special season with me. And now I look forward to the New Year! Wishing you all Vesele' Vianoce a Stastny Novy Roc! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Starka and Me

2008-12-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

This is Starka (Slovak term of endearment for grandmother). She is Michal's grandmother and she does not speak a lick of English. I speak just a lick of Slovak. But we have taken a liking to each other and despite the obvious language barrier we are able to have a conversation whereby we (mostly) understand each other. I went to visit Starka yesterday at her apartment about 5 minutes walk from here. We visited for about 3 hours and had a lovely time. At one point, I was trying to tell her that I would be taking a train to Bratislava after Christmas, and to depict the word 'train' I used the (I thought) universally accepted series of sounds and movements (chuga, chuga with the arm movements and then choo, choo with arm movements to blow the whistle). My past experience with this type of word told me it would be understood in most parts of the world.....just not in Starka's world! After my (over?) dramatic portrayal, rather than the understanding facial nods I was expecting, there erupted from this woman's mouth the most guttural laugh I've ever heard! She laughed and laughed and of course I laughed too....but I asked her rozumiet'? (do you understand), and she said no!! And that made her laugh all the more - so I did the sounds and movements again with a more serious posture this time (sure that it was just my rendition of the train that was not understood)....and again she howled with laughter! I then had to grab my Slovak/English dictionary to find the Slovak word for train before she thought I was completely insane! Oh my, I haven't laughed that hard in a while - and I don't think she had either! Even though I might appear a little nutsy to her, she has invited me back for another visit, so I plan on visiting her again very soon - actually, she may just become a regular part of my weekly routine!

My First Hike!

2008-12-16T03:56:00.000-08:00

That's right! I went on my first official hike on Sunday.....to Martineske Hole - 2400 feet up! It was gruelling and wonderful all at the same time! I went with my Slovak teacher Dana and her cousin's cousin, Loubo and two of her friends Joseph and Marta. We had a great time! Those of you who were here on that first trip will remember, I think, where we rode the bus up a winding hill for an hour and then got out and hiked up the rest of the way to pray over all the villages - we hiked up to where the bus stopped! What a beautiful hike it was!

We found some snow a little further up the mountain:

Joseph knows "hello" and "how are you" in English and said them many times during our 6 hour hike! His wife Marta knew some English years ago so we practiced some 'to be' lessons - she helped me practice Slovak and I helped her in English - Dana got the day off! Loubo works in Austria and so he speaks German and Slovak and spoke in both languages to me....which was easier to understand than you might think!

Dana and I returned back to the dorm right at 5pm and in time to attend the Advent Koncert at the church - what glorious music! The acoustics are fantastic in church and made the voices lifted in praise to our King even more thrilling to hear!

He Found Me!

2008-12-09T05:24:00.000-08:00

St. Nickolas, I mean. He found me all the way in Martin, Slovakia! You see, December 6th is St. Mickolas (pronounced Mikolash) day and so on the eve of this day, all the children shine up their best shoes and put them outside their door and when they wake up the next morning, (and if they've been good of course) their shoes will be filled with fruit and sweets! Which is just what happened to mine! Actually to be truthful, I didn't put my shoes out....but the fruit and sweets were left at my door anyway. (I added the shoes for the picture). :o) What fun! I even left my room for a few hours later on and when I came back, there were more sweets arranged in the shape of a cross! (I know I forgot the pictures but you can just imagine).

Lindsay and I went in to Zilina by train and bus and went shopping for the day. When we returned they had all the Christmas lights on in the square - these aren't the best pictures, but they'll give you an idea.....I'll take more later.

The next week or so will be full of advent concerts. There is one at the Bible school this Friday and then there are two at the elementary school next week. I plan to make all of those!

Enjoy the pictures and I'll get some more on soon.....and then I'll tell you about the latest class activities we've enjoyed! Bye for now....

