Fast -- Forward to Slovakia

2011-02-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

Conclusion: Juggling a monthly newsletter, FB updates, teaching responsibilities, NCIS (:o), and a blog has its challenges, and we become slightly dilatory in nature (Now there's a word for you!). So, the following is our attempt to update you who track our lives via Blogspot. Here we go!

Following the brilliantly colored autumn here in Martin, the tag-in of October and our second November in Martin tumbled into our lives once more. Fall brought familiar routine and surprises as well. (OK, so this pix isn't so brilliant with color, but it was taken in the fall and I like it :0)

Larry found himself teaching a new level of English learners at Zilina U, this time English majors in their final year of coursework before testing for state certification in English. With a minimum of assistance, he has stepped up to the plate with this opportunity (two 2-hour classes on Mondays), supplementing university curriculum with his own resources, and in the process is acquiring a larger community of young people who are again curious about his doing this type of work as a volunteer. Opens all kinds of doors! He continues this course this semester, which began Feb. 7, with even more students.

A plus to these Monday classes is ongoing conversations with Larry's office mate, who speaks fluent English, giving them both opportunities to discover and share a great deal about each other.

On August 15 little Johana (third baby from left) joined her parents, Biba and Bohdan and big brother Martin; then September welcomed twins (first babies on left) to Janka, the Bible School secretary, and her hubby. Several of us visited her when the babies were only 2 or 3 days old. All of us squeezed into this tiny room designed for two patients---both beds were occupied with moms, both of whom had twins in the room with them!

October/November brought an updated slate of elementary school teachers who want individual English instruction. And new teachers are currently joining the staff since several teachers will be taking maternity leave between now and June. Last week was the last work week for one teacher whom I've tutored since our arrival in 2009. She has requested that we continue to meet during her leave--I was delighted, for our conversations take us into deep heart matters. She's growing--in more ways than one!

November brought us a special taste of an American Thanksgiving in that, not only did we have our local group of ex-pats here (Americans, Norwegian med students, as well as our Slovak crew) in our flat to enjoy turkey, etc., but we also hosted two young American college students from the Vancouver, WA area who are currently experiencing a "semester abroad" in Florence, Italy. L-O-N-G ago our daughter babysat Bethany, one of these young women.

Bethany's mom even sent table dec's for the meal. Pumpkin and pecan pies added the finishing touch.

By the way, the turkey was hand-delivered to our door the day before our T-giving dinner by the local turkey farmer. He was fully dressed--I mean the turkey. Well, now that I think about it, I must clarify--BOTH were dressed, of course. Hmm, the further I take this, the messier it gets.

In the middle of all the T-giving festivities, a care package of goodies arrived--"Just a Little Help from Our Friends."

One late November afternoon Milan Kubik, one of our pastors, invited us to join him for a "nature walk" as it is called here. It turned out to be a spectacular walk up into a nearby national park where, upon our arrival, the snow began to fall and turn nature into a winter wonderland.

About .5 km into our walk, we left the main path to maneuver a winding, VERY narrow path til suddenly looming above us were the ruins of an ancient castle (c. 13th century). Up we hiked for some breathtaking views.

December was filled with Christmas rehearsals for the annual church choir's Christmas presentation Dec. 12. In addition, the choir sang Christmas selections throughout the 3 days of Christmas services (Dec. 24-26). In this country December 24 is the day of celebrating, family gatherings, gift openings, and worship services.

This choir continues to embrace Larry and me, exhibiting a great deal of longsuffering as we attempt to communicate in their language. Now I'm having to learn some basic musical terms in Slovak since the director requested that I teach the choir a praise/worship song to sing in English. Oh, could I use your prayers on this!

The elementary school here also presented two student Christmas programs--I'd never seen the Christmas story presented via ballet until now--it was lovely:

This has not much to do with Christmas but: I grin from ear to ear every time I walk through/by a group of young students and hear them chirp their friendly greetings--in English.

One group of first graders, however, surrounds me each week as I'm concluding a tutoring session with their teacher, and they literally bombard me with questions--in Slovak, of course. They are incredulous that not every human on this planet speaks their language. So I manage to eek out, "Prosim, ešte raz, pomaly," and they smile, but mostly their smile means, "You're not listening!" and the "conversation" begins once more--and louder!!

On the first day of Christmas vacation a family I tutor invited Larry and me to the family’s country home to enjoy Christmas goodies and conversation. This family home has seen 6+ generations of the Mizur family come and go; it’s located in a tiny village whose claim to fame is a beautiful cathedral AND the birthplace of ancestors of Benjamin Franklin!

In the photo below sits Grandma Mizur (on the rt.), who is learning English right along with her son and family--an admirable trait, wouldn't you say?

On the left is what happens at the gate of a very delayed flight (ice storm)--almost one computer per passenger!

We were on our way to Germany where we celebrated Christmas with the Philipps family. (Their daughter Ina had spent 6 weeks with our daughter's and son's families as an exchange student the summer of 2009.) How we thrived as this gracious family with five children welcomed us to their celebration of Christ's birth. Deep snow blanketed that area of Germany (the Cologne/Bonn area),

We decorated the tree with them, we worshipped with them, we all experimented with each other's language, we ate way too much chocolate, we exchanged recipes (even my Grandma Jones' Chicken and Dumplings), and we sang and laughed together more times than I can count!

Danke schön, Klaus and Lena, Yasmin, Ina, Leonie, Nicklaus, and Lisanne, for memories we will carry in our hearts the rest of our lives.

January can be a bit slow in this country of only 7-8 hours of daylight this time of year. But it was recently brightened by folks like these in these pictures.

More about them next blog!!! :D

Thank you for following this incredible journey of ours. We stand in awe.

And--Happy Valentine's Day!

Emmanuel!
LaBr

Fasts Live Fast!

2010-10-23T03:19:00.001-07:00

One year! The colors and harvest are telling indicators that we've been here an entire year--seems like MAYBE a month!

And once more, friends (sometimes new, sometimes not so new) and precious family have filled our lives with wonderful memories (likewise sometimes new, sometimes not so new (:o)

Chris and Marie Schnabel (friends von Deutschland whom we've known for many years) visited us for 10 glorious days in August. Together we visited the Slovakia Larry and I have come to know, and together we discovered unfamiliar Slovakia treasures, like the tiny village of Vlniec. This village's populace has dwindled to fewer than 300 people, in part because its people have a preference for the "Old" Slovakia way of community and living.

So one walked along its rutted street or two trying not to intrude into the quaint way of living. OK--I confess: we took a few photos, as inconspicuously as possible . . .

. . .then had a mouthwatering picnic in the nearby meadow,

where we were rewarded with this spectacular view of sheep and their shepherd wandering and dozing on the nearby mountainside, while sheep bells of every pitch gave us a lovely, distant concert that not even the best Dolby system could offer! (You may need binoculars to see the sheep!)

Early September found us on our way with our local church choir to Gotha, Germany, where we had the privilege of singing for a regional Lutheran Church gathering. (I wish you could hear this choir--they're quite good!!!!!) We gave an outside concert in the town center, THEN we sang several numbers in an ancient church with ceilings that bumped the sky and acoustics that echoed heavenly renditions to all participants. Never in my lifetime would I have expected the joy of singing in the ancient halls of Europe. An extra bonus of this trip was expanding our circle of friends among the choir members--we did the entire 22-hour trip (11-hours one-way) plus concerts in under 48 hours!!!

