Jessie na Slovensku!

After the retreat last weekend in Bratislava, and talking with Daniela about my placement here in Horna Micina we came to the conclusion that somehow things needed to change. She had a long discussion with my supervisor here, and then we had many discussions about how things can improve. We also talked about the center and what the hold up is. He is still waiting for the government to give the okay that it is registered and allowed to open. Until that comes we are not able to give pamphlets to hospitals and doctor’s offices to get clients. He was supposed to receive this by December, but he said there is no guarantee. Since it is a church-run center he says the government is not too concerned about it and will get to it whenever they get to it. So, it does not sound very promising that this will be open anytime soon, but he is not giving up on it. It was good to finally know exactly what was going on and what the hold up has been. Basically, it is very difficult for the church to open up a social service center like this. We talked about what this means for my placement, since that would have been where I was mostly spending my time. We decided that I can still teach Sunday school, deliver the lunches to the elderly, help teach English lessons twice a week, help with the Bible study at the church, and help with church office work that needs to be done. Right now there is not a youth group here, but somehow we would like to try to start that up. I have also met some students at the Lutheran high school in Banska Bystrica that would like conversation practice. So, I am going to try to start an after school informal conversation class with whoever is interested there. We decided to just see how that goes and then adjust things as we feel needed. It is difficult because I was excited about being placed in a center like this, and being able to do activities with the clients, but it’s just not working out like that. The village is so small also, so I have to travel to Banska Bystrica to be involved with the schools. At times I just get so frustrated and wish it was somehow different, but maybe this is good for me. It would be so much easier to be in a center and have people right there, but this is a challenge having to go out and take more initiative.

It wasn’t the easiest week, but it was good to work things out a little more. Also, last night Ashley, the volunteer in Koseca came to visit! She is here for the weekend, and it has been great hanging out with her.

At orientation my small group leader shared this with us and it has stuck with me:

Oh God, who am I now?

Once, I was secure
In familiar territory
In my sense of belonging
Unquestioning of
The norms of my culture
The assumptions built into my language
The values shared by my society.

But now you have called me out and away from home
And I do not know where you are leading.
I am empty, unsure, uncomfortable.
I have only a beckoning star to follow.

Journeying God,
Pitch your tent with mine
So that I may not become deterred
By hardship, strangeness, doubt.
Show me the movement I must make
Toward a wealth not dependent on possessions
Toward a wisdom not based on books
Toward a strength not bolstered by might
Toward a God not confined to heaven
But scandalously earthed, poor, unrecognized…

Help me to find where I am
As I walk in others’ shoes.

-Katie Compston

And now a little bit from the Thanksgiving retreat…

What's better them some fun on the see saw!