Snippets of News

2008-12-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Well, we are fast approaching the end of semester one and I'm not sure who is more excited about that....me or the students! It has been challenging to say the least. I am not skilled in making up curriculum and developing lesson plans and unfortunately these first semester students have experienced my inexperience and in so doing have become my guinea pigs. The great thing is that I have plenty of time between semesters to come up with a plan to carry me through next semester! Please pray that I will be enlightened and inspired on what and how to teach!

In other news, many of the female staff here at the Bible School are going out day after day, sometimes 3 or 4 of them to different schools, to teach the Slovak children in the region about the Euro. They are presenting materials, explaining why they are changing over to the Euro, why it is good and I think showing what the money looks like and such. It is an important change for all of Slovakia to be officially in the European Union and I think most people see it as a good thing.....let's just pray it really is. January 1st is the big day for the switch over.

I don't know if many of you know this but the Elementary school right next door to the dorm is also overseen by the Bible School. I don't know many of the teachers there because I teach only at the dorm. I guess there were a few new teachers this year that the Bible staff hadn't met yet, so on Monday they put on a dinner for all the teachers of the Elementary and Bible Schools. It was fun to get to meet some of them and have an evening of fellowship.

One more thing......the English teachers at the elementary school have been researching for 2 years the best curriculum to use for teaching English. A curriculum was finally decided on for the beginning of this year, but the funds for it fell through, so they have been struggling with some not very good curriculum. I wanted to share with you that your generous donations to support our mission here have made it possible for us to help them get the curriculum they so desperately need. Thank you for your faithful and generous giving.....you are making an impact in this part of the world that will reach out to many other parts of the world.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T03:41:00.001-08:00

Today is Thanksgiving in America and my family and friends will be celebrating this day, eating turkey with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie and playing games and having great conversations.
I am celebrating with my students today - not with food, but with the history and the traditions we hold dear. I have been telling them about the tradition to go around the table before we begin feasting and share what we are thankful for that year. To my delight, we are going around the classroom sharing what we are grateful for this year! I have 4-2/hr. classes today so there's no time to cook, but there is time to share!
And what do I say I am grateful for? That God has allowed me to be in Slovakia this year with these wonderful people, that my dad's good health is returning more and more each day and for the prayers of many who lifted him up to God over several weeks, that God blessed me so mightily with all of you who are my cheerleaders, my supporters, my prayer warriors, my teachers and tutors, and most especially, I am grateful for the Lord Jesus Christ, who through His sacrifice on our behalf, made it possible to be with Him in person again one day!

Have a Peace-filled Thanksgiving!

First Snowfall Thoughts

2008-11-25T09:28:00.001-08:00

Now that the first snow has fallen my thoughts go automatically to Christmas! I have no choice in the matter....it's just where my little brain waves have to go! :o) So, because I wanted to know what to expect here in Slovakia for my first Christmas, I asked Katka some questions about the traditions here. She said they don't have Santa Claus here. Can you believe that?! No Santa!! So I asked her what they do if there is no Santa.....she said there is a St. Nicholaus, but he comes on December 6th and leaves fruits and sweets in shoes that the children have shined up the night before. Then, on Christmas Eve.....it's Baby Jesus who gives the gifts!! What a concept, huh?! I love it!
A couple of months ago I was asked to have a children's English night with some of the little ones (around 2 years old) where I would sing (teach) children's songs in English and look at picture books pointing out and naming the English words for everything. We meet on Monday and Wednesday nights for about an hour and the parents stay with the kids and me so I'm not there alone. Its been fun to sing and look at books and basically just say as many English words over and over again that we can think of. It is starting to work now too as I hear a few of the children starting to say English words from the songs we sing. The parents are also singing the songs at home with them and doing as much as they can there too.

I had an idea that it would be fun to read the candy cane story to the kids and have a print out of it in Slovak with a candy cane attached for each child But I've looked everywhere and haven't been able to find them, so I asked Katka about them and she told me they don't have candy canes in Slovakia. So I guess I will print out pictures instead....but it won't be the same! :o( Oh well, I guess I'll be the only one who will know what they're missing!

