My Christmas in Hybe

I do realize how fortunate I am...this year I spent my first Christmas away from home and family - Slovak-style. I'm trying to think how many of my loved ones have been given such a unique and wonderful opportunity I've had. To be honest, there were a few moments when my emotions did overwhelm me and I'd have to say I was a bit homesick. However, I was able to experience the holiday with my amazing new friends and "family" here in Hybe. It was a wonderful, beautiful Christmas!

Here are a few pictures for how my Christmas in Hybe looked :


Here I am going out into the forest with Johny, Marek, and Radko to pick their Christmas tree. This was my first experience getting a tree some other place besides the playground at Stella Maris's tree lot or Boone Hall Farms. At first it did seem a bit like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, especially when the boys started getting cold and tired ("Clark, Audrey's frozen from the waist down..."), but the scenery, fresh air, and Christmas excitement with the Žiškovci was amazing! I loved it!!!


Decorating the Christmas Tree with Marek and Radko...definitely an experience! You might be able to see that one branch has three ornaments on it (two gold, one red). Love it!

Decorating the tree with the Šuchtárovci...another great time! Even had a chance to make the star for the tree-topper. When the back of the star was a little messed-up, Ľuboš and Katka tried to make me feel better: "Sarah, it is fine. Who will see the back of the tree?" My mortified response, "Ježiško."At the Christmas Eve service, the pastor, Zuzka, and Johny called me to the front of the church to thank me for being here...and also to tell me they were thinking of me since I'd be away from my friends and family back home for Christmas. If I hadn't been scared of breaking down and crying at the front of the sanctuary, I'd have said that I was happy to be there, too, and that I was surrounded by "family". I did not have the courage to say that, but it doesn't mean it's not true.
After the Christmas Eve service at church, we even had new snow fall! Magic!

Christmas dinner...
Unique Slovak Christmas dinner traditions: on the table there is always garlic, bread, and salt (for health). Under the tablecloth, there is always money hidden. Traditional food: Opekance (like bread pudding with poppyseeds), Kapustnice(sour cabbage soup), potato salad, pork (or in some families, fish), and Vianočné oblátky (wafers) for dessert. In the Muchálovci family, their entire meal is eaten without clearing plates or moving up from the table...no standing allowed. This is definitely the only time I've seen Marta Muchálova sit still so long, because she's always so busy. For Christmas dinner, however, we had a leisurely meal and great company.

The Muchalovci and Starymama (Margita) after Christmas dinner.


Here I am with the pastor and his family...Adrianka, Samko, Pastor, Little Sará, and me!

Paya and Zuzka...my sisters.

This is the group from the catholic church...they were caroling door-to-door for over 5 hours in the freezing weather. Amazing! Also, they were collecting for their Good News ministry to Africa. It was wonderful to see their outreach project in action!


Saturday, Ľubo and Katka invited me to go with them to the Youth for Christ ranch in Kráľova Lehota...it was a beautiful place and I even got to see Christina (fellow ELCA YAGM serving in Prešov). Loved walking around and seeing the natural beauty!


Christmas party for the children...okay, it's the next post and you can read more there, but I wanted to put it up just once more. Operation Christmas Child is such an amazing exchange!

Christmas from Abroad

Saturday the youth of Hybe had a wonderful opportunity for Christmas time together at the children's party. The older youth from the ECAV church organized a wonderful afternoon filled with games, songs, Bible stories, and family participation. The room was packed!


Everyone really seemed to be enjoying the festive atmosphere and the fun program. Finally, the highlight of the evening came as Christmas presents from children in Germany were distributed to all the kids. Operation Christmas Child presents are prepared in shoeboxes and sent all over the world. When presented to children, they also come with storybooks from Billy Graham's organization. It's a wonderful ministry. All the families were excited about the unique and wonderful Christmas boxes. Also, I think it was pretty wonderful to see the youth who organized everything be able to distribute the gifts.


I have participated in Operation Christmas Child projects back home and I realize how fortunate I am to be able to see this program from the receiving end as well. For everyone who has helped with OCC back in the states, I hope you can enjoy these pictures as a brief glimpse into what you've been a part of too! If you're new to OCC, you can find more information here.

Detský Spevokol

This past weekend the children and youth from our church (ECAV) in Hybe went on tour...traveling to the eastern part of Slovakia for a concert series. I believe Detský Spevokol (the children's choir) has been going about 3 years, and they are truly inspiring to hear. In three days this group traveled about 400 kilometers, giving 7 concerts in different churches and cultural houses throughout the east. What's the most exciting to me is how this group of energetic and talented youth is sharing their faith with total strangers.


