Slovakia update 4

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We are HERE!! Penzion Pod Verachou will be our home for the next several days and we praise God for giving us safe travels here. Today we had to catch 3 different trains on a 4 hour trip to get to a small village (2,500 people) not far from the city of Banska Bystrica. Upon arriving here we quickly placed our stuff into our rooms so we could begin meeting the Slovak team that we will be working with.

I had to stop and take this picture of the view from my room!

The train ride here was long, but fun! We got to see so much of the country. Banska Bystrica is in the center of the country, however it took us a long time to get here as we had to go through and around the mountains. The countryside is beautiful and every once in a while there would be a castle or other structure that would appear. It is truly a breath taking country.

boarding the first train

settling in for the journey

passing a train station

Arriving here we found the Penzion to be an absolutely beautiful place to stay. We have been split up into rooms with Slovaks. I have been paired up with Benjamin, the pastor of the church from Banska Bystrica! We haven’t had a lot of time to get to talk yet, but I already tell I like him! He led a time of worship and challenge when we first arrived. We also paired up to learn the camp dance to “Me Without You” by Toby Mac. Ummm let me say it is pretty funny seeing the two of us “bust a move” to a techno song haha. All of us had to practice it as we want to be ready to teach the students as they arrive.

 me and the girls in front of the Penzion

Our team immediately made friends with the Slovak team, which I am very thankful for. Pray for our Slovak friends as we prepare to minister together this week: Benjamin (the pastor), Mica, Michael, Tomas, Lutka, Eveka, Sergie, Emily (American missionary), Janny and Mirka. We also have two interns: Chelsea and Harris.

Tonight we had a devotion led by Janny (pronounced Yanny) on Matthew 9, he spoke in Slovak as Mica translated. His major emphasis was how Jesus had such compassion on people and never said he was too busy for them. We need to learn from Jesus’ example this week and always give of ourselves to the students who will be coming to us.

Both the American team and Slovak team were disappointed when we learned that we will only have 6 students tomorrow. I keep hearing that there are “only 6 students” and have begun to gently correct with “No, there ARE 6 students that we get to teach!” Sure we had all envisioned a larger camp when we signed up to come. However, God’s ways are not man’s ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. I have begun to describe our approach differently to our team. We are not looking at “planting a field by spreading the seeds far and wide” but are not being very intentional to “plant a small garden.”

Earlier this summer I helped plant a garden. Each of the seeds we planted were done so with care. We dug a hole for each seed, put some good soil in the hole, laid the seed in, buried it and watered it. This is my desire for our approach this week. Since we have a few students this allows us to intentionally plant the seeds of the Gospel in their lives. We will have an opportunity to really get to know these students and share our lives with them as well. You can continue to pray that we will have the right attitude when it comes to this issue.

Benjamin declared today that every member of the Slovak team will be in our English classes to learn English alongside the students. He wants to take full advantage of our time with them and challenge them to grow in their English speaking. This also has provided us with a chance to disciple and encourage the Slovak team, and be encouraged and learn from them.

We are very excited to be done with traveling for the week and finally begin the ministry that we have been preparing for. God has been very gracious to us and we are excited to share with the Slovaks. Thanks for your prayers!