Blessings to you all!
Mary

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!

2008-11-23T04:00:00.000-08:00

The snow that was here on Wednesday and left so abruptly was back again Friday, Saturday and again today! I love it!
The first two are from Saturday and the rest from Sunday: Here's a cute little guy enjoying the snow!

Anybody remember Fritos?

Love the park bench line up here....

This is my friend Lindsay - she is teaching English at the Elementary School right next to the dorm. She's from Pennslyvania so snow is not as much a novelty to her as it is to me, but she loves it just the same and skyped me to take a walk in the snow with her before church.

My snowball wasn't very fearsome looking was it? I guess neither was I for that matter! :o)

Baby It's Cold Outside....

2008-11-19T04:28:00.000-08:00

Yep, I finally look like everybody else all bundled up in their winter gear! We had snow last night....the scene was beautiful!!! But as is true of my home town, it was wet and was gone by 11 am! Oh well, it sure was pretty to look at! We are expecting more snow on Friday and through the weekend! Its almost time for skiing!

The Reality of the Situation....

2008-11-11T09:04:00.001-08:00

....is that it is hard to adjust to living in a new country. I have to admit I have experienced some culture shock the last few weeks and understand in a whole new way just what culture shock is! Someone once told me I might hate hearing the language after a few weeks....well, I don't hate it, and it took almost 2 months, but I think I understand what she was saying. It is hard work to listen to a language not your own and then to know you can not speak it well enough to have a meaningful conversation with anyone. I have felt isolated in some ways and have no sense of community yet. (I say yet because I still have hope!). Back home I could walk through a mall and speak at will with anyone. I could share a thought or share a laugh about nothing in particular with a complete stranger and still have the comraderie of sharing something in common - a language. Here I don't have that commonality. I don't have that comraderie. I don't have that community. And I have been somewhat depressed over it.....I can't tell you how many times I have wanted to say a word to someone on the square, but know that even though I might manage a phrase or two, it can go no deeper. When someone speaks to me how I wish I knew what they were saying - it is heart breaking to see their smiling faces fade when I tell them "Anglisky" and then watch them walk away. Oh how heartbreaking.... And I would really like to know what the Pastor is saying in church too. I'm sure he has much to enlighten me about, but I don't understand him.....
Ok - now that you know that its been rough, let me also tell you the flip side. It gets better. I work hard at making my intentions clear - especially with the store clerks - and they work just as hard back. I have had people stop to listen to this strange tongue trying to explain my need to someone and pretty soon, they are joining in the game of charade! It is fun to watch it all unfold and when we have finally come to a complete understanding of the need, smiles and laughs are exchanged between us all! I love that part! As for church, there isn't much I can do about that right now. So I will go....and I will sing.....and I will bring my Bible and read the scriptures I know he is talking about and God will teach me. (And I also get the great benefit of podcasts of NH sermons every week!).
So there you have it. Culture shock is alive and well and it's living inside of me. But I am over the worst of it now and have learned a great deal through it. What you ask? That God really is an ever present Help. That He truly comforts those who are in need of comfort. That He provides His people to hug you and talk with you just when you need it most. That He is always attentive to my prayers and answers them even before I can pray them. That He pours out His Peace in great abundance in times of turmoil......now that's alot to learn in such a short time, don't you think?
To all who have prayed for my dad's health, I thank you. His recent heart attack has taken a toll on him so he is flying to Vancouver today to be near his doctors and so my sisters can help him regain his strength. I appreciate your continued prayers for him and for me! :o)
God Bless you all.
Mary

Missionary Friends

2008-11-07T22:24:00.001-08:00

I have friends in Nigeria and China who are on missions for the Lord. My Nigeria friends are the Mitchells. Dr and Mrs with their 4 children. They are having an amazing adventure and I know they would appreciate your prayers as well. Their blog address is:

http://www.mitchellmissions.blogspot.com/

My China friend is Bill. He is finishing up 3 months on the 22nd and just caught the bug that he had been avoiding this whole trip. Please pray for his complete healing so his travel home will be a little easier on him.