September 21 brought us our daughter and her husband (Tamarah and Eric) for a fantastic visit that was indeed a thrill. They are the first family we've seen for almost a year (except for Skyping, of course, which is wonderful, but not like the real thing!). They were celebrating their 15th anniversary (which was in March); this was their first trip to Europe, so Slovakia was their introduction to this continent.

After 5 days here, we all traveled by train to Prague, CZ, where Ta and Eric discovered this incredibly beautiful city, heard an organ concert in another of those ancient cathedrals, enjoyed Czech cuisine and history, and strolled along the Moldau River, the inspiration for Smetna's "Dance of the Moldau"--which was the musical selection Tamarah had used for her Bride's processional for their wedding! I'm not sure their feet touched the ground their entire stay in Prague!

You might wonder at all this free time for travel. Well, the Bible School did not resume classes until Sept. 22. The elementary school (whose teachers are my students--more and more they are having to use English with their students) resumed work the first week in September, but their first few weeks were understandably chaotic, so I did not resume my tutoring sessions until Oct. 4. This allowed us some much needed R&R and, as you can see, we made the most of it!

Now we are back in full swing here. Larry is teaching two 2-hour college-level English courses in nearby Zilina University--a very demanding job, especially for a volunteer English teacher who really had not expected to teach English here at all!!!!! He also teaches two 2-hour English classes here at the Bible School. AND he's doing a fantastic job--I'm soooo proud of him!

I have a full plate with 21 teachers to tutor each week plus 3 outside private tutoring sessions a week. I'm busy but thoroughly enjoying every minute! Several opportunities for conversations of significance have come about in these first weeks of school. What a joy!

Yesterday I went with several of the young Bible school staff wives to the local hospital to visit Janka, the Bible School's secretary on maternity leave since she gave birth to twins this week! As you can see, there were 9 bodies of all ages in this room--actually there were 11, but one was the young mom taking the photo, plus Janka's roommate (who gave birth to twins this week, also!!!). I love the feeling of "family" this community embraces. Wow! Just look at all those "grandbabies" I can love up on in the coming months!

Living in a new culture for an extended amount of time is stretching, sometimes befuddling, but always enlightening. We've no idea where all this will ultimately will lead. But we thank you for your interest, support, and prayers as we simply experience "Being" here. "When He says 'Go', we will go."

Emmanuel--Brenda and Larry

Suddenly Summer!

2010-08-04T06:52:00.000-07:00

After living in Washington for over 30 years, we watched our cycles blur, become routinely comfortable, predictably manageable. Suddenly summer has invaded this new land we now call home for a season; another culture's cycles unfold, and we find ourselves led along, and occasionally jolted, from one cycle into another. Manageable predictability here is not a common commodity, yet curiously the experience refreshes, teases, and infrequently puzzles us.

So, rather than trying to speak the experience, perhaps pictures can lead you where they--and you--will, speaking to you in their own silent language as the living they represent has spoken into our lives in recent months.

As you can see, our summer has been full of people--people of all ages, backgrounds, needs. Some entered our lives for the first time only this summer, while others have found us each summer we've returned. Being a part of their life experiences is an honor and delight almost too rich for words, as we watch them grow in their awareness that God is ever seeking them, loving them--just as He seeks and loves each one of His creation. --Emmanuel!

WEEKEND in the HIGH TATRAS

2010-08-04T02:49:00.000-07:00

We should know by now to beware of words like easy, mild, short, etc., especially when spoken by our Slovak friends in relationship to mountain hikes. But we fell for it again this past weekend (July 30-Aug. 2) while we were guests of one of Brenda's students and family in her tiny village of Gerlachov, nestled into the foothills of the breathtaking Slovak portion of the Carpathian Mountains, (called the High Tatras here) where most every home frames itself in lovely kveti (flowers), and everyone knows his neighbor by name.

Lenka's Uncle Jan (pronounced "Yawn"), a

66-year-old lifetime hiker, expertly guided us less-than-expert hikers up onto these

bewitching slopes,

successfully encouraging us

to reach one of his favorite lakes where even fish can't even get enough oxygen to survive!!!! Uncle Jan's word of choice was pomaly!!!! (i.e., slowy!!!!)

We glady obliged him as we made our way up paths designed more for the chamois than Nike's!!! But seeing these beautiful creatures in nature effectively made all the sore leg muscles worthwhile!

Although Sunday's venture promised to be

much easier (there's that word again!), in fact, the hike was simply shorter,

because it rained, you see, allowing one's feet to slide off the craggy, steep rocks at lightning speed and without advanced notice, thus allowing the unsuspecting hiker to arrive here or there* much sooner than anticipated--or planned!

*Pixs on left/right: "Here and there" moments!

(About the poncho: I brought along a brand new poncho, but alas! As the rain began, my poncho proved to have only one sleeve and no opening for my head. Fortunately Lenka had an extra! (poncho, I mean, not head!)

But suddenly an "ah-ha" scene would appear--

--eclipsing all the aforementioned slipping and sliding!

We returned from this hike just in time to celebrate the 60th birthday of Lenka's mother. (The birthdays of significance in this country are the 10th, 20th, 30th birthdays, etc.). So this was a celebration of significance, including barbecues, breads, salads, watermelon, a HUGE birthday cake, and, of course, the ubiquitous Slivovica (with apologies to my Slovak friends, but Slivovica is somewhat akin in taste to non-poisonous anti-freeze--about 150-proof--and unforgettable, except for the morning after. Supposedly it is brewed from a choice of fruits, this one being a plum variety). Between Slovak, German, English, multitudinous gestures, and hefty doses of Slivovica, communication abounded! It was truly a wonderful celebration as the pictures below will show:

Lenka's mother and grandmother:

Our indefatigable hiking guide:

Uncle Jan (This is his second most favorite activity, next to hiking!)

And meet our lovely hostess, Alenka, who fed us so deliciously,and entertained us so graciously, and taught us so wonderfully about her Slovakia.

Then . . . . say hello to: J

Jacob . . . and

Daniela . . . and

Emma . . .,

who are . . . . . .

Lenka's nieces and nephew (AND triplets at that), children of her identical twin sister (whose name eludes me at the moment :(

MAY DAY!

2010-05-01T00:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to May in Slovakia! That is, welcome to the first day of May. But since April has walked through our lives and left its lovely imprints, here are a few April thoughts, memories, and photos.

Spring seems a bit more hesitant to show its colors in this country, at least to us Washingtonians, but Easter Sunday gave us a hint that Spring was on its way. We were Easter dinner guests of Mlada and Jozef Sopoliga in the little outlying village of Pribovce. [Jozef is the manager (i.e., principal) of the Lutheran Elementary School affiliated with the Martin Bible School.] Their spacious home is the former parsonage for this little church that has a metallic roof which sparkles like silver if the sun chooses to show up--which it didn't on this Easter Sunday! But the church is charming, shine or no shine!

You have likely read about our participation in a Bible Study which consists of numerous young people from Slovakia and Norway plus 4 crazy Americans. One of the young women, Martina, will be married May 15 in the village of Mokroluh, near the town of Bardejov in northeastern Slovakia. Bridal showers are not a part of the typical customs here, but the gals in this study liked the concept, so shower Martina we did! Cecile made the lovely cake, all of us created stunning (or not so stunning) bridal gowns from TP, and the bride picked her TP design of choice. The adjoining picture speaks for itself!!!!!! The bride-to-be is second from right.

