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Greetings to all from Vrbovce, Slovakia!
I’m sorry that my November Newsletter is getting to you in December – the days go by so quickly! The internet server has been down at the school where I use the internet so I’m crossing my fingers that this will send now.
Since this last month was one of Thanksgiving I would like to preface my newsletter by saying “thanks” to some people!
First, thank you to all those of you who took time to e-mail or “snail” mail me – your letters are like a cold glass of water on a hot Kansas day. My soul feels refreshed with every word of news or encouragement. You rock.
Second, thank you to all those at Christ Lutheran and Messiah Lutheran Church that are supporting my ministry here and praying fervently for me. You’ve made me feel more like a part of the body of Christ – during my year of service I feel like I can be the “hands” and “feet” (or more like “eyes” and “ears”) here in Slovakia, but I couldn’t function without you - my “arms” and “legs.” Thank you so much for your support!
Last, I would like to thank all of you who have supported me financially, this experience wouldn’t be possible without you! God is teaching me amazing things through this opportunity that you’re funding.
Many of you keep asking “how can I help more?” That’s so awesome and let me say this – the greatest thing that you can do to help is – Learn about Slovakia. Educate yourself more about what other cultures and other peoples are like. Ask yourself: What does it mean to be a foreigner? How can I be welcoming to those around me that might feel out of place or cast aside? How can I show love to people that I have a difficult time relating to or understanding?
And if you are one of the young people (esp. college students!) on my e-mail list I encourage you to learn more about the Young Adults in Mission Program! Take a couple of minutes and look at their website (http://www.elca.org/globalserve/youngadults/index )– and think about it – this is truly a life changing and faith forming experience. If you would have told me 4 or 5 years ago that I would be in Slovakia today I would have responded with “What? Where’s that?”…. At least give it a look :)
Tak ze – (“So then”) I have a lot to tell about November! I’m very excited to share it with you. So put on some Christmas tunes, sit back and relax and let me share with you what month number two has been like in Vrbovce. Once again, I encourage you to print this out if need be for a late-night, fireside read or save it in your inbox until finals exams are over. And if you’re one of those busy students that’s finishing up papers and finals (and might stop reading after this sentence) I wish you lots of luck and I encourage you to take a quick look at my pictures! Fast and easy.
So here are my updated pictures for November! Highlights include a Slovak Halloween, basketball with the girls, a Slovak wedding, and Thanksgiving in Bratislava!
I pray that God fills your heart with hope during the approaching Advent season and I wish you all lots of love and peace in the Christmas season!
God’s peace and love,
“Katka”
Serving in Slovakia
Stories of a Volunteer in Vrbovce
November 2006
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayers and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
~Philippians 4:4-7
Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart
I celebrated Thanksgiving in Bratislava this last weekend with about 30 other Americans (and a few awesome Germans!) that are living in Slovakia right now. The thing I was the most thankful for, believe it or not, wasn’t the delicious turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole or even the amazing pumpkin or pecan pie. The thing I was most thankful for was the harmony and peace that came through conversation, fellowship and song.
As I’ve told many of you through e-mail, on most days here in Slovakia my joys and discoveries far outweigh by challenges and struggles. But I’m not going to sugarcoat my experience, this past month there have been struggles. But to help me stay positive I’ve begun listing things in my journal (even small things) that I can thank God for at the end of my day. Let me share with you a cornucopia full of blessings from this past month.
I’m so thankful for:
- Kristina and Dušan – My host parents – for always having ears that are willing to listen, hearts that care enough to welcome me in as family, having shoulders to cry on or having smiles and laughs that fill my heart with joy. They share their lives with me while baking cooking, killing pigs, or watching “Let’s Dance” on Sunday evenings. Mam výborne Slovenska rodina! “I have a wonderful Slovak family!”
- A Strong Stomach – I’m blessed to have a stomach of steal and am willing to try almost anything once. (Katy chuckles) Even rabbit, duck, pigs liver....
- The children and youth that I work with – We laugh together as I stumble through phrases, slowly learning more Slovak as we play games, make crafts, or just be silly.
- Long underwear- why hadn’t I discovered this stuff sooner?
- Letters and packages! My mom is amazing – she mailed me two packages containing some wonderful gifts from home. My favorite items were a jar of my favorite creamy Peter Pan peanut butter and my “well-past-worn-out” Wichita Wings sweatshirt.
- People that are patient enough to speak to me in Slovak.
- My liberal arts education – Who knew that knowing a wide variety of information (otherwise known as a lot of random facts) could come in handy teaching English?
- My training as a camp counselor – and the fact that I’m willing to do almost anything now just for the sake of “silliness.”
- God’s ability to lift us up, even if we fall. J
I pray that each of you also had a blessed Thanksgiving and were able to rejoice in the many gifts that God has given us.