Getting out of dodge

2008-11-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

Michal and Katka invited me and 2 missionary couples to their chalet for the weekend. We had a wonderful time! Michal's grandmother, sister and brother were also there and Katka's mother, sisters and aunts live in the village we visited and were with us for Sunday dinner. We did a little hiking and sightseeing and I found the hotel I would love to visit sometime. 5 nights with 3 massages, 2 spa treatments, pool access and breakfast and dinner each day for only around $200! Wow! Who wants to go with me???

These are ski chalets that were a bit more expensive with alot fewer amenities than my hotel, but a very beautiful area to visit!

My Slovak and American friends:

All Saints Day

2008-11-05T21:05:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was a big weekend here in Martin, Slovakia (and other places I suppose). It was All Saints Day and they take it very seriously here. This is the day they take candles and flowers, (the artificial kind), to the graves of their loved ones and have a small private ceremony honoring their dead. The candles burn all night long and is quite a thing to see at night. I guess we could liken it to our Memorial Day except the feel is different. Memorial Day remembers those who have fallen in war, and is something we do nationally. All Saints Day remembers all those who have died, whether by war or not and is privately held by each family. It was a very meaningful event for them and for me.

Friday Night Bible Study

2008-10-28T23:41:00.001-07:00

Bible study was awesome! There were 7 of us, but now I've heard there will be more in 2 weeks! Also, it is not an all women's study as I had thought, which is great because men have a different perspective on things that is good to hear as well!

So, one of the couples attending are from Norway - studying at the medical school here in Martin. Jan Ruben is a 3rd year med student wanting to be a pediatric surgeon and his wife Cecilia is a 1st year med student wanting to be a general practitioner. They both speak English very well. Then we have 2 teachers, Mima and Martina, who are best friends and both Slovak. The other 3 of us are Americans, (Lindsay from Minnesota, Grace from Illinois and me). Mima told me on Sunday that she knew 1 or 2 other people who might come so it could be a really full house!

We are meeting here in my apartment and will be studying from the Max Lucado study course entitled: Experiencing the Heart of Jesus. I look forward to all that God will teach us about Himself and each other in the coming months.

Thank you all for your faithful praying - this is just what I have been hoping for!

God Bless you All....

It is a holiday here for All Saints Day on November 1st, (a religious holiday for them, not a spooky one like ours!), so everyone is on vacation this week. We will meet again on Nov. 7th

Martinske Hole Ski Resort

2008-10-23T22:44:00.001-07:00

My internet has been down for a few days....here are some pictures of last Saturday's adventure when Grace and I went up to one of the ski resorts close by just to see the view...

on the way up...

Look how high up we are - above the mountain tops!

Brightly painted ski lifts for the children!

Grace enjoying her cup of hot chocolate

A medieval looking home being built - notice the fencing!

We were up as high as these mountains!I received some complaints that there wasn't a picture of me...so on a trip back up the mountain a few days later, I had my friends take one of me....

God is so Good to me.....

2008-10-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago I told you all I wanted to transition into more of the Slovak culture and that I was going to go to a Slovak Bible Study.....well, God must have heard me (and you!) because no sooner had I planned to do this then He began working in some of His people here on my behalf. This Friday, (tonight for me!), is the first weekly meeting of the English speaking, women's Slovak/American Bible study! That's right - an English speaking Bible study with English speaking Slovak women! How does God do that??! :o) All I did was pray.....then ask Michal about the Bible study at the church. He happened to tell a girl here about me wanting to start or be in a Bible study....she wanted to be in one too with English speaking people and so she called me, we coordinated efforts and found some friends who wanted to come, so I think there will be about 7 or 8 people coming to the Bible study - mostly all Slovaks! Praise Him who knows our hearts and gives us all good things!! And thank you all for your faithful praying for me - I can't tell you how much it means to me. God Richly Bless you all!