It will our privilege to attend this very traditional Slovak wedding; we've been advised to Fast from now until then!

To celebrate a birthday with a friend is always an honor. Alena, one of the Elementary School teachers I tutor, invited her school colleagues, along with Larry and me, to celebrate her 40th birthday with her last month. How I wish I could duplicate some of the sweets we sampled, but their spelling exceeds my capabilities!

Two weeks ago our friends the Valcos' invited us to go with them to the town of Bojnice south and a bit west of Martin. We wound our way through sleepy villages, some awaiting us just around the next curve, others along hilly ravines, but all boasting quaint churches with their ever-present steeples directing the observer's eye "from whence our help comes."

The first hint of what Bojnice offered was a distant view of its beautiful Bojnice castle. But since Marek (1st grade) and Magdalena (age 4 or 5) were a bit more interested in the zoo, the other Bojnice attraction, I took scads of pictures of the castle, a sight to see later this summer.

The zoo is tucked in among the hillside forest, affording both humans and animals the opportunity to enjoy each other in a spacious and lovely green setting. The bears showed the most personality, as you can see!

But flamingoes sleeping on one foot do deserve a little press, don't you think?

Last Sunday we again were invited by Michal Valco and family to their family mountain cabin just outside the tiny village of Liptovsky Pokruba, located in the valley between Slovakia's well-known mountain ranges, the High Tatras and the Low Tatras. We hiked the hills and scampered across mountain meadows absorbing as much of the cool mountain air as possible and snapping as many photos as the camera's battery could handle!

Even at that elevation strong-willed mountain flowers were beginning to hold their own among winter's dreary brown grass.

We came back to the cabin for a warm bonfire and roasted sausages. Neighbors came to call as we were getting ready to leave, including 2 local ladies who wanted to meet these Americans. I (Brenda) had a ball "chatting" with them. Both spoke Slovak, of course. In addition, one could eek out a little German and the other could splutter along with a bit of English. Since I could handle the English, and could join in with the spluttering of Slovak and the eeking of German, what a cacophony of jabber we created, each trying to help the other there on that cool mountainside. But--somehow, we communicated!!!!!!!! The men just sorta shook their heads and watched at a safe distance!

Yesterday after we concluded our teaching at Zilina University, we took the time to walk through the Zilina Old Town center. We walked through the tunnel opposite the dingy, crowded, clanging train station, to be greeted at the tunnel's exit by a breathtaking view of a street bubbling with trees in bloom, shops offering every ware imaginable, and two gigantic, hillside squares bursting with chattering people, pigeons, and aromatic pizza vendors. But just a few steps further Zdena, our delightful friend from the university, led us into the cool, luminous quietness of a lovely cathedral where the brown-robed Jesuit monk padded before the altar, quietly fulfilling his solemn duties while saint and sinner alike settled into the pews, searching for whatever their souls needed.

We are approaching the end of the school year and are astonished at how fast 6 months have passed. How privileged to find ourselves being accepted and drawn into this culture. Our "community" continues to expand, and we pray that we will unfailingly be Christ's fragrance where God has planted us.

Sounds of Silence

2010-03-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

Handel's "Messiah"--sung in a structure designed for just such a work of art. The orchestra and 30+ voices answered each other eagerly, and the Slovak singers dared Handel's English to trip them up! Triple Forte'/Pianissimo--Crescendo-Decrescendo alike reverberating from the high ceilings--stunning. But the most magnificent moments were the silent pauses that musicians call "rests", for in the hush of a rest, the preceding chord would echo and spill over the listener and linger, just for a moment. The Sounds of Silence, I suppose. And to think, we almost didn't go!

Sometimes . . . .

2010-03-16T13:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to set aside the urgent and deal with the important. 10+inches of snow is definitely important, so we dropped everything yesterday afternoon and took a 2-1/2 hour hike in the nearby mountains. I'd never hiked in the falling snow--until now; I'd never stood in the middle of the mountain forest while the snow drifted to the ground all around--until now! I'd never "heard" the quiet of a winter wonderland--until now. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

My wonderful Slovak instructor offered to be our guide, concluding the adventure with a wonderful evening's supper in her home. Marvelous! Hopefully the pix will refresh you as much as the actual being there did us!

ANOTHER Travel Adventure!

2010-03-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Based on our experience thus far, trains come either directly from Zilina (where we teach on Thursday/Fri) to Martin or stop in the little village of Vrutky 5 minutes outside of Martin, where we can transfer to a shuttle into Martin. Friday we were able to leave Zilina a bit earlier than usual, so we caught a different Express, a bit smug that we were becoming expert trainers--AND for once getting home a little earlier than usual! After all, we had even purchased round-trip tickets before we trained to Zilina this particular morning.

We were calmly settling into our compartment as the train picked up speed, when the conductor did his usual "Ticket, please". I sensed trouble as he shook his head and said "No." Actually he said "Nie", but "no" is "no" in any language, especially when it comes from a uniformed person. Seems we were on a train that was dubbed Express for a reason--its next stop was in the beautiful town of Liptovsky Mikulaš, nearly 100km east of Martin! I asked (in German, a mutual language) "What shall we do?" and gave a look that must have looked like I might burst into tears. Apparently It was a grimace convincing enough that he shrugged his padded shoulders, explained how to get back to Martin once we arrived in Liptovsky Mikulaš, smiled kindly, and quietly moved on. No extra charge, no reprimand, just thoughtful, professional compassion for two goofy Americans.

We made it home fine! And, BONUS: it was a beautiful trip through snowy mountains, across icy rivers with swans drifting along, and with the memory of a conductor who smiled every time he passed our compartment!

Ah, Memories!

THE BALL

2010-02-27T11:07:00.000-08:00

Funny how the Father goes about building relationships. Here we are in another culture, ostensibly to teach English, and we do that. But in the process relationship happens--because conversation, awkward as it may be, can begin friendship. Barriers fade, connection happens, and the next thing we know, the student says, "Um, Brenda. Ball--University. Friday. You and Larry--come, please?"

One week later, after frenetic hunts for formal duds, including gold slippers (and a beautiful corsage from my handsome prince!), come we did, to an evening of 400+ gorgeously attired dancers swirling, shimmying, and twirling away the evening. Only after we arrived did we learn that Brenda's two students (Instructors at the University of Zilina) who had invited us were the two planners/coordinators of this gala affair!

Please pray that relationship leads to Relationship!

This Is the Day!

2010-02-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

Hurray! Finally a bunch of free moments all at the same time to update this Blog! Ever since The Fall (OK, not THAT Fall, but the Vienna Fall!), simply staying on top of stuff here has squeezed out all but the Bare Necessities. So hang on, as 6 weeks of life in the Fast Lane head your way.

January/February have been full of very cold temperatures and lovely, gentle, perfect-for-snowballs snow. My Idahoan hubby is reveling in this no-nonsense kind of winter--the kind he grew up in-- and has thrown more than one snowball of late! I'll let you figure out his most common target!

I'm told that snowfalls typically can continue here until April, so I'm not putting away the snow boots yet.

Larry, however, continues to slosh through the snow in his tennies and has remained incredibly warm and dry.