***An “OOO FUN!” Fact of the Month***
Here in Slovakia kids and adults alike celebrate both a birthday and a “name day.” For each calendar day there is a designated name. So for example, November 24th was my name day. (Katerina) When I arrived home from my trip to Bratislava (it was so cute) Kristina and Dušan handed me a box of chocolate and showered me with wishes of health, happiness and love. Kids at the school often hand out candy to their friends on their name days. So what happens to the “Willows” and “Jalas” of the world? Do they have name day? Here in Slovakia parents are limited to the names that are found on the calendar –so no they don’t - and at school I have a hard time remembering all the “Lenkas” and “Martins.”
“Katy, how do you live?”
Earlier this month my good friend Jo asked me this question and I thought that I would briefly explain my food, housing, etc. The costs of caring for one volunteer in my program total about $9000 a year. The ELCA pays for my travel expenses, health insurance, seminars, etc. – and I also receive a monthly stipend for food and necessities. Here in Slovakia I’m given 4000 Sk (Slovak Krowns) each month for food, and 4000 Sk each month for spending money (toiletries, bus tickets, etc.) One U.S. dollar is equal to about 35 Sk. So…I’m given about $230 a month. I eat my breakfast, supper, and weekend meals at the Eliaš home and eat my lunches at the grammar school. The total cost of my meals for an entire day is about $5.
People in Slovakia pride themselves on being good hosts and hostesses (the best I’ve ever met!) – and because of that, I’m never hungry. I believe someone told me that the average wage of people here in Slovakia is about $6000 a year. There are times while I’ve been here that I’ve been humbled by the fact that, in Slovakia, my stipend is more than the monthly pay check of many people in my village. But Slovaks are also very proud of what they have and want to give everything possible to their guests (i.e. me). For example, each month when I give my food money to Kristina for my meals she immediately says that it’s too much and gives half of it back to me. I have to try and convince her that this is what my country coordinator says to do, and usually after about a five minute game of “money ping pong” she accepts the money. They care for me as if I’m one of their own – what dear people!
Careful to Conserve
Over the last month I’ve marveled at how good the people of Vrbovce are to use all their resources – right down to the last drop. At the school where I help teach English each classroom has 6 or 7 large, tall windows to let the sunlight in – they turn on electric lights only when absolutely necessary. When Kristina goes shopping she brings with her the plastic sacks that she’s been given in prior trips to carry her groceries. And a trip to the corner store might be made almost daily for fresh bread, yogurt, fruits or vegetables. Many people take only what they need for the day – or only what they can carry. More people walk, take the bus, or carpool here in Vrbovce then I’ve seen any place in the U.S. They don’t want to waste “petrol.” Not even “waste” goes to waste. Manure from pigs and rabbits is used to fertilize the garden for next spring. When the Eliaš family killed their two pigs this month every (and I mean EVERY) part of that pig was utilized. And what I would throw away as trash (old letter envelopes, empty tea cartons, etc.) is used as fire starters to heat the kitchen fire. The people here are grateful for what they have, careful to conserve it, and wise in using it. These people are good stewards. Period.
Coming from a culture that has a mentality of “pay less, buy more – use, use, use!” it’s hard for me to take in and absorb a culture that values the resources that it has and uses them to their fullest. How do we retrain our minds to remember that God has called us to be stewards of his creation – not abusers? How can I be a better steward – not only now, but when I return to the U.S.? I’ve grown up hearing countless talks about Reusing, Renewing, Recycling. My family saves milk cartons, pop cans, and newspapers to recycle. But now that I’ve been in Vrbovce – that just doesn’t seem like it’s enough. I feel like I need a mentality transplant. I want to retrain my thoughts to think “do I really need to buy this?” “could I reuse this material somehow?” “katy! remember to turn off your bedroom light!” But I’m not going to lie – it’s insanely difficult to retrain a brain that has been told for 22 years to “buy, use, and buy some more.” But sometimes God calls us to do the difficult – to go against the grain of our own selfishness, pride, and sinfulness. So I continue to ask myself...how can I find new ways to save energy? What does it mean to be a steward of God’s creation? And how can I be more careful to conserve?
“Oh Slovak….”
While my Slovak is slowly improving, I still struggle with the language barrier. My Slovak parents are good to help me in the evening when they can – and I’m always happy when I find people that are patient enough to talk to me in Slovak. I continue to be surprised at what I can remember and surprised at what I forget J. It continues to be humbling to be the person that can’t always communicate well, or can’t always say what she thinks. It’s been humbling as well to give up the power that comes with being able to speak. I’d never thought about how much power are in words. I’ve been able to reflect on a quote that my YAGM mentor sent me earlier on this month- take a look – it says a lot.
“What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life…The long painful history of the church is the history of people ever and again tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over being led.” ~Henry Nouwen “In the Name of Jesus.”
Jesus gave up all the power in the world for us. He became completely humbled, the ultimate servant. I can only hope that over the next couple of months I can continue to learn how to speak – not only with words in Slovak, but also with words of love.
Slovak 101: Lesson #3 for Family and Friends
· “Hi/Bye” – “Cau” (pronounced “chow”) It’s an informal greeting – and I love it when all the little kids at the lunch tables are whispering and waving at me – “Cau Katy!”