The Package Has Landed!

2008-10-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

I received email notification that my UPS package has been delivered and received at the FBI as requested!! Yippee! Thank you all for your words of encouragement and especially for your prayers! Now......please join me in beseeching the Father for His continued Grace to me in helping the FBI fingerprint people be able to find a good set to do my background check - and do it quickly! Thank you all - Love you all - Miss you all...

Fingerprint and UPS woes....

2008-10-17T22:28:00.001-07:00

Well, I have learned a little about Slovak bureaucracy! After visiting the Foreign Police...twice....it has been decided that all my paperwork for my visa has expired.....everything. So, what does that mean? It means I start all over. The biggest challenge was getting my fingerprints done again and checked out in the states by the FBI. I found out, after a confusing week of back and forth conflicting information that I can indeed take my own fingerprints. I just had to do 5 cards worth so that hopefully between them all, they would be able to find a set that they could use! I have yet to see all the ink leave my fingers! But that was just a little thing compared to the UPS fiasco!
I needed to have a prepaid return label for the FBI to send it back to me, so I went on line to UPS and set up an account for my credit card to be charged for both labels there and back. When the label printed out, it had in small letters, somewhere near the bottom, the letters 'pp'. Can anyone guess what that means? Yes! Prepaid - which they were! Only the UPS guy didn't know what it meant, had never seen it before and so therefore returned my envelope to me and said he would not accept it until I printed a label with the letters he did recognize: 'RS', return service. I tried....I tried for days.....to get them what they wanted and we went back and forth with the whole prepaid concept until finally yesterday, Sisa got on the phone with them and explained the whole thing....which took some doing....and led to me changing my address, (I had my address in the states as my address for credit card purposes, but had the ship to and from address for the states and here). They decided that didn't make sense and it looked like I was shipping from the States! So, ok....whatever, I changed it..... and they finally came and picked up my package yesterday.....they were given Sisa's phone number in case they had any trouble and off they went. A few hours later I got a call from Sisa saying they couldn't charge my credit card because the address didn't match and they need me to pay cash! SHEEESSHH! So, I paid cash. And the envelope is now on its way to America....please pray with me that the FBI won't have any trouble with my prints or with shipping it back. The time I have to fix this all before I get deported out of the country is fast running out! Thank you!!

Picture Catch Up

2008-10-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

OH my gosh.....it has been a very busy and stressful week! I want to thank you all for praying for me this week as I pursue my transition into the Slovak culture.....as it turned out I did not attend the Bible study last night...because I had forgotten I already had a date for dinner at the house of one of the directors of the Bible School. Adrian and his wife Natalia have 2 children Timeteo 2yrs old and Teresa 5 yrs. old. Adrian is an ordained Minister of the Lutheran church as well as on the Board of Directors for the Bible School. He teaches the New Testament at the school here. Natalia is also an ordained Minister of the Lutheran church and teaches. I have tried several times to put pictures on but the internet is not as stable here as I'd like and at the moment I am done trying.....I will try again later. Thank you again for your prayers - I will attend the Bible Study next week.

The Castle

2008-10-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Pris, Paul, Ken (his wife couldn't come) and I took the train into Strecno, a small village about 25 minutes west of here. It was great fun to venture out via train and thanks to Paul's research, we made it there and back without a hitch!
From the train, we walked through the far side of the town, crossed over the foot bridge of the Vah River and then walked through the main part of town until we finally reach the old stone steps that led to the road to the 14th century Strecno Castle. The climb up was not as bad as I'd remembered it being!
We met a couple there from Romania who spoke English very well and told us that all of Hungary speaks English well and that we should come and visit their country....so I think I will! Paul and Pris