One snowy Sunday afternoon in early January Zdena Králová and her husband Jozef, from the University, invited Larry and me to lunch in Žilina . What a delightful experience. Jozef (at left) was the chef, and we enjoyed delicious food and good conversation. Their two boys decorated each adult with the animal stickers we had given them, but we were all clueless until, as I stood up, Zdena ever so gently and with apologies told me I had a monkey on my back. As she stood to remove my decoration, her husband not-so-quietly pointed out the giraffe on her (ahem) "back." Meanwhile the giggles from upstairs told all!

Our friend Mary Hamilton had the big five-o birthday last month, and we assisted in honoring her with a lovely party here at the Bible School. Mary has been a member of the church choir here, and they surprised her by serenading her with the traditional Slovak birthday song as well as singing one of her favorite choir songs that we sang for the Choir Christmas Concert.

Valentine's celebrating was a very personal time for us this month since it is not the commercialized event here that it is in the States. I love these kinds of cookies--they are available most any season of the year and are typically a honey cookie, one of Larry's favorites from childhood (his German Grandmom used to make them, but they were simple round cookies.) I THINK the words say something like "From My Heart to Yours."

We're discovering how very differently the colleges/universities here handle holidays and finals. For example, only just this week have college classes resumed for the second semester. Students have not been around since Christmas break, which began Dec. 17 because exams typically do not begin until the second week of January and are administered on a much more individual (and often oral) basis. Thus, students came and went during Jan/Feb. It does make for a lengthy holiday--and a VERY quiet campus! It is good to see their faces again.

Larry will be adding to his schedule two Bible School EFL classes this semester (each class meets twice a week). Together with his ongoing Thursday student classes in Zilina, and his Friday conversational classes with Zilina faculty/staff, his teaching is expanding!!!! Like all of us Learn-as-You-Go EFL teachers, he's feeling stretched! Please pray! But, the larger picture is what opportunities he is having to speak into the lives of a highly academic community who are somewhere on their Seeker-of-His-Heart journey. Please pray!

Remember that an additional opportunity Larry had at Zilina University this past semester was to proof English articles, written by English as their Second Language authors, for a new journal that the Department of Interdisciplinary Philology published recently? His responsibility was to help the English to flow as authentically as possible. It was challenging, but he did an excellent job. Yesterday he received a letter of commendation and official recognition as a member of the Editorial Board of this journal from the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University. The seed-planting opportunities are exciting. Again, please pray.

OK, so my broken-arm experience would not have been my choice for this time in my life. It's inconvenient, time-consuming, disruptive (esp. the rehab portion), and just plain not fun! In fact, last week I became so overwhelmed trying to squeeze rehab appts into a very full schedule, that I cancelled most of my teaching obligations and concentrated just on all the exercises and massages I need. That was a wise call.

But this amazing God we love never wastes a thing--period! See, this rehab center has rarely, if ever, had American patients, so they are full of questions--all in Slovak, of course, with a little German thrown in for good measure! Do I speak Slovak? NOPE! But they are so eager to communicate that they began helping me learn Slovak with my Slovak vocab flashcards so that they could learn the English equivalent at the same time! Suddenly rehab becomes a language class for all concerned. Even the doctor entered our Slovak-English-German Babel recently and concluded, "See, I am pu-PIL now, too!" Please pray that the Light will shine into these conversations.

Conversations--and conversations lead to relationship. That is where we find ourselves. Please pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts will be acceptable in His sight and winsome to the listeners.

Emmanuel--LaBrFast

HURRAY!

2010-01-27T11:35:00.001-08:00

The cast is gone! Now the real work (P.T) begins! Thank you for all the prayers for my "clipped" wing!

HRUMPHPHPH!

2010-01-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

Doc says the arm needs another two weeks in the cast. My sister suggests painting it wild colors for the sake of sanity. I kinda' like that idea!

WE FORGOT OUR CAMERA!!!!!

2010-01-09T01:02:00.000-08:00

One day last week we tackled our first train adventure to Banska Bystrica, a lovely town we'd visited our first summer here in 2007. The trip turned into a serendipity kind of journey, since a gentle, lovely snow had fallen during the night, turning our train ride the next morning into a winter wonderland: farmlands and valleys filled with red-tiled houses knee-deep in snow, ravines blanketed in deep white with stalwart evergreens stubbornly clinging to their steep inclines in snowy array, and solitary train shelters along the way for lone travelers from nearby villages. On the return trip that night, if the shelter merited a "manager", he would stand along the tracks waving his glowing lantern to alert the engineer of an awaiting passenger. But December's blue moon reflected so dazzingly upon the snow that, to me (Br), the lone lantern seemed amusingly superfluous!

Can you tell that this Florida person was smitten? The town we visited was beautiful in its own way, of course, but the train trip took first prize!

And, wouldn't you know it, the Fasts forgot their camera!

These past 3 weeks have been fairly low-key since the entire campus shut down for the holidays, which Larry described in his last post. But we've had wonderful opportunity to spend in-depth time with the folks who have remained here for the holidays. We introduced one family and their 2 little boys to the Southern New Year's tradition of Black-eyed Peas and Cornbread. I think the "culture shock" was on their side of the table that evening--but they asked for seconds, so apparently the shock was on the pleasant side! (Thank you, Kathy Blair, for the black-eyed peas!!!!!)

We've had several opportunities, also, for one-on-one conversations with folks dealing with grief and loss in recent times--a listening ear seems timely. Please pray that the words from our mouths will be wise and beneficial.

We took one last stroll in the snow this past week to add to our plethora of Christmas pix. If you are not "burned out" with Christmas, you might enjoy them.

A few days before Christmas (once Mother Nature indicated that below-freezing temperatures were to linger!), the city erected a small ice skating rink in the town center. It is small but ample for little ones (3-year-olds and up is my guess) to experiment with and discover the mystery of ice-travel! We stood and watched these little tykes, stuffed into their snowsuits, as they slid upon the ice--some on their skates but many on their buns. They looked like plumply stuffed sausages sliding across a greased skillet!

Emmanuel! BFast

P.S. Just to keep you updated, I go back to have my arm X-rayed Monday to determine whether I can remove the cast for good.

Larry's Thoughts: CHRISTMAS - 2009

2009-12-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2009 – Slovakia

I have not spent a Christmas outside the USA since I was in Viet Nam in 1970. Now, as then, the entire holiday season is different from what we typically celebrate in the States. There appears to be much less commercial flavor here in Slovakia than in the States. Whether this is because Brenda and I do not have ready access to radio, TV, and newspapers, or if they actually still maintain a more religious side to the holiday is a bit hard to determine.

St. Nicholas is a part of the overall season, but he shows up on December 6. One could see him or his helpers around the pedestrian mall handing out candies. He also appeared in the schools along with his “devil” counterpart for those children who were naughty. Apparently this is a one-day affair.

We have not seen as many outside decorations as we have Stateside. The central area of Martin (and Vienna) did have beautiful decorations lighting up the street. In general, however, this was about the extent of outside decorations. I am told that most families put up their Christmas trees on December 23 or 24. Gift opening and a family Christmas feast typically take place on Christmas Eve, often with fish as the main meat. Instead of Santa's bringing the children Christmas gifts, “Baby Jesus” brings the good children gifts on Christmas Day.

