Ahoj and Greetings from Slovakia. How quickly Nov has come.
I want to again thank all of you who have and continue to support me
through prayer. It helps to know that we are together in the Lord
despite however far apart we may be. Please continue to pray for me and
the other young adult volunteers around the world.
I have been writing some other updates on my Blog for those of you who
are Internet savvy. The address is http://www.moltron.net/blog/ I also
have many more pictures available at http://flickr.com/photos/themoltron
The Longer I am here in Slovakia the quicker time seems to pass between
my newsletters. I am definitely getting used to the culture. I am still
struggling with the language but, I am more comfortable trying make
conversation in Slovak. I'm enjoying the mostly meat and potatoes diet
of Slovak food and getting used to the short winter days and long winter
nights
My time here in Slovakia has not been all work. I have had time to
travel to several places. At the beginning of November was All Saints
Day and Reformation Day. I was given time off because of the protestant
holiday. Oliver, Flo and I traveled to Štrba and Liptovsky Mikulaš near
the Vysoky Tatry or High Tatras. This time was also a National
Remembrance time similar to memorial day. More on that later. Vysoky
Tatry are amazing, When I see them I am reminded how small and I am
really am compared with the rest of the world and just big and
Magnificent God is.
When we returned that Sunday the Celebrated a service at the cemetery in
Chvojnica (A near by village) and Vrbovce. Every year people visit the
cemeteries and pay their respects by decorating graves of loved with
flowers and candles. It was a treat to be on holiday seeing this
happening over various parts of the country.
On this occasion our small parish has a brass choir and they played
during services on Sunday. One thing I enjoy about Vrbovce is the many
hidden talents. So many people I find can sing or play piano, trumpet or
guitar. It has been a pleasure sharing the universal language of music
with these people.
As part of the many duties I have here is Vrbovce, I am asked to help
with the youth group once a week. I enjoy hanging out with the youth and
I am constantly improving my language through conversation. Youth groups
in Slovakia range from people 13-30 so there is quite an age range. I
have struggled trying to read the bible or to have discussions because
of my lack of language skills but, also because of a lack of guidance.
The pastor is very busy and often does not make planning youth group a
priority. We also struggle because on average only 3 or 4 youth show up
on a given week. These problems seem to be typical of problems in
America as well. I have had some success in working with the other
volunteers here in Vrbovce and trying to plan youth group around simple
bible passages and having Zorka (the vicar) help translate some things.
I have been learning that we can't always wait for guidance but, we have
to be the guide sometimes. I'm discovering that life in a parish can be
a struggle to balance the needs of its members especially youth who are
in most need of Spiritual guidance. I know may not know all the answers
or see the fruits of my labor now but, God is there in my efforts.
One of the other things I do here is Vrbovce in my work alongside many
of the down and out. The church he provides various work projects 3 or 4
days a week for members of the community who are unemployed to collect
work credit for Slovakia's social well fair system. I'm not sure how it
exactly it works but, I have learned a lot from these people. Many of
them are Alcoholics or have other problems. We work on the same projects
often ranging from cutting wood to helping renovate the Kulturny Dom
(Culture Center). I am reminded of the story in Matthew chapter 9, when
the Pharisees complained about Jesus eating with sinners. Jesus responds
with "Who needs a doctor:the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what
this Scripture means: ' I'm after mercy, not religion. ' I'm here to
invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." Matt. 9:12-13 The Message
Often times we have such a high view of ourselves that we fail to see
the faults we have. We look upon people with problems or who are on
welfare with disdain because we think we are better and most of the time
many of us are so far removed from their situation. We live in
neighborhoods where everyone can afford 2 or 3 cars. What makes us think
we are so much better. We fail to see that others suffer and we fail to
see that we are all sinners. If one of the many things I am learning and
continue to learn is that we are all sinners and by working beside these
people I have come to see them as friends, fellow sinners and humans being.
On a lighter not, It has Snowed in Vrbovce several times. I have enjoyed
the seeing the white snow and how different the village looks although
the drop in temperature is taking some time to get used to.
Here are a few things are fun about Snow in Slovakia
- the business as usual attitude-- so no mad rush to the supermarket.
People are here just not seem to mind they still run buses to everywhere
and a snow day off at school is unheard of.
- driving and sometime hiking in the snow to deliver lunches-- Sometime
we have drive up hills and then the car gets stuck. So it becomes easier
to leave the car and hike up the hill to deliver the lunches.
- Snowball fights with the local school kids after lunch-- After lunch
is when most kids have free time or are coming back from lunch at home.
I enjoy throwing snowballs and then getting ambushed by 10 or so kids later.
- Sledding on amazing hills- the hills near the village are amazing and
when it get dark the view of the village with lights is amazing too.
- being huddled around a wood burning oven after a freezing day-- We
have a wood burning oven to head our room during the winter. I enjoy
having to start the fire and being huddled around it.
Thanksgiving is not a celebrated holiday here in Slovakia but, We had
our 3 months retreat to discuss who each of us were dealing with culture
shock and compare notes about placements. Kristen, who lives in Velky
Slavkov works at a center for Cigansky Chlapci or gypsy boy. There is a
lot of prejudice toward the Gypsy population. Much of it has to do with
the fact many are uneducated, some by choice, making it difficult for
them to find work and integrate themselves. The center helps provide
work and some education to confront the poverty many of these people
face. It has been interesting seeing all the different aspects of Slovak
culture through all the various experiences we are having.
During some of free time in Bratislava we spent a day and traveled to
Vienna. When we got off the train it was like mini-culture shock because
we were surrounded by German. It may not seem significant but, when you
are surrounded by Slovak all the time it comes as quite a shock. We saw
many beautiful Cathedrals and monuments. It was interesting to see how
the dialect in Vienna has adopted several slovak words. Such as Paradjky
which is a tomato
During this retreat we celebrated Thanksgiving with other missionary
volunteers from several places in Eastern Europe and Asia. It was a
blessing to be able to see other English speakers as well as hear all
the stories of what God is doing throughout Slovakia and the world.
After the retreat I felt like if I had gone home to America I probably
would not have come back. There are times when I feel like I want to
come home but, also times I enjoy speaking Slovak and being surrounded
by a culture that is starting to become more familiar. Culture Shock is
never easy and everyone goes through phases. I'm still adjusting but, I
know I have a purpose here and knowing that makes the not so great times
easy to get through.
Thanksgiving usually makes you become more aware of the many things you
can be thankful for, especially for me here in Slovakia. The many
friendly and hospitable people in Vrbovce, that the German volunteers
Oliver and Flo put up with me when I'm blaznivy(crazy) sometimes and
that despite being surrounded by a different language and culture I can
worship the same God anywhere in the world.
God's Blessings and Peace be with you,
Christ’s Servant in Slovakia
Mark
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