In the four months I've been here in Slovakia, I have been trying to get an understanding of what the faith climate is like here. Mostly what I've heard is that it is incredibly difficult for the youth and children to share their faith at school or in clubs. It's not necessarily that these exchange would be prohibited, but it's more that the atmosphere in former-communist setting discourages them. I have heard from teachers, too, that they face uphill battles when they want to share their beliefs, even amongst their colleagues. I'm telling you all this just to paint a picture of where the youth are coming from...and how amazing I think they are for taking part in Detský Spevokol!
During the sixth concert of the weekend, I was really struck by the awesome ministry these youth are a part of. There was nothing particularly different about that concert than the others they had performed - the music was beautiful, well-performed, and inspiring. However, at one point I looked out at the audience and got goose-bumps at the notion Spevokol was opening their hearts and sharing ministry. The crowd was filled with young and old, and everyone was able to hear the youth perform, sing, and even give personal faith stories. I'm impressed and inspired, but also humbled by the teenagers who not only take part in this music ministry - but make it happen. ECAV's pastor is an energetic and hard-working man, but even he couldn't do everything alone. Seeing how the youth come together for planning, practicing, and performing warms my heart and also pushes me to be more open and enthusiastic about sharing my faith in everyday life.



Heavenly Father, thank you for the work you are doing with, through, and in Detský Spevokol. The many gifts you give each member are beautiful and humbling. Whether they are singing, dancing, playing an instrument, working the technical booth, or speaking, their every action glorifies you and your son. Thank you for their witness here in Hybe, through Slovakia, and in the world. Continue to embolden them and use them for your works.
I know you won't give up on the rest of us, either. As we listen to Detský Spevokol and support their ministry, please continue to work within our hearts. Give us courage to share our faith and also to receive your Spirit.
Amen!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yes, everywhere we go the season is dancing into our hearts! Slovakia's getting ready for Christmas...and while I share many similar aspects of the holiday, there are also some new things to experience.
I hope you like this small glimpse into Slovak Christmas customs...
Merry Christmas!

I was invited to join Adrianka, Vierka, and Zuzka for their annual tradition of making Advent wreaths. What a fun night, but I definitely came to terms that I am no Martha Stewart. My strength lies in my super-human ribbon curling abilities alone.

The Christmas Tree and market outside of the National Theater in Bratislava. What a perfect setting to begin preparing for Christmas...cold air, lots of lots, festive shoppers, music!
The children's choir is practicing their Christmas music.

Christmas Punch (Vianoce Punc)...yum! Maybe as festive as a glass of eggnog...I think probably even more!


Slovakia has a character quite like our Santa Claus. St. Mikulas comes on December 6th, leaving candy and small toys for the good children. St. Mikulas does not have any elves to help him, but instead, he relies on a little devil to assist him on his way. For all the children who tried to convince me in elementary school that Santa could not be real because it would be impossible to go around the world in a single night, I think you can see how wrong you are. Santa only has to work certain portions of the world on 12/24...and St. Mikulas only has to work his areas on 12/6. What a relief!

Finally, it's just not Christmas without a little trauma from a visit of kindly characters like St. Mikulas and devil...from the sound of the room, you'd have thought you were in a Greek tragedy, not a holiday party. However, I think the same happens back home in the states.

An American Thanksgiving in Slovakia

Last week all of the ELCA missionaries in Slovakia became pilgrims...we boarded buses, trains, and electric trollies to convene for an "American Thanksgiving in Slovakia" in Bratislava. Pastor David & Carla Schick coordinated this fine, friendly gathering...and it was a glorious affair. Being away from my friends and family back in the states, I really appreciated the warm and comfortable atmosphere. Here are a few pics from our great time:

YAGM = "Young Adults in Global Mission"Lukas, Christina, and I made a tiramisu for Thanksgiving dessert. I know it's not the traditional sweet potato or apple pie, but our apartment didn't have a huge kitchen...and this was the easiest thing to make.Luise was one of the four German folks to join our Thanksgiving dinner. She won the American flag in our gift exchange game.

Meet the Šuchtárovci

Hello everyone!
Well the old phrase that the only constant is change sure pegged life in Slovakia. I am now staying with my fourth host-family here in Hybe, and I am very excited about my move. While it was very nice and wonderfully convenient to be in the apartment by the church, I am enjoying being the newest member of the Šuchtárovci family. Ľuboš and Katka are about my age and live just down the street from the church...plus, they have two adorable children. Timko is 2 1/2 years old and Esther is 5 months. I hope the pictures upload correctly so you can see just how sweet, good-natured, and positively fun-loving this whole family is!
When the plans for me to stay with another couple named Anna and Peter had to be changed several weeks ago, the Šuchtárovci have been incredibly kind, generous, and wonderfully hospitable! They are so gracious and uplifting in everything they do...it's just amazing to be here.
Okay, on to the pictures...that's the most fun part anyway, right!?

Meet Timko...a wonderfully spirited boy with an infectious smile. Every moment seems to be full of wonder. I like seeing the world through his eyes.

He also pilots smallcraft airplanes on the weekends for fun...

Meet Katka, Esther, and Timko...seriously, this could be the most positively-charged woman in the world. When faced with obstacles and set-backs, Katka can find the redeeming quality in just about everything. I really admire her.

Meet Ľuboš...I think I'm learning where Timko's infectious smile comes from. Ľuboš likes to be at center-stage and entertain...and truly loves to offer to translate English - Slovak (and vice versa).

During children's choir practice last week, Timko had a little snack (carrot) from the "harvest of abundance" (AKA the altar). But really, who can blame him? It looks too good to just leave around!