The Transition

2008-10-12T04:20:00.000-07:00

Having other Americans here to spend time with has been a wonderful blessing from the Lord. I know that without Ken and Grace and Paul and Pris here to help ease me into a world of the unknown, I would have had a much rougher time of adjusting to my new life here. God is so merciful and gracious to me and I Praise Him for it!
I enjoy my time with my new American friends immensely and will continue to enjoy their friendship. At the same time, I am craving the friendship of the Slovak community which to me seems so hard to attain. Yet to that end I ask for your prayers for me as I stretch my wings a little and go this coming Thursday to a Bible study led by the Pastor here for anyone in the congregation who wants to come....it will be in Slovak, though he does speak a little English I would not expect him to translate everything and so disrupt the study. However, it gets me into the community of Slovak believers which is right where I need and want to be......Michal (the Director of the Bible School) thinks the choir would also be an excellent place for me but I'm not quite ready for that. So, dear friends, please do pray for God to transition me into the Slovak community in His perfect time and way - and pray very hard that I wait patiently on Him for all things. D'jakuem

From Heaven Above....

2008-10-12T03:44:00.001-07:00

Today I was surprised with a wonderful blessing from the Lord! I was a little later for church than I intended to be and when I got there, the place was packed! A new (additional) Pastor was being officially installed today so all the congregation was there to witness this event. The blessing for me was that standing at the back of the church was Natalia, (a wife of one of the leaders of the Bible School) who very graciously offered to stand at the back of the church with me and translate the service. I have been to church these past 3 weeks but had no one to translate - which has been fine - I would read the scriptures they were preaching on and God led me in what He wanted me to know....I used worship time to practice my Slovak pronunciation by singing all the hymns. Beautiful words and music sung to the Lord are a balm for the soul no matter the language! But to have this special blessing of Natalie telling me what the Pastor was saying made today's church time with God even more special!

Are Horses Bilingual?

2008-10-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

Michal and his mom and the kids invited me and Grace and Lupka for a little outing to one of the kids' favorite spots! There are tree houses everywhere! (They are actually hunting shacks built in the trees but the kids see them as tree houses). Then we headed up a road that Michal had wanted to travel on to see what was ahead....we were pleasantly surprised to see a horse ranch perfectly placed at the top of the hill!

I love how this little horse came over to see what we thought we were doing with his hay! So cute....

What fun we had watching them work with the horses! This particular horse ranch is new and they will sell you a horse, board it for you and teach you how to ride and care for it! What a deal! I don't how much they charge, but I thought it was a great idea! They also will allow school children to come and learn about the horses, maybe take a ride around the ring.....Michal jumped on that right away and is working on the elementary school taking advantage of a new experience such as this! I hope I get to go with them when they get it all worked out!

Well, I have my second week of classes done. I missed one 2 hour class because they changed my schedule on me but I didn't know it! So, the kids got a few hours extra and I did too....we'll catch up next time. I am beginning to get a feel for what is needed and how to teach it. I have been blessed immeasureably by faithful friends who have provided materials and support and the ever needed encouragement! Thank you all my dear, dear friends.....

Thanksgiving Sunday

2008-10-06T08:20:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday was Thanksgiving Day at church! The picture does not do it justice by any means so I will have to try to describe the setting and the mood! Hopefully the picture shows some of the decorations - apples, leaves, acorns on the book stands at each pew and vegetables, (whole bunches of carrots, gords, potatoes and the like on the floor at each pew and a wreath of leaves abouve the podium where the Priests stand. It was beautiful - if I had known what was going on I would have grabbed my camera earlier and taken a picture of the little girls standing outside the church entrance with baskets full of bread cubes! (I had just enough time to run back to my room for my camera before the service began.....I have learned my lesson - always, always, always bring my camera - even to church!). So the choir sang the most melodious tunes and the Priest's liturgy was sung even more beautifully on this day of Thanksgiving to the Lord of the Harvest! It was magical - and though I did not understand much of what was spoken, in my heart, I did....I knew it was a time to thank our God for all He has provided to us. And so, I did. With a thankful heart I acknowledged and thanked Him for His provision to us all, for His Sovereignty over all things and His Grace and Mercy to us all. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