The churches have multiple services on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and again on St. Stephen’s Day, which is December 26 (re: Acts 7). The Lutheran Church here in Martin, Slovakia, was packed for both Christmas Eve services with standing room only for late comers. On Christmas Day not quite as many people showed up, but the building was full for both services. The final Advent service takes place on Christmas Day and involves the children of the church. The Church choir was also a part of these services. The church and family appear to take a much more central role in Christmas this year, in this place, than has been typical of most Christmases I have experienced in my own country. (If you zoom in on the church's nativity scene above, you will see that the Infant Jesus appears to be standing in His "cradle" welcoming His birthday visitors.)

May the Christ, Whose birth I have seen celebrated around the world, by both believers and non-believers, indeed find a place in your heart and life.

Velesé Vianoce (Merry Christmas) and Sťastný Nový Rok (Happy New Year)

New and improved Vienna Memories! :o)

2009-12-19T02:21:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are our photo memories of Christmas Sights in Vienna:

First, at a distance:

Then, up close and personal:

Chestnuts roasting on an open barrel fire (I like Tony Bennet's version better---per

sonally!)

THEN, it grew so cold, our picture-taking fingers froze, and we found a cozy cafe where Brenda could practice her rusty German a bit, enough to order warm, crisp, mouthwatering apple strudel--with magnificently rich whipped cream! Sorry- we forgot to take a picture!

Then, of course, we had to make a Fast break for the bus, and now I'm wearing our final souvenir from memorable Vienna on my left arm!!! (No pix, please!!)

VIENNA MEMORIES and . . .

2009-12-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who've not heard, La and I were in Vienna Sat. While following our tour guide very closely as we hurried through hundreds of other tourists to our bus p/u site, I tripped quite magnificently on a 2-inch high, hard-to-see concrete cornice. Result: one broken left wrist bone--below the joint PTL!! It was quite painful, and I managed to pass out momentarily (first time ever but very effective pain management!). I'm now sporting a partial hard cast which will be replaced with an unknown something else Fri. Only X=rays have been taken. Please pray that there are no other injuries (tendons, etc.), AND that I see the same caring doc as I saw today! The med. care has been compassionate, though admittedly a bit antiquated.

The Bible School folks here have smothered us with empathy and assistance, reminding us of our church back home. Likewise many of you have already sent messages of prayer and encouragement. Thank you!!!!! We feel loved!

We will post Vienna pix soon, but typing with only one hand does have its own pace!

EMMANUEL--Fasts

November in Slovakia

2009-12-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

Fast flies the time! We've been here two months, and we've celebrated both Slovak and American holidays. The Velvet Revolution National Holiday came and went quietly, as it name implies, as this country, along with numerous other European countries, remembered the freedom bells that rang out 20 years ago as they threw off the bonds of Communism.

As would be expected, our own Veteran's Day came and went here with little fanfare, except for the numerous FaceBook comments of appreciation for men, like my hubby, and women who are honored for the defense of their country near and far. And my hubby was blessed by these comments. Thank you, FaceBookers!

Thanksgiving, however, was featured here a bit more flamboyantly, since the presence of a healthy-sized American group created quite the opportunity for its observance.

And celebrate we did. Interestingly we had three nationalities represented--Slovak, Norwegian, and American--resulting in quite the international array of favorite holiday dishes from these lands.

How we squeezed enough tables and chairs plus 12 people into our rather small apartment (or flat, as many call it here), we really aren't quite sure, but see for yourselves!

Thanks to love packages from our daughter, daughter-in-law, my (Brenda's) sister, and a dear friend, we were well supplied with all the ingredients and spices to have a deliciously traditional dinner. These pictures tell the rest of the story!

Yes, we missed our family like crazy, but Skype helped!

And now Christmas is upon us. The Pedestrian area officially welcomed Christmas with its lovely display of Christmas lights which came to life a week ago.

We've seen little commercialism in the way of advertisements, etc. But then, we've no TV, radio, or newspaper to flaunt that aspect of Christmas in our faces. I went shopping with our friend Mary last weekend to purchase Christmas decorations at a rather large department/grocery store here in Martin; our search was confined to one aisle of choices!!!!

The common description of Christmas observance here, as shared with me by my delightful students, is that Christmas is confined primarily to Dec. 24-25, with its culmination on Christmas Day in the form of family gatherings for meals, songs, Christmas giving, and worship at church as the typical conclusion to the Day. Personally I find the understatement of this wonderful celebration refreshing, a great deal less stressful, and much more to the point! We have decorated our place using lovely Christmas candles with red and green accents, and LOTS of Christmas music, thanks to I-Tunes and allclassical.org, which broadcasts worldwide from Portland, OR. Fresh-cut trees are not readily available, and the few that are would require a copy machine to pay for! Furthermore, artificial trees somehow just don't smell right!!!!!

Our contacts with the area continue to expand. Larry and I are both now teaching at the University in Zilina as well as continuing with our classes and individual students here in Martin. Weekly, sometimes daily, opportunities arise to share the reason for the season. Please pray that our words will be ready and kind and straight from the Father's heart to the listener's!

We thank the Father for each one of you who reads this and prays for us!

Emmanuel--LaBrFast

Two Hurrays!

2009-12-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

First, as far as we know, our insurance letter has been accepted by the Slovak Foreign Police. At least, no news is good news! Many thank-you's for prayers on our behalf!

Secondly, Larry's lecture at the university today was to a full house and a most attentive audience of college students from every walk of life. He had anticipated the audience to consist primarily of faculty, so he had to do a spur-of-the-moment adjustment to make his talk applicable to a younger audience--he did a fine job. Again, thank you for all your prayers on his behalf!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS

2009-11-26T02:14:00.000-08:00

Finally the much prayed-for insurance letter has arrived--5 days after it was sent "overnight express". But it's here, and we are ever so glad. Now it must be translated by an individual approved by the Slovak gov't to do such translations, and our local said person is sick. However, we hope to get the translation done so that we meet the Dec. 3 deadline.

Please continue to pray that this letter will be acceptable to the Foreign Police when we bring it to their office next week.

Thank you for all your prayers--we are blessed!

Life moves along!

2009-11-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

Greetings this damp, cool November evening.

These past few weeks have been splendidly full of watching this culture unfold before us.

The picture above shows Martin's A Cappella Choir, which has has sung before such impressive audiences as Netherlands' Queen Beatriix, presenting a fantastic program right here in our own Lutheran Church, a structure with acoustics to showcase music by Mozart, Handel, and yes, even a contemporary composer or two! They were fabulous! I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. (The seats were very narrow to sit on the edge of, I might add, but the pews are ever so close so all was well!)

This past week we were invited to a birthday party

for little Timotheus (age 3!), the son of A Natalia.

Somehow we didn't get the email that it was also a costume party,

so we showed up as--Americans!

But as you can see, these folks take costumes seriously!I

I loved watching the parents "dance" with their little ones.

But I confess that the 3-layered birthday cake with whipped cream/rum filling competed for my attention as well! I'm not sure which won!

Thanksgiving is my favorite of all the holidays in part because it is a "coming home" holiday. Because we did not have nearby relatives to gather for Thanksgiving as our kids were growing up, we chose to find others in our community who likewise were "orphans" to sit around our table each year. Here we are now in a similar situation, with family far, far away. To fill the empty spots in our hearts and around our table, we have once more invited "orphans" to join us for our Thanksgiving celebration. Eight others will join Larry and me to enjoy the traditional turkey/dressing and pumpkin pie (thanks to two care packages from home) as well as non-traditional dishes that our guests from Norway and possibly Slovakia will bring. The turkey will arrive at our door next Friday (not under his own power and not in costume--the nearby farmer will see to that!), and we will celebrate our country's long-ago founding and faith.