· “Wait!” - “Poèkaj” (pronounced “puch – kaj” (like kite),” I think this word is so much fun to say and people say it almost as often as Americans say “okay.” I like to stick it in as many phrases as I can..(wink, wink) “Wait! let me think” – “Wait, say that again?”
· “Can I help?” “Môžem pomoc?” (pronounced “mough-shem po-mough-ts” A handy phrase for me to know because I can say it to about anyone – the kids at school , Kristina while she’s baking cookies, or the teachers at the school.
· “What is it (the weather) like outside?” “Ako je vonku?“ (pronounced “Ah-kough yeah vonku”) I’ve found the weather in Vrbovce is a lot like Kansas – unpredictable!
· “It’s raining/snowing” “Prši / sneží” (pronounced “ per-shee / sne-shee”) I’ve only gotten to say that “it’s snowing” once so far! But it’s been a really rainy November.
· “What a beautiful day!” “Krásny den.” (pronounced “krah-snee dien”)
· “Merry Christmas” “Veselé Vianoce” (pronounced “vessel –ay via – not-say”) And I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas holiday!
**Coming next month!**
Vrbovce’s dialect – special words that are completely different from Slovak!
Plus- Christmas words & worship words!
A Week in the Life of a YAGM volunteer….
Many of you may be wondering what I’ve been up to this last month. Like I said at the beginning of my e-mail – there have been many great experiences over this last month. I love lists and outlines so here is an example of what a week in November might have looked like:
Monday: (this month I started to)Help with conversational English at a high school in a town near Vrbovce.
Tuesday: Sometimes tutor a high school English student in Myjava – (this month I started to) Teach an evening English class in the Old School for people that know “some” English. (that definition is so vague it’s funny :))
Wednesday: Present on a topic (i.e. American Indians, Food, Wild like in U.S.) at the grammar school in Vrbovce for the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th classes. Maybe play cards or frisbee with some of the kids from the school.
Thursday: Help Kristina or Miroslav at the parsonage on the computer and in the evenings teach a “beginners” English course – a challenge for this religion major.
Friday: Play basketball with teenage girls and Radka (English teacher) and go to choir in the evening.
Saturday: Anything and everything – this day is always exciting and random! In the evenings is youth group at 8:00.This last week we made an Advent wreath! How cool!
Sunday: Church at 10:00am – followed by a delicious lunch where I’m usually a guest in Pani or Pan “someones” home. This day is also random and even though I might think that I know what’s happening next, I usually am surprised!
Many people have asked me “what are you doing in Slovakia Katy?” And believe it or not, I’ve asked a similar question to God several times..”God, what am I doing in Slovakia?” Like I mentioned at the beginning of my e-mail, this month has had it’s fair share of joys and struggles. One thing I’ve struggled with a great deal is the fact that I’m called upon here to teach a lot of English – something I thought I felt prepared for – but found out otherwise. Here is a small part of a journal entry I wrote one day after an English class at the grammar school:
“Sometimes I talk to God and say (a lot like Moses) “Who am I to teach these people English? I get angry at God and think “I majored in Christian Ministry, not English. I don’t feel equipped for this Lord! It’s uncomfortable and weird, and teaching makes me feel scared and vulnerable. I’m a terrible speller and my handwriting is like chicken scratch! I get nervous Lord and wonder ‘am I good enough?’ ‘am I smart enough?’....’am I enough? God, what do you want me to do?’”
I’ve listened to the following song, by a band called Relient K, over and over this last month. I’ve found comfort in the fact that I can place my worries and anxieties in Christ’s hands and not worry about what I can’t do, but concentrate on what God is doing.
For the moments I feel faint....
Verse 1:
Am I at the point of no improvement?
What of the death I still dwell in?
I try to excel, but I feel no movement.
Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?
Chorus:
Never underestimate my Jesus.
You’re telling me that there’s no hope.
I’m telling you you’re wrong.
Never underestimate my Jesus.
When the world around you crumbles,
He will be strong, He will be strong....
Verse 2:
I throw up my hands, over the impossibilities.
Frustrated and tired, where do I go from here?
Now I’m searching for the confidence I’ve lost unwillingly.
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear...oh..oh..
(Repeat Chorus)
I think I can’t, I think I can’t.
But I think you can, I think you can (x2)
Gather my insufficiencies and place them in your hands
Place them in your hands, place them in your hands...
(Repeat Chorus)
Instead of dwelling on the question “God, what do you want me to do?” I’ve tried to concentrate more on “God, what do you want me to know/learn?” And to be honest, in only two months in this village I haven’t “done” a lot – but I’ve learned a ton. I thank God every day for this opportunity and for the Holy Spirit’s presence in my life. Even though life isn’t always easy, like it says in the verse from Philippians “God is near”, and his presence provides us with strength for today and hope for tomorrow.
May you find strength and hope in God as this Advent Season approaches!
Gods love and peace,
Katka
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