My Students

2008-10-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

With my first week of classes almost behind me, I'm ready to begin looking at a full years curriculum. My classes are broken out into two levels, beginner and advanced and then again into 1st year students of the college and 2nd year students. I don't see much difference in the grade levels as far as ability goes, and the beginners are truly beginners with the advanced being more low to mid intermediate speakers. Class times were originally set for 2-50 minute sessions per level/grade but I was given flexibilty to allow no break time and just go straight through with a 90-95 minute lesson instead. All of my classes have opted for this arrangement, so that's good for me! My schedule has been set up for about 7 classes per week with Thursday being my heaviest load....1-95 minute class in the morning and 2 back to back in the afternoon. I have Mondays off and Fridays seem to be intermittent with either 1 class or no classes. This helps me to have time to put lesson plans together and devise a system of study and testing for them!

1st yr Adv. 2nd yr Adv.

1st yr Beg. 2nd yr Beg.

I hope to get in some hiking before the colder weather sets in.....I do find it funny that I walk around in short sleeve shirts roasting and everyone else is bundled up like its the middle of winter! Lupka, who spent a summer in vancouver at New Heights, says its because everything in America is air conditioned and so I am hot because I am used to everything being cooler. I don't know if she is right, but it is an interesting thought!

Today I go with a missionary couple here from Minnesota to buy a T.V. The one they have at their apartment is broken. I don't have one, which is fine with me....but they want to get one, so they asked me about going in on one with them - they'll use it until they leave in December and then give it to me! I think that's a great deal, so we will go to the local electronics store and see about buying one. Watching Slovak television will be good for my language learning skills!

Until next time....

Community Events

2008-09-30T08:14:00.001-07:00

I decided to take a walk through the center square on Saturday and this is what I found....the center sections red taped off for a children's speed skating and obstacle course day! They were having so much fun - and so was I watching them! This whole place has such a feeling of community to it that I really love! (Did you know if you click on the picture you can get a bigger view of it?)

I've Arrived!

2008-09-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report I have made it safely to Martin, Slovakia. The travel was a little harder on me this time than it was when I came in July due to the recent traveling to and from Hawaii for my nephew's wedding. I wouldn't change it for the world though as the wedding was most memorable and the week with current and new family very enjoyable.

It took several days and 2 computer gurus to get signed on to the internet. I didn't have this trouble in July, but for some reason this time I couldn't get on without alot of manual set up. I am (mostly) on now, however it keeps going in and out so I may be in the middle of a blog and get kicked off the server and lose everything....this has happened once already today! :o)

I am beginning to get acclimated to the time change here but still am waking up at 4 am every morning, even though I only went to bed a 11 pm - I can't get back to sleep so I get up and do more unpacking and organizing....I'm sure the lack of sleep will catch up to me eventually and that I will be sleeping through the night again soon.

I have been looking so forward to this time in Slovakia, that I was surprised to have these waves of intense feelings of lonliness for my family and friends. I haven't had any melt downs but the feelings of longing are very real and have caught me by surprise. I know God will comfort me and keep me from missing everyone too much or too long.....as He will do for those who miss me. He is a very compassionate God....

I will start teaching sometime next week - the schedule will hopefully be ready for me today!

Well, I am on to the next thing - finishing the set up of my apartment! I will tell you all about it soon....

It's Times Like These.....