Our routines are settling in as we watch our days fill with teaching and listening opportunities. It has amazed me (Brenda) to see the specific similarities between the work I've done for the last 13 years as an educational consultant and the work (joy!) in which I am now engaging--even down to working individually with women who need help (in this case) not only with language acquisition but in personal growth as well.

These past few weeks have been times of watching and listening to and stepping into this culture slowly, carefully, and gratefully. Our ears are slowly accustoming themselves to vowel-less syllables and words, our leg muscles are thankfully accustoming themselves to walking EVERYWHERE, and our hearts are gratefully watching God open doors to His work here. For example, Larry had 3 additional language classes added to his schedule at the University of Zilina this week. These classes are faculty and staff members at the university who want more opportunity to speak with an American English speaker. Another class is likely to be added this coming week. One of these classes consists of folks who have no English experience, so I will likely join Larry in Zilina to assist with this particular class. Already these new students are asking, "Why are these people doing this? They aren't being paid. Why would they want to come here for nothing?" Only God!!!!!!

Continue to pray that our visas will clear the final hurdles with the Slovak Foreign Police so that we are indeed "good to go" for these next two years.

Prayer Request

2009-11-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

We've run into a snag with our Visas. Seems the authorities are not totally pleased with the insurance we have in place, so we are being told what we have to do and have in place by Dec. 3 in order for our visas to continue to be valid! Please pray that these hindrances will be overcome quickly and satisfactorily!

Thank you in advance for bringing this before the throne!

ATTENTION!

2009-11-12T01:53:00.000-08:00

I think readers can post comments now. Give it a try.

First week in November 2009

2009-11-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here in Slovakia Oct. 31 begins All Saints Day Celebration; Halloween is a non-day here, for which we are thankful. We were out walking on October 31 and saw streams of people making their way to the cemetery. We followed at a distance, and what a sight greeted our eyes. The entire cemetery was a carpet of flowers and candles. This is a time when the Slovak families remember those who have passed away. They go as entire families - three and four generations of them - to the family plot and bring cut flowers and potted plants. Candles in tall glass containers are lit and placed around the grave sites. The cemetery was full of families, but there was a hushed, reverent atmosphere throughout the entire place.

On that Sunday, at the end of the worship service, one of the ladies of the church read a long list of names; these were names of people who had died during the past year. What a reverent and kind way to bring some closure for families affected by these losses.

Slowly we see doors of ministry opening. As we connect with various lives and situations, we're becoming more and more aware of opportunities to serve. As individuals confide in us, please pray that we will be sensitive and keenly tuned in to what God is about in these lives.

This past weekend has been packed with activity. It all began as Katka and I (Larry) were returning from Zilina. We drove into the parking lot and were informed that Bohdan and Adrian had just been involved in a multi-vehicle accident which totaled the car in which they were riding. They had just returned from the USA and were on the way home from the airport. Thanks to God's protection, no one was injured. The trip had been to share with churches in the US the possible expansion of the school. They have been able to obtain the use of land around the Bible School and church. They are hoping to expand the facilities to include up through high school. Pray with us that funds will be made available to fulfill these dreams.

Our Friday night Bible Study group had a new attendee on Friday, a young man from Georgia, who is teaching English in one of the outlying villages. Like the rest of us, he is eager (hungry) for connection and fellowship with other English-speaking believers. Mary, the leader of our study, asked us to "host" the study in our apt. this time. So, we borrowed an extra table and some chairs from the Bible School, and 11 people squeezed into our living room. It was exciting to be able to share together in our home. Again, opportunities for individual connections are emerging; if you want to know specifically how you can pray, please contact us at our email address. Blogs are simply too widely visible to be able to share personal situations.

We decided to have a game night the next evening and invited the Bible study group. Eight show up, to include the mother of one of the Norwegian medical students. There is now a group in Slovakia that knows how to play Mexican Train, with the strong possibility that it will make its way to Norway.

Sunday Brenda and I participated for the first time with the church choir in leading worship. I still do not know what the words mean, but we were able to follow the music and did not mess up the words too badly. In this very liturgical church there is a great deal of standing and sitting, none of which we know when to do except by watching the other worshippers, so to be in front of the entire church caused us to feel a bit vulnerable. Once I (Brenda) thought the pastor was praying (this is all in Slovak, remember!) since an older lady sitting in my line of vision had her head bowed. So I reverently bowed my head and closed my eyes, too. But then I heard those around me shuffling papers, etc., and I "peeked"-- it wasn't prayer time. The dear lady I was simply resting her eyes!!!!!

Following the church service, we had dinner with Milan, one of the church's co-pastors, and his family. His wife Zuzana is a pharmacist, currently on maternity leave for their 14-month-old boy; they also have two girls, ages 6 and 11. Milan and his family joined the staff of the church in July 2008 while we were here with the New Heights group teaching English. AND, Zuzana had made . . . . french fries!!!!! WaHoo!!!! What an enjoyable time getting to know them. The afternoon was topped off by going to coffee with some our Norwegian friends, plus Mary and Emily, an American young lady teaching here in the elementary school.

What a full, wonderful weekend. Brenda and I both feel like we belong. Why, it's even raining like it does at home!!!!!

Thank you for tuning in! We welcome your comments!

Come and See!

2009-10-31T03:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in our sunny and cozy little apt (the outside temp is only a bit above freezing). The laundry is reluctantly drying in our living area once more, our two newly acquired Christmas cactii are reveling in the brilliant warmth of their sunny shelf, and our new clock (one must have a clock SOMEWHERE in the area) is telling me why my energy level has suddenly plummeted. So, this post will be mercifully brief!

Larry will begin teaching additional English conversational classes to faculty/staff at the U. of Zilina in the next week or so. Since the curriculum is his choice, he's considering using The Shack as the discussion focal point to generate conversation. Should be lively! Furthermore, he has been asked to be the Guest Lecturer at the University Nov. 12, so he is busily putting that talk together--Topic is "Learning Styles". He's kinda excited about this. God is creating "audiences" that we would have never anticipated! And since religion is not a taboo in public educational settings here, the possibilities are breathtaking! Please pray!

I'm thoroughly enjoying the delights of working with 16 individual students (teachers at the Lutheran Elementary School here at the Bible School). In many ways this "job" reminds me of the work I did at HomeLink as an educational consultant. I have 16 clients with individual skills and needs who sit beside me 45 minutes/wk where, in addition to the tutoring, more importantly we learn about each other. And this, to me, is where ministry happens. Already some confidences are being ventured: One very bright young teacher--she holds a Ph.D in education and is a mother of 2--invited me to lunch in lieu of an official tutoring session Wednesday. Our conversation was insightful as she began to sharing some of her struggles and needs. Oh, Yes!!!! Again, please pray.

The Bible School here (now becoming known as Martin's Center for Christian Education (CCE), recently made a bid on and received a grant to provide English as a Foreign Language (EFL) to city employees. The CCE obtained this bid on the strength, in part, that they could provide instructors whose first language is American English. Thus, Mary Hamilton, Larry, and I are rather integral players here!

