We welcomed the friends from three churches at the breakthrough of June and July, one group from First Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota, Trinity Lutheran Church from Carrington, North Dakota and St. Andrews Church, Minnesota.
Our sisters and brothers from North Dakota realized interesting workshops for students in the Lutheran elementary school in Martin and helped with the painting of our Kindergarten, which will be opened this September. They also lead an English conversational course in Príbovce, a small village close to Martin. Friends from St. Andrews church, Minnesota prepared English conversational course for our students and the Vacation Bible School for 250 Slovak children!
God loves us. We can see it and feel it also on the basis of our joy from serving Him and our neighbors. God can use even small things that we can offer and make something beautiful and meaningful out of them.
Read the interview with Judy M. Steinhouse from Fargo, North Dakota, who prepared the Vacation Bible School for Slovak children. Enjoy ☺
1. If you think about VBS in Slovakia, what will be first idea what comes up in your mind?
What first comes to mind is the message of Jesus Christ and His love for of us no matter who we are or where we are from. That is what we hope to bring to the children and families in Slovakia. The second is seeing all the children again.
2. What do you find most rewarding in your service here in Slovakia?
The smile on the children´s faces and their delight in learning to do something new. That something new could be doing a craft or learning a new story about Jesus.
3. What have you found the most challenging in your service?
Communication mostly – My lack of understanding the Slovakian language sometimes made me sad that I cannot answer a student´s question. The interpreters’ are wonderful. I get by with the limited words that I know.
4. Have you managed the overcome these obstacles? If so, how?
Yes, flexibility in everything and it is present on all sides of the parties involved.
5. Will you miss anything from Slovakia?
The people, they are wonderful! The scenery is absolutely beautiful. To look at the mountains every morning is so nice, especially for me, because I come from a very flat part of North Dakota in U.S.A.
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We also prepared little interview with Lois Klostreich, a friend from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, who prepared the Vacation Bible School for Slovak children.
1. Great VBS is over. What do you find most rewarding in your service here in Slovakia?
The most rewarding part of being at VBS 2012 was forming new friendships with students and staff through our common bond with Jesus Christ.
2. It there anything you have learned during your service in Slovakia?
Being flexible is the most important thing in accomplishing our goals.
3. What is your energy source for your life? What charges you?
Wanting to share the Christian faith is what motivates me to return to Slovakia for the 6th time.
4. Will you miss anything from Slovakia?
I will miss the wonderful people we have learned to love over these many years – also the hot raspberries! (Note: hot raspberries is great ice cream dessert in Martin)