2008-09-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

.....that I get to experience in a very real way the enormous Power of God's Love through the people He has placed in my life. Last evening was a case in point, as my good friend Kim in an effort to hide any hint of anything going on, volunteered to go hiking with me up to Multnomah Falls. Now, to know Kim is to know how much of a love offering this was! She is many things, but a hiking enthusiast she is not....yet here she is hiking up 620 feet of merciless uphill switchbacks just to throw me off the scent of what was to come that evening! I ask you...is that love or what?! :o)
Here we are at the top of the falls with the first little fall behind us. The next one looks like this:
This is taken from the bottom looking up, but we were standing at the very top where the water first starts to crest over the cliff....the lookout is on the left where you see the trees. The next view of the waterfall looks like this:

It is an incredibly beautiful waterfall and a strenuous but gorgeous hike! Some of my favorite views: This is the Columbia River from the Oregon side looking down from about halfway up the trail:

Ok, so after the hike, we had a lovely lunch at the Multnomah Falls Lodge, (which I neglected to get a picute of, darn it!), and then we headed back to Vancouver where we parted company to each run a few quick errands before meeting up again to drive over to Diana and Steve's for pizza, (they had invited us the day before - oh yes, they were in on the surprise!).

So Kim is trying to keep me busy so that I don't go off on my own and try to meet her at Steve and Diana's, (cause she wants to ride with me for the full effect of the surprise!)....and knowing that I can get a little antsy, she called me to see if I wanted to go to her daughter's house, who had just moved into a beautiful home they had built overlooking the Columbia River from the Washington side....so of course I wanted to see that! It was a very beautiful home! Anyway, off we go, a little later than we planned but on our way nonetheless....and though I had thought maybe something was going on.....I think I just know my friends pretty well....those thoughts were quickly dispelled when we pulled into Steve and Diana's driveway and there wasn't an extra car in sight! Ok, I thought, it will be just the 4 of us - that's great, I love spending time with my friends and we haven't spent time together in far too long......but as I neared the front door I heard a lot more than 2 other voices inside!! What fun it was to walk in and see friends from far and near gathered to bid me farewell! It was like being gathered up into a warm embrace - an embrace not only in the love of friends, but as an example of the warm embrace and utter love poured out on each one of us in the Person of Jesus Chist.

I have pondered on last evening a bit today and I think the Words of our Lord in Matthew 12:50 when he said to those who brought the news inside the crowded house that His mother Mary and His brothers were there to speak to Him, and He said "whoever does the will of My Father is my mother and sisters and brothers". That's how I feel - all who were there, and even those who couldn't be there last night - were doing the will of God. They were, are, and continue to show His love to me, His Care for me and His provision for me. Each one of you are my family - and I am so grateful to God for you. Thank you my dear friends....I wish I had pictures of you all!

Patty, me Lois, Diana, me

Mari, Bill and Brenda Shannon and me Melanie Larry

Diana, Pat, Trish, Bill, Dave Lois, Dave, Martha, Shannon, Marty in the kitchen

Lois, Diana Bill, Brenda in the dining room

The Mystery Picture

2008-08-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

Many of you asked about the picture to the right on my blog. That is me on my very first missionary trip to the Crow Nation in Montana. A couple of us had driven up to the top of this rather large hill very early in the morning just to see the sun come up. When we got up there we were amazed at the splendor of God's sunrise. As we looked down that hilltop, we saw mile after mile of beautiful hilltops lower than ours and they were filled with low lying fog.....then the sun started to peak over the horizon and the colors just exploded on to the landscape - it was an incredible and thrilling thing to see! I quickly handed my camera to April, ran over to the side of the hill, raised my hands up to heaven and said, "here, take my picture!" She obliged and I now have this wonderful picture reminding me everyday of the Glorious Riches of our God!

Serving Slovakia Begins with Good-Bye....

2008-08-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

....to all my dear friends and (near) family at WF - thank you for everything. I look forward to keeping up with you over the next 2 years! Do feel free to post comments and/or email me anytime - I want to hear from you!

To all my dear friends and family at NH and beyond - thank you for all your support, for your prayers and your love and friendship. I look forward to seeing what God will do in and through all of us! Please post comments and/or email me....

And now its on to the next big adventure! Good bye