Thus, I also teach 3 separate classes of Beginners per week attended by Martin city employees. Each class meets twice a week. Sisa, a CCE employee and an excellent speaker/instructor of English, teaches each class their first sessions each week, focusing solely on grammar and pronunciation; and I meet with them their second sessions each week to help them review, practice, and explore the grammar presented earlier in the week. Many of these employees comprise the police force here; others are clerks. What fun I'm having with them. We laugh a lot at each other as we teach each other words in our own languages. “Circle” is a hoot for them to say; likewise, “zmrzlina”, their word for ice cream, tickles and twists my languid tongue, for It must transition from a “z” into a closed “m”, then on to the trill of the upcoming “r”, then back to the “z” which follows it, and then instantly embrace the awaiting “l”, before finally encountering a fairly straightforward “ina” (“eena”). Try it—but not when anyone else is around and not in front of a clean mirror. (This I know!!!!!) But the rapport we are building will hopefully open doors that just wait to be entered! Again, please pray!

Fall here is in full display, the mountains are declaring God's flair for color . . .

And as a reminder that He is Emmanuel, this picture awaits us out one of our apartment's many skylights:

Thank you, all you Blog readers, for keeping up with our Fast Forward journey.

Emmanuel! BFast

Choir Trip to Czech Republic

2009-10-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Maybe when I learn how to put this blog site together, I will be able to get my pictures where I want them, Oh Well! I'll bet you can figure them out anyway.

Last Sunday, October 25, we went with the church choir to a concert they presented in a church, in Tranovice, Czech Republic. Tranovice is in the SE corner of the Czech Republic, not too far from the Slovak and Polish borders.

Brenda and I had decided to give the choir a try right after we got here. While they really wanted us to sing with them, we decided not to this time, since we had only sung through the songs one time in practice. They did a fine job. I enjoyed it even though I could not understand what they were singing.

Our singing in the choir gives a whole new meaning to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord." I do believe that someone in the distant past told the vowels in this part of the world go on vacation to Hawaii, and they liked it so well they stayed. You should try singing four or five consonants all in a row. In fact some syllables are composed of just consonants, I'm sure. They must have some rule for this, but I have not learned it yet.

The church was much more modern than than one in Martin. We got there in time to worship with them. Our choir presented the special music in the worship service, and a concert later that afternoon. The day was beautiful, and it was all topped off by various members of their church taking members of our choir home for dinner.

We had four generations around the table, with a multitude of languages being spoken. We were assigned this family because many of them understood and spoke English. In fact, two of the sisters taught English and both of their husbands, one Polish the other Spanish, spoke English as well. The husband from Spain was actually a Baptist preacher, but currently out of work and living with his in-laws. They had three little boys, one 3 year-old and a set of twins who were 1 year old. The Polish husband's mother and grandmother live close by and joined us for Sunday dinner as well. There were 14 people around the table.

We counted up the number of languages spoken or someone having some academic knowledge and came up with: English, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Spanish, German, French, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Plus a dialect that the husband from Poland said he grew up with which was really a mix of both Polish/Czech. It was a mini United Nations.

With three families living under one roof, it was a bit crowded, but it really was a joy to see the multi-generation interaction. The father of the sisters owns the house and about 12.5 acres which surround it. He also enjoys raising horses and has a couple of horses which are of a rare Czech breed. The view of the surrounding country was beautiful, the interaction was wonderful, and our time with the family came to a close all too quickly.

The choir presented their concert in the afternoon, and the church provided yet another meal of sandwiches and desserts before we had to leave and come home.

All in all it was a wonderful time to get to know some of the choir members better as well as worship with another congregation and spend time with a wonderful family.

2009-10-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Not much text this time around, but just thought you might like to see God's paintbrush at work in another part of the world. For those of you who have been on a summer EFL team to Martin, you will recognize the glass building in the middle of the Pedestrian Mall, and the church.

Update as promised via Larry

2009-10-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Brenda promised you an update, but she has been busy all day planning what she is going to do next week with her Teacher-students. I have been Mr. Mom today, cleaning the apartment and doing the laundry. (Note: Brenda says: "Lots of husband points accumulated here!") I think we have mastered the washing machine, but even with the fan, the drying process has been very slow today. (See last week's blog.) Of course rainy, wet weather, with the humidity at about 99.9999% is not helping the cause any.

Just a quick update as to what each of us is doing "officially" and maybe even a bit of "unofficial" activities.

Official Activities:

Larry: I am teaching one advanced class on Monday and Wednesday morning at 7:00 AM over at city hall. Officially I have four students, all of whom handle English fairly well. Except for the first day, I have not had all four of them there at the same time. Last Wednesday, I asked Brenda to come along as my "show-and-tell". Actually I wanted them to get to meet her in person rather than just in pictures, and since she did not have a class at that time she came along. Some of the pictures I had were of her when she was a little girl, so I asked her tell about them. (Br's note: It was quite interesting to hear Alexander, who lived through the years of the Communist takeover, as he shared his perspective on those awful years; whereas Aleta, a much younger student, really could not relate to Alexander's painful perspective. She was 7 when Communism released its grip on what was then Czechoslovakia).

On Thursdays I go to the University of Zilina and do two English conversation classes of an hour and 40 minutes each. I have the option of splitting them into four 50-minute classes with 10 students each, which I may do, simply because having 10 students/class rather than 20/class will allow more conversation from all of them and keep their attention better than the longer/bigger class. The University Prof. has also asked if I would help edit some of their journal articles which have to be published in English because the journals are internationally distributed, not just in Slovakia. Those of you who know my propensity for misspelling words will probably find this as amusing as I do; however, they tell me that I will not have to "proofread", just help them with their word order, content, etc., to make sure it sounds correct in "American" English. Additionally, they have a guest lecture series, and wanted to know if I would consider being one of their "guest lecturers". WOW! Talk about a change from what I have been doing for the last 35+ years!

Brenda: Brenda teaches the second half of three beginning English classes for the city workers. These classes are taught on Monday and Tuesday by Sisa, a staff member here. Brenda sits in on Sisa's presentations and then follows up Wednesdays and Thursdays with more oral work. She also works with 16 teachers from the Lutheran elementary school, which is a part of the Bible School, throughout the week at various times. She has 12 slots of 45 minutes each for these 16 people, so a lot of them are getting 1:1 tutoring. Their skills range from upper beginner to advanced. The picture above is her preparing for her teacher-pupils.

Unofficial:

We have attended the Lutheran church which is associated with the Bible School each Sunday. While they are hoping to have regular translation into English available in the future, it is not in place yet. This makes worship interesting. We are beginning to put some sounds with letters, but have not even begun to master Slovak words, much less follow the liturgy, sermon, and hymns. We have decided to participate in the adult choir, however. We can both read the music and thus stay on pitch. We are getting better at making the Slovak sounds along with the notes. We have to trust them when it comes to content of the songs, because neither of us has the foggiest idea the meaning of what we are singing. The choir will be going into Eastern Czech Republic on Sunday to do a concert. We have been invited to go along. We are not planning to sing, having only sung through the songs once. But we are looking forward to visiting, even briefly, this neighboring country.

We are also involved in a Friday night Bible Study in English, conducted by Mary Hamilton, the other person here from New Heights Church. Besides Brenda and me, four Norwegian medical students who attend the medical school here in Martin and two Slovak students who have excellent English skills participate in this study. We have just begun a study of Matthew.

OOPS!

2009-10-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

Updates this weekend--we promise!

