Suddenly Summer!

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

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!

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

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 . . . .

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!