Part of a letter I wrote to myself back in October

15 October '08

ahoj sarah!
well, you've been here in SK almost a month and a half now...and what you've experienced has been quite different than your expectations back when you were in the USA.
your primary reasons for wanting to join the YAGM program involved opening your heart to God's voice and also to push yourself to experience new (and possibly) uncomfortable ways of life...
it's amazing now to think how the Holy Spirit was at work then...and also now. being in slovakia has given you the opportunity to experience these new ways of life. also, you are constantly being reminded that others have some rather amazing and abundant gifts to share with others and you.
the kindness, spiritual support, and hospitality you are shown is sometimes more than you can handle. you feel you came here to slovakia to assist and help and support. instead, you are receiving new messages from the Holy Spirit. "slow down. stay a while. listen. show that person you love and value them." learning to live in this community and in this way is both the easiest and one of the most challenging tasks. how can i say how much i appreciate, respect, and love them? how can i make it clear? it seems so impossible to relate.
remember this: you are not alone...in fact, it feels like you're under a magnifying glass sometimes. but beyond that, there are people who genuinely love you and share your values and convictions. cherish them and the moments you can share with them...
peace!
sarah


I'm writing another letter to myself today... perhaps I'll pull it out in another five months and see where I am then!

It's been a long time...

Well, I feel very guilty I've been neglecting the blog for so long. I wish I could say it's because life's slowed down, but that is absolutely not true. There is so much happening that I want to share and tell you all about, but I've been lazy, lazy, lazy. Today, however, my second class at school was canceled and I have no excuse but to sit at this computer and tell you a little bit.

A big part of my transition to life and mission in Slovakia has been learning to stop trying to label and categorize every minute and every activity of my day. Before I left the states to come here (and even the first few weeks in Hybe), I was pretty uncertain about what my "work" responsibilities included. I knew my placement would be at the local Evangelical (Lutheran) church and that I might also have some responsibilities in helping with English instruction at local schools. Even after settling in and finding a rhythm to life in Slovakia, I still found myself thinking in terms of today I will go to school, then spend time with this person or that, hang out with the youth, etc...and those will be my responsive "good works". While I think that being busy has been a blessing for me, busyness just for those reasons isn't the purpose and it's not the ministry I signed-up for.

Thanks be to God, the ELCA embraces the Church's role in mission through a concept called Accompaniment. This basically means churches around the world are strengthened when they walk together and serve God and are sharing Gospel along the way. What a simple, yet profound, concept! I consider it a true honor I can be a small part of the mission field while in Slovakia and every day I realize we are all in mission together. To be certain, mission is building schools and churches around the world. Mission is proclaiming Christ's death and resurrection to our friends and strangers in our own neighborhoods. Mission is also listening to someone who needs to share about what's going on in their life. Here are a few of my new conceptions of what it means to be involved in Slovakia's ministry: sitting with someone who is fearful and stressed about their baby's high fever, accepting hospitality and sharing new faith experiences with others, learning more about the faith climate and cultural practices in this location, praying for the Holy Spirit to continue to move and bring healing and reconciliation through this post-Communist time. The ministry and mission aren't difficult things. For me, the biggest challenge is truly allowing my heart to be opened and to be fully participating in the many blessings God is showing me through this community in Hybe and the Liptov region.