Basics in Laundry 101

2009-10-15T02:41:00.001-07:00

See the innocent looking washing machine above? Don't let it fool you. Apparently laundry theft must be a problem somewhere in Europe because this little machine has a 3-door opening (and thus closing!) process, somewhat akin to Swiss banks, I suspect. SO first, if one is lucky and this door does not have an attitude, one opens said door on top only to encounter a second door with, thankfully, a much kinder attitude. But alas, THEN one encounters the "Swiss bank": the door on the drum that has to be persuaded to unlock itself only if one pushes in the right places, ponders the options, and doesn't get one's fingers caught or worse in the process. Then and only then is one able to load the washer.

Now, remember that one has to reverse this process to close the monster? Well, I didn't exactly remember all the steps. So shortly after I had started the cycle (that's another narrative), Larry and I heard a clanking and clunking and thumping racket emanating from the laundry area a bit like someone trapped in a manhole who has finally found the exit cover above his head but it weighs 300 pounds.

THEN, when said load was completed, you guessed it: Would that top door open even a tiny bit? NOPE! But likewise, that, too, is another story!!!!

Basics in Laundry continued

2009-10-15T02:36:00.000-07:00

After final victory of man (woman) vs. machine monster, obviously drying follows. OK, we've no dryer in our apt., so we either hike to another building to dry clothes (up/down--up/down--up/down stairs. Good for the Cardio Vascular but inconvenient if one is washing late at night Besides, it sets off all kinds of alarms! NOTE: This is the voice of experience here.)

OR, the following sequence unfolds:

Supposedly our apt. is the warmest apt in this building, but our washed, wet clothes definitely did not get the email to that effect. So, innocently, one hangs out the said laundry (accompanying pix) with high expectations of at least its beginning to feel somewhat dry after a few hours. NOPE! Still wet as ever.

So, on to a bit of Yankee ingenuity.

DRY AT LAST

2009-10-15T02:31:00.001-07:00

Dear hubby thinks on his feet (it is now 10 pm and we're tired), and grabs the apt. fan for active duty. Granted, it's freezing, snowing, and blowing outside, BUT on went the fan, and by 10:30pm VOILA! Even the toes in cotton socks were letting go of the moisture left behind by the Monster Machine. By this morning we are down to only a few reluctant garments, and even they are coming around,--FAST!

Pretend!

2009-10-14T09:46:00.000-07:00

Just pretend you are seeing snow falling on Slovakia! Pix will come soon--I promise! And while I'm here: I had my first class today and WOW! Larry had his first class Monday and was amazed that he survived AND enjoyed it! Tomorrow he goes to the university in Zilina to instruct in English there as well. Well, that's what we're here for! (Well, at least initially!!!)

Fasts of White Gables

2009-10-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Our first blog from Slovakia

2009-10-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

We're in a whirlwind of settling in: figuring out how to turn on our gas stove, walking into our living room to get to the fridge, pondering a strange language, seeing Martin in Fall colors for the first time, hearing church chimes that are consistently several minutes off (but what does it matter?), and welcoming hugs from friends whom we've gotten to know from past summers here.

At the moment the rain is pelting upon our skylights, hinting at colder weather to come, we're contemplating options for celebrating our 40th anniversary tomorrow, and we are ever so grateful to you, faithful folks, for being a part of our journey to this land.

Abby's 1st birthday

2009-10-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

Get Ready . . .

2009-10-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

2009-09-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

Whirlwind weeks, past and present, spinning in our heads
Processing
Wondering how in the world to take everything we need without spending our entire pension!
Grieving over past/present/upcoming good-bye's
Too many last-minute "gotta' do's"
Wonderful evenings with friends
Savoring extra-special memories, esp. time with our kids and grandkids
Anticipating the unknown
Excited and scared in the same moment!

2009-09-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

2009-09-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

Memories

2009-09-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? We've been in CA visiting with Ry and Er, Micah, and Abigail (aka Abby). I'm storing up oodles of hugs and giggles in my "Memory Stash" to carry us through 2 years. Who am I kidding?

Abby at her best!

Winnie the Pooh always makes Micah smile!

Nevada City from the verandah of the must-see National Hotel!

We're returning to Vancouver tomorrow (Tues) to a whirlwind of stuff to do.

14.5 days and counting.

WOW!

2009-09-14T15:49:00.000-07:00

22 days and counting!

Breadmakers, Inc.

2009-08-08T13:25:00.000-07:00

Unforgettable Moments of Communion

2009-08-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

First Fast Blog

2009-07-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

July 31, 2009--seems to be an appropriate day to commence yet another venture into technology (i.e. Blogging!), thanks to my friend Shahla. So, bloggers--whoever you are--welcome to the beginning of the Fast Slovakia Saga.

Larry and I have just returned from our third 2-week jaunt to Martin, Slovakia. English as a Foreign Language (EFL) has been our purpose there (and will continue to be the thrust for Larry and me as we make Martin our residence for the next 2 years). What a fantastic, exhausting, rewarding, revealing time we had. If I get really handy with this Blog thing, I will post some pix of various "moments of significance" with the Beginner class. But for the moment words must serve as my paint brush.

Making Bread in a Bag and an intro to American money via an auction were hilarious moments for a class ranging from HIGHLY energetic eleven-year-olds to reluctant high schoolers to eager classroom teachers seeking as much English knowledge as they could pack into their brains to take back to their own classrooms.

Turns out that bread making is a dying art in Slovakia since widespread bakeries provide literally the daily bread for most of the country. Though to make bread brought initially raised eyebrows, within 2 hours the class had out their cameras in full force to record their first-time venture with flour and yeast, kneading, shaping, and then waiting as the aroma of rising and then baking bread filled the classrooms. Each table insisted on marking its own particular loaf with its table number to stake the claim on each table's particular handiwork! My team members from our church were magnificent in keeping this venture from total chaos (total is the operative word here!)

And the $$ auction? Well, since Slovakia's currency is now the Euro, our own money system is easier to teach. So, money id was quickly taught. But the auction--do you have any idea how "in-demand" such simple items as assorted candy, fake money, miniature soccer balls/ baseballs/ basketballs, and small canisters of Farp are? (I'll leave it to your imaginations the noise Farp makes when one pokes one's finger into it!!!!!!!!!!) Let's just say that the cultural reserve of the classroom kinda' dissolved!!!!!! The laughter and enthusiastic bidding with fake $$ was heard throughout the hallways! What a way to end the morning session.

Aside from the classroom memories, our Bible School hosts treated us to several jaunts into the surrounding country side. One such trip took us up into a national preserve overlooking the mountain valleys very much like the opening scenes from Julie Andrew's "The Hills Are Live with the Sound of Music" number. We roasted delicious sausages and bacon chunks (hopefully we ate enough bread to soak some of the fat!!) and watched the sun set as grand thunderheads formed to bring in rain, lightning, and thunder later in the night.

Another outing brought us to a tiny round stone church built on the hillside sometime in the 12th century in a picturesque village that no longer uses that church except as a place for weddings or other special events. (Imagine--no regular worship services take place there anymore.) But as a group we joined together for communion with our Slovak friends where our voices lifted praise to the God of all ages, breaking bread together as we sang--and none of us will be the same again. I like to think that the stones within that little sanctuary absorbed and added our voices to those of past believers so that "even the rocks will cry out in praise" to our Lord. Maybe someday we'll have ears to hear this beautiful choir of believers from across time.

Can you tell that we have once more been touched by this far-away country that will be our home for the next two years?

Stay tuned for more!