Meet some of the Chlapci (Guys)

I have been enjoying my new placement and all of the people here and I thought I would introduce you to some of the chlapci I have gotten to know. I won’t write their names to protect their privacy.

One of my favorite guys is 19, full of energy, but really nice and welcoming. He is always ready to talk and very patient and understanding as I try to have conversations in Slovak. There are some people who are just easier to talk to and much more helpful in learning Slovak and he is one of them. He never went to school growing up, but he comes to the English classes here and is always participating in the activities. He also really enjoys music and singing worship songs during our Bible studies. One of his famous English phrases is “Why?!....Because!” and after a couple of times back and forth “OK!”

Then there is one of the few guys who does go to school. He is also really easy to talk to, understanding and uses whatever English words he knows in conversation with me. He is a really good artist, and also loves taking pictures. When the Koreans were here he used my camera to take pictures during the programs and had so much fun. He also enjoys listening to music and asking Kristen and I to translate the English songs into Slovak, which is interesting and usually not very successful. He is really thoughtful- like this morning he left a note on our door in English that said “Kristen and Jessica- Good morning. See you later. Good Bless you”. (People have trouble with the difference between good and God in English)

There is another chlapec who is very understanding, easy to talk to, and a regular at English classes and Bible studies. He is also helpful for me learning Slovak- after English the other day he went through a bunch of vocabulary flashcards quizzing me, and teaching me new words. Then there is one of the guys who doesn’t usually come to the activities, but he is really nice and I see him around often. The only word he knows in English is “friends” and he likes to just throw it into anything he is saying to me. So he will be talking in Slovak and then just say “friends” in the middle of everything. I think he needs to learn another word now.

There are a lot more I could write about, but I will save that for another time. Overall they are really nice guys, but have had difficult lives. It makes me realize how much I have taken for granted. Most of them don’t have families, haven’t finished school (a handful have never been to school, and there is a handful who are going to school now), and don’t have money or material possessions. They also have to face the prejudices against them because they are Gypsies. When I see them come to Bible studies, or when they are playing worship songs and singing in their free time, or when they talk to me about believing in God I see how